PLEAS HELP Adding texture to a photo?

Hi,, i want to add texture to a photo on gimp,, which i can do but when i create that as a new layer the original pictures loses a bit of colour and looks faded a bit ,, how would i add texture but keeps the original picture colours bright??/ a bit like this ---http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_hardy/2784299350/ and this-----http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_hardy/3233598239/ thank you xx