Today I’m (Teneale Williams) sharing some ideas on adding a little rustic charm to your projects.

Our Expressions Natural Elements (item #138395) feature wood veneer words and come with five of each greeting.

To enhance the wooden texture of the Expressions Natural Elements, apply a few strokes of ink across the grain of the wood using a Stampin’ Write Marker. I used Soft Suede and Early Espresso from the Neutrals Stampin’ Write Markers collection (item #131261). (It is fine to leave small sections without ink.)

Lightly sand the surface; I used a nail file.

Leaves are the second element in my projects. I clear-embossed on Mossy Meadow Cardstock (item #133676) using the Vintage Leaves Photopolymer Stamp Set (item #138802). For a look more rustic look, I shaped the leaves using a Bone Folder (item #102300) by rolling it over the surface and applying pressure to the midrib of the leaf. For best results, do this on a soft surface, like the Stampin’ Pierce Mat (item #126199).

Bringing together the previous elements, here is the first card. I’ve looped Linen Thread (item #104199) and used it to frame the leaves with the wooden greeting sitting on top.

For the second card, I used the larger maple leaf from Vintage Leaves. I clear-embossed the leaf, then cut it out and shaped it using the Bone Folder. This time I stepped up the design by adding a piece of Mossy Meadow 5/8″ Striped Cotton Ribbon (item #138419) and Home for Christmas Enamel Dots (item #140536) in Very Vanilla.

For the final item I clear-embossed the maple leaf on a Takeout Box (item #135827) and tied a bow around it with Mossy Meadow 5/8″ Striped Cotton Ribbon (item #138419).

Teneale Williams

Artisan Design Team 2014–2015