Tuesday, September 30, 2008

End of Month

Today is the deadline for the Stampin' Up! sale on 7 brand new stamp sets. Of course, tomorrow will bring a new special offer--but this one will be over!  If you want to order on-line, just go to my website, www.dtollaksen.stampinup.net  and click on the shopping icon.
Have fun!
Dee Tollaksen

Monday, September 29, 2008

Start thinking Christmas

Did you have to close some windows yesterday?  When I have to finally kiss summer goodbye and shut the house up, I start to wonder why my family has stayed in the midwest. . . do we enjoy the occasional flood? Or the frequent blizzard? Or is it the unpredictable weather?  I know it is because of each other, my family is here, so I am here.  Hmmmm, maybe we can all pack up and go somewhere more temperate. . . .
This is the only kind of snow I really need anymore. Embossed. On a card.
This stamp set will be available starting Wednesday. Schedule your demo now to earn it free!
Dee Tollaksen

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Crazy busy

Of course, it is a good thing to have many loved ones and good friends and a job and a great hobby business. . . but sometimes they all just happen in the same week! Whew. Happy but tired, that's the deal!
So, a lovely wedding and reception yesterday, all in the colors Chocolate Chip and Certainly Celery--that little bit of inside knowledge allowed me to make this custom wedding card to go along with the wedding gift.  Best Wishes for a long and blessed marriage to Katie and Ricky!

It is the end of the month, so anyone on the fence, JUMP!! The special offer from Stampin' Up! to join the fun at a fabulous price will end in just days!  For only $99 you can choose your starter kit, become one of the lucky demonstrators in the Windy City Stamp group and enjoy at least 20% discount on anything you purchase! Comment or email me and I'll fill you in on the details, no obligation or commitment required, just to ask questions.

And the big 15% off sale will end as soon as September ends.  SU has never offered brand new stamp sets at a discount, so take advantage while you can! Click on the image at right to find out more, or leave a comment or email me.  
Have a great day! Hope to post more great stuff for you this week.
Dee Tollaksen

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Unique All Occasion card


Let me help you be creative.  I love to create things, cards especially. But most of my designs are inspired by the beautiful work of many other stamping demonstrators who post their work on-line.  This cutie is copied from a design byRobin Merriman, a very successful Stampin' Up! demonstrator. This one uses "Green Tea" designer series paper and "Baja Breeze" card stock. The shape of the card was cut using the die-cut machine BigShot that we just introduced.  If you missed making this card this week at my Stamp Camps, I'd be soooo happy to demonstrate it at your in-home demonstration!
Dee Tollaksen

Friday, September 19, 2008

Designer paper samples


When choosing just the right paper in just the right colors with just the right scale of the art, the catalog just can't tell the whole story.  My SU group cooperated and swapped samples of every Designer Series Paper from the new Idea Book and Catalog. I made a little tab with the name of the paper and created these little packets.  When I squeezed every paper onto one binder clip, well, let's just say, it was unwieldy. So I split it over two clips and they make a cute little booklet to flip through.  If you would like to get your hands on these, just leave a comment and we can get together.
Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Monday, September 15, 2008

Everyone gets a star today!

Monday is always a challenge, and Chicago got hit hard by Texas's hurricanes!  My family is high and dry, thank God, but my office is damp and I'm sure mold is on the way. So a little cheerful starry card to keep things bright and happy.
Two people in my circle of friends have recently taken the citizenship test and passed and swore citizenship to the U.S.  This bright red, white and blue starry card was sent to both friends as congratulations.
I'm thankful that I live in this great nation and that the rain finally stopped!
Dee Tollaksen

Friday, September 12, 2008

Join the club

What motivates a crafter to take the leap and become a demonstrator? I can only speak for myself, and it was Stampin' Up! markers. Laugh if you want, but I wanted all 48 markers and I didn't want to pay full price.  I worked hard to get those markers and used my first commissions to pay for them!
No one ever offered me a deal on the markers, nor on the demonstration kit. But I can offer both to you!  Right now Stampin' Up! is offering a great deal on a mini-kit  that would let you join the fun as a demonstrator or as a hobby demonstrator (who just wants the discount!).  If that isn't for you, how bout a deal on the markers?

My  Marker Club allows you to spread your purchase out, over four months, sharing with three other Marker Club members.   Each member will enjoy Hostess Benefits during one of the four months, meaning that you will choose a hostess set and enjoy at least $15 of free merchandise from the catalog. And after the four months are over, you will have accumulated all 48 markers and the nice case to store them in! 

