Tamara's Paper Trail

Tuesday, August 25, 2026

EASY Slide Out Gift Card / Treat Holder Fun Fold Card - MCM Layout Aug 24, 2026

Heidi Ho and Happy Tuesday! Aside from packing for my upcoming travels, this blog post is my last "major" item on my "yay-list". I LOVE when my list is all checked off. THEN I can get excited about the trip. ALMOST THERE!! (what is ALSO great about checking things off my list is my list always gets STUPID long with things that really don't HAVE to get done, just things that I WANT to get done and that will make my life a lot easier when I get home. Can you believe I have EVERYTHING done of Sept and all but 2 things done for October??? CRAZY!)

So! Let's get to it so I'm one step closer to painting my nails! lol ...

Did you catch MCM this week? I showed you just how quick and easy it is to make a Slide Out Gift Card / Treat Holder. It's an interactive Fun Fold card that everyone loves to open. Seriously. A 5 minute layout! These are the two cards/holders we made during my live ...

You'll notice the top one holds a gift card. The bottom one doesn't. In the video I teach you how to make both versions.

This one uses a paper I JUST got, called Autumn Opulence. I figured I should used it before fall is over, so chop it I did! The paper comes with two sheets of ready-to-use die cuts. That's what I used to decorate the focal point. They are on a Crumb Cake circle made with the Spotlight on Nature dies. The sentiment is in Early Espresso and comes from the Lily of the Valley stamp set. I added some Linen Twine and Adhesive Backed Metallic Gems to finish it off.

For this one I didn't use designer paper. I opted to use embossed card stock instead! This uses two new embossing folders, one being released Sept 1 and the other available now. They are the Swirls of Magic Embossing Folder and the Softly Woven 3D Embossing Folder. The focal point was made using the Scalloped Christmas Cheer bundle, stamped in Pretty Peacock ink. The OH SO CUTE dice cuts are Pretty Peacock and Lost Lagoon and are from the Sept 1 release product, Box of Joy. I finished it off with some Rhinestone Basic Jewels. Love it! On the inside I stamped a sentiment from the new Soiree Salutations.

Here are a few more I made this summer. Same layout, different products.

This one was made with the Splash & Relax OLE Bundle and paper from the Beautiful Ordinary Life pack. The embellishments are Array of Dots and white Baker's Twine.

I LOVE this one - it uses our Neutrals Painted Patterns DSP along with the Garden Gatherings Bundle. So simple yet striking!

Here they are again, in a grouping. Same layout, totally different feels ...

Try this layout! It really is a SO quick and easy! Gift Card Giving Season is approaching! Back to School Teacher Gifts, Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas ... these are GREAT to have on hand. If you want to make one, prep these pieces ....

Card Base - 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" - score at 2 3/4" and 7"

Insert - 5 1/4" x 4 1/4" - score at 3/8" and 4" - this is if you want a flap to hold a gift card or treat

Insert - 4" x 4 1/4" - score at 3/8" - this is if you DON'T want a flap for a gift card or treat

DSP #1 - 2 1/2" x 5 1/4"

DSP #2 - 1 1/4" x 5 1/4"

Circle Die Duct - from Spotlight on Nature

Usual tools, embellishments, inks and stamps/dies

Check out the video replay on how to put all the pieces together ....

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

Lily Of The Valley Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[167937]

$29.00

Splash & Relax Bundle

[167903]

$61.00

Garden Gatherings Bundle (English)

[167611]

$54.75

Spotlight On Nature Dies

[163580]

$48.00

Beautiful Ordinary Life 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper

[167553]

$18.00

Neutrals Painted Patterns 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper

[167756]

$26.00

Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[120953]

$20.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$20.00

Pretty Peacock 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[150880]

$20.00

Lost Lagoon 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[133679]

$20.00

Strawberry Slush 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[165625]

$20.00

Flirty Flamingo 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[141416]

$20.00

Daffodil Delight 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[119683]

$20.00

Lemon Lolly 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[161720]

$20.00

Pool Party 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[122924]

$20.00

Early Espresso 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[119686]

$20.00

Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[121045]

$20.00

Smoky Slate 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[131202]

$20.00

Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad

[147114]

$15.00

Pretty Peacock Classic Stampin’ Pad

[150083]

$15.00

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

[132708]

$11.00

Swirls Of Magic Embossing Folder

[168179]

$14.50

Adhesive Backed Metallic Gems

[163780]

$13.00

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

[144220]

$8.25

Array Of Dots

[167559]

$11.75

Baker's Twine Essentials Pack

[155475]

$15.00

Linen Thread

[104199]

$7.00

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, 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 .....