Today on SUDSOL (an email list for Stampin' Up! demonstrators) we were issued a "triple step up" challenge. We needed to start with a basic card, then step it up with an extra embellishment or two, and then step it up again with all the little extras. Doesn't that sound like fun? Of course I had to play.
I combined this with the Featured Stamper challenge on splitcoast too. I looked through Jennifer's gallery and decided to use this card as my inspiration for the Triple Step Up. I actually made the card that had all of the extras on it first and then worked backwards. I'll show you the level 1 cards first.
It's a very simple, basic card. I used my Embrace Life stamp set and the coordinating Ginger Blossom Designer Series Paper. I stamped the leaves in Basic Black ink on Very Vanilla cardstock and colored them in with my Mellow Moss marker. Next I punched out some flowers from Ruby Red cardstock using my Three For You punch. I added a little black dot to the center of the flowers with my Basic Black marker. 
For the next step I decided to add a layer of Basic Black cardstock between the card base and the four pieces of designer series paper. I changed the flowers by using Black Brads in the center and I attached them using dimensionals.
For the central panel, I used the Faux Silk technique. I stamped the leaves on white tissue paper, colored them with my Mellow Moss marker, crumpled the tissue paper, smoothed it out, and glued it with a glue stick to a piece of Groovy Guava cardstock.
For the final step, I added another layer of cardstock to the central panel. I added a lot of paper piercing too. I changed the flowers from punched cardstock to flowers from the Pretties Kit. I added pearls to the center of each flower as well as in two of the corners. I also added dimensionals in two places--behind the central panel and behind the Basic Black cardstock that is attached to the card base.
I really enjoyed making these three cards. I will definitely be trying this challenge again. Try it, you'll like it! ~Dannie
Stamps: Embrace Life
Paper: Very Vanilla, Ruby Red, Groovy Guava, Basic Black, Ginger Blossoms DSP, White Tissue
Ink: Basic Black, Mellow Moss, Ruby Red (to color the Pretties flowers)
Accessories: Pretties Kit, Crafters' Tool Kit, Dimensionals, Glue Stick, Black Brads, Three For You Punch
