What is an Inchie? *now with Rinchies, Twinchies, Rolo & Moo!*

[Phizzychick]

What is an Inchie, and How Do I Make One?

I’ve noticed that this question has been asked several times in the papercraft boards, so I’ve tried to gather some useful information. Please let me know if there are any links to great sites that you think we should include here.

So, what exactly is an inchie?

It’s a 1  x 1 inch piece of artwork. As long as it’s an inch squared, you can use any media you like to make it, paper, fabric, wood, metal…the list goes on! A favourite seems to be the collaged inchie, with a combination of words and images making up the artwork.

Heavy watercolour paper works perfectly for making inchies, but if you like to recycle you could use a cereal packet or other similar packaging, or even a postcard.

You can make up a set of inchies to keep for yourself, or you can start to trade them in swaps the same as you would for ATCs.

Inchies are fun and completely addictive!

Websites for making inchies and inspiration:

How to make fabric inchies: Quilting Arts Magazine published article. http://www.quiltingarts.com/cpsmag/BrevikPDF.pdf
1000 Squares: http://www.artjunk.typepad.com/cutting_squares/
What can we do with inchies?: http://fiberartsmixedmedia.ning.com/group/inchies
Creative Arts & Crafts: http://creativeartscraftsspot.blogspot.com/search/label/inchies

Stores for buying inchie supplies:

Inchie Arts: http://inchiearts.com/Products.html

Inchies posted here in Craftster:

A couple by me: Phizzychick and Phizzychick Rainbow inchies & mini tute
Rackycoo's summer inchies and more racky inchies
babbetto's hand drawn inchies
LunaKitten's First Inchies
DanniQuee's First Inchies
EdelC's Inchies
Inchies Itch by Kiiss

Ideas to display inchies:

tanecha's creative framing
Framed gift by summertimerolls
Framed inchie by odd_artist
twelfth grade artwork by just_gemz
Phizzychick inchie clock
Inchie Storage Box by Sinjah

I just grabbed some examples, so if you see a project that you think should be featured, just let me know! This is definitely a work in progress!

Some useful tips from MunLtStpr:

Tips:
I collect the unused business cards of folks who leave my workplace.  They can be chopped up into inchies bases and I get 6 to a card.  I usually double them up to get a decent sturdiness.

I picked up a one-inch quilters' ruler to help with cutting.  It's 6 inches long but 1 inch wide and transparent.


Warning:
if you're into papercrafts, then you already tend to not throw away scraps that "could be used for something someday"  But you probably also did throw out scraps that were so small that you knew they wouldn't get used.  Well, start a new file for those pieces you used to throw away.  Inchies are small enough that you'll find that you are keeping those that used to get tossed.  I'm planning on storing these tiny bits in a small photo album.

And some great links from Mellfire!

Apologies if this or similar has already been posted, but you can print off free graph paper  on this site - just set your graph to have 1 line per inch.  Free pages full of 1" squares yay!

(They also have every type of graph/grid paper you could ever dream of  on this page )

Enjoying the art of working in teeny spaces? Here are some more challenges for you!

Rinchies - 1" circular artwork. The great thing about rinchies is that they fit into a flatterned bottlecap, so you can turn them into any number of decorative things!

Inchies & Rinchies by Patti M

Twinchies - 2" x 2" squares. Like an inchie, but twice as big! Perfect if the inchie is a wee bit too small for you!

Twinchie by lunamadre

Rolo
Artwork produced by altering a Rolodex card. Typically I think the Rolodex card size is 3 x 5. The cards can be made for the flat or round Rolodex.
Rolo art group on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/groups/alterrolo/pool/
What is a Rolodex? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolodex

Moo - 1-1/8" x 2-3/4" rectangles. If you're a fan of flickr photo hosting then you've no doubt come across these business cards. Designed and printed to contain a photo of artwork or other objects on one side and written info on the other, these are now made and traded in the same way as ATC's and inchies. No longer necessarily printed by Moo, these cards can be cut and collaged yourself!

[rackycoo]

This looks great, Phizz! Thanks for gathering all the info.

If you are reading this and haven't given inchies a try, what are you waiting for? They are small and quick and lots of fun to make and trade!

[grimmlynn]

I don't think it can be emphasized how addictive they are!  It's insane.  It's like potato chips...you can't have just a handful. 

[malmow]

I've already linked this page at least 3 times since yesterday. Thanks for putting all this together.

I don't think it can be emphasized how addictive they are!  It's insane.  It's like potato chips...you can't have just a handful. 

It's so true!

[MunLtStmpr]

Adding my voice to the warning too.... these things may be small, but the addiction is huge.

[Phizzychick]

I'm so glad this is helpful!

[DanniQuee]

This is great Phizzy!

Inchies are so very addictive.

[malmow]

Maybe one day the addiction will spread so far that inchies need their own board.

[Monty]

They are so cute, but what else can I do with them once I make them?

[edelC]

This is great Phizz..just need another craft room for all the tiny tiny pieces of paper.

i am loving them for making greetings cards. four inchies in the middle of a blank card, with a little border drawn around..they look good.

Oh and I LOVE your inchie clock