Techniques Tried - Authentic Woodgrain

Woodgrain paper might be one of the more interesting papers in my stash of goodness.  Tim Holtz knew what he was doing when he brought this to market.  I've used it for any number of Christmas card projects, and my go-to look was as a white-on-white kind of background, but then I watched  Tim Holtz's video Demo:  Distress Paint.  Magic was sparked.

The idea for this card actually started with the bee I'd cut and pieced together.  The yellow wings and body were cut from a background in my stash.  I often make backgrounds for use later in projects like this.  I had visions of putting this bee on wood as if it had landed on an old fence or barn.  The idea grew from there with the decision to make a set of cards using all of the bugs in the die set.

While I don't yet own any sprays I was able to create beautiful woodgrain with my Distress Inks & Distress Oxides to build my wood color.  I used a combination of blending tools and ink pads direct to paper to achieve the color and depth I wanted.  

Not having any white Distress Paint didn't stop me.  I pulled some white craft paint from my gel print supplies and applied a light layer with a brayer over my inked panel.  Not happy with the starkness of the white, I pulled Weathered Wood from my Distress Oxides and lightly rubbed the pad over top.  

No two of the panels were identical, but they were the perfect backgrounds for my little bugs.  To complete each panel, I reached for my Simon Says Stamp stitched rectangles and die-cut them.

I completed the card with a simple sentiment on a small banner die.  I wanted the bug on each card to take center stage and be the focal point of the card.  

Shopping Notes:

• I opted not to link every sentiment set I used.  I'd encourage you to shop your stash and use those little sub sentiments that often get forgotten.
• Any sentiment strip die or pennant that fits your sentiment will be perfect.

Shop the Supplies:

Ink Blending Tool with Domed Foam Applicators Shop at: SBC	Ranger MINI DOMED INK BLENDING FOAM Shop at: SSS | SBC	Ranger MINI ROUND FOAM REFILLS Shop at: SSS | SBC	Ranger MINI ROUND INK BLENDING TOOLS Shop at: SSS | SBC | AZ
Scrapbook.com - Replacement Domed Foam Applicators Shop at: SBC	Sizzix - Sticky Grid Sheets - 6 x 8.5 - 5 Pack Shop at: SSS | SBC | AZ	Stainless Steel Tweezers Shop at: AZ	Tim Holtz - 2.25 Inch Distress Brayer Shop at: SSS | SBC
Tim Holtz - 3.31 Inch Distress Brayer Shop at: SSS | SBC	Simon Says Stamp STITCHED RECTANGLES Wafer Dies Shop at: SSS	Tim Holtz - Funky Insects Shop at: SSS | SBC	Tim Holtz - Distress Ink Pads - Gathered Twigs Shop at: SBC
Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad VINTAGE PHOTO Shop at: SSS | SBC	Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad WALNUT STAIN Shop at: SSS | SBC	Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad WEATHERED WOOD Shop at: SSS | SBC	Tsukineko VersaFine Pigment Ink Pad - Onyx Black Shop at: SSS | SBC | AZ | Blick
Spellbinders - Platinum 6 - Die Cutting and Embossing Machine Shop at: SSS | SBC | AZ	Spellbinders UNIVERSAL PLATE SYSTEM Shop at: SSS | SBC	Tim Holtz - Distress Woodgrain Paper - A2 Shop at: SSS | SBC	Tim Holtz - Distress Woodgrain Paper - Full Sheet Shop at: SBC
Clear Double-Sided Adhesive Roll - 1/4 Inch x 81 Feet Shop at: SBC	Kokuyo Tape Glue Dot Liner Long tape, Refill cartridge 5 Pack, Shop at: SSS | AZ	Kokuyo Tape Glue Dot Liner Long-Blue Shop at: SSS | AZ	Kuretake - ZIG - Memory System - 2 Way Glue Pen - Squeeze and Roll Shop at: SSS | SBC | AZ
Simon Says Stamp CRAFT TACKY GLUE Shop at: SSS	Therm O Web - Terrific Tape Shop at: SSS | SBC	Therm O Web Adhesive Double Sided Shop at: SSS	Tim Holtz - Ranger Collage Medium Shop at: AZ
EK Success Mini Scoring Board Shop at: SSS | AZ	Fine-Tip - Ergonomic Reverse Grip - Craft Tweezers Shop at: SBC	Lawn Fawn Teflon Bone Folder Shop at: SSS	Tim Holtz 12.25 Inch Maxi Guillotine Trimmer Shop at: SSS | SBC
Tim Holtz Tonic GLASS MEDIA MAT Shop at: SSS | SBC | AZ	Tim Holtz Tonic TRAVEL GLASS MEDIA MAT Shop at: SSS | SBC | AZ	Neenah Bright White Paper 65lb. Cover Stock Shop at: AZ