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Craft Tutorials | Adult Crafts | Crafts for Seniors | Rustic Faux Embossed Herb Plaques

Rustic Faux Embossed Herb Plaques

Author by Amanda Davis on February 25, 2012 Updated on December 6, 2020

4.88 from 8 votes
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Rustic Faux Embossed Herb Plaques

 

Spring is almost here and I cannot wait to get some fresh herbs into my home. I thought I would create something for the kitchen that shows my love for fresh herbs, hence these faux embossed herb plaques were born. I call it faux embossing because embossing means to raise the surface of the material you are working with. While these letters appear raised, they are actually added to the wood with three dimensional paints. Ready to see how?

Rustic Faux Embossed Herb PlaquesThis is a project I created for Holly Lobby via DecoArt. They needed a spring project using their Americana Acrylic paints, and what says spring more that the growth of seedlings? Herbs, flowers, bulbs, all of these things came to mind, but herbs are what stuck in my head.

Rustic Faux Embossed Herb PlaquesThe printable directions are below, here are some highlights along the way:

Rustic Faux Embossed Herb PlaquesPaint the outer edges of the plaques with Espresso. Paint all four sides. Write out herb names (I used dill, sage, thyme, and basil) onto post it notes. Place the post its on the plaques to get an idea of what they will look like. Once you are happy with the lettering, you can trace the letters so that the pen creates an indent onto the wood plaques.

Rustic Faux Embossed Herb PlaquesWrite the words onto the plaques using the white Americana Writer, use the indents as your guide. Once the dimensional writer paint has dried, lightly paint over the brown sides and edges of the plaques with each color of Americana paint. Load the paintbrush, then wipe off the excess onto a paper towel and dry brush it over the Espresso. This will create a rustic look to the edge of the plaques.

Rustic Faux Embossed Herb PlaquesPaint over the dimensional lettering with the appropriate color paint. After that coat has dried, add another coat. Mix the 1 part antiquing gel with 1 part Espresso paint. Brush it onto all the edges and wipe back. Repeat for the top of the plaque, wiping off the excess with a soft rag. When dry, add a coat of Duraclear Varnish.

Rustic Faux Embossed Herb Plaques

Rustic Faux Embossed Herb Plaques

Print Project
4.88 from 8 votes

Rustic Faux Embossed Herb Plaques

Supplies

  • Americana Writer – White three dimensional paint
  • Antiquing Gel
  • Duraclear Satin Varnish
  • 4 square wooden plaques
  • Sandpaper
  • Square post it notes

Americana paint colors:

  • Espresso
  • Light Buttermilk
  • Wasabi Green
  • Spa Blue
  • Golden Straw

Instructions

  • Use paintbrush to paint the outer edges of the plaques with Espresso. Paint all four sides.
  • Write out herb names (we used dill, sage, thyme, and basil) using a pen or pencil onto post its. Place the post its on the plaques to get an idea of what they will look like. Once you are happy with the lettering, you can trace the letters so that the pen creates an indent onto the wood plaques.
  • Write the words onto the plaques using the white Americana Writer, use the indents as your guide.
  • Once the dimensional writer paint has dried, lightly paint over the brown sides and edges of the plaques with each color of Americana paint. We did Wasabi Green for the sage plaque, Spa Blue for thyme, Golden Straw for dill and Light Buttermilk for basil. Load the paintbrush, then wipe off the excess onto a paper towel and dry brush it over the Espresso. This will create a rustic look to the edge of the plaques. Use sandpaper to rough up the edges and expose a little of the wood.
  • Paint over the dimensional lettering with the appropriate color paint. After that coat has dried, add another coat.
  • Mix the 1 part antiquing gel with 1 part Espresso paint. Brush it onto all the edges and wipe back. Repeat for the top of the plaque, wiping off the excess with a soft rag.
  • When dry, add a coat of Duraclear Varnish.

