CZ Design

Simple or stepped-up? Two ways to create using simple shapes and stamps

Simple or stepped-up? Two ways to create using simple shapes and stamps

Welcome to Day One of a blog hop to celebrate the Favorite Things release from Simon Says Stamp! Today I’m sharing how to step up a design, using roughly the same products. We start with a simpler design and then I’ll show you how I stepped up the second one. First, check out the tutorial:

I love both cards and hopefully you can see how just a few extra steps can upgrade a design!

Now onto the blog hop details.

BLOG HOP SPECIAL:

SHOP SIMON SAYS STAMP HERE

BLOG HOP GIVEAWAY:

Simon Says Stamp is giving away a $25 coupon to every stop on the hop from your blog comment section. We’ll choose your winners and post on our Simon Says Stamp blog on Wednesday the 5th of March. Your winner can email us to claim his/her prize 🙂

BLOG HOP STOPS:

Here are all the makers in today’s hop! Be sure to visit each one and leave a comment as you go to increase your chances of winning!

Simon Says Stamp Blog  

Nina-Marie Trapani

Nichol Spohr

Cathy Zielske—you are here!

Barbara Tarayao

Keisha Charles

Heather Ruwe

Alberto Gava

Kulbir Kirkland

Caryn Davies

Emma Williams

Allison Frazier

Bobbi Lemanski

Jessica Vasher

Mary Reiner

Melissa Phillips

Thanks so much for stopping by!

SUPPLIES:

Affiliate links are used in this post and below at no additional cost to you. I receive a small percent of compensation when you click through and shop using the provided links. You are supporting me and my small business directly by shopping with my links and for that I thank you. Items with an asterisk were gifted by the manufacturer. All other supplies were purchased by me.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tammy Lynne Davis says

    Your cards are always so beautiful and your tutorials are very clear and easy to follow. Thank you so much for all of the inspiration you provide!

  2. KimberlyO says

    I think I’m a fan of the “simple” version. I love making one-layer cards, although sometimes they aren’t always simple to make. (Which is kind of an oxymoron, a simple card with complicated steps?) LOL Although I guess maybe it would be better for those cards to just be called “one-layer” cards instead of “simple”.

    Although everything is complicated in my craft room right now with two four-month-old kittens, they are nuts when they aren’t sleeping.

  10. Joann Bedsaul says

    Beautiful cards, Cathy!! Love the silhouette design and the progression of the 3 circles. The embossing folder gave such a great look to the image!! Thanks as always for sharing your amazing talents!!

  19. Leslie Longoria says

    Enjoyed the concept of using a product on one card and then doing it again on another card with different details. I feel it makes it a little more challenging and fun to see how many ways you can use a main product to create a variety of projects. Will be challenging myself with your idea here. Lovely cards!

  21. Marcy Schneider says

    Cathy, simple is fabulous but I love the embossing folder dimension, I have to say! Either way, your ink blended cards are spectacular! Thanks for sharing!

  23. Sandy Anderson says

    What a beautiful card! I love how your cards are always so simple, yet so elegant and NOT simple looking! Thank you for sharing!

  25. Janice says

    Kathy I love these types of cards! Both are beautiful, but my favorite is the stepped up one. What I really like is that they are unisex cards.

  28. Kim Lundstrom says

    Love both of the cards! I am a huge CZ fan and would consider wearing a t shirt that says it is so 😁

  33. Amanda Steele says

    Wow! Beautiful cards, but I’m actually liking the simple one just a tad more than the stepped up one. I love the stamp set you used and hope to have that in my stash one day.
    I do appreciate you showing us HOW to step up a card though and you’re the second person showing the craft tacky mat inside of the Misti as opposed to the foam, so I guess that’s another item I didn’t know about as I had stopped making cards for a long while.
    So, thanks for highlighting that too. Also, thanks for your tip on ink blending a panel if you’re not sure what to make. Will definitely try that.

  35. JOY RUTHERFORD says

    A “simple” card that doesn’t look “simple” Your use of ombre and silhouetted flowers with a simple sentiment results in a beautiful card.

  36. Veronica Hunt says

    What a cute set, I love what you did with it. Great cards! Your tutorial is so easy to follow. Thanks for taking the time to share it with us.

  37. Marty says

    Love the idea of using the same stamp in different ways. Wouldn’t have thought of using an embossing folder on the 3 circles. Must try this technique! Thanks for the inspiration!

  38. Kathryn Remold says

    Cathy, I love the silhouette stamp set you used. And thanks for sharing different options. Thanks for the inspiration!

  41. Barb Brandt says

    What beautiful cards! And that embossed texture really made them pop. The sunset colors are spot on. Thanks for the inspiration.

  48. LINDA FILLDS says

    Cathy, Cathy, Cathy I totally love these cards. Huge silhouette fan and I am going to try these , especially the triple circle… gorgeous. loved the video , tyfs 🙂

  50. Ann Hoerstmann says

    Thanks for a really great tutorial on your techniques for making this card. It is very pretty!

  51. Kristine Boydstun says

    Both cards are so beautiful. Love the silhouettes, and the technique with the embossing folder!

  54. Lori Spitzer says

    I like both cards very much. I think the “simple” one is slightly more attractive to me, but it’s only by a whisker!
    Thx for the inspo…
    Lori S in PA

  58. Jeannie says

    I love these stamps and accessories. The designs are perfect for sympathy cards. I love these stamps colors, too!

  66. Carol r says

    Thank you Cathy! I love the simple one and I really love the stepped up one! Thank you so much for giving us options that are equally awesome!

  67. Shannon Bettis says

    Beautiful job Cathy! Love your simple & easy style. Absolutely love your CZ Designs Silhouette Sentiments stamp set. Love the Simon Says Stamp release. Lots of must have items 💖

  68. Gina M. says

    Love these both! Always appreciate your inspiration, your videos, and your lives! You keep the happy in card making!

  69. Patricia Davis says

    I am new to this blog hop with SSS and so glad I started. I love that you did a youtube so I can follow along easily. Your cards are fabulous.

  71. Sheri Kempke says

    Great cards Cathy, love the ink blended background, i really like both cards ! I make cards specially for each recipient so for the ones who prefer plain and simple I’d give them that card. Thanks for teaching us so many wonderful things.

  72. Mary-Anne V. says

    It’s so pretty.I love the silhouette stamps and both cards are definitely worth trying to create.

  76. DebbieC says

    These are beautiful cards. I have not done a silhouette card but with your tips in this tutorial I will being giving it a try.

  84. Hemmy says

    Another great card from Cathy. The silhouette looks great with those blended colors.

  86. Cate says

    Beautiful cards, Cathy. I love both of them but probably lean towards the more clean and simple one.

  88. Jill Hennessy says

    Wavy waves all the way! The embossing adds just a little extra – love it!

  95. Valerie Hayden says

    Love this idea of setting a focal point with the circle or multiple points with circles. Great use of texture.

  96. Brenda Katrein says

    These are both lovely. Personally I really liked the stepped up version, but if I were to make a card like this in the simple and stepped up it would depend on the recipient as to which I would make.

  102. Cindy Nelson says

    Hi, Cathy. Just watched your video making these cards today and love them! QUESTION: Did you take the Masking Magic off the simple card before you stamped the silhouetted flowers and I missed it? When I’ve made this style card I’ve removed the mask, but I’m not a professional as you are.

    I love your videos, you are so real and very entertaining! ❤️