Texture Texture Texture

For some people, it's bling.  For others, it's fancy folds.  And everyone loves dimension.  As for me, there's nothing more compelling on a card (or any paper craft) than TEXTURE.  Something that makes you want to touch it.  After all, I think its the tactile quality of paper crafts that make them so accessible to young and old alike.  Most of us were tearing up paper (and chewing it?!?!?) before we could talk.  Kindergarten was all about cutting and gluing and making things.  It's an attraction that digital creations, while amazing, can never satisfy.  The sense of touch is just so important for us humans.  It helps us understand our world.  It's grounding.

So here are a few cards that highlight texture.  And yes, everyone always runs their fingers over them!

The first card is so simple.  All the texture comes from layering punched border strips on top of each other.  Doing them all in the same color focuses your attention on the texture.

This next card is done with one of my favorite super-easy techniques.  The "suede" texture is accomplished by just wadding up the cardstock - FUN! - then flatten it out and peel the layers apart.  What appears is the furry inside, very soft.  And by adding pierced holes, faux stitching and a strip of embossed card stock, I was trying to replicate the feeling of a hand-made garment.  Don't you just love that adorable lamb?



Finally, this last card's base was made with an embossing folder.  The image can be made deeper by very lightly spritzing the card stock with water, and then adding layers of scrap paper (otherwise known as "shims") to the embossing "sandwich" to give it more dimension.  More texture is added by using the canvas diecut label, and layering the flower diecuts.  And using ribbon is an easy and favorite way to add that last finishing touch of texture.