Shoebox Swap - seeing double

Today I want to show you two cards from the Shoebox Swap. The top card, in blue is from Kelly Mollenhauer and the second card is from Jamie Erickson.

I wanted to show both to you at the same time to illustrate how the same concept can be used in such a different result.

Both artists chose to use the word Joy, cut on the Big Shot die cut machine. Kelly's card is in "winter" colors, was embossed on the Big Shot using an embossing folder and features a snow globe with a snowman. This card is darling and perfect for a Christmas card, without being very traditional.

Jamie's card uses more "Christmas" colors, red & green. It was embossed using an embossing plate, for a more subtle texture. This card has the letters layered and used a sponge to soften the edges of the white panel. Jamie used some DSP, (designer series paper) and a length of ribbon as well. It is clearly a Christmas card, perfect for remembering the season.

I am publishing both cards together just to remind you that the materials you have in your stash can be used in a million different ways, and similar materials can result in vastly different projects!

Don't forget to take advantage of the Stampin' Up! clearance rack and to do your holiday shopping early to avoid shipping disappointments.

Happy Stamping!

Dee Tollaksen

Shoebox Swap by Kathy

Before falls freezes away, enjoy this beautiful card using Autumn Splendor stamp set. Kathy also knows that SplitCoastStampers offers mountains of inspiration, so she found a card like this and CASEd it for her project at the Shoebox Swap. There are many sets from Stampin' Up! that I would say "I love" but this set is definitely in my top 3 of all time. It warms my heart knowing that other stampers love it too, and I certainly hope it makes the move from the mini-catalog into the main Idea Book, so I can enjoy sharing it with my customers for years to come!

Don't forget the Holiday Extravaganza on-line bargains being offered now by Stampin' Up! for your Christmas shopping and saving! Click here to go to my website and enjoy up to 50% savings on awesome products and stamping kits.

Happy Stamping,

Dee Tollaksen

Shoebox Swap

This is such a gorgeous card. Of course, I love all the cards we received at the Shoebox Swap, but this one was brought by my friend Roberta, so it is extra special.

If it looks familiar, it may be because she found the design on SplitCoastStampers and loved it so much that she CASEd it for the swap. The white panel has been cut and then embossed on the Big Shot, adding dimension and texture and making this card just POP!

Hope you and yours enjoyed a lovely dinner on Thanksgiving, and boosted the economy on black Friday.

Dell computers is helping me upgrade my digital capabilities. Santa will be bringing me a new laptop that should run My Digital Studio a bit faster (hopefully a LOT faster!). We'll see lots more samples after Christmas. For now, look forward to more swap cards.

Happy Stamping,

Dee Tollaksen

Shoebox Swap

One thing is certain, when you gather 20+ stamping women in one room, fun ensues. My Stampin' Up! sideline, Catherine, and I just hosted a Stamping Shoebox Swap for our customers, sidelines, friends and "future friends." This was the 4th time we offered this event, and we have it down to a science. Call the venue, call the caterer, buy the goodies, order the door prizes.

Our Stampers love this event. What a fun opportunity to meet other stampers, go home with 20 great cards, use a bunch of products in fun and interesting applications and enjoy a lovely lunch! I think it is a great opportunity for "future demonstrators" to see that their stamping talents are just as good as the next guy's and that their capabilities hold up when compared to other stampers. I hear from people all the time, that they don't think they are as good as "someone else." And we are here to tell you, these are just regular stamping ladies, and they are great at what they do!

We will be seeing all 20 cards over the next weeks, so sit back and enjoy!

Happy Stamping!

ONLINE EXTRAVAGANZA

On-line Extravaganza is the Stampin' Up! response to Holiday Shopping. We have 50% off, 40% off and 30% off options in stamps, accessories and tools. Some of these are just irresistible! I have the biggest and best bundle listed here. If you want to add some very popular and very versatile stamp sets and the entire Earth Elements color family in cardstock and ink, and save big $$, take a look! This bundle sells for $76.62, and you save 40% off retail. Maybe this would make a great package under the tree, you could put your husband on my website and let him get a jump on his shopping, and you would get something you love and can use throughout the whole year! Just click on my SU website and choose Shop Now to take advantage of this offer. This package is "while supplies last" so don't wait!

ce: $76.62

Catalog Price : $127.7 THIS BUNDLE IS ONLY AVAILABLE WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. Want to stamp but don't know where to start? We've got your Ultimate Stampers' Starter Bundle right here! Containing Best Wishes & More, Eight Great Greetings, and On a Pedestal stamp sets, plus Earth Elements Stampin’ Spots, Earth Elements assorted card stock (8-1/2” x 11”), Whisper White card stock (8-1/2” x 11”), Old Olive 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon, and Flower Designer brads, you'll be in stamping heaven--all for 40% off the retail value!