Just comment below or email me if you're interested.  Clubs are starting soon, and the demonstrator offer won't last long!
Dee Tollaksen

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Spritzing


Can you see the shading in my Kiwi Kiss? I invested in a Color Spritzer tool on my last order, so now every card will need to be spritzed!  It does allow for a clean & simple card to have some depth and character. This pretty card is CASEd from SplitCoast and is designed to be easy for geriatric hands. I'm hoping to get a slot on the Senior Center schedule. Wouldn't you like to take this class? I believe it will be on my agenda for the MeetUp we have scheduled!  I'll bet the MeetUp folks can work all the punches and the spritzer! Come and join us!
Dee Tollaksen

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Say it with Scallops



Bordering Blue and Barely Banana.
Overdosing on alliteration this morning! This dainty little darling uses the new Ronald McDonald House Charities stamp set, Say it with Scallops. Then the new square scallop punch makes a perfect scallop square of the stamped image. I used a white scalloped square right behind the image to give a little shadow and depth to the card. 
This is one of the cards I designed to be used at the MeetUp event on Sept 25. Catherine will design two cards and I will design two, then everyone will get to make 3 of each design and go home with 12 beautiful handmade cards!  Check back tomorrow for my second design.
Dee Tollaksen

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

On-line Ordering

You know you love to shop on-line. You know you love to stamp and scrapbook. You know what else?  You can now shop on-line for your stamps and scrapbook supplies!  Just go to my Stampin' Up! website at www.dtollaksen.stampinup.net and click on shop now.  It is a really nice fun way to look at projects and see what products are used, to browse around and see all the products in an on-line format. And you can order, pay and then stamp -- without ever leaving your computer desk! Of course, I'd rather chat with you and help you, but if you order on-line, I'll drop a cute card in the mail to thank you for your order!
Shop til you drop!! Dee Tollaksen

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Country Living Magazine and SU special event

Country Living Magazine and Stampin' Up! are teaming up again to offer an awesome stamp set and project kit.  To sweeten the deal, they are offering a subscription to Country Living with a bonus gift, seen at left, for just $12!!!  I don't know how to get the whole thing into my blog, but if you want it, just let me know and I'll order it for you from our website. 
Dee Tollaksen

Friday, September 5, 2008

Seeing Stars


Two topics today: envelopes and guys
Men are definitely difficult to design for, but I think this little starry card would be great for a young guy, simple and striking. 
The envelope doesn't really match, but the technique matches the card size.  Since the P.O. won't accept 4.5 x 4.5" envelopes, just use our regular 5.75 x 4.5" envelope, but glue a strip of coordinating cardstock inside the envelope, closing off an inch at one end of the envelope, to keep the card from sliding around and possibly tearing the envelope with the embellishments.  The technique of punching peek-a-boo spots has been around a while, but it was new to me! Now to find a punch that works better with the masculine card.  .  .
Dee Tollaksen

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Upsy Daisy -- Marker club


This watercolor technique is so easy and so appealing, I'm really enjoying it. This Upsy Daisy set just cries out to have color blending, and misting the stamp with water is just so cool!
Wouldn't you love to own all 48 of the Stampin' Markers?  This image is made by coloring the stamp with More Mustard, Summer Sun and Really Rust markers, then lightly misting from a spray bottle, then stamp. No way to make any mistakes.  I would love to let you get your hands on the markers and try this out. 
There are at least two people ready to join a marker club, maybe you can help make it a GO -- we need four members. Each person agrees to purchase the Stampin' Markers over a four month period.  Each person will end up with the full set of markers and hostess benefits during one of the four months.  Hostess benefits include a level one stamp set FREE and $15 free merchandise of your choice!  Leave a comment or send me an email if you're interested.
Dee Tollaksen

Monday, September 1, 2008

Labor Day


Real Red and Brilliant Blue, why have you gone so bland? The camera seems to have stolen all your impact! This card might be titled "Patriotic Punch" except that I fear an editor will snort at the alliteration and obvious-ness. If it was titled Patriotic Punch, would you expect a recipe for a fruity drink in a large bowl? Or would you know that the stars are made with two Stampin' Up! punches? My sweet husband wants a card to commemorate the new Citizenship of one of his customers, therefore the Patriotic theme here. And while I was at it, I also have a great friend who just joined our great citizenry, so two red, white & blue cards have been made! Enjoy the 90 degree weather in Chicago today: stay in the air conditioning and make a card or scrapbook page! Or shop in the new SU catalog!
Dee Tollaksen