Tamara's Paper Trail

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Use Scraps for quick, easy handmade cards - MCM layout Mar 23, 2026

Happy Wednesday! I'm a day behind schedule on a few things but I'm getting there! I'm trying hard to keep that healthy balance of life/work/relaxation going. So far Im doing quite well, although yesterday was a BIT heavier on the "life" side of things. A few curve balls thrown my way but handling them like a pro!

So Monday night we got together and made quick, cute cards using scraps of paper as the focal point. I CASEd the layout from a card in the new May-Aug 2026 mini catalogue. Here is what we made ...

Yes, the look very similar but the cards on the right are the "stepped up" versions. You know me - I like to start with a "basic" layout; few or no layers, just stamps, ink, paper and a few embellishments. I then show you how to "step it up" by adding layers, texture and/or more embellishments.

These were made with the GORGEOUS Delicate Dreams Designer Paper. I also used 1/4" strips of Whispers of Texture. The sentiment is from Lovely Arrangements, in Pecan Pie ink (it pulls brass, to match the paper). To "step it up" I embossed the layer with the Exposed Brick 3D Embossing Folder. Accents are Earthy Matte Dots.

These ones use the Boho Vibes paper and coordinating Sunshine Vibes bundle for the sentiment, in Secret Sea. The embossing folder is Dotted Circled 3D. Embellishments are Natural Matte dots and Muted Palette dots.

Easy/Basic ...

Stepped up ...

Simple ...

Simple ... *using retired 2024-2026 In Color designer paper and sentiment from Cutest Crew in Timid Tiger ink ...

"Stepped Up" ...

You really don't need to have all the fancy tools and dies. These are just scraps of paper 3" wide x 3/4" tall with 1/4" strips on top. Don't overthink it!

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 cut the papers and put all the pieces together ...

A great layout for "quick and simple" and mass producing but you can also add texture, layers and/or more die cuts/embellishments to jazz it up. Try it! You'll manage to use up some of your paper scraps!

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

Sunshine Vibes Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[165146]

$25.00

Cutest Crew Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[167146]

$26.00

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

[167498]

$23.00

Whispers Of Texture 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Paper

[167106]

$13.75

Boho Vibes 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper

[165144]

$17.00

2024–2026 In Color™ 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper

[163777]

$17.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[159276]

$18.00

Exposed Brick 3 D Embossing Folder

[161600]

$15.00

Dotted Circles 3 D Embossing Folder

[163789]

$16.50

Pecan Pie Classic Stampin' Pad

[161665]

$12.25

Secret Sea Classic Stampin' Pad

[165285]

$12.25

Timid Tiger Classic Stampin' Pad

[165278]

$12.25

Earthy Matte Dots

[167213]

$12.25

Natural Matte Dots

[167510]

$11.00

Muted Palette Dots

[165155]

$11.00

Frosted Iridescent Dots

[165766]

$12.25

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, March 24, 2026

Stamp Case Inserts - print what you need to stay organized!

DELORES IS EXCITED! She stumbled across a GREAT resource to help you get/stay organized in your craft room!

If you are currently a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, you can create your own by:

Log into demo site; Menu; Business Resources; Print Lab; Visit; scroll down. On the left hand side you will click either Photopolymer Insert or Cling Insert. Type in your info on the front and the spine and PRINT!

Not a Demonstrator? Delores has GOT YOU! ... sort of. Click on the PDFs below and you will have access to the insert ... but I don't have Acrobat or PDF Filler to allow you to type onto the front of the form or on the spine. If you know how please let me know!

Click here for the Photopolymer Insert PDF.

Click here for the Cling Insert PDF

I hope this helps a little! Happy organizing!

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

One layout many ways. THREE cards in less than an hour - MCM layout Mar 9, 2026

Happy Tuesday! I'm off to a VERY late start today, as I squeezed in a breakfast date with two of my Besties this morning. MUCH needed catchup but now I'm play "catchup" ... and probably SHOULD think about packing some time soon. Yes, I'm off to Long Beach, California tomorrow for Stampin' Up!s conference and I CAN'T WAIT! .... but still not interested in packing! lol

I'm sharing the cards we made on my MCM Live last night using a layout from a swap I got from fellow Canadian Demonstrator (and friend), Jenn Tinline. Hers is the Love card below. It's a GREAT layout and helps us use up more of or pretty papers. We made THREE cards in just over half an hour, each with different sentiments and embellishing. Check them out!

These three are all made using the Boho Vibes Designer Paper. The die cuts are from the Creative Haven dies. Sentiments are from three different sets ...

Sentiment from Delicate Framing set (... a "must have set" that is currently on the Last Chance list .. on sale too!)

Sentiment is from With You in Mind set ...

Sentiment is from Simply Said set ...

This one uses the Hobby Haven Designer Paper & Joy Specialty Paper - sentiment is from Note & Totes.

This is the card that inspired my layout tonight, from

They really are quick and easy to pull together! Heck, the Hobby Haven card was done in 9 minutes!

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 cut the papers and put all the pieces together ...

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

Stay amazing!

Tamara

Product List