Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Happy New Year!

Even though it isn't a traditional card sending holiday, the New Year is certainly a big deal. Today's design challenge is to make a card to celebrate the New Year. I used my acetate to create the card base and added some elegance with black and gold, showing off the fun party hats from the Party Hearty stamp set. A couple of non-Stampin' Up! items on this cutie, being the calendar and the acetate. Oh, and the gold pen for the lines. Hmmm, maybe that is SU, I don't remember. . . 
Back on track: if you want to take up the challenge and create a New Year's card I would love to see it! In the meantime, be sure to check out the other Diva's Coffee Break team members designs: just click on their names at right to jump to their blogs today. Remember Heidi in your prayers, she is our design team leader but she took a tumble on ice this week and messed up her wrist. In my head I'm thinking: why the arm? why not the leg or ankle, and then she would be forced to recuperate at the stamp table instead of being unable to stamp due to an arm injury!  But of course, it would be better if the whole accident hadn't happened! Anyway. . . heal fast Heidi!
Dee Tollaksen

Valentine Bundle

Stampin' Up! is running a great special right now to help you get ready for Valentine's Day. Think of it as an "after Christmas Sale" and enjoy the fact that you don't even have to leave your home! You will save 20% or more on this combination: A brand new stamp set with 6 great stamps, a large punch that coordinates perfectly with one of the stamps in the set, and a full pack of Designer Series Paper that coordinates as well. The full value of these three items would be $51.85 but your cost is only $41.48 plus tax & s/h.  This purchase also qualifies you to save 20% on any stamp set in the Catalog Sampler. I'll be showing some cards made with the Flight of the Butterflies set--so GORGEOUS!! Just leave a comment or send me an email if you're interested. This is a limited time offer. . . .
Dee Tollaksen

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Crab & Co

Such a happy crab, maybe because he's retiring in just a few days?  January 19 is the last day he will be in the catalog, then he's off to the closet, never to be available again. Don't miss out, if you've been admiring this happy guy, he's available at 10% off right now!  
Do you like my faux brads? Just punch the holes in the designer series paper and drop a blob of Crystal Effects glue. Then wait. This is the only hard part. Wait. No, don't touch it, your fingerprints will be permanently embedded in the card face. Just wait. Go check your blogs and email. Wait. Aaack. Not dry. Add more glue to hide the fingerprints. Go to bed. Come back in the morning. . . YES! Dry and shiny and beautiful!
Call me--Dee Tollaksen

Monday, December 29, 2008

Sneak Peek Buzzin' By. . .

So, my friend Leslie mentioned that she loves bees and wondered if Stampin' Up! would be bringing any bees into the catalog. Well, Leslie, here they are, and they couldn't be any cuter.  I'm not sure why your neices and nephews call you Auntie Bee but I hope this set inspires you to send them lots of cute cards!
This card was inspired by a project posted on Diana Gibbs' blog. She used the main portion of this card as the front on a small gift bag. So cute!  I'm not sure I got all the details right, but I love the way the card looks. This set is available right now as a sneak peek from the upcoming new Catalog and Idea Book. Just leave me a comment if you would like to know how to purchase the full set or attend a class featuring this card and others. 
Just buzzin' by. . . Dee Tollaksen

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Retirement

This set, Fabulous Flowers, has always appealed to me. It took a while before I ordered it. Then it took a while more before I used it. It still appeals but I still have a hard time designing around it. So, this card was inspired by a blog post on PaperCraft magazine. The flower is embossed in shiny black then layered on vellum over tangerine tango and so saffron papers, with a length of tangerine ribbon. Easy peasy. This set is retiring in January, and this card will be featured at my retirement stamp camp. Check out the schedule, at right, and join us!
Dee Tollaksen

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Talk about a deadline!

