Takin' It To the Top Tuesday

Good morning everyone and Welcome to Inspiration in Action for Takin' It To the Top Tuesday. This is the new weekly feature on my blog where I take one basic card, step it up a bit, and then take it to the top. This is the lovely card I've started with today. The stamp sets are Baroque Motifs (one of my all-time favorites) and For All You Do. Colors are Rich Razzleberry, Pale Plumb and Mellow Moss. For this first card, you begin with:

• Layer One -- Cardbase cut at 8.5 x 5.5 and folded in half
• Layer Two -- Whisper White cut at 4 x 5.25 and stamped in each corner with the flourish from Baroque Motifs
• Layer Three -- Rich Razzleberry cut at 2.5 x 3.5
• Layer Four -- Whisper White cut at 2.25 x 3.25 and stamped with the stem and flowers from the stamp set and then tied with a bit of 3/8" Mellow Moss Taffeta Ribbon

It's very lovely, don't you think? I do but let's see what another layer and a simple color change can do. Here's the intermediate card (click to view a larger image). The only changes I made here are that I added an extra layer and I changed the color of the stamped flourish. For this version, the card base is Mellow Moss, Layer Two is Rich Razzleberry and Layer Three is Whisper White cut at 5 x 3.75".

Okay -- are you ready to Take it to the Top?

Here is the final version for today. I added yet another additional layer (the Mellow Moss mat behind the stamped image). I gave some texture to layer three (stamped with Baroque Motifs) by running it through the Big Shot using the Stampin' Up! Backgrounds I Texturz plate (swirls). I stamped two extra large flowers on a scrap of Whisper White cardstock, cut them out, attached a brad in the center and attached them to the card using Stampin' Dimensionals. I also stamped the little butterfly from the stamp set in Pale Plumb and stamped some of the swirls from the Baroque Motifs stamp over the top with Rich Razzleberry. I cut out the butterfly and attached it with Stampin' Dimensionals! You can see that I also did a little stamping on the envelope. What fun! And of course, you don't want to forget and do some stamping on the inside of the card. It deserves to be loved as well!

Well, that's it for today -- another Takin' It To the Top Tuesday! I hope you find some time to create today and let me know what you think about this new blog feature. I love to read your comments and hear your feedback!

Comments

[Selene Kempton]

Gorgeous work as always Gretchen!

[Ellen Kemper]

I love this feature - what a great way to learn how to improve our cards - taking them to a new level!

And a great card too!

Thanks for the lesson

[Cindy Major]

Great design, Gretchen! I really love the colors and flourishes!

Cindy

[Cas Rifkin]

Gosh, I have no upline but you are close to being one for me! I learn so much from you. Thanks so much for this idea. Just love it! Cas

[Susan Erickson]

What a beautiful card, Gretchen! I love the way you show a basic card, intermediate card and a wow card. This is such a neat feature to run weekly on your blog. Sue

[Pam Browne]

Very nice, Gretchen! I really love this post idea(showing how to step up a project)-very inspirational!

[Krista Visser]

Very nice Gretchen ! Love it !!

[mayberry]

I enjoyed your takin' it to the top Tuesday. Very beautiful! Mary

[C@ro]

Love it, love it , love it!
The rich razzleberry is one of my favorites already and I haven't got it yet!
The brads and butterfly really finishes this card with a little extra.
BEAUTIFUL!

[Barbara V]

Beautiful card to start with, Gretchen, but you really did take it over the top with the very simple additions. You never cease to amaze me!

[Janet Smith]

The first card is already over the top...and then you go higher and higher. When I get home from Blythe's, I'll have to try it out. Can't wait for the next one!
Thanks for sharing your talent.