I started with a freehand layer of color, then added more layers of color when that dried - not sure if that cancels the looseness, but sometimes it takes me a while to loosen up...! I didn't have any guidelines to go by, so it works for me.
I used a palette knife to spread some thin layers of matte gel medium onto the card, and pressed an embossing folder into the medium while it was still wet. When it dried I lightly rubbed white acrylic paint over the texture with my finger.