2019 #14 Topic Introduction: Inchies & Twinchies

 2019 Topic 14: Inchies and Twinchies

Hello everyone, Keren here with an itsy bitsy teeny weeny..(no, that's another song entirely) topic; Inchies and Twinchies. We're all about reviving trends on the PaperArtsy blog and I think that there is definitely room for a resurgence in miniature art! 

Creating 1 inch squared (inchies) and 2 inch squared (twinchies) was super popular years ago but I've not come across as much recently. You can gauge the popularity of something by simply searching on Pinterest; many of the images were older and much less good quality photographs, so my hunt for examples to show you was more challenging than usual.

Creating onto small areas is initially less scary than a full blown large canvas, but you do need to think about scale and design carefully so it still is pleasing to the eye and has enough interest to it. So I've rounded (or should that be squared!) up a fistful of images that hopefully will give you a kick start to producing your own teensy works of art.

Beginning the plunge into little, is the lovely Tracy Scott, who still packs her unmistakably colourful punch into a little square of art. The Twinchies can accommodate sentiments beautifully as Tracy has done here.

PaperArtsy Blog

This project brought back memories; who else had this fab stamp set which is the perfect foil for the inchies designs? Wish I'd still got it, as it would be perfect for this theme! The almost watercoloured effect has a gentle vibe.

Jacqueline's Craft Nest

Whilst we're talking cards, I thought that this card was a good example of using the inchies design formation to split a design.

Dina Kowal

This next example isn't precisely an inchie/twinchie, but has slid into the list because it's a great example of doing something different with the theme. There are only so many cards you'd want to make using inchies but these could be turned into bag charms, pendant, earrings or ends of bookmarks and more.

Lady Cay

Following on with the dimensional ideas, I loved this key ring project, using stamps and tailoring it to the recipient. Using something decorative to back the inchies/twinchies makes them into a larger piece.

Lynne Moncrieff

Rather than creating sets that match, this beautiful combination of miniature art shows perfectly what can be achieved when you reduce everything in size. There's still a homogeneity in the artistic themes and style. Really inspiring.

Cathy Nicols

There's something really pleasing to the eye when creating squared designs. These windows into life scenes are delicate and so tiny!!

The Little Gold Star

Going back to more dimensional makes; creating little blocks with inchies/twinchies means you have even more surface area to decorate. The addition of beads creates real drama. The artist has a complete tutorial on how to assemble the cube in the link.

 Magpie's Nest

If interactive suits your style, this quirky doll flip book would keep me amused for ages. Each of the sections is a twinchie. 

Carolyn Brady

Another great use for Twinchies is to make them into a book like this artist did. You can glimpse the teeny signatures too!

 Trisha Too

The next 3 projects are from the same artist. I've included the three because they were some of the best examples of being creative with twinchies/inchies. That bracelet is really gorgeous! 

 Kira Nichols

 Kira Nichols

 Kira Nichols

This simple but so effective collection of map inchies is an easy design to emulate. The joy of twinchies and inchies is that they often look better in formation than singularly.

 ArtChix Studio

If you fancy a challenge, how about adding lots of little inchies onto this home decor piece?

It's based on a flip-flop type of card.

 Janis Elain

 If you want to create something for the home, or even adapt this idea as a scrapbook page, this is a fab idea. Love the overlay of tissue paper creating wonderful texture.

 Shari Carroll

Using metal with inchies and twinchies wouldn't have been the first product I'd have thought of but it's striking and gives both sharpness and softness at the same time. I love the way each piece is hung together.

Frances Solar

Last, but not least is some tiny yet stylish pieces that would bring joy to anyone's day. Concentrating on the sentiment as the main idea and all that lovely texture from stamping or book pages behind!

Home Grown Hospitality

You're going to love the projects we have coming up for this topic. We are not doing the linked challenge  for 2019, so if you want to create along with us and this topic, please share on our social feeds so we can see what you get up to. The best places are Instagram @paperartsy or post in PaperArtsy People Group on Facebook. Make sure you tag us in your contributions, we love to see what you get up to in your creative world!