Holiday Card

The next couple cards I share are from a class I offered on unusual color combinations for Christmas cards. This is all in kraft and chocolate chip. It is brightened up by using the gold shimmer paint from Stampin' Up!s mini catalog. There are going to be a lot of sad stampers the day this product leaves our catalog, we just LOVE it!

There are lots of layers, but very simple stamping. All you need is a couple snowflakes and a sentiment. This layout could be duplicated with flowers or Circle Circus and any color cardstock. I think this might be a "go-to" layout, one that you can return to over and over, and still look fresh.

Happy Stamping,

Dee Tollaksen

ONLINE EXTRAVAGANZA

Stop by tomorrow for Stampin' Up!s Online Extravaganza. We have been promised a great sale from Mon 11/23 until Mon 11/30. Go directly to my official SU site to find the sale items and to place your order. You can also email me your order or give me a call, but I will be working my day job Monday, and likely won't be home til late... so online orders would be your best bet.

Enjoy! http://dtollaksen.stampinup.net

Dee

Big Shot Quilt piece

So, you wish you could justify purchasing a Big Shot. And you love to craft, sew, quilt, read.

Today I am working on a darling quilted bag that incorporates all of the above. I picked a "western" theme, because I wanted to send my daughter a little handmade gift, and she is down in Texas right now, in college.

This is one quilt square, CUT ON THE BIG SHOT! Can you believe that the fabric was cut using the square scallop die on the Big Shot? It cut through 8 thicknesses of fabric, like butter. I have a lot on my plate right now, but I'm trying to finish this bag today, and I'll share more pix.

Happy Stamping (and sewing)

Dee Tollaksen

A Gift For You -- Matching Sale

Just got an email from a local scrapping store, and I thought, I can match that! So here's the deal: purchase any stamp set and I will give you a free ink pad. Your choice of color, choose from any of Stampin' Up! collections: Basic, In-Color, Soft Subtles, Bold Brights, Earth Elements or Rich Regals.

Check out the gorgeous Holiday Mini-Catalog, the Idea Book and Catalog or go on-line and look at both of them. Then email me your order, place it on-line or give me a call, and I will add the ink pad of your choice to your order, my treat!

We had a Tag Swap Monday night, this was the second one that I brought. I think it turned out pretty cute! Feel free to come try the Big Shot and see how quick and easy it is to create this cute little envelope for your gift tags!

Happy Stamping,

Dee Tollaksen

Ask an Expert

Stampin' Up! has jumped into the digital crafting world and offered us the chance to take a few webinar classes and become certified demonstrators. I love my computer and adding this software is awesome. If you have a digital camera and loads of digital pix on your camera, this is an affordable and fun and beautiful way to be able to convert those computer bits into gorgeous photo books, scrapbooks, calendars and other printed products. And the software is really affordable and easy to use. And now I am a certified demonstrator, so I can help you get started and provide you with any assistance you might need to make the projects you want!

Leave a message, email or give me a call if you want to join the fun,

Dee Tollaksen

Glassy Glaze for Free!

IRL, In Real Life, another fun stamping acronym. If I was a better photographer, I wouldn't need this acronym. The picture doesn't do this little tag justice. IRL this tag is really, very cool. I die-cut the buttons on the Big Shot with a Sizzlet die. It gives you 4 cute buttons. Then I embossed them using VersaMark ink and clear embossing powder. But not just any clear embossing powder. I used Glassy Glaze from Stampin' Up! This stuff is chunky and leaves a nice thick layer of shinyness (a new word!). And I got it free as a door prize at a recent Stampin' Up! event. Making it extra cool! But it costs under $5, not much to add a cool new product to your stamping fun! Hey, here's a deal. . . spend $50 or more on supplies and I'll throw in a a free jar of Glassy Glaze! This offer good all week. Call, email or place an order right on-line, and I'll toss in the free product. Excellent, right?