 

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Amanda Davis
Amanda Davis is the crafty, entrepreneurial mother of four children. She loves to bake, cook, make kid's crafts and create decorative items for her home. She is a crafting expert and guru in the kitchen and has appeared online and in print publications many times over the years.
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Filed Under: Crafts for Seniors, DIY Gift ideas, Home Decor Projects, Kitchen Crafts, Spring Crafts Tagged With: adult, adult craft ideas, adult crafts, adults, crafts for adults, distressed, herbs, kitchen, paint, rustic, spring, wall art

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Comments

  1. Arlene says

    March 9, 2019 at 2:24 pm

    What do you use the sandpaper for?

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      March 11, 2019 at 3:35 pm

      Thnks for pointing that out! I’ve corrected the instructions to include sanding the edges of the plaques.

      Reply
  2. Jana says

    March 7, 2012 at 4:55 am

    I seen your blog featured over at Today’s Creative Blog and I have to say these are the cutest plaques. I made something similar years ago doing my kiddos names. Cute ideas and great site~think I will look around some more.

    Reply
  3. Bethany @ A Fish Who Likes Flowers says

    March 4, 2012 at 6:07 pm

    These are really cute! I have a few small wood pieces I was thinking of making some small plaques with and this gives me some inspiration. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  4. Kathy says

    March 3, 2012 at 11:07 pm

    LOVE this idea & the colors are awesome!!! Thnx so much for the printable project directions! I’m thinking of doing this with the words “Live, Laugh, Love”…so many different ideas would be great!! <3

    Reply
    • admin says

      March 4, 2012 at 11:56 am

      Live Laugh Love would be awesome! :)

      Reply
  5. Jamie says

    March 2, 2012 at 4:31 am

    These came out great…love! I totally want to make some now! Thanks for sharing! :)

    Reply
    • admin says

      March 4, 2012 at 12:00 pm

      Thanks Jamie!

      Reply
  6. patti says

    March 1, 2012 at 6:57 pm

    These are so cute. Thank you so much for the easy to follow directions and pics! Very nice.

    Reply
  7. kimbowest says

    March 1, 2012 at 3:43 pm

    you are famous! http://todayscreativeblog.net/crafts-diy/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+todayscreativeblog+%28Todays+Creative+Blog%29 (and i totally love these plaques and will be linking up to them in my shout out sunday! awesome job amanda!

    Reply
    • admin says

      March 4, 2012 at 12:03 pm

      Haha thanks Kimbo! Wasn’t that awesome of her??? What a rockstar!

      Reply
  8. Erika says

    March 1, 2012 at 2:50 am

    These are so neat and the possibilities are endless!

    Reply
  9. Julie Warner says

    February 28, 2012 at 9:59 pm

    I love those. The colors are so earthy just like herbs. And what I really like is they look like an easy afternoon craft. Thanks for sharing these.

    Reply
  10. Jill says

    February 27, 2012 at 1:26 pm

    Love this! We have our Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday Link Party going on now and would love for you to share this! http://kitchenfunwithmy3sons.blogspot.com/2012/02/kitchen-fun-and-crafty-friday-link_23.html

    Reply
  11. Noahla says

    February 27, 2012 at 2:44 am

    Clever!!

    Reply
  12. Natasha says

    February 25, 2012 at 8:35 pm

    wow! these are great

    Natasha

    Reply
  13. Cookie 17 says

    February 25, 2012 at 6:19 pm

    WoW these are pretty Amanda As all ways you did a great job,I think I may try these .Thank’s Keep up great work~~~~Cookie17

    Reply
  14. Teresa says

    February 25, 2012 at 5:58 pm

    Love this! Pinned it of course, thanks tons for the printable instructions, that rocks!

    Reply
    • admin says

      February 28, 2012 at 11:15 pm

      Thanks Teresa!

      Reply
  15. Laura @ Ms Smartie Pants says

    February 25, 2012 at 5:09 pm

    Very cute idea! I am redoing my kitchen right now and looking for some new things for the walls, this would be perfect!

    Reply
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