Like many of you, I love the look of textures and layers on my projects but not the bulk the actual layers create. Today I’m sharing some of my tricks for creating depth and textures without the bulk…:)
1. Choose a neutral coloured patterned paper and distress the edges.
The all-over pattern on the paper creates visual interest while the neutral colour just makes it easier to add the colorants of your choice. Distressing the edges helps to create texture.
2. Apply clear gesso to the patterned paper and create random splotches of watered down white gesso.
The clear gesso creates the “tooth” for the mediums and colorants to adhere to. Applying watered-down white gesso at random spots on your patterned paper creates some visual interest on your background without any bulk. You can also use watered down acrylic paints.
3. Add stamping.
Again, this creates visual interest without bulk. I went with a darker colour and stamped at the edges where I wanted my embellishment clusters to be.
4. Apply texture mediums with The Crafter’s Workshop stencils.
There are so many texture mediums you can experiment with to create fun textures with The Crafter’s Workshop stencils. I used a thin layer of Liquitex blended fibers with TCW 485 Coptic Impressions and just coloured with Faber Castell Gelatos. The effect is very subtle.
I used Liquitex Sand Resin medium with TCW 490 Tattered Lace for a more gritty effect. I coloured with Faber Castell Gelatos and Silks Acrylic Glazes.
5. Add little bits of mica flakes and bling.
Shimmer and glitter really add visual interest. I used Golden Gold Mica flakes and little bits of bling.
6. Create embellishment clusters with a mix of textures.
I love creating embellishment clusters with a mix of hard and soft materials…like paper, fabric and metal. The light hits them differently and helps to create the illusion of depth.
Hope you find my tricks for creating depth and textures useful! 🙂
Cheers,
The Crafter’s Workshop Design Team
Beautiful work! thanks for the wonderful tutorial :).
Love this, Yvonne! I absolutely love all of the layers and texture on this project!!
Thanks for showing a close-up of all the wonderful textures
WOW, Yvonne! I love how you creative the layers and textures here. Thank you so much for sharing your techniques with all of us!
GIRL…..you ROCK the texture and layers!!1