Get Textured: Paper

I am so excited to be with ya'll today from clear out in windy Wyoming country!  This post is kicking off a series of posts and challenges dedicated to creating texture on your pages.

I created this Halloween layout to showcase the 3 texture techniques that will be our Friday features: paper, charms, and fabric. This week we will be focusing on paper layers. There are so many ways to achieve texture with paper. And the best part about texturing with paper is that it's cheap and so versatile.

You could say that my layout hit the weights and 'got ripped' (hehe...a little humor for my PE teacher hubbs). But in all seriousness, tearing several sheets of paper and layering them is an easy technique that grants immediate texture results.
I also like to ink each of my layers to ensure that they stand out. Tearing and distressing can be done a variety of ways and
there are tools out there to make it easier; I, however, have found that my fingernail works best for me (I never have to look for it). I also like to use the Precision File Set by Basic Grey when I need to sand or file thick papers or accents.

Other ways to create layers with paper include:

• Painting
• Misting
• Crinkling
• Inking
• Chalking
• Stacking
• Folding
• Cutting and layering with decorative edges
• Sewing multiple layers together
• Punching (using puch-outs on top of negatives as pop-outs and the negatives alone as overlays)
• Multiple strips
• Mat layering
• Sanding
• Layering tone on tone with multiple textures
• Rolling
• Popping paper features (layering the accents of patterned paper with 2 sheets of the same paper, cut shapes from one and adhere it to the other with a pop-dot)
• Color Blocking
• Embossing
• Overlays

Thanks Rita for this example of popping paper!
 

Awesome use of paint by Valerie Mangan (an Ella friend) on this Go West layout!
 

Yeah Keshet, way to layer decorative edges to add texture! (Keshet is another Ella friend.)
 

Layering patterns can be tricky, but Jenni nailed it with this layout! (Yes, she too is an Ella friend!)

For me, I found that the best way to layer with paper and get big results is to stick with similar colors and use repetition.  I like to use papers within a similar line because it takes out most of the guesswork and matching. I think mixing multiple patterns with similar color tones creates the biggest effect and keeps it from becoming distracting. I enjoy clean pages, so I try to keep my texturing in clusters-much like what you would do with embellishments...small and poignant with understated punches.

Regardless of what your texturing style is, never be afraid to try something new...it's only paper, and you might just find a new groove. Lastly, remember...if you are ever stuck and looking for a way to pop your pages, do like my husbands basketball players and "tear it up"!

This beautiful altered box was submitted by the talented, Katherine Bley, can you believe the roses are handmade? Wow!

I hope all of these amazing pages have left you inspired, because I want to issue ya'll a challenge to try one of these paper texture techniques...and send it my way (along with your submissions for charms and fabric) to submissions@ellapublishing.com with the subject line "Texture Challenge."

Until next week...Happy Scrappin'!
Liz