Friday, October 31, 2008

Meg Shumaker


My photography talents don't do justice to this lovely card. Meg Shumaker designed this darling card for the Shoebox Swap. What a lovely composition and I love the color choice, don't you?
Dee Tollaksen

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Pam Moldenhauer


It seems like the most obvious thing, but this is one of the few cards that used red and green and white and gold. Traditional Christmas colors! Our Shoebox Swap brought out some very talented stampers, and Pam's card makes me smile and look forward to the holidays!
Dee Tollaksen

Reminder

You have one day to take advantage of the Birthday Sale from Stampin' Up! There are 7 very nice birthday stamp sets 20% off, because it is Stampin' Up!s 20th anniversary! Order your Crab & Company or Party Hearty set ( or any of the others) today and be ready to make birthday cards all year long! I will be featuring Mr Crab over the next few months, I'm sure! So don't delay!! Check out my SU website for the catalog link that will show you the seven sets and samples made with those sets. You can order online for direct delivery, or email me before midnight tonight for me to add your order to mine, and save on delivery charges. (I'm going with my Mom to the hospital tomorrow for major heart tests, so I won't be around after breakfast!)
Happy Trick or Treating!!
Dee Tollaksen
www.dtollaksen.stampinup.net

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Elegance



This card was CASEd from Splitcoast a couple years ago, it seems, but I have had to send a few sympathy cards lately, and decided to reprise this classic.  I used the marker to rubber technique to make the flowers multi-colored, on Whisper White cardstock.  Then I used gold and embossed the greeting onto vellum cardstock. Simple layer the vellum over the white and keep the two layers together with gold ribbon.  Very pretty in person. 
Dee Tollaksen

Monday, October 27, 2008

Kimberlee Patton


I really love the color combo here, designed by Kimberlee Patton for the Shoebox swap.  Though the tree is bare, the bird and the star seem to hold promise of what the spring will bring.  Thanks Kimberlee!
Dee Tollaksen

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Sandie Perrino



Sandie Perrino designed this happy snowman for the shoebox swap last Saturday.  Isn't he handsome?  Thanks Sandie!  Did you meet Sandie? Not unless you went to Wheeling Township to vote early. She couldn't be at the shoebox because so many people are voting early, she couldn't leave the polling place!  Remember to vote!
Dee Tollaksen

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Enith Brown


Another beautiful card from the Shoebox Swap. Enith composed this monochromatic holiday card in soft greens, which emphasize the soft green pine branch; playing off the soft sentiment Peaceful Wishes.  The whole composition is so calm and pleasing.  Thanks Enith!
Dee Tollaksen

Friday, October 24, 2008

Linda Schmitz's Shoebox project


Have you ever given a gift card as a gift? Just kind of stuck it into an envelope and hoped the recipient shopped at that store?  Linda put together this darling gift card presentation from an envelope, wide grosgrain ribbon and stamped elements.  Very cute, and so much nicer, because it is meant to hold a gift card.
Dee Tollaksen

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Gail Walton


Hey Gail, this one's for you, and by you!  Gail did double duty last Saturday.  Our friend Sandie was scheduled to participate in the shoebox swap, but then duty called. She is an election judge and is working the early bird election site in our township.  So Gail made all 21 cards for herself, and almost all 21 cards for Sandie too!  So glad that we're friends.
Dee Tollaksen

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Roberta Hamann


Snow Swirled has never looked better! Roberta used embossing powder to really dress up the tree from Scandinavian Season stamp set, added a little silver star and silver metallic paper. Beautiful and perfect for a shoebox. Thanks Bert!
Dee Tollaksen

Monday, October 20, 2008

Irene



Peaceful Wishes has retired, but that doesn't mean it isn't working!   This lovely card was designed by Irene Leung for our shoebox this past weekend. It highlights Real Red and Mellow Moss papers and inks.  Beautiful.
Dee Tollaksen

Julie Anderson


All gold and white and black, this glamorous snowman was designed by Julie Anderson for our Shoebox Swap. So nice.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

NW Suburban Shoebox



Energy. Are you getting the vibe? Maybe the vibe is "total concentration" and not really "energy." The NW suburban shoebox was yesterday and this is the photo evidence. No one would look up, no one would pause, no one even cared that I was taking a picture for my blog. Twenty-three ladies gathered from around Illinois to stamp and create! Everyone set up their workstation with the supplies to make a Christmas card and then we all worked our way around the room, making each card to take home. I'll shoot the cards and post them from now til Christmas, just to give each artist their 15 minutes of fame!

DeeTollaksen

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Feeling blue?


