He's making a list, and checking it twice. . .

You know you're in the stores, buying school supplies. Even if you don't have a student headed back to class. Well, while you're there, pick up a pack of those mini legal pads, have the gal at the printing place cut them for you, right down the middle. Then when you get home you can dress them up and make pretty list pads from them! This idea was posted a few weeks ago, maybe on Patty B's blog. I am a hopeless list maker. I say hopeless because I am constantly making lists, usually losing them or leaving them at home when I am out running errands. So this will fit nicely in my new Vera Bradley bag (go ahead girls, laugh here) and maybe I won't forget so many errands!
It was really easy and now I have enough for 23 more. Guess what we'll be making as a Make n Take at the Tent Event this Saturday?

For the Vera Bradley fans reading along, I got a lot of grief from my Convention friends, who kept talking about all the "Lillian Vernon" purses that were appearing at Convention, including mine. While I love Lillian, she doesn't make a purse like Vera does!
Dee Tollaksen

Faux Metal

It doesn't take much to fire up a crafter, and it is amazing how many new things keep coming at us! This technique is Faux Metal. It definitely isn't metal, but it is shiny and fun. I didn't have to buy anything new, I didn't have to learn a new technique. I just had to combine some materials I already own and use them in a new way. Gotta love shiny and already paid for, right? And Easy! I learned this from an online tutorial and samples posted by other demonstrators!

Remember to come to my garage sale Tent Event this Saturday and (or) sign up for the Faux Metal class.

Dee Tollaksen

Pleated skirt instructions

I've been asked to share the technique for the pleated skirt card. I guess this would be my first tutorial. Hopefully it will be clear and helpful!

I used an entire sheet of 12" x 12" DS paper . I scored the 12 x 12, then cut it into 1.5 strips.




Score: These are the actual locations, not the distance from one mark to the other: .25" .5" .75" 1" 1.75" 2" 2.75" 3" 3.75" 4" 4.75" continuing at the inch and inch + .75 all the way across the 12" width of the paper. The first three measures are to wrap around the edge onto the back of the card, but putting a pleat at the very edge of the card.

Fold: usually we "fan" fold, creating alternating "mountains" and "valleys." But to create "box" pleats, you must fold "mountain" "valley" "valley" "mountain" "mountain" "valley" "valley" "mountain" and continue across the length of the DS.


I used Scotch double stick tape to hold the pleats to the card, but sticky strip works just as well.


Then apply sticky strip to your 1/4" grosgrain, then stretch the grosgrain across the top of the pleats.


There was about an inch left over at the opposite side of the card to wrap around to the back.


I wish I had more flexibility of composition on this blog. Maybe I do, and I just haven't figured it out yet. Oh well, another day.


Enjoy!
Dee Tollaksen

Imitation is the best flattery!

My bff Catherine loves to browse the blogs, and she sent me an urgent message this a.m. This card has been posted on another demonstrator's blog! What flattery! I am totally in love with this card, because it is an original design. I usually employ the CASE method: Copy And Steal Everything! LOL

But I try to give credit to the original artist, or at least confess that I have seen the card elsewhere and loved it enough to copy it. In the future I will be extra vigilant to give credit where credit is due.

Dee Tollaksen

Watercoloring

Are you a successful artist? Me neither! But I have had two little art lessons recently, teaching me some of the basics of "depth of color." At convention Brent Steele showed us how to layer colors in an image. And Patty Bennett's blog gave the specific colors for these awesome brown-eyed susans. Lots of markers are used to put the color on the rubber stamp, then a spray bottle is used to mist the stamp, then just stamp on our beautiful Whisper White cardstock!

So you can be a successful artist! Let me show you how!

Dee Tollaksen

Upcoming Stamping Events and Specials

I had a revelation just now, and so . . . I am posting my upcoming stamping events.
Here is the revelation: I use GoogleReader to keep up-to-date with everyone's blogs. When using GoogleReader, I don't see any of the sidebars or calendars or blinkies on the blogs. So, if I don't see them, you may be using a service and you aren't seeing my sidebars and calendar. Soooo, here are my upcoming stamping events and specials!

