Dori Shelton
- Apr 26
- 2 min read

No Machine Techniques to Add Texture

Hi Everyone! Thank you for joining me today. I am sharing ways to add texture to your handmade cards without the use of any machines or heating guns, embossing folders etc. These techniques will be especially helpful if you are perhaps just starting out on your paper crafting journey and don't yet have some of these crafting "appliances" or perhaps you're traveling for a crop or event and don't have room for them or perhaps you just need to save some time and get a card made quickly.

Click below for the video for full demonstration of each technique. Detailed descriptions are also available with each card photo below the video

Card 1: Butterfly Card

For this first card, I created the background by using my mini score board to create a diamond shaped background. I placed the top and bottom corner in the board at the 3 1/2 inch mark and then scored 1 inch intervals and then came back and added another score line at 1/8in intervals. I rotated the card stock and repeated the process for all four corners.

I then inks the background with a brayer and Distress Oxide inks Salvaged Patina, Broken China and Prize ribbon. The butterfly image and sentiment are from Hero Arts

Card 2: Fantastic Day

For the second card, I used my score board again this time to create simple score lines that I left plain without color. I cut the panel and then layered it with some patttern paper from Altenew and added interest and depth to the card by elevating the bottom layer of the panel. I added two small strips of silver foil paper and a simple sentiment from Hero Arts to complete the card.

Card 3: Balloon Card

For my final card, I used a technique I learned many years ago! I soften a piece of paper with a little spritz of water, crumpled the paper in my hands, smoothed it back out, inked the background with some fun bright inks (Worn Lipstick, Mustard Seed, and Broken China) wet the paper again and crumpled it again, smoothed it out and let it dry completely. The balloon and sentiment are from Altenew and I added a layer of glossy accents to the balloon for even more texture.