Lucky day

 Irish? Just one day a year! But it is fun to celebrate with all the leprechauns and bag pipers! I put together this banner in no time at all, and you can too!

Using the new doily die for the big shot, I cut out these beautiful bright yellow doilies.  Then I used the heart dies to cut 15 garden green hearts. I hand cut the little shamrock stems. I did invest in the gorgeous alphabet for my Big Shot, for just such an occasion as this.   Then I searched through my DSP collection for some green  with a bit of a pattern, but not much, these little dots work perfectly! But plain green cardstock would have worked just fine.  I used gold glitter brads to connect the flags. Then a bit of twine to hang the banner. Because it isn't very heavy, I used a couple magnets to hold it to my front door.

If you are coming over to make your own banner, look for the red door!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Technique swap (2nd group)

This blossom punch and matching stamp set are just fabulous, and very popular!

If you are thinking about adding these to your collection, there are just two weeks left in the mini catalog and then .. . . we may be saying goodbye to these flowers. We never know if a stamp set will be discontinued after the mini catalog or if  Stampin' Up! will repeat the offering in the main catalog.

The technique used in this card is . . . ummm. . . well, the flowers are adhered to the front panel then the whole panel is embossed in a folder on the Big Shot. There is a name for the technique but it escapes me right now. Julie brought this pretty card to our shoebox swap. So springy, right?

 Love the sunflower and a really fun technique. Lora embossed the flower in white embossing powder, then we used the pastel chalks to add color. Just use a q-tip or sponge applicator to rub the yellow and green onto the black cardstock in the spaces left open in the embossed are. Super simple, and super cute.

Love it!

This technique is bleach stamping. Hooray for me, I managed to name the simple one! All you need to do is carefully pour some household bleach onto a stack of paper towels and "ink up" your stamp in the bleach and stamp onto dark cardstock.

The chemistry of bleach is affected by oxygen, so it does it job, but it goes impotent very quickly. So the work stops on your card, the bleach won't continue to eat through the card stock or bleed off the image. BUT, your paper towels lose their effectiveness very quickly. If you are doing a stack of cards, put the paper towels into a closed container, open to ink your stamp, then close again, to minimize the oxygen contact.

Brenda brought this card, and I always love when someone else demonstrates this technique. I always ruin my shirt when I mess with bleach, so thanks! to Brenda.


Anytime you want to try a new technique or an old technique that is new to you, just leave me an email or a comment and I'll be glad to work with you and get you busy stamping!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Group swap cards (1 of 2)

Every month, I gather with some of the most talented stampers in the area. We each plan a card and bring the materials to duplicate the card. We get to make every card and bring them home to share with you.  I don't usually post other people's work on my blog, but maybe I should? Certainly you will enjoy the variety and their styles as well as mine. So, here we go. . .

This gorgeous sympathy card was designed by Barbara Pisciotto. The theme this month was "technique" and each demonstrator was asked to share a card with a specific technique.  Barbara used a blending pen to watercolor the ink inside the petals of the flower. So soft and beautiful!

Laura Nagle also used watercoloring, but as a was for the background. We applied color with the water color crayons, used an aquapainter to spread and soften the color, and it was applied over a black embossed flower image.

Dawn Dickinson imitated the watercolor technique by sponging. Here we applied color inside a "mask" of the large label, gently applying color until it was nice and deep. Then we stamped the flowers.

Tomorrow I'll share a couple more of the cards.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Spring Treats

 Really, Stampin' Up? Do we really need another flower stamp set and the matching punch? Really?

Oh, yea. Of course we do! The Blossom punch and matching Mixed Bunch stamp set are updated versions of flowers that are right on trend, 3 quite unique flowers that all fit into the same Blossom punch. The cards I am seeing on blogs and Pinterest are versatile and the punch is being used in a number of different ways. Even to create a darling butterfly.

But the fastest, cutest little treat comes from using some bright spring colors to stamp the flower, punch it out with the Blossom punch, punch a coordinating cardstock flower then curl the petals a bit with the bone folder. Now drive to WalMart and stand around in the candy aisle for half an hour or so until you finally find the spring version of Rolos. This is the most difficult and most important step. Ordering the stamp and punch is easy. Inking it up and punching it are easy. Finding the darn candy is not as easy.

Now add a glue dot or double stick tape to the candy and plop it into the center of your flowers. Array them all over your workspace and admire your cleverness. Box them up like they are crispy cream donuts and take them to lunch to share with your lady friends. Don't forget to give one to the waitress, who will gush over you for the rest of your lunch.

I still have half a bag of Rolos, so Easter baskets will be sporting some cute caramel yumminess.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Busy, but not pretty

Thanks for checking in on the stamping blog. I am busy in my stamping space, but it is a production line, not a creative time. The shoebox swap in Milwaukee is tonight, and as I prepped my cards, I realized that the gold paint  I used to detail the flowers requires an hour to dry. Not likely that the ladies who will be making the card tonight will have an hour to spare to let the card dry. So I decided to do the stamping and highlighting and drying. 34 cards all stamped and highlighted and spread out on the table to dry.  I hope they appreciate it!

I'll share some new cards starting with my next post, from the stampers in my sideline. . . the ladies who are also demonstrators in the same group that I joined.

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Vintage feeling

I will be participating in a swap soon and the rules eliminate any use of DSP (designer series paper), the mini catalog or SAB choices (sell-a-bration) or any embellishments that are likely to be absent from the new catalog. We are coming to the end of the catalog year, so it would be nice if the card could be carried over into the new choices.

Since I received a brand new, sneak peek set when I attended Leadership Conference, I decided to introduce it at this swap. The stamps made me think "vintage," so I leaned toward the browns. I cut a label using the new framelets on the Big Shot. I doubt that they will be a short-time product. They are just too wonderful, so I believe they will be included in the product line next year.

The cute little bronze safety pin may or may not make the new book, but it isn't the "key" to the card, so I think it will be OK. I used a lot of little techniques to dress up the card, sponging around the edges, outlining the images using the VersaMarker, to kind of spread the ink color and soften up the image.  Then I went crazy with the gold shimmer paint, using it two ways. I used a dauber to dress up the framelet label, and I used a tiny paint brush to paint over every flower. The Soft Suede ink mixed with the gold paint to make a gorgeous bronze metallic look. I love it!

Hope it goes over well at the shoebox swap!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Sparkle

 I love the look of glitter on a card, but I hate the mess and I can't stand waiting for the glue to dry so I can get on with crafting.  This method completely eliminates both problems! I used the Big Shot Multipurpose Adhesive Sheet on the flower. Really simple.

First I stamped the flower on Whisper White cardstock. Then I trimmed a piece of adhesive sheet, removed the backing and stuck it to the stamped image. Then I used the punch to cut the flower. Next peel off the remaining backing piece to expose the adhesive. Sprinkle with Dazzling Diamonds and shake off the excess. Done. Beautiful sparkly flower, no wait for the glue to dry, and no shedding of glitter. Fabulous!

Did you notice the large pearl? This is a new size and it is sold in a pack of large pearls, alone. The other pearls we sell are in a combo pack of 3 sizes. It is kind of nice to be able to purchase just the size you need if you are working on a project like invites or placecards or such when you need a bunch of the exact same embellishment.

FYI: The adhesive sheet did not damage or goop up my punch. I think this was a worry for some people, but I used the same punch for 9 or so flowers and there was no problem.

This card will be featured in my Sparkle class on Wed, Mar 14 at 1 pm or 7 pm. Join us!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen