dimensional poppies card by lauren bergold

my very favorite element to add to any project-- especially cards-- is ♥TEXTURE♥! for one thing, it adds so much interest and appeal to any design; for another, i find it is usually the thing by which "civilians" (aka"non-paper-crafters"!) are most impressed! unfortunately, it's also the thing which shows up LEAST in photographs, but i will try to capture it a little in this card made with the MARY MARY QUITE CONTRARY kit!

i chose to highlight a few of the luscious shades and patterns of pink in the kit this time: i've got echo park's "garden gate" paper as a background, with a mat of glitz's "pretty in pink toile"; plus decorative strips created from the front AND back of that same pattern, accented by poppies cut from pink paislee's "oyster bar".  the tag is from the giant sheet of crate paper's "random" stickers, (in which i have hardly made a dent... despite having made SIX projects!!!) and finally i've used tulle and lace from the card of glitz "beautiful dreamer" trimmings.

here are a couple of close-ups that i *hope* will show off some of my "texture tricks"! my biggest secret weapon is 1/16" double-sided foam mounting tape, which i buy in six-inch rolls inexpensively at the office supply store, and which i prefer infinitely to the pre-made, uber-thick "foam dots" they sell for crafting. i like that it gives my layers more dimension without making anything stick out too far. (if i want EXTRA lift, i just double up on layers!)here you can see (apologies for the weird photo angle!) i've used it under the poppies, and the top half of the tag: 

another instant fix is stitching, whether by hand or machine... i've done the latter here around the edges of both my patterned paper panels; an added bonus is that if you've got lumpy layers--or anything that's difficult to adhere--you've got extra safety by SEWING it on! lace, tulle, and ribbon are great for getting in lots of different textures. finally, a very simple thing, when using border punches like the scalloppy ones i've got on this card: only attach the lower end securely, let the "loopy" edge stay loose! in fact, i've bent this one up a tiny bit, just as i have curled the edges of the flower petals, which really makes them stand out more prominently. some additional ideas (which i've not done here, but often do) are to distress, tear, and/or curl the edges of your paper; and also to add glitter, embossing, or flocking as highlights. every little bit counts!

how will you know when you've "mastered" the realm of texture? well, for one thing, you'll notice that everyone who sees your cards immediately wants to TOUCH THEM... even the non-crafty people! that is a sign you've done very well indeed!!! ♥

* Supplies *

Pixie Dust Paperie March Kit

"Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary"

"Paper Only" pack 

Usual $8.50 

TODAY only - $5

simply send an email to kirsty@pixiedustpaperie.com and we will get it set up for you

** Pixie March Challenge **

"Sketch by Kirsty"

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*** Pixie March GIVEAWAY ***

We are giving away this lovely thing to ONE lucky Pixie follower today, if you have been a Pixie follower, simply CLICK HERE to add your name to the list, no need to leave comment and no other "work", just add your name and we will draw one lucky number from that list