Tamara's Paper Trail

Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Use Those Scraps! SUCH an easy layout! MCM layout - Mar 2, 2026

Happy Tuesday!

Did you catch MCM live last night? So fun! I was inspired by a card made by Jennifer McGuire. HERS used a technique called "ink layering" - there is a photo of it below. I came up with a very similar look by using strips of designer paper to create QUICK cards for any occasion! These are the ones I made (the second birthday card is embossed).

I love the simplicity of these cards ... and the colour palette is great for masculine cards! I used the (now retired) Product of the Month set from January 2026 - Fabulous Sayings ...

If you watch the video replay below, you see that I start with s top layer of strips of paper and then I cut away the middle section, stamp the sentiment directly on the BASE and then pop the strips up on dimensionals. This adds texture and interest to the card.

You can keep this card "basic" by stamping the sentiment directly in the layer with the strips before you cut the strips off and pop them up on dimensionals. As always, use what you've got and/or what you've got time for!

It doesn't photograph well, but this one IS different than the one above. I ran the layer through the Exposed Brick 3D Embossing Folder for some added texture and interest ...

For this one I only used the lower part of my hand-made layer, with the Hobby Haven Designer Papers. The sentiment is from Notes & Totes ...

This is the card that inspired my layout tonight, from Jennifer McGuire over at jennifermcquireink.com

If you want to make a card that is similar, here is the "recipe" of the pieces you need to prep ...

... and here is the Mystery Card Monday (MCM) Facebook Live replay, showing you how to put all the pieces together ...

Once again, a great layout for "quick and simple" but you can also add texture, layers and/or more die cuts/embellishments to jazz it up. Love it! I hope you try it!

So 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. Thank you! I appreciate your support!

Stay amazing!

Tamara

Product List

Fabulous Sayings Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[167972]

$5.00

Notes & Totes Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[165239]

$26.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[159276]

$18.00

Neutrals 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper

[165303]

$17.00

Hobby Haven 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper

[167201]

$23.00

Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad

[147110]

$12.25

Coastal Cabana Classic Stampin' Pad

[147097]

$12.25

Streaked Dots

[165902]

$12.25

Neutral Matte Dots

[165561]

$11.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$6.00

Stampin' Seal

[152813]

$11.00

Bone Folder

[102300]

$11.00

Take Your Pick

[144107]

$16.50

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

$39.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$191.00

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Sweet Bugs and a Sweet, Easy Card Layout! MCM Layout - Feb 23, 2026

Happy Tuesday! Not gunna lie ... motivation to get stuff done today is VERY low! I'll get there. Slowly, but surely. Not enough pressure, I figure. We ARE complicated creatures, aren't we?? lol

Last night was REALLY fun for me. I haven't done a MCM in 4 weeks, as I was on holidays and sworn off social media. It's HARD to get back into the daily grind for sure! Whilst I AM plodding along I have (so far) managed to stay fairly relaxed and "balanced". Maybe TOO relaxed ... is that a thing? lol.

If you popped in to watch last night you know that I CASEd a great little layout from the Canadian Field Success Manager, Genevieve Ko. A very easy, basic layout which of course, I spotted as a great one for our MCM get together. Genevieve used the Sweet Bugs Bundle. I changed a few minor things but they layout is hers. I then used the Lovely Arrangements bundle to use the same layout, showing the versatility of it. Here are the cards we made ....

The only "real" change I made was that I embossed the white layer, used a different die for the sentiment and switched up the embellishments. Quick, easy and oh so cute!

The Lovely Arrangements bundle is PERFECT for this layout, as the circle die cut is virtually the same size as Genevieve's DSP layer above. I used some Last Chance (retiring) embellishments, Streaked Dots, to "use what I've got". This one came together in just 15 minutes "on the fly".

If you want to make a card that is similar, here is the "recipe" of the pieces you need to prep ...

... and here is the Mystery Card Monday (MCM) Facebook Live replay, showing you how to put all the pieces together ...

Once again, a great layout for "quick and simple" but you can also add texture, layers and/or more die cuts/embellishments to jazz it up. My kind of card. I hope you try it!

Stay amazing!

Tamara

Product List