Tamara's Paper Trail: January 2026

Sunday, January 18, 2026

From Basic to Stepped Up - Brushed with Beauty - MCM Layout Jan 12, 2026

Happy Weekend! I'm scrambling this week to play catch up, so only getting to my blog posts now - eek!

Did you have a chance to catch MCM this week (Jan 12, 2026)? It felt SO good to do a Mystery Card layout again! It had been quite a while and I missed it! We made four lovely cards, starting for very basic (perfect for beginner stampers who may not have many supplies) snd then worked our way up to "over the top", for those who like "all the things". I used the Brushed with Beauty papers for the focal pieces. Check them out!

Start with the basics ... card base, some pretty paper, a sentiment and some embellishments, if you have them.

Step it up with a 4" x 5 1/2" layer ....

Step it up by adding texture to that layer. You can emboss some card stock or, as I did, use some of our Whispers of Texture Specialty paper. LOVE THIS STUFF! Adding die cuts also makes it "fancier".

Step it up even MORE with more dies cuts and/or designer paper instead of a textured layer ...

I love a quick and easy layout that you can "step up", if you're in the mood and/or if you have the toys. This one fits the bill!

If you want to make some cards using this layout, use this "recipe" for the pieces you need to prep ...

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 Stampin' Up! online store. Thank you! I appreciate your support!

Stay amazing!

Tamara

Product List

Words Of Beauty Bundle (English)

[167090]

$63.75

Brushed With Beauty 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper

[167082]

$17.00

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

[167106]

$13.75

Vellum 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Paper

[167099]

$13.75

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[159276]

$18.00

Very Vanilla 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166784]

$20.00

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

[120953]

$20.00

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

[133676]

$20.00

Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad

[147116]

$12.25

Pearls Of Beauty

[167098]

$11.00

Pearlized Faceted Circles

[166978]

$11.00

Baker's Twine Essentials Pack

[155475]

$15.00

Linen Thread

[104199]

$7.00

Early Espresso & Old Olive Linen Thread Pack

[165986]

$12.25

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$6.00

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

[110755]

$8.25

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

Let Me Show You How ... to make my Christmas Wish List Books! Jan 5, 2026

At long last, I'm getting to some long overdue blog posts! Dad's funeral, and all that goes with that, has me VERY behind on things. One step at a time!

I wanted to post the photos and the video replay for my Christmas Wish List Booklets. They are INSANELY quick and easy to make and they can be used for SO man things - recipe shares, baby shower guest books, prayers, photos .... anything goes! The grommets we used to sell retired probably 15 years ago. I have a small stash left. You can certainly just glue the pages together - no grommets needed, per the lamb booklet below. Check out some of the books I've made over the years. A GREAT keepsake!

** what's the backstory on these books?

If you’ve followed me for more than a year, you’ll know that every Christmas I make “wish list” booklets for my girls.

What are those?

When they were young, instead of writing letters to Santa (cause I was never ahead enough to get them in the mail before Xmas Eve!) the girls would leave a list of what they wanted for Christmas in these books. After presents were opened and the kids were off playing, I would write what gifts they each got, and from whom. (Now they they do that part themselves). It’s made for a great keepsake over the years.

The first picture is the book they are writing in this year. Hot off the presses as I forgot all about them until last night!

We’ve given up a lot of traditions over the last few years. No more Reindeer Food on the lawn. No more milk and cookies. No more Advent Calendars. THIS, tradition, though, is one the girls aren’t quite ready to let go of … and I’m glad. 😊😊😊

Here they are:

Here is the Let Me Show You How Facebook Live replay, showing you how I made them ...

That's it for this week. If you would like to join me LIVE for my weekly FaceBook Live 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