Happy Stamping!

Dee Tollaksen

Hey There, Build a Bear!

"I'm just not creative."

"I don't have time to spend thinking up new projects."

"I can't afford all the Stampin' Up! products."

"I want it all, but blah blah blah."

Any of this sound familiar? I've heard it all. I used to say it too. Well who cares if you aren't creative? Or you are busy? Stampin' Up! and all the Stampin' Up! demonstrators share so many great ideas and projects, that you never have to think of one on your own, just pick from the thousands available and get crackin'! No funds? Not enough income to "indulge" your craft? Feel free to show the great products to your neighbors, friends, relatives, co-workers and new friends (former strangers). When they spend their pocket money on stamps, paper, ink and tools, you will make $$ to spend on stamps, paper, ink and tools! It's amazing! And fun! This darling little bear is a sample SU provided to demonstrators. This entire panel gets adhered to a gift bag, making it the most fabulous gift bag ever! Any little girl, or big girl, would love any gift she might receive with this gorgeous packaging!

If you need a few extra bucks to help get through the holidays, and enjoy a discount on your favorite crafting supplies, just leave me a comment or an email or a call, and I'll help you make it happen!

Happy Stamping,

Dee Tollaksen

Shimmery Santa

Somehow, we seem to have jumped from Halloween straight to Christmas, but you know that you need to get the stamps and paper in-hand, so you can make fabulous Christmas cards to WOW all your friends and relatives! This is a fun card that doesn't take much . . . time, supplies or postage. There is shimmer paint all over Santa's beard and fur, a bit of coloring on his outfit and leather goods, one panel of green Designer Series Paper (DSP) and an inch-and-a-half of fabulous polka-dot ribbon. Round the corners and do a little creative paper-piercing and the card is ready to mail. The Kraft base allows for you to write on the inside without having to add a white panel or use a white pen, another fabulous bonus; this is one detail that I tend to overlook. I like to use a deep color for the card base, then when it comes time to sign the card, I have to figure out a way for the ink to be seen, right?

Click on over to my Stampin' Up! shopping website to get the supplies, or give me a call or a comment and I'll be happy to help you pull it all together.

Happy Stamping,

Dee Tollaksen

Peace & Joy

Die Cut images are so easy to make and to use! Again, I love that there are so many creative people in the world who publish their work so that I can stamp and scrap and make beautiful things: this card was published on-line and I have CASEd (copy and share everything) it for my stampers benefit.

The BigShot cuts the Peace&Joy image is seconds, a bit of glue neatly rolled onto the back, press onto your card and Voila! a diecut masterpiece. We added some white snowflakes stamped randomly and a length of ribbon. Fabulous!

The Stamp-a-Stack camp went fabulously and everyone has 20 cards ready to send out to friends and family. Wish you were here!

Happy Stamping,

Dee Tollaksen

Elegance in design and product

The ribbon, the metallic paper, the minty freshness, this card has it all! Totally CASEd from another blog, let me know if you are the artist, this card is a gorgeous design. I grabbed a bunch of awesome Christmas card designs from the web, and this one is a real winner.

If you want to send a great card to a few of your holiday card list friends, let me help you get the supplies in-hand. This card is easy and surprisingly affordable. It would look great with glitter or nickels and dimes in the window, wouldn't it? Or black & white M&Ms! So fun!

Today is my Holiday Stamp-a-Stack. Always time to add a couple more stampers. Just give me a call, my number is at right.

Happy Stamping!

Dee Tollaksen

Floating ReInker Technique

There was a lovely card posted last week, and this is CASEd right from it (Copy And Share Everything). We made this card at Noelle's workshop Friday night. Floating ReInker is so fun, and finally a great use for all that ink you've been buying but rarely need to use. Just a few drops on the beautiful Shimmer White card stock, inside the embossed areas, then snip snip and you have the most gorgeous card elements. There are loads of details here: a panel that has been embossed in a folder on the Big Shot, some Designer Series Paper that has a border punched and the sentiment panel has been punched using the needle tool. Nothing is difficult, but lots of lovely detail.

Wouldn't you like to learn this technique and earn free product? Noelle will get a stamp set, a free Decor Element, free card stock and I gave her a Stampin' Up! reusable shopping tote for hosting a workshop! Just give me a call or leave a post here, I'll touch base with you and we'lll get you and your friends on my calendar!

Happy Stamping!

Dee Tollaksen

Class sample

Shocking but true, no posts for three days, then two at once. This Wednesday, at 1 pm and again at 7 pm, I will be offering a Stamp-a-Stack class for just $20 you will make 20 cards. Quick, beautiful Christmas cards. If you are in the Arlington Hts area and want to make some great Stampin' Up! cards, please give me a holler and join me.

Happy Stampin!

Dee Tollaksen

Emerging Color Technique

Autumn Splendor stamp set is so beautiful, I was using it to try a new technique I learned. This would not be my favorite card ever, but it was fun to make, and that counts. I used Designer Series Paper with a colorful fall theme and I clear embossed the Autumn Splendor leaves right over the DSP. Then I brayered classic ink right over the embossing on the DSP, which muted the colors and left the larger embossed leaves clear over the smaller printed leaf images. Not sure this was the perfect combo of paper and stamped image, but it does make a unique base for this autumn card.

Happy Stamping,

Dee Tollaksen

Classic Holiday style

Real Red, Soft Suede and shimmer paint combine to make an eye-pleasing composition. It took 3 stamp sets to make this "simple" card, but if they happen to be in your collection, it really was a simple card. Just a holiday greeting, a snowflake and then the Baroque Motifs swirls. What did we do before Stampin' Up! gave us the Baroque Motifs set? This holiday greeting comes from the Holiday Best level 1 hostess set, so you can have it free, just for hosting a little stamping get-together. Let's pick a date and earn some free stamps!

Happy Stamping,

Dee Tollaksen

Happy Days are here again. . .

What a pretty little card. I keep trying to make a simple Christmas card that can be duplicated easily, since we usually have loads of friends that we want to remember at the holidays, right? But then the card just demands bling and detail, and we are back at a card with numerous steps and embellishments. Oh well, back to the drawing board!

I'm stamping with the seniors at the Arlington Heights Senior Center today. This is a free walk-in event to make cards for the military deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. If you're in the area, pop over and help us with this little service project!

Happy Stamping,

Dee Tollaksen

Christmas countdown

Reproduce-able. . . I know I have heard that word, but I don't think it is actually a word. Nevertheless, this card is easy to reproduce. If you are a beginner stamper or you have a lot of Christmas cards to make, or you are hosting a party and want a lovely invitation, how bout this one? Maybe you have a color theme you want to stick to, think of all the hues of green: garden green, handsome hunter, old olive, taken with teal. Maybe something more unusual, in a cameo coral or pretty in pink. Really, these trees will work in any color, match them up with a bit of grosgrain ribbon and a swath of glitter, and you're good-to-go! Can you tell that I stamped the trees once on the base of the card, then stamped on a scrap, cut them out and popped-them up on dimensional adhesive dots? Looks great, but the whole second layer could be eliminated if you're making a bunch.

I wish wish wish my laptop was home. Please let the computer people work their magic today, and return my laptop to me in tip-top condition!

Happy Stamping!

Dee Tollaksen

Free Free Free Decor Elements

Stampers, this wonderful company has put together the most lovely Holiday Gift Giving Guide to tempt you with great Stampin' Up! products. Then they will reward you with lovely DecorElements absolutely free. For every $50 you spend on items that happen to be in the Guide, you will choose a Decor Element valued up to $16.95.

Click on over to my Stampin' Up! shopping website for more details, or give me a call. I love to hear from you!

Happy Stamping, Dee Tollaksen

Ornaments arranged

Want to send a few special Christmas cards? This star is intricate and beautiful, but a little time consuming. I have taken an ornament, stamped it 5 times, cut each one out, and arranged them into the star shape. A bit of Designer Series Paper gives us a color scheme. The Big Shot lets me emboss Whisper White paper with deep and beautiful pointsettia flowers and Kraft cardstock provides a nice neutral base.

Tomorrow I'll share something a little less involved. A card that can be duplicated for all your friends and family.

By the way, Stampin' Up! gave us this darling ornament stamp set when we attended convention. Another perk available to you when you become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, whether you are trying to increase your household income or if you simply want to take advantage of the demo discount, you are welcome to join us for a good time at convention!

Happy Stamping,

Dee Tollaksen