Textures Simply Add Interest To A Layer

Don’t you just love it when an idea works out exactly as you’d hoped? I’ve been working on a number of simple project layouts but wanted to add just a little extra interest. Jewels and other embellishments are one option, but then I thought about adding ‘textures’. So what better place to start then the Tasteful Textile 3D Embossing Folder…

Quick textured folded gift tag with holly image created using the Happy Holly-Days Stamp Set and Tasteful Textile 3D Embossing Folder from Stampin' Up! #papercraftwithme

READABLE TEXTURES

I often try out my ideas using small projects like tags or bookmarks. Today I decided to start with the simple but very pretty holly image from the Happy Holly-Days Stamp Set.

On a 2-3/8″ x 2-3/8″ scrap of Very Vanilla Card I used Tuxedo Black ink to stamp the holly in the top left corner. Then I chose Shaded Spruce and Poppy Parade Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers to colour the image.

One of my favourite ‘cheats’ for colouring with Stampin’ Blends is to take hints from the image itself. So I’d start with one area e.g. a leaf and look for areas shaded by the artist who designed the stamp image. Those shaded parts I colour using the darker Stampin’ Blends marker in my chosen colour. Then I go over the whole area with the lighter one. With one area done I’d then move on to the next until everything is coloured. Sometimes I also leave tiny areas uncoloured (like on the berries) to add the idea of a reflection.

Once my holly image was finished I chose the simple “for you” sentiment from the Happy Holly-Days Stamp Set. Using Tuxedo Black ink I stamped it towards the bottom right-hand corner, leaving some nice empty space around it.

Now I was ready to emboss the layer using my Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine and one of Stampin’ Up!’s embossing folders. I have quite a few of these but I needed something that added interest without obscuring the sentiment. For that reason I settled on the Tasteful Textile 3D Embossing Folder. After embossing the piece I set it aside while I worked on the rest of the tag.

COLOURFUL LAYERS

Taking my cue from the holly image I decided to use the same bright colours for my tag base and mat layer.

So using my Paper Trimmer I first cut a 3″ x 6″ piece of Shaded Spruce Card and scored it at 3″. Then I folded it along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder.

To turn the ‘mini card’ into a tag I needed to add a hole at the back and for that I pulled out the Detailed Trio Punch. I placed the open card under the oval hole option on the punch with the crease just to the right of the centre line and punched. Then I threaded some Very Vanilla twine from the Baker’s Twine Essentials Pack through the hole and tied it in a simple knot.

On the inside of the tag I used Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) to attach a 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ piece of Very Vanilla Card. This would make it easier to add a message later.

Finally it was time to add the holly layer but first I mounted it onto a 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ piece of Poppy Parade Card using liquid glue. Then with Stampin’ Dimensionals I attached the assembled piece to the tag front and my project was complete.

I love how this experiment turned out. Including that little bit of texture in the design really adds interest to what is essentially a very simple design. While I played it safe with the Tasteful Textile 3D Embossing Folder I’m sure there are others that would work just as well. I think I need to experiment a bit more with stamped sentiments and different embossing folders to see what works and what doesn’t. I’ll let you know how I get on.

For some more projects using the Happy Holly-Days Stamp Set see these earlier blog posts:

PRODUCT LIST

BUNDLE BONUS – The Happy Holly-Days Stamp Set is available by itself or as part of a bundle with the Holly Border Punch (not used today). Buying both items together using a single ‘bundle’ item number will saved me 10% off the cost of buying the two items separately. I’ve included a link to the bundle in case you want to explore that option for yourself.