Tamara's Paper Trail

Tuesday, August 11, 2026

Basic Card Layout - How I start my card making process. MCM Layout Aug 10, 2026

Happy Tuesday! It's a cool on here in Edmonton this morning so I'm thinking it's a perfect day to strap on my new runners and break them in a bit before Europe! I haven't walked in a few weeks now. My back was out ... and then I was out of the habit of "just go" ... time to smarten up! Before I do, though, I wanted to get my blog post done for the cards we made last night during my MCM Live. My goal for the night was to walk you through how I (generally) go about making a card. Sounds simple to just "make a card" but, in the past, I would often just sit there, staring at my blank card base and think "now what?"

Let's start with what I made, showing that you don't need all the fancy toys and tools to make a great card! The one on the left is simple a card base, layer of patterned paper, a die cut (from the paper pack) and a sentiment! SIP - Stamps, Ink, Paper. Absolutely lovely! I then showed you how to "step it up" by adding texture, layers and embellishments. Check them out ...

For both cards I used the Violet Dreams paper. This one is about as simple as it can get, yet still so lovely! I stamped the sentiment (Framed Violets) in Gorgeous Grape and added a single flower embellishment (Adhesive Backed Blooms) along with two Pearlized Faceted Circles. Look, Mom, no bow! Simply Lovely!

The "stepped up" version adds layers, texture, dimension and embellishments. I added an embossed layer (the new Softly Woven 3D EF, released Sept 1, 2026) and a mat of Gorgeous Grape. I added a Gorgeous Grape layer behind the banner piece as well. For THIS banner I used my banner dies and trimmed the piece down so it was thinner. This time I stamped the floral image but didn't colour it. Yes, you have my permission to NOT colour things! Look how it POPS without added colour! I used the Pearlized Faceted Circles again, and added a bow. I LOVE how it turned out!

The sign of a great layout is that it works with whatever papers you have on hand. Here are the 3 I shared in my FB Live.

LOVE this one! It uses the Lazy Daisy Embossing Folder and the new Sunflower Fields paper and Radiant Sunflowers Bundle. In the video I share a tip on how I got the sentiment stamped in a line, when the actual stamp itself is NOT! Check out the video replay down below. I used the Radiant Gems for embellishments and coloured the image with Golden Glow and Mossy Meadow blends.

This last one makes me so happy! Of course you KNOW my love of all things blueberry ... but I also love that it came together in under 15 minutes! I used the Homemade Sweetness paper and Filled with Sweetness Bundle. The embellishments are Dewdrops Embellishments. Oh! .. and the embossing folder id, again, the new Softly Woven 3D EF. Swoon .....

Try this layout! It really is a "keeper"! If you want to make one, prep these pieces ....

Check out the video replay on how to put all the pieces together, the additional "mat" dimensions" and a few tricks and tips on using the banner dies .....

That's it for this week. If you would like to join me LIVE for my MCM (Mystery Card Monday) sessions, you can catch me on my FaceBook Page here at 7:00 pm Mountain Time every Monday ... or on my YouTube Channel here at the same time (I stream live to both). Like and Follow my FB Page and/or Subscribe to my YouTube Channel. I'd love to have you - the live community is AMAZING and so much fun!

If you live in Canada and would like to purchase any of the items I used for my cards, just click any of the pictures below and you will be taken to my Stampin' Up! online store. (I apologize that not all products are shown! When I do a blog post before the product is available for sale I can't add it to the list shown below.) Thank you! I appreciate your support!

Stay amazing!

Tamara

Product List

Framed Violets Bundle (English)

[168194]

$67.50

Filled With Sweetness Bundle (English)

[167475]

$78.25

Filled With Sweetness Dies

[167474]

$54.00

Party Banners Dies

[165264]

$55.00

Violet Dreams 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper

[168186]

$24.00

Homemade Sweetness 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper

[167467]

$17.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$20.00

Gorgeous Grape 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[146987]

$20.00

Night Of Navy 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[100867]

$20.00

Cajun Craze 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[119684]

$20.00

Gorgeous Grape Classic Stampin' Pad

[147099]

$12.25

Blueberry Bushel Classic Stampin' Pad

[147138]

$12.25

Cajun Craze Classic Stampin' Pad

[147085]

$12.25

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

[132708]

$11.00

Blueberry Bushel Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

[161679]

$16.50

Granny Apple Green Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154885]

$16.50

Golden Glow Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

[167682]

$16.50

Mossy Meadow Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154890]

$15.00

Lazy Daisy 3 D Embossing Folder

[167196]

$15.00

Adhesive Backed Blooms

[168198]

$11.75

Pearlized Faceted Circles

[166978]

$11.00

Dewdrops Embellishments

[167748]

$12.25

Baker's Twine Essentials Pack

[155475]

$15.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$6.00

Stampin' Seal

[152813]

$12.25

Bone Folder

[102300]

$11.00

Take Your Pick

[144107]

$16.50

Detail Scissors

[170902]

$13.75

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

$39.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$191.00

Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Easy Card Layout: From Simple to Stunning in Just a Few Steps - MCM layout July 28, 2026

Happy Tuesday! It's been a full day for THIS gal already - up at 5:00 am and going hard ever since! Not gunna lie, ready for a nap now. Alas, Blog posts don't write themselves and I'm off to go Glamping tomorrow so Giddy Up, Let's Go!

I hope you had a chance to watch my Mystery Card Monday (MCM) Facebook Live last night. It was a FUN one, where I took a layout I found from Cheryl Dorsey (Cheryl's Stampin' Squad) and turned it into these five awesome cards ....

Notice how the layout can be SUPER simple, using very basic supplies most card makers have (stamps, ink, paper, punch) OR you can add embossed layers, die cuts, colouring and embellishments to "step it up". THAT is the sign of a versatile layout!

These are the cards I focused on showing you. For both I used the Moonlit Flora Designer Paper and Mossy Meadow card stock and inks. The "basic" one on the left leaves the middle card stock layer un-embossed, uses the Rounded Rectangle Punch, Natural Matte Dots and the sentiment from Prayers & Promises. The card on the right embosses the middle layer with the Fern & Flora Embossing Folder, a die cut from Filled with Sweetness for the sentiment and coloured butterflies from the Fern & Flora dies. The embellishments are from the Shimmering Dots.

I LOVE this one! It uses some retired paper, Floral Impressions. The sentiment is from Framed Violets. The embellishments are from (now retired) Deer Dots. The embossing folder is Lazy Daisy 3D.

This one is fun, using paper from A Stitched Season paper, one of three embossing folders from the new Seasonal Cheer Mini Embossing Folders, sentiment from Festive Cheer in Real Red (paper is Poppy Parade) and the embellishments are the Adhesive Backed Peppermints.

If Halloween is more you style, this one uses the new Spooktacular paper, Seasonal Cheer Mini Embossing Folders and the CUTEST little Adhesive Bakced Bats, Ghosts & Dots. hee hee ... The sentiment is from our Greetings for All Mix & Match Ephemera Pack.