Today: Time to schedule "ME TIME" and book a class with Dee!!
August 21: Stamp Camp at 1 or 7 pm: Stamp-a-Stack of Cards using all new stamp sets, 12 cards for just $20!
August 30: Tent Event: stamps, papers, accessories and other craft supplies selling for awesome discounts!
September 4: Stamp Camp at 1 or 7 pm: Test Drive the new Big Shot! Create 4 fabulous projects for just $15!
September 17: Stamp Camp at 1 or 7 pm: Create the much admired "Pleated Skirt" card seen here first! Learn this cool technique and others for just $20!
October 2: Stamp Camp at 1 or 7 pm: Faux Metal is easy and fun and you may already own the supplies!
October 18: NW Suburban Shoebox: share one card idea and make 20+ cards with other area stampers, lunch and door prizes included!

Decor Elements for your home

Stampin' Up! is well known for our rubber products: stamps. And it is all about expressing yourself with a little help from the talented artists. We are branching out a bit, and using vinyl instead of rubber. Decor Elements were recently introduced and we will be offering a wide line of decorative vinyl "rub-ons" for your home. I wasn't too sure about this, but now I have seen catalogs from other companies and I have seen products on sale at Joann's and I have tried Stampin' Up!s products. LOVE LOVE LOVE them!



Here is the shadow box I made with the Decor Elements I won at convention. It was easy, totally successful, and quite pretty. Below is the autumn version that was on display at convention. I think I did a good job of reproducing it!

Call me if you want to know more or leave a post here if you have a comment!

Dee Tollaksen

Pretty Butterflies

After Stampin' Up! convention, I think I have been on overload and am just recovering. Sorry if you missed me, but now I'm cooking again. This little cutie is based on a technique one of the demonstrators shared with everyone. The face of the card is using two new sets that we received as part of our convention package, Flight of the Butterfly and Eastern Blooms, as well as the new Scallop Edge punch and a new button.
But wait, the best part is in the second picture, where I used Inspired by Nature, the third set we recieved. And the fabulous new technique. Voila! Flying Butterflies!
Hope you like it. And maybe you want to be able to duplicate it? Just comment here or email me and we can set up a class at your convenience!
Dee Tollaksen

Baby time

Our neighbor had a baby, so here's the cute card for them. I had fun shopping for an itsy bitsy gift for the baby. Could you guess, it was a boy?

This card combines the old and the new, retiring Soft Sky paper and ribbon combines with brand new Pacific Point and the new Scallop Edge Punch.

Today is the absolute last day to order anything in the In-Colors collection from the retiring catalog. Oh, yea, and any retiring stamp sets or accessories. LAST DAY!!

Enjoy the lovely weather in Chicagoland. . . or the Olympics on TV!

Dee Tollaksen

Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

Join the fun!

Stampin' Up! is helping me offer you a great deal on everything we offer! If you have any interest at all in becoming a "Hobby demonstrator" or "Business Builder" -- this is the time to find out more. The demonstrator kit is priced at it's lowest in years, and it comes loaded with great stuff, for under $100!!

And if the economy has you thinking about a parttime job, how about one where you set your own hours, work with people you love, set your own income goals and you enjoy the work!!

If you have even an inkling of interest, give me a call or email and I'll be happy to answer any questions.

If nothing else, this offer allows you to purchase anything or everything in the catalog at a substantial discount! Awesome!!
Hope to hear from you,
Dee Tollaksen

Excitement at Stampin' Up! Convention '08

I am home from Salt Lake City and all fired up. Now that I have six new BFFs and a whole new love for stamping and Stampin' Up! products, I can't wait to start building up momentum.

For your enjoyment, and mine, at left is the founder of Stampin' Up!, Shelli Gardner, posing with me! Poor woman, I accosted her outside the convention center and made my friend Dawn shoot our picture, before Shelli could turn me down.

The second picture shows an overhead glimpse of the lunch area/gathering place while we were on lunch break, milling about, looking at the marketing materials and card samples.

The third shot is of Barb P, Jaren and Lora R., Jaren is one of the very talented presenters and artists from Stampin' Up!

What a wonderful time. For those of you who went, WOW! For the rest of you, next year will be here before you know it! Don't miss it!

Dee Tollaksen