Happy Monday!

Yesterday, I posted a CAS (Clean and Simple) version of this card.  Today is a stepped up version.  It’s always fun to do a little step up with a clean and simple card.  You can also create the stepped up version first and take your design down a bit.  Below is yesterday’s card.

So let’s talk about what I did to “step up” yesterday’s card.

Layers:  I added more layers to the card posted today.  Three to be exact.  I used a Basic Black card base, added a layer of Cinnamon Cider, another layer of Basic Black, then my patterned paper layer.  The layers framed the patterned paper and balanced the colors in the cats.

Elements:  The elements are the circles, the fussy cut cats and the yarn balls.  I added more of them but kept the colors balanced.  The top cat and the bottom cat have more color than the middle cat.

Sentiment Layer:  The sentiment in today’s post has more layers.  I added a Cinnamon Cider layer to keep the colors balanced.  The middle cat is gray and white, no Cinnamon Cider but the little bit of Cinnamon Cider near the gray and white cat help him to fit in.

You can step up a design or take a stepped up version down a bit and create a clean and simple design simply by adding or removing layers and/or elements.

Now, I’ll share a quick stampin’ story with you.

I did it again!  Two weeks in a row.  Last week, I added the wrong color to a card for a Color Challenge and had to do a quick save.  This week, I created today’s post for a CAS Challenge over at the Paper Players.  When I went to upload it to the Design Team’s blog, I realized it was a CAS Challenge!  Back to my stamps, paper and paper snips I went and took today’s card down a bit for LeAnne’s CAS Challenge.  There’s always a silver lining.  I had a good laugh for myself and had today’s project ready to go!

So, pull out some patterned paper, fussy cut a few cats, add some layers and create something to step up or take down a bit, or both!

…the only limitation is your imagination!

For details on the supplies I used today, you can click on the images below.

Click to shop my online store at Stampin’ Up!