December 24. Nuff said. The international definition of a deadline! There is no pushing it back, no rearranging a couple meetings, no way to ignore it and hope it will go away -- Christmas is coming! Tomorrow!!
That makes this the final creation for Christmas 2008. I have been admiring a card from Sharon Field printed off SplitCoastStampers for many months. It goes from my desk to my file to my desk to my file. I couldn't think of a way to modify it and I didn't want to copy it straight up and post it on my blog. I don't know Sharon, but some people are offended when their artwork is hijacked and posted without sufficient credit (that would include me!). But I love the card. So this week's sketch, the deadline of Christmas and this lovely card have all combined to become this offering. I used a non-Christmas set to imitate the holly, as demonstrated by Sharon. Do you recognize the set? Fresh cuts! And there is only one way to deal with the stems of the holly, they just require a ribbon to pull them together. So is it too much to have the fabulous red striped ribbon on the opposite end of the card? Who says too much is too much? I'm throwing the rules out the window.

By the way, it seems that the rules outside my window have already been ignored, as it is snowing like crazy, for the umpteenth time this season and it is barely "winter." Get the reindeer ready, we're gonna need them to get to Christmas dinner.

If you're snowed in or taking a creativity break, let this sketch be your inspiration! Check out all the Coffee Break Divas creations and join us. You can email me your card and I will post it here, or post it on your site and leave me a comment.

Have a blessed Christmas, be safe and enjoy your family!

Dee Tollaksen

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

What day is this?


Not sure what happened, but blogger posted Monday as the date for that Santa card, so I thought I could sneak another Christmas card in before I have to put up my Design Team inspiration. Here is a really fabulous card I have been teaching for a long time. Unfortunately the original is gone so I don't know who the talented designer was, but my customers LOVE this card: simple, glitzy and fool-proof! The only product we snuck in here that isn't available from Stampin' Up! is the packing tape. It is covering the window made by the star punch, then glitter is poured all over it, well, when I say glitter, I mean Dazzling Diamonds. You knew that, though, right?!? So the card is non-traditional colors, glittery and has only one layer -- Fabulous!
If you designed this or know who may have, I would be delighted to give proper credit!
Dee Tollaksen

Monday, December 22, 2008

CASEing at its very best


This past August I attended Stampin' Up! convention for the third time. I felt like I really knew what I was doing. I had swaps that I was proud of and I recognized Shelli Gardner, the founder, instantly. I had an awesome time! Back in 2007, I was just taking it all in when I attended convention, not sure I was "getting" it all, but I swapped like crazy and had a great time.
Fast forward to today. . . I have had this really darling card on my work bench for 18 months. A customer twisted my arm and made me buy this Jolly Santa stamp set, so I picked up the card and went to work copying it. When it was all done, I flipped the card over to see if it had been signed by the original artist, and it had. So, if you can imagine, I swapped cards with Mary Polcin. And who is Mary Polcin you ask? Just Million Dollar Mary, the SU demonstrator with the largest personal sales of any SU demonstrator. That's all. Just made me laugh out loud, that I have been admiring this card for a year and a half, on my work space without realizing that I had, at some point, stood face to face with Mary and just swapped cards, without even trying to get any helpful business hints from her.
So, here's to great designs and great demonstrators! Have a great Christmas! I'll be back tomorrow with the inspiration sketch from Coffee Break Diva's, be sure to stop back to visit.
Dee Tollaksen

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

DCBD Color Challenge


So, who's busy this time of year? I had every good intention of providing an inspiration card to go with this color challenge.But good intentions aren't enough! So here is the challenge, without any inspiration. How about you inspire me this week? I'll be checking out the other artists of the Diva's Coffee Break, and I hope to post later, but work has my full attention right now. I'll be back in just a couple days!
Dee

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Simple Givinig


Giving beautiful and useful gifts is probably the most common goal for this time of year -- something the giver can afford and is pleased to be able to give, and something the receiver is happy to have. Pictured here is a darling little plate, a bit of nice chocolate and some personalization! All for next to nothing out of your budget!  The plates were purchased as a group, very affordable, simple white plates. The candy by the bag at any local big box store. Then a couple Stampin' Up! products: one roll of ribbon, one pack of rub-ons, some designer series paper and one pack of cellophane bags = eight or more hostess gifts (or teacher gifts or grab bag gifts or goody bag gifts for guests). Versatile, inexpensive and lovely. What more could you ask for? 
There's still time to make it happen, just give me a call--
Dee Tollaksen

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Blogging training scam?

