Hello stampers. I finally had some time to play with a technique I came across a few weeks ago. It is called Faux Leather. Tina Zinck had done a video on it and Sheran Rigg made a beautiful card and linked Tina’s video. And that is how I got hooked. It is so easy and it really does look like leather. You can buy sheets of fun foam at Michael’s or you can get it on Amazon as well. I cut it down to a 3″ squares. You then ink up the stamp you want to use. If you use Stayzon you don’t have to worry about drying time, but I like using early espresso for a deeper colour. You then heat up your square of fun foam for about twenty seconds or until the corners start lifting. Then you firmly stamp your image on the fun foam and hold it there for a few seconds. Let it dry and then run it through the Big Shot with a stitched framelit of your choice. Here are some cards I made and at the end of the post I will include a video.

I also like to sponge the edges of my fun foam after it is trimmed down to give it a more weathered look. I use tear and tape for my adhesive as it works best on this surface. The cowboy boots come from the stamp set Country Livin’ and they suit this technique perfectly.

I love the sayings on this card, they come from the stamp set So Many Shells. The ability to truly listen to someone is such a lovely and rare gift that it deserves to be celebrated with a card don’t you think? Don’t forget to finish the inside of the card, or as France Martin says, bring the party inside!

The faux leather technique also works great with any nature images, especially trees and leaves. This card uses the quintessential Lovely as a Tree and Tree Rings background stamp.

The saying “Just a Note” comes from the Soft Sayings Card kit. I used the burlap ribbon and copper trim to finish it off. Card base is very vanilla heavy cardstock (love that stuff!) and then crumb cake in 4″ x 5 1/4″. The oak tree image from Lovely as a Tree also works ever so well for a sympathy card.

Here you can see how much this really looks like leather!

The last card I am sharing with you uses a retired stamp that I just love, For Your Country. For several years now I make a point of going to the cenotaph on Remembrance Day and handing out hand stamped cards to the veterans to show my gratitude.

I did find that  for this technique our rubber stamps work best. The photopolymer stamps that I used simply did not leave a deep enough etching to really make it look like leather. I hope you have lots of fun with this simple technique that has such fabulous results with so little time. As always, you know that I would welcome you on my team if you live in Canada. I am celebrating my 12th anniversary with Stampin’Up this year and to include you in this celebration I am offering a draw for a free bundle of your choice if you place an online order with me in October using the current host code. Good luck!