How would someone paint without a palette knife if s/he wants that at all?
It feels as if you hop from one to the next "task".

How about a knife, ruler, a scratcher to get rid of the ice in a fridge, the window (not in your case), the back of a fork or spoon, a piece of hard cardboard, leather, plastic (toy) or whatever you can find to scrape and mix paint since that is what it is meant for (I did not use it once and don't think I miss it.)

Perhaps you find some answers here but I can also tell it to you: be creative and try out something new!

The "new" by the way is what you did.

P.s. press something in the paint for a different look or use toiletpaper