Faux Wood Grain and Punched Shelf

There's two fun things to share about this card that are a bit out of the ordinary: 

1.  the Faux Wood grain effect on the shelf and the accent strip to the left

2.  and how I made the shelf

Both the Faux Woodgrain and the shelf are easy.  For the Faux woodgrain I simply dragged my inkpad across the paper.  It leaves behind streaks that the eye will translate into wood grain. (it works better with an ink pad that's not too juicy).  

This card is one we did at our March class. Here's the instruction sheet that was posted at the work station.

From the above picture you can see how we made the shelf.   If you have the Everyday Label Punch or a punch with a similar shape, try this. The paper was inserted only part-way into the punch.  The hole in the strip is hidden by the focal piece with the vases.

The flowers and vases were easy. The vases were punched and laid over the stamped flower images which had been directly stamped on the card piece.  

The Vibrant Vases stamp set lends itself to lots of opportunities for creative play.  The Faux Woodgrain look of the shelf was a perfect way to offer a stage for the vases.  And its so fun to find an extra creative use for a punch like the Everyday Label Punch   shopping links are at the end of the post.

I hope I've inspired you to try this fun and easy technique.  Faux Woodgrain can work well with so many different types of stamps.  And if one of your images would look good sitting on a shelf, then scout your punches to see if you have one that would work like the Everyday Label punch to make a punched shelf.

What ever your choices about stocking your craft supply stash . . . I hope you have an INKcredible day.

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Vibrant Vases Photopolymer Stamp Set [148656] - $17.00		Vases Builder Punch [147040] - $18.00	Soft Suede 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [115318] - $8.50	Soft Suede Classic Ink Pad [147115] - $7.50
Smoky Slate 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [131202] - $8.50	Old Olive 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100702]-$8.50	Metallic Pearls [146282] - $7.00	Basic Black Solid Baker's Twine [141682 - $3.00	Everyday Label Punch [144668] - $18.00
Versamark Pad [102283] - $9.00	Heat Tool [129053] - $30.00	White Stampin' Emboss Powder [109132] - $5.00	Watercolor Pencils [141709] - $16.00	Rich Razzleberry Classic Ink' Pad [147091] - $7.50

Mouthwatering Embossed Popsicle

Isn't this just mouthwatering?  The Popsicle looks so shiny and just "ready to eat".  Especially with this heat wave we've been having here in Madison. This part of Wisconsin is suffering so much, it hasn't rained here since May!  Its so sad. The grass is just crunchy and we've already lost one big tree.   

There's a couple of really cool things on this card (OK that was not intended as a pun - the "cool" part - but after re-reading this it seems appropriate).  Anyway, I wanted to point out a few things: the popsicle stick, the scoring, the lay-out and the shiny finish.

First: the popsicle stick.  The stick was punched from the Word Window Punch (#119857). You may notice it seems to have some "wood graining". I made it streaky by just lightly dragging it across a brown ink pad.  Super easy and its a very effective look.

Notice the scoring and the lay-out in general. The scoring below and above the sentiment is a way to highlight the sentiment without using an additional strip of paper. 

And if you think this lay-out looks familiar its because this is essentially the SAME CARD as one posted earlier this month.  They both have the same scoring and the same sentiment.  Just different "tall" images in the upper part of the card. 

What tall images do you have that would fit this lay-out?  Maybe a tree, or a giraffe?  Leave a comment below and tell me what image you'd use on this lay-out.

Now, that shiny popsicle! The popsicle image on this card is from a stamp set called "Mouthwatering".   It looks shiny because it is clear embossed.  Stampin'UP!'s new foam ink pads are "juicier" and make it super easy to emboss in any color.  By the way, isn't this color "mouthwatering"?  Its one of the new In Colors called Primose Petals.

 

Did you know Stampin'UP! also sells Scented embossing powder? This popsicle looks good enough to eat.  What if if smelled good too?? The scented embossing powders are so easy to use and really add a "wow" factor to a project.  They come in 3 scents: vanilla, melon and cherry. Hmmm? Primrose Petals. I wonder what flavor that should smell like?

And Stampin'UP! makes shopping so easy. No need to get dressed, use gasoline, fight for parking or carry packages. Shop from the convenience of your own home with a cup (or glass) of your favorite beverage, and have your order delivered to your door.

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