Mom…..I’m Bored! – Craft Gossip

I enjoy the peace and tranquility of my craft room. The hum of the sewing machine puts me into an almost zen-like state. I become so focused on what I am doing that nothing else seems to exist….until….”Mom, I’m bored!” I’m sure this has happened to all of us, but don’t fret, take this opportunity to tap into your child’s inner crafter. Teach them that they can create something beautiful with just a few things and alot of imagination.

Be prepared for these opportunities by creating a box of craft supplies just for your youngster. This is a great beginning craft for you to do with your child. Find a large cardboard box and decorate it with paints, fabric scraps, glitter, whatever you have on hand to make the box something they will know is theirs. Now the really fun part begins, searching for new and fun crafts to fill the box.

What would you fill your child’s box with? Please keep in mind that all items should be age appropriate. I wouldn’t put a hot glue gun in my four-year-old’s craft box, but I would toss in a couple of glue sticks, some safety scissors, different types of paper, crayons, pencils, the possibilities are endless. There are many websites that offer really cool arts and crafts supplies for children.

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Michelle used a die cut arch for a shaker element on her lovely floral card. I love the die cut faux stitching lines around the edge! Over her shaker she added die cut flowers ink blended in shades of purple and green. Find her video tutorial on the Altenew blog.

I’ve noticed recently there’s a trendy new shape in card making, it’s arches. A tall squared off bottom with a round shape at the top, the arch can be used in a variety of ways from elegant to cutesy. They are mostly used for backgrounds but can be a focal point too and it’s a very simple way to add just a little bit of extra interest to your designs in place of a rectangle or oval. Today let’s take a peek through an archway and check out this new trend on some fabulous new card ideas.

Beneath each photo you’ll find a link, click it for more details like products used, techniques and tutorials.

Kathleen used arches for the main event on this fun card that’s also a shaker. She backed each die cut section with different colors of ink blending, added tiny glitter behind the acetate and placed a heat embossed sentiment over the top. Learn more at the Pinkfresh Studio blog.

The “To a Point” die has an arch at the top and arrow at the bottom for a different take on an arched shape. Here Melody used it to draw attention to the stamped sentiment behind her beautiful die cut flowers. The dark dry embossed background also makes everything else pop. Find more idea using this die at the Papertrey Ink blog.

Have you noticed another trend with arches? It’s shaker cards, they really do make the perfect shape for them! This card from Charlene has two arches, the white background and a peek of pink and a beautiful stenciled floral background inside. And the stamped sentiment strip perfectly finishes the design. Take a closer look at the Hero Arts blog.

Alicia used arches for her cool masculine beach card. She die cut them from vellum and colored glitter cardstocks, adding fun stamped images like a light house, boat and crab along with a brick stamped background. Watch her video tutorial at the Taylored Expressions blog.

I’m also seeing a lot of arched windows like on this beautiful blue card from Gina K. Backing the window in black gives make the white seem really bold and is also tied into the stamen of the blue stenciled flowers. I spotted her idea on the Gina K. Design Instagram page.

This darling love birds card created by Rebecca has two arches, the background for yet another shaker and part of the bird stand. She used dies for the birds cut from colored cardstocks, adding flowers and a heart. I love all the touches of gold she included! Find step by step direction at the Spellbinders blog.

This stunning design has layers of concentric arches, notice the card base is also arch shaped, that were cut from cardstock and pattern papers with faux stitching and a shiny copper sentiment for added texture. Find even more arched card ideas over at Tonic Studios.

Arches make wonderful backgrounds for these berry sweet box cards. There’s darling little pre-printed mice nestled among die cut grass, strawberries and flowers on these fun pop up card designs. Kathy breaks it all down at the Doodlebug blog.

This card from Kathy is the bees knees! She used bee and honey printables, cutting the main design using arches and adding a sweet sentiment too. Prinables are so easy for card making, no storing of supplies and you can print them as many times as needed! I spotted her idea on the Polkadoodle Instagram page.

Concord and 9th took the arch even further by designing not only arched dies and stencils but also making arched sentiment stamps that curve over top! Mitchell used them for a serene desert scene with lots of plums, purples and green cactus. Check out lots more sample with these products at Concord and 9th.

This wonderful kitty cat scene card from Bobbi uses an arch for the background of her design. But notice how she took her stamped images over the edges of the arch onto the stone background, this really pulls the scene forward. She colored her stamps with Copic Markers and ink blended the sky and grass. Find more details at the Honey Bee Stamps blog.

I hope this post has inspired you to give this simple trend of adding arches a try on your next card design!

-Heather

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