Saturday, February 27, 2010

Manly card

A big shout out to kthaman on SplitCoastStampers for inspiring this card. It is mostly a CASE (copy and steal everything) but I changed up the color and added some tools. Lots of hardware here!

Mellow Moss and Going Grey, but the camera certainly didn't make my colors sing! Of course, the monochrome nature of the card allows you to use whatever Manly color you might have on hand. And the  new Perfect Polka Dots impression folder looks great! I used a solid moss sheet from the DSP hostess pad and sanded the dots right off after running it through the Big Shot.

Today I will be working with a stamping friend to make a pile of thank-you notes. Then big plans to watch the Olympic hockey match of USA vs Canada with my Canadian friends. Should be a fun weekend!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Friday, February 26, 2010

Love my Big Shot


When I invest in a tool, I like to be sure I get my money's worth. And when Stampin' Up! first presented the Big Shot, I thought, geez, $99 for the machine, and then I have to buy dies and folders and supplies? I just don't know. But I took the plunge, and have never looked back!  I love to use the dies, and just about every card I make has some element cut or embossed using that darn thing!  Here is a white flower cut with a sizzlet and the small and medium-small flowers from the Flower Folds die are here in black and saraha sand. The sentiment comes from a hostess set found in the Occasions Mini Catalog. Love it!

Come on over and stamp with me!
Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

What do you think?


This is harder than you think. Just composing a card, without a "focal point" because the acetate is kind of the "star."  But acetate is clear. Hmmm.

Please let me know what you think. I was pretty happy, other than the flash from the camera, leaving a glare spot. But without the flash, there was no hope.

Anyway, the flowers and butterfly are floating on the clear acetate, the sentiment is inside the card.

Would you like to attend a class focused on acetate or window sheets? What about a workshop for you and your stamping friends? Let me know what works for you!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Monday, February 22, 2010

Some frustration, but ultimate success

Square. Why don't I ever make square cards? The sad truth is because I don't have any square envelopes. Isn't that awful? To let the possession of envelopes be the block that locks out an entire realm of creativity?

To heck with that. I'm gonna order some square envelopes!

I'm trying to adapt my "clean and simple" style without crossing all the way into the vintagy cluttered busyness of so many cards out there right now. So, here is a main element created using the Flower Folds Die for the Big Shot, exclusively offered by Stampin' Up!  The Scallop Trim Border Punch and Corner Punch peek out from behind a square from the free pad of DSP available during Sell-a-Bration. Then squares cut from the same pad of DSP are mounted on Kraft cardstock.  I forced a brad into the button! It took a little bit of coercion to get the legs of the brad straightened out so they could be pushed through, but just a pencil and a bone folder did the trick.

For those of you with both the border punch and the corner punch, God love you if you can figure out the right size cardstock to make a perfect square. This one started out as a 4-5/16 square of cardstock. Well, the truth is, there are at least 6 ruined squares of orange cardstock strewn about my table. There is a very talented demonstrator that published her