Please disregard the info previously posted in this spot.

Free Shipping!!!


Happy Holidays from Stampin Up!  The biggest deal of the day! Free holiday shipping!  This is a very limited time offer but it is valid across the board! All the products and just about any size order! Come on over to my official Stampin' Up! website for easy shopping and all the specifics: just click on the link at right for On-line Ordering and then click on the Free Shipping picture.
And there's more:  the new Idea Book and Catalog is just around the corner, which means a block of stamp sets will be retired to make way for new products. Anything on the retiring list is marked down right now by 10%!! So, yes, that means you can save 10% up front on the stamp sets and 10% at the end on the shipping!  That is awesome!
For your convenience, you may shop right on-line, just make your selections and charge it, everything will come right to your door.  Or call me, or email me, and I will place your order for you and we can arrange payment.  I'd love to hear from you!
Dee Tollaksen

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Diva's Coffee Break Design 105


It is Wednesday, again, so soon! And that means it is time for the Diva's Coffee Break Design inspiration. This week it is a layout and it was provided for us
 by Selene.  I used a level 3 Hostess Set, Window Dressing. You may remember it as a large window with shutters and a darling little girl and a few other items to feature in the window and a couple greetings. A few talented stampers have featured these snowmen this holiday season, and I had to actually go grab the set to confirm that these two fellows were actually in Window Dressing. What a versatile set.
Now, two action items for you: First, go visit the blogs of the rest of the design team to see how they were inspired by this layout; Second, grab your supplies and make your own creation to share with me and the blogosphere; and Third (okay, I thought of one more thing) grab your calendar and shopping list since there are only a few more weeks to earn this hostess set! Have a
 cookie and card exchange party! Let me come and show you and your guests how to make some great holiday items with your Stampin' Up! supplies and finish your holiday To Do List all in one event!
Dee Tollaksen

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Concentration anyone?


I saw this on a blog this week, and jumped out of the computer chair and ran for my stamps!  Just stamp 2 each of the Deer Friends hostess set stamps in a variety of colors, punch 'em out, match 'em up with a punch of card stock in a matching color, then mount them on a neutral color cardstock punched with the scallop circle. Now you have a Match Game or Concentration Game--for little kids.  So cute! Great stocking stuffer!  There is still plenty of time to earn this hostess set, just contact me and we can make it happen!
Dee Tollaksen

Friday, December 5, 2008

Acetate anyone?


If you like to experiment with acetate, it can be purchased in a tablet of 9x12" sheets in .05 or .03m thickness for around $11 at the art supply store.  I have found that the .05m thickness works great for tags, box tops, card elements.  I haven't gone back for the .03m thickness, which I think will work well for the pillow box that was on the Stampin' Up! founder's blog, OhShelli. This .05m was just too thick and kept popping back to its original shape: flat.

There will be a handful of these tags available at the Holiday Shop I am hosting tomorrow in Arlington Heights.  If you would like to purchase them, come see us! Just leave me a comment or shoot me an email for the exact location and times.  If you're unable to attend  but want to know more, also use email.

You should see my craft room filled with teeny acetate corners that fly off when you use the corner rounder to make this tag.  Then the corner rounder refused to make any more,  so many of the tags have square corners! Oh well. Square is a good shape too.
Dee Tollaksen

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

DCBD 104 Color Challenge




















Hope you don't mind, I'm sneaking my Wednesday post a couple hours early. The holidays have hit and my work is taking more of my time, and no way will I be able to put a post up in the morning. . . so here is my inspiration piece for you for the DCBD 104 Color Challenge.


I have resorted to my all time favorite layout, three across. I've used a bit of hardware to jazz it up, and some beautiful Riding Hood Red ribbon. Love the marker to rubber technique and this stamp set is just outstanding.


Be sure to check out the other fabulous stampers offering inspiration Wednesday morning and join us in this color challenge. Just click on their names under the Diva's Coffee Break logo on the right side of the blog! Then make your own card or project, post it here or at SplitCoastStampers.com and leave me a comment so I can check it out! Enjoy,


Dee Tollaksen