Gretchen Barron: Takin' It to the Top Tuesday

Hello and Happy Tuesday morning, everyone! Today is a "Takin it To the Top" Tuesday -- a somewhat regular feature on my blog where we take one basic card and "step it up" three ways, adding layers, embellishments, texture and interest with each version. All of the cards today use the Autumn Splendor Stamp Set and the Autumn Meadows Designer Series Paper, both new products from the Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini Catalog (if you don't have your copy yet, e-mail me and I'll send you one). Here's my first card for Takin' It To the Top Tuesday. It's a fine card, a basic card, there is nothing wrong with this card and it would be a great option for beginning stampers. The layers are as follows:

1. Layer One -- Card Base of Chocolate Chip, cut at 8.5 x 5.5" and folded in half. Crease with Bone Folder for a nice, tight fold.

2. Layer Two -- Really Rust Cardstock cut at 4 x 5.25"

Layer Three -- Autumn Meadows Designer Series Paper cut at 5.25 x 2"

4. Layer Four -- Chocolate Chip, cut at 3.75 x 2"

5. Layer Five -- Very Vanilla cardstock, cut at 3.5 x 1.75"

All three cards will use this same basic design. For the first card, I put some Tempting Turquoise 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon in the middle, on top of the "seam" where the DSP meets the Cardstock, and then tied a little "faux" box on. The sentiment, from Sincere Salutations, is stamped in Chocolate Chip Ink and the three leaves are stamped in Chocolate Chip, Really Rust and More Mustard. I would be happy to receive this card, wouldn't you?

Okay, now for the more adventurous, let's step-it-up a notch. Here is card #2. As you can see, I added some texture to layer Number Two with the Big Shot and the Stampin' Up! Texturz I Texture Plates. I sponged around the edges of layers two and five. And I changed out the ribbon to 3/8" Chocolate Chip Taffeta. Those are the only changes I made in this version. You can see that the changes are subtle, but definitely visible and effective. It is definitely a "stepped up" card.

Okay, now let's Take it to the Top! I added even more sponging to layer Two and Three, including sponging over the texture to help it pop-out more. I also did Paper Piercing around the entire perimeter of layers two and three. I did Paper Piercing around the edges of layer Four and cut down layer Five by just 1/8" on each side, to help bring out the piercing a little more. Layers Four and Five Both have sponging around the edges. I stamped another leaf on a scrap of Very Vanilla Cardstock and attached it with Stampin' Dimensionals to help it stand out. And instead of a faux box, this time I tied a real bow on the side and trimmed the ends of the tails in a "v" shape.

So, there you go. Start with a basic card and Take it to the Top by adding texture, layers and more elements. Oh, and don't forget to add a little somethin' on the inside of the card! I would love to read your comments and see examples of the ways that you are taking your projects "to the top".

I hope to hear from you soon!

Comments

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I'm turning into a sponging addict - it is subtle but sure makes a difference. Thanks for showing this fabulous card!

Ellen

Posted by: Ellen Kemper | September 08, 2009 at 07:51 AM

This is super cute, and i love your new banners.. That's my digital studio, right?

Posted by: Selene Kempton | September 08, 2009 at 08:23 AM

Thank you for sharing your passion for cardmaking/scrapping. This is an awesome sample card! I love how you go from easy, intermediate to advanced! So inspiring!!!

Posted by: Janet Favia | September 08, 2009 at 08:47 AM