If you know me, you probably know that I love blue.  I have had to work very hard to train my brain to enjoy other colors and my home is no longer decorated exclusively in blue. Occasionally, the blue part of my brain takes over, and the chef here can attest!  Blue jacket blue scarf blue hat and blue decor.  That's why I love him! 
If you want to drop in and make your own blue chef, or green or red, just leave me a comment or send an email!
Dee Tollaksen

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Monochrome masculinity


Still posting manly cards made this past week. While this golden goodie could be given to anyone, it isn't girlie and would be appropriate for the man in your life. Lots of embossing, which is nice on a cool autumn day. . . warms up the stamping room!
Enjoy, Dee Tollaken

Manly


Tackling the challenge of masculine cards. . . without sports, hunting or yard work! This is one of the manly cards we made at my workshop this week, simple and masculine. Totally CASEd from Connie Balbert, somewhere out there in web-land, I thank you for the design work!
Check my camp calendar and join me for Christmas cards and calendars!
Dee Tollaksen

Friday, October 10, 2008

Get the inside scoop AND save on every order!


We have so much fun stamping and socializing and I have made life-long friends through this hobby business. If you are the tiniest bit interested in investing in your own hobby business, you have only two days left for the $99 special with Stampin' Up! Benefits include the substantial discount on every product you order, monthly idea magazine, on-line business and creative inspiration and a local support network of wonderful women stampers. I would love to bring you into this network and introduce you to the fun of Stampin' Up!

Dee Tollaksen

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Card Kits 20% discount


If you prefer for the designing and cutting to be done for you, look closer! If you think a designed and cut kit would be a good gift, take a peek! If you need an "emergency card kit" call me! For the next 4 day, Stampin' Up! is offering 20% off these great card kits! When Stampin' Up! offers the sale, you also save on tax and shipping!
Each kit includes card stock precut, ribbons, embellishments, envelopes and self-adhesive die-cuts! At least 9 cards from the Rock Star and Flower Power kits, 18 from the Holiday kit! Cost before tax & s/h is $12.76 for Rock Star or Flower Power; $14.36 for the Holiday kit.
Don't wait, these prices are only good through Oct. 11. Email, call or just go to my Stampin' Up! site to order on-line!
Dee Tollaksen


Monday, October 6, 2008

Personalization makes all the difference!


Can you tell what this is? Back to school suppliers offered this inexpensive pencil box in a couple different colors this year. I was thinking it was nice to carry mono-adhesive, snips and bone folder. Maybe some tic-tacs. When we do shoeboxes or when you come to a stamp camp, it is just the right size to keep track of the tools needed to make cards. But then I kept thinking, maybe some Christmas fudge could be presented in this. . . it is like a little drawer, so wrap the fudge in saran wrap and hide it in the drawer.  Or cosmetics in an overnight bag. Well, basic cosmetics anyway. Or granola bars to keep in a school locker or in your desk at work. Or a manicure set for work, just a bottle of hand cream and nail file.  Oooo, now I'm on a roll.  I have to go buy more of these. I think everyone will be getting one for Christmas!  Include a gift card for a manicure and you have a great gift combo!
Gotta go, before these babies are all gone!
Dee Tollaksen

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Comments! Yippee!

I did see that there is an interest in the accordian  card and learning how to create it.  So, I'll go measure the squares and the scores and work on a tutorial. Don't worry if it doesn't appear quickly, I have a BUSY week and I'm not very adept at tutorials. But I'll get there!
Dee

Grrrrrrreat!


Oh my gosh this bear is just too much!

If you would like to know more about this card, please join me on Thursday (Oct 10) at either 1pm or 7pm for my "Masculine Cards" stamp camp.  For just  $20 you can make 4 different designs, 2 of each--so you go home with 8 great manly cards! 

If you need a bit more notice to accommodate your calendar, another Manly camp will be held Wed. Oct 15.  This tends to be a greater challenge since most rubber stamps are somewhat feminine in nature. Come see what I've cooked up. I promise not to Grrrrrowl at you!
Dee Tollaksen

Friday, October 3, 2008

Accordian Card

Sometimes we just want to make something "outside the box" and this accordian card is just the ticket!  

It highlights the Stamp-a-ma-Jig and how easy it is to use and how it makes those butterflies line up exactly where they should. And we get to see the In-Colors  all in one place without looking too bright and gaudy.

And it's really easy to make, fits in a regular envelope  and boy does it provide WOW factor!

I
 hope you like it! If you are interested, I can provide a tutorial.   Just leave a comment or send me an email. I would love to hear from you.
Dee Tollaksen

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

October 1 Must be Someone's Birthday!


If today is your birthday, show me your ID and I'll pay the shipping on any set you choose from the Birthday Party promotion!  Stampin' Up! will pay the first 20% of your stamp set from the promotion with a qualifying purchase of just $20! Better yet, let your husband know what you want, and let him give it to you for that special day!
Happy Birthday to you and to Stampin' Up!
This special lasts for the whole month, so click on the link at right, and shop away!
Dee Tollaksen