Tamara's Paper Trail: November 2024

Thursday, November 21, 2024

MCM Layout Nov 18, 2024 - the PERFECT layout for beginner card makers!

Happy Thursday! Did you manage to catch my MCM Live this week? If you are a beginner card maker you definitely want to check it out. The video replay is at the end of this post. In the video I teach you how too make a very basic, yet lovely, card using just stamps, ink and paper. That's really all you "need"! From there we "step it up" .. ie make it fancier. How do we do that? By adding layer(s) and or texture.

Here are the four cards we made together, using the Season of Green & Gold papers, Spotlight on Nature dies and So Swirly Embossing Folder ...

It doesn't get much easier than this! 3/4" x 4" strips of designer papers and some stamped sentiments. The middle paper is 3/4" x 4 1/4", just to add a bit of visual interest. I also popped some of the sentiments up on dimensionals (texture).

"Ste it up" a notch by adding a layer of 3 3/4" x 5" and a die cut circle (Spotlight on Nature). Don't have dies or a Cut & Emboss Machine? No worries! Use a rectangle piece approx 2 1/4 x 3 1/2! Don't overthink it!

Step it up further by embossing the back layer and heat embossing the sentiment ...

One more version with "all the things" has a hint of Mossy Meadow card stock measuring 3 7/8" x 5 1/8 ...

This layout is great for beginners or for anyone wanting to mass produce many in a short amount of time. The level of difficulty/intricacy is up to you! I hope you like them :)

Want to make your own version(s) of the card layout? 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 ...

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 online store. Thank you! I appreciate your support!

Stay amazing!

Tamara

Product List

Peaceful Evergreens Cling Stamp Set

[164153]

$36.00

Greetings Of The Season Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[164325]

$34.00

Spotlight On Nature Dies

[163580]

$48.00

Season Of Green & Gold 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper

[164324]

$23.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[159276]

$18.00

Mossy Meadow 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[133676]

$15.75

Mossy Meadow Classic Stampin' Pad

[147111]

$12.25

Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad

[147090]

$12.25

Versamark Pad

[102283]

$13.00

Metallics Embossing Powders

[155555]

$25.00

So Swirly Embossing Folder

[163791]

$14.50

Baker's Twine Essentials Pack

[155475]

$15.00

Opal Rounds Assortment

[163298]

$11.75

Blooming Pearls

[162238]

$11.00

Iridescent Foil Gems

[162842]

$11.00

Stampin' Seal

[152813]

$11.00

Mini Glue Dots

[103683]

$10.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$6.00

Take Your Pick

[144107]

$16.50

Paper Snips

[103579]

$16.50

Heat Tool (Us And Canada)

[129053]

$44.00

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

$39.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$177.00

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

MCM Layout - Nov 4, 2024 - The PERFECT layout for beginners and experts alike!

Happy Tuesday Friends!

Did you catch my MCM Live last night? MAN, did we have some fun, didn't we???? If you missed it, you'll want to watch the replay that is at the bottom of this post ... especially if you are new to card making. In our hour together I shared with you some ground level basics of how to come up with a card layout .. and then how to "step it up". LOTS of little nuggets and/or refreshers for you!

The crux of our time together centred around the simple card layout that you can find on pay 22 of our 2024-2025 Annual Catalogue. You DO know that our Catalogue is more than just a "look at what you can buy" book, right? It's a TOOL - an idea book, with tips on how to make cards, color theory, techniques AND card sketches/layouts! Page 22 is GOLD ... and I took our layout right from that page.

The first card uses the catalogue sketch. VERY easy.

The second card adds a bit of interest, and reduces the "white space" by adding a 3 3/4" x 5" white layer.

The third card is all "bougie" (lol - "fancy") with the 3 3/4" x 5" layer embossed for lots of fun texture and interest. See? Designing a card can be easy! Just find a basic layout and then, if you have supplies, time and/or the inclination, you can fancy-it up!

Basic ...

... add a layer for more interest ...

... emboss the layer for extra-fancy :)

Other examples of the medium "stepped up" version ...

Don't like, or want, to colour? No problem! Just use a circle of designer paper!

Don't have a Cut & Emboss machine? No problem! Just use cut squares instead! The designer papers are 3" x 3" and the coloured mats are 3 1/4" x 3 1/4".

Here some "bougie" examples for those who DO have "all the things" ....

So there you have it! LOTS of cards of varying levels of complexity. SUCH a versatile layout!

Now for something COMPLETELY different .... I showed you how to make this CRAZY quick, easy and CUTE little treat holder! Check out the video and see just how crazy simple it is and let the holiday gift-giving season begin!