Once upon a time, when I was demonstrating the Cricut Expression as part of a road team for Provocraft, I would hear from countless men who would gather around the table. “Does it cut wood?” they’d ask. Mostly these gentlemen were wood workers and train hobbiests, and they were really intrigued my a machine that might cut non-tradiational materials. I didn’t have an answer at the time, but now after trying out the Real Wood veneer sheets producted by Creative Imaginations, I can say YES, yes it does!
Of course, you can use Real Wood veneer for more than just the Cricut- and with Father’s Day coming, I thought I’d give it the CraftTestDummies workout.
Here’s how it’s described on the website:
The Real Wood Collection by Creative Imaginations includes sheets of genuine wood that are printable, embossable, die-cuttable, stampable and paintable. Available in 12″ x 12″ and 6″ x 12″ this paper is great for card Making, custom embellishments, custom borders, mixed media, veneering and wood constructions. The real wood sheets are compatible with: Pazzles, Cuttlebug, Wishblade, Sizzix, Accucut and Cricut.
NOTE: The tendency of the wood veneer to curl is natural and does not affect its usability in any way. The use of permanent adhesive is recommended.
The sheets come in 6X12″, 8.5X12″, and 12X12″ sizes. Real wood also comes in “thin” and “thick” versions (but for the life of me I couldn’t come up with what the thickness specificiations are!) Just from feel, though, the “thin” feels more like a medium-weight cardstock and the “thick” feels like a thick cardstock.  There are also birch and cherry finishes. The sheets are flexible and are paper-backed- which at first I mistook for adhesive. (It’s not.)
So first, it’s look at how it works with different cutting media. Both the thick and the thin cut very easily by scissors. These samples were cut with the “thick” version of Real Wood:
As you can see, I had a hard time with both punches I tried- one was very simple, but the mechanism got stuck. And the MS butterfly punch made no headway at all. However, the Read Wood paper was easily cut by the Spellbinders dies and the Sizzix ones. The Cuttlebug die was OK- it cut the wood veneer, but left some of the paper backing hanging.
Now, look at those same failed punches when used on the “thin” Real Wood veneer.
Amazing, right?? I can’t believe I just used a punch on wood paper. So. AWESOME!
Now, let’s see how Real Wood papers take different media.
Like any wood product, it’s very porous. If you want the colors to be vivid or the ink not to run, you’re best off priming with gesso (for a white finish) or perhaps a few coats of Krylon Triple-Thick or some other sealer.
With this sample, I used a Tombow water-based marker, and then added some water for blending. I then used a heat-tool to dry it, and I found that the wood veneer did shrink a bit with heating. I coated it with some some Glossy Accents by Ranger Ink. So, like any wood veneer, it’s absorbant and will wrinkle and buckle when exposed to water!
I thought I’d whip up a couple of cool projects- this is an image I cut with my Cricut 2 (make sure you click that link to read how we’re getting along.)
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I have to admit that I didn’t think that this would be much of a write-up- I couldn’t imagine just what I might do with wood veneer. But now my mind is spinning with possibilities! What do you think?
Disclosure: I received samples of Real Wood paper from Creative Imaginations at CHA Winter 2011.
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Sharon says
Very cool! I wonder how the wood veneer could be used on STYROFOAM Brand Foam. Cover a cube, wrap around a cone . . . hmmm . . .
Condo Blues says
I’m working on a project and this is just what I need. Do you know if I can buy it in a brick and mortar store like Hobby Lobby or Micheals?
Jenny says
I don’t have an answer for you. However, if you Google it and then click “Shopping”, you should get some options related to your location. Good luck! -Jenny
Jenny says
Sharon- might be a match made it heaven- and the projects would be SO lightweight! But remember that it is wood, and “wrapping” might be tough. Cutting items to size on a cube- or other flat surfaces, would be better. Now I DO have this “banana paper” to review sometime soon….now THAT would be wrap-able! Happy Crafting, -Jenny
Candy says
Because of the cost of this product I would tend to use it for the wood grain rather than as ‘chipboard’. So I would find a way to stain it. I do think it is cost prohibited though.