I used a few unusual tools during my 100-Day Project, and three of them became favorites.
None of these are fancy. Two came from a flea market, and one is from the dollar store. But all three created textures that I absolutely love.
First up is this building block base.
What I liked most about it was the size. It covered my entire 8x10 gel plate, so I didn't have to repeat the pattern or line things up perfectly.
I especially liked it in green paired with my "Wiggles" stencil. The dots reminded me of peas in a pod.
I found this one at the dollar store.
Next is a paper doily.
I found these at a flea market.
I almost didn't buy them, but I'm glad I did.
Because of the little holes and the uneven edges of the doilies, my pressure wasn't always perfectly even. Instead of creating a crisp pattern, it sometimes created soft, foggy textures that I thought were really interesting.
Sometimes the unexpected results are the best part.
And finally, this wooden heart piece.
I bought this one at a flea market too, but similar wooden shapes can often be found at craft stores.
I've used wooden letters and other wooden objects as texture tools over the years, but this little heart pattern became one of my favorites.
The irregularity of the pattern and the little hearts add a whimsical touch to the printed piece.
So that's this week's tip:
Keep your eyes open.
You never know when a dollar store toy, a flea market find, or a humble paper doily will turn into your new favorite texture tool.
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