Thursday, May 15, 2008

Inchie Holder & Blog Give Away

[May 22nd update: I had a friend pull out a name for the winner, it is Wendy Thrift. Wendy has until the end of the May to contact me with her snail mail address to received this booklet. Wendy, the comments are moderated by me, so I will read the address and not publish it.]
I was surprised to see my last post was the 100th one, since I started this blog last Sept. So in honor of my 101st post, I'm having a give away. The booklet pictured above can be used to hold inchies or other small embellishments. To win this booklet, all you need do is leave a comment with this post AND tell us what art project you are currently working on or have recently finished. A link would be great, but not required. I will randomly draw a winner next Thursday, May 22nd, so you must post by midnight PDT on Weds May 21st to be eligible. I will post the winner, and you will need to contact me before the end of May or I'll give the booklet to another.
For the cover, I ran buff colored paper through the multi patterned Cuttlebug folder, and highlighted the raised areas with shabby shutters Distress ink. Next, I ran the same paper through the diamond patterned Cuttlebug embossing folder, then ran those raised areas with broken china Distress ink.


To make some embellishments, I pulled out a sheet of card stock I use in the bottom of my spray box, and cut some pieces off.

I cut out a heart shape, embossed it with this heart shaped embossing folder and colored the edges and raised areas with Distress ink.

With another piece, I embossed it in the same embossing folder as the cover, cut out the letters with the Cuttlebug die and used Distress ink to color the raised areas. I attached these letters and the image transfer to the front.

I cut up page protectors, with pockets made to hold coins, to a smaller size. In this booklet there are 7 pages holding 4 pockets each. A total of 28 pockets about 1-1/2" square.

Inside front of booklet, showing how it can hold embellishments.

Inside back of booklet.



I also made a different shaped inchie booklet for myself. I had participated in an inchie swap last year and wondered how to showcase the inchies, while being able to see the backs with the artists name on them. I found these page protectors with small pockets at the coin shop. There were 35 inchies, so I cut the page protector into 7 strips with 5 pockets each. This meant the covers need to be 2" x 9", too long to fit in the Cuttlebug folder in one sheet. So I folder buff colored paper in half and placed it in an embossing folder.
This gave me a reverse image on one sheet. I highlighted the raised areas with a light colored Distress ink. I like this mirrored image effect.

I dried the ink with a heat gun, refolded the paper and inserted into a different embossing folder.



I inked the new raised areas with a darker Distress ink.
I made the title squares different tones, to reflect the reverse image of the cover.


I made the inside of the covers out of plain paper and used the same colors of Distress ink and one of the embossing folders.Here is the booklet open, holding the inchies.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow, Carol! I love what you've done with the Cuttlebug folders and your little books are stunning! I've just become the proud owner of a Cuttlebug (on Mother's Day) so I'm currently playing with my Cuttlebug and various folders and dies. I'm also about to take part in my first Inchie swap, so your post is very timely! Apart from that, one of my most recent projects is a slide-mailer for a 1-4-1 swap I took part in.
Thanks for the inspiration!!
Wendy Thrift
NSW Australia

Unknown said...

Carol you have been having so much fun with these delightful embossed books, and it shows in the finished product - they are PERFECT.
I have just finished working on a Mermaid in a Box amongst other things, check out my blog by clicking on my name. Congratulations on your 101st blog post, time flies doesn't it!

Jan said...

What a wonderful inchie book! I love all the different ways you use the Cuttlebug. I'm frantically trying to finish pages for a rolling pin recipe swap.

Jan C in SC
jcatotti@aol.com

SweetPea said...

Carol - when I grow up I want to be YOU! I love everything you have created and I wouldn't be at all surprised if a cuttlebug is in my future! Thanks for sharing such great step-by-step instructions!

Rosie said...

Carol, you are so very very creative! Every time you make another book I am re-tempted to get a BIA! I've been meaning to try out this embossing folders technique, but have just done some paper casting, which I shall blog later today!! (yet more experimentation!)
I love all your books and will happily make inchies if I am the lucky winner!!! Big hugs for inspiring me (again!)

bonnie32002 said...

Wow! I would be happy to win this great inchie holder!

Currently I'm working on learning some one-stroke painting

here is a finished sample: http://craftiblog.wordpress.com/

Thanks for looking!

Bonnie

Elizabeth Golden said...

Love the inchie books. I never would have thought of coin holders,brilliant. I am workin on canvas right now, canvas book, fiber and canvas collage. Congrats o the 101 post

Ina Good said...

I love all your works of Art carol and these books are fantastic! I am working on little beauties Birds at the moment and have inchies next so this is also perfect timing on booklets! Wow I would love to win this!!! Hope you pick me! hugs,Ina

Autumn Labbe-Renault said...

Hi Carol, these are so pretty, I just love the look you've achieved here. So rich and textural, right up my alley! I've just finished my "Me & My World" chunky pages, and I am work on some ATC, both for CC Swaps and some that will part of a gallery exhibit in Canada. I have a half-finished tin for Fiona and a half-finished canvas on my worktable, both of which are calling my name LOUDLY.

Artlab said...

Carol this is awesome!!! I want a Cuttlebug even more than ever now! I am working on some art dolls currently and hope to have a fresh post soon. Now I want to do some inchies too:))

Rena Sawatski said...

What a great idea Carol. I bet these would work for the Little Beauties as well.

Thanks for always giving instructions on how you make all of your creations.

Do not enter me in the draw as I have already won something from you.