Stepping up your cards

Last weekend I attended an online gather of Stampin' Up! Demonstrators and Staff.   The gather was call On Stage @ Home.   These usually take place at different locations; to bring together lots of old and new friends.   Because of COVID, Stampin' Up! decided to do this online.   It was so much fun.   We learned a lot about the 2 new CATALOGS coming out in January.  They told us we would have 2 - SALE-a-brations in 2021, the mini Catalog is wonderful - the colors, stamps, kits, dies, punches...I am looking forward to ordering.   The staff told us about changes and updates to the company.   AND...we had incredible demonstrators teach us and show us cards/products using some of the new stamp sets and bundles in the new catalogs.   It was a fabulous way to connect with Stampin' Up!  AND...I missed my friends a lot.   I missed Swapping!  In the next few months, you will see cards using the new stamps we were able to purchase.   (One is on my Facebook right now...it's stickin' cute!)

One of the ideas Stampin' Up! talked about was how to step up cards.   Starting with the new stampers who are on a budget to stampers who have been with you for years.   Being open to creating basic ideas for cards and then being able to create something for your long term friends who want a little more challenges around card making.  I feel I create more in the middle and I can scare people away who may not have the stamps, skills, or means to create like that.   

This will be my first try at taking a basic card and adding more challenges for those avid stampers.   

This is my basic card.   It uses a couple of cards of cardstock, some designer series paper, a stamp set, an ink pad, and a couple of embellishments.   (I realize I may have gone too far! LOL)  I used Crumb Cake and Early Espresso Card stock,  Ornate Thanks stamp set, Braided Linen Trim, Early Espresso ink pad, Metallic Pearls, Dimensionals, Rectangular Postage Stamp Punch, and Gilded Autumn Specialty Designer Series Paper (DSP).  (SU is out of the Gilded Autumn DSP)

I received this card from Jenn Lindamood a month or two ago.   I always knew it would be my "little more of a challenge" for stampers.   This card requires a Big Shot or Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machines.   This also challenges those who like to be "perfect" when it comes to lining strips of paper up evenly.  This card also uses the Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, and Copper card stock, Stampin' cut & emboss machine, Ornate Thanks stamp set, Gilded Autumn Specialty Designer Series Paper, Ornate Layer Dies, Tasteful Textile 3D folder, and Cajun Craze ink pads.  

This is a card for the avid stamper.   It can be tricky with a fancy fold.   I added a leaf at the bottom for color and to draw attention to the fancy fold.   I used Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, and Copper Card stock, Ornate Thanks stamp set, Ornate Layer Dies, Big Shot or Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine, Braided Linen Trim,  Gathered Leaves Dies, Scalloped Tag Topper Punch, Gilded Autumn Specialty Designer Series Paper, Dimensionals, and an Early Espresso ink pad.

Please let me know what you think about the cards.   My hope is to continue doing step-up cards so everyone feels they are apart of my creation.

Thank you for stopping by today!

Product List

Ornate Layers Dies [152726]	Ornate Thanks Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [149471]	Scalloped Tag Topper Punch [133324]	Copper Foil Sheets [142020]
Gathered Leaves Dies [150662]	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430]	3/16" (1 Cm) Braided Linen Trim [147808]	Gilded Autumn Specialty Designer Series Paper [153520]
Early Espresso 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [119686]	Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad [147114]	Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [101650]	Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [120953]
Cajun Craze Classic Stampin' Pad [147085]	Tasteful Textile 3D Embossing Folder [152718]	Metallic Pearls [146282]	Rectangular Postage Stamp Punch [152709]