Liquid Texture

Liquid Texture

By Aliya White

When you are looking to add that extra little something to your cards, you don’t have to look very far into your craft stash to find something that will make your projects stand out.  Adding texture is really hot right now.  Gesso, embossing paste and even acrylic paint can be used to create something special on your paper projects.

This first card from Jennifer is a lovely reminder on how nice white on white can look with a little bit of glitter.  The stencil pattern is lovely and elegant.

Card by Jennifer McGuire photo courtesy of Jennifer McGuire Ink

Speaking of glitter, some embossing pastes have glitter in them but you don’t have to be limited by the selection.  Gayatri added glitter to the top of  her paste while it was wet to create this stand out card, also with a stencil.  I seriously love the glitter.

Card by Gayatri Murali photo courtesy of Handmade by G3

Another direct to paper approach is to create a texturized background to highlight another element of your card.  This next example is quite lovely with the flower and vine die cuts behind it.

Card by Jackie Pedro photo courtesy of The Scalloped Garden

Another example is this pretty little purple butterfly.  The texture, plus the epoxy stickers make it look so delicate.

Card by Michelle Short photo courtesy of The Card Grotto

Hello!  Look how awesome the texture and contrast are on this next card.  I think grey and gold is my new favorite color combination (by sanders).  The white on white again makes everything just pop off the card.

Card by Charlene Bopp photo courtesy of Charlene’s Studio Ink

Look at the floating quality of Michelle’s card.  She says she used a stencil traditionally used for snow.  I love the overall look she was able to achieve by cascading her hearts and the “snow flakes” down the side of the card.  Very pretty.

Card by Michelle Lupton photo courtesy of Handmade by Michelle

Jennifer made this next card with a product called Ferro metal effect texture color.  Look at that yummy metallic color.  Perfect for the sun she created for the card.  It definitely turned out more than okay.

Card by Jennifer McGuire photo courtesy of Simon Says Stamp Blog

You can also use texture on chipboard pieces you use for your paper crafts.  The gesso on this scroll circle makes it look like plaster.  Very cool shabby effect.

Card by Patter Cross photo courtesy of Triple the Scraps

Stencils are not the only way to add this awesome texture.  You can take a paintbrush right to the paper with gesso and create lovely brush marks directly on the paper like Gayatri did on this wonderful card.

 Card by Gayatri Murali photo courtesy of Handmade by G3

  Mayuri made the entire color pallet  for this hexagon hottie by using embossing paste and reinkers and blended them together and smoothed them over a stencil for the ombre effect.

 Card by Mayuri photo courtesy of Candles in the Garden 

  I just love how this next card came together and was amazed when I read that Jennifer made it using white acrylic paint swirled with pastel acrylic paint!

 Card by Jennifer Rzasa photo courtesy of Our Change of Art

 This last card using embossing paste is a stunner.  It looks like one of those sunsets you want to go on and on.  What is cool to note is that Debbie colored the white embossing paste after it dried.  The lovely colors came from rubbing and mixing after the stencil was removed.

 What I love about this trend is you can start where you are with what you have.  You can use acrylic or break out your embossing paste; create a stencil, use an existing one or gesso directly on the paper.  You are not limited by color, just your imagination.  Below are a few of the products a few of the designers used in their projects.

So go ahead… make something pretty.