Paper Craft Workshop

 We are adding a new feature to our community called the Children's Corner. It is devoted to papercrafts that you and your children can do together.  It's time to get our kids, grandkids and even great grandkids away from those electronic devices and get them to do some creating crafting. Electronic devices are the plague of this generation. While I am not condemning them, there are lots of reasons to get away from them and spend some time crafting and communicating with our children. The advantages of spending time with our kids is well known. Cognitive & Developmental Benefits Fine motor skills : Cutting, gluing, coloring, and folding help strengthen hand-eye coordination and dexterity. Problem-solving : Figuring out how to assemble or decorate a project encourages creative thinking and perseverance. Early math & literacy skills : Measuring, counting, recognizing shapes, and following instructions support school readiness. Creative & Emotional Benefits Self-expre...

Distress ink sprays (like those from Tim Holtz have been very popular to create a vintage grungy look on all different types of papercrafts. They can also be used to give a watercolor effect. The oxide inks tend to give a chalkier look Distress Oxide Ink Spray Basics Distress oxide ink sprays are manufactured by Ranger under the Tim Holtz brand. Many of the colors match the colors in the distress ink line. It is for the most part a sprayable version of the Distress Oxide Ink pad. The nice thing about this spray is that it can be layered, and it can be used with water. Ink oxide sprays are a fusion of pigment ink as well as dye ink that creates a oxidized effect. It's a quick and easy ink coverage on most porous surfaces. It can be used to lay color, stencil, and blend. If you want to customize your die cuts or punches, spray them with these sprays and watch them turn into truly special. You can use these sprays on different kinds of papers. Think about cardstock, vellum, watercolor...

Foiling with stencils is a fun and creative way to add metallic shine and dimension to your projects like cards, journals, or mixed media art. There are a few methods to foil with stencils, depending on the tools and products you have.  You can use foil with stencils to create shiny, metallic designs on surfaces like paper, fabric, wood, or canvas. This is often done using heat transfer foil or adhesive foil . A laminator can be used to adhere some foils to the project. A laminator is a machine that uses heat and pressure to seal documents between two layers of plastic film. It’s commonly used to protect papers like ID cards, signs, or teaching materials—but it's also a great tool for crafting , especially for applying heat transfer foil Before You Get Started-A Few Things To Know Ensure the foil medium—whether it's gel, size, or adhesive—is applied as evenly and thinly as possible. A flat tool like a palette knife, old gift card, or plastic scraper helps avoid clumping an...

This technique could be used on a scrapbook page, a greeting card or on an artist trading card, or in an art journal/ It is so easy to do. And more than likely, you have most of the supplies you need already in your stash, It is a fun technique. Almost like finger painting. You can use almost any colors that make you happy. I would use very heavy paper for this technique since you will be adding acrylic paint to it. If you are doing this technique on a book page, I would cover the page with two three coats of gesso. Or Glue two pages together to give the page more weight before you get started. Start with a roll of plastic wrap (cling wrap) and then you chose the medium to work with. It will work on all kinds of media. Acrylic Paint Supplies Sheet of heavy card stock or watercolor paper   Craft mat to cover your work surface. Two plastic cups or containers to hold paint and water. Cling or saran wrap Foam brush or soft paintbrush Rubber Gloves  Paper towels Cover your wor...