Wood You? Challenge

In the Moxie Fabs column of the May/June issue of Paper Crafts magazine, we explored the Wonderful World of Wood Grain. In my opinion, wood grain has emerged as a trendy pattern as a result of the "back to nature" trend we've seen develop in the past couple of years in the prolific use of birds, woodland creatures, natural backgrounds, and the incorporation of natural fibers.

Whether we're getting back to our literal roots because of the choking hold that technology can have on us, because of the downturn in the economy, or because we're reliving our youths from the late '70s and early '80s, wood grain is a natural extension, even an embodiment, if you will, of this movement to the natural.

How to make it cool? Use it in unexpected ways and funk it up with color. Like this:

The Wood Grain Jotter from paperlibrarian

Wood Grain Bowl from soule

Wood Grain Fabric from Joel Dewberry

Trees and Birds Wall Decals by petitflaneur
Wood Grain Pillow from Cushlab

Wood Grain Patterned Floor Lamp from Pottery Barn Teen

Wood Grain Zipper Pouch from CutOutAndCollect

Wood Grain Coasters from Rock Scissor Paper

Faux Bois Earrings--Frolic from Pulpdesigns

Wood Grain Pillow from bonjourteaspoon

Iconic Red Wood Grain Mirror from Sanguinaria

Home Sweet Home Print from JennSki

Wood Grain Ecru Wedding Invitation from Wedding Paper Divas

Natural Wood Save the Date Card from Wedding Paper Divas

Here are some cards from Night Owl Paper Goods that are printed directly on real wood:

Danish Floral

Squirrel with Acorn

Flowering Dogwood

Your challenge? Create a paper crafted project of your choosing that uses wood grain somehow in the design. This one should be treeloads of fun because there is a lumberyard full of wood grain product out there, including stamps, stickers, patterned paper, ribbon, etc., that has wood grain all over it!

Here are some of the projects from the Moxie Fabs column to show you what I mean:

Adore Card by Melissa Phillips (p. 24) using the Eva Collection from BasicGrey

Hedging My Bets Card by Kim Kesti (p. 25) using a wood grain sticker from Sassafras Lass

Happy Bird Day Card by Betsy Veldman (p. 25) using the Wood Grain Backgrounder from Cornish Heritage Farms

There's even a card by Teri Anderson in which she created her own wood grain effect--check it out on page 26!

Upload your project to the Moxie Fab World Wood You? Challenge on Flickr.com by clicking here. The deadline? Midnight MST on Monday, May 4.

Wooden't you just love to join the fun?

~Cath