Tutorial: DYI Wood-grain chipboard alphas

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Currently the wood-grain trend seen in scrapbooking supplies has staying power, and beinag a nature-loving gal that's just fine with me ;) I love the look of wood-grain chipboard alphas (like the second photo featuring chipboard stickers by Cosmo Cricket). However, My scrappy room is bursting at the seams, so I had enforced a moratorium on future supply buying (for a while that is).

I've found a simple way to make my own wood-grain alphas and that's what I'll like to share with you.

First, go (or run) to your local hardware store, and head to the wood-stain department to their paint samples. At our local Lowes, they had an impressive display of every color of wood stain imaginable, and the best part - these stain sample cards are even textured to simulate real wood! Also, it's pretty cool that it's free ;)

What you'll need to make your own wood-grain alphas:

• Wood stain paint samples (take a few of each color so you have enough to cut a word or phrase).
• Wood laminate (also at hardware store in container/shelving area (this brand is by Duck).
• Die cutting tool (mine is Quickutz Revolution) and alphabet dies (I've used QK Diesel Grand alpha dies for this project).
• Chipboard (not super thick, but the type that is the backing of scrap paper packs; If you prefer a thicker look, you may cut multiples of the chipboard and stack them by gluing the layers.
• Glue of your choice to glue the die cut wood sample to the chipboard; If you've used laminate, it's as easy as peel and stick!

See! Told ya' it was simple ;) Here's what I've done with the wood-grain alphas:

Photos captured paparazzi style-through an opening in the seat; The candid shots usually are my favorite. Here we were going to get a new "big boy bike" for Omar. You'd think he's be excited, but change for him is usually unwelcome. You can see the nervousness and feel the intensity of his thoughts--love these shots!

Thanks for taking an interest !!!

Irma

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Supply List:

Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper (foundation), Die Cuts with a View (matting); Patterned paper: Basic Grey (bike), Die Cuts with a View (grid/ Mod-Retro Stack); Cosmo Cricket (gears), Creative Imaginations (text border); Stamps: Studio Calico (camera), Heidi Swapp for Advantus (moment); JoAnn Craft Essentials (date); Acetate shape: Heidi Swapp for Advantus; Mesh: Magic Mesh; Eyelet: We R Memory Keepers; Rhinestones: Darice; Rub-on words: Creative Imaginations; Die cuts: Quickutz (alpha and film strip); Ink: Ranger Industries; Markers and scallop punch: Marvy Uchida; Pen: EK Success; File tab: Autumn Leaves; Other: ephemera, paper clip, staples, thread, wood-stain paint samples, chipboard, punchinella for stamping.