A: Inchies are tiny pieces of art on a 1" square! They can be paper, chipboard, cardstock, canvas, matboard, or other textiles. Inchies are often collected or traded. We have a special section in our gallery for Inchies - click HERE to take a peek!

A: My favorite paper for cutting dies is actually watercolor paper. The ones with around 25% cotton content have a little more give and really show the embossing well. Heavier cardstock (110# or 200gsm) works well too.

A: I have quite a few! I usually pull out the colors I want to use and add a few drops of water to each pot, then let them sit for a few minutes. The longer they sit to activate, the more vibrant and shimmery the colors will be. Stir up the color into a liquid paint with your brush, and then put it to your watercolor paper. They're wonderful to use as a wash over other coloring done with alcohol marker or pencil as well. The mica and other minerals used in the paints reflect light so beautifully. Click here for a tutorial in our Resources section for making a shimmery painted background.

A: OMS stands for Odorless Mineral Spirits. In everyday terms it's a paint thinner. Artists use a purer grade of OMS as a solvent or blending agent. It has the chemical ability to dissolve the binder in colored pencil - the 'glue' that holds the pigment together - so that the pigment can be moved and blended on a page. It is typically applied to a colored area using a paper stump or a paintbrush. Here's a tutorial on pencil blending using OMS.

A: Gelatos can be blended with your fingers for fun backgrounds on paper or canvas. They are also water soluble, and can be mixed with water to use as watercolor paints or sprays. I like to scribble them in a palette and add a little water for a quick watercolor wash or some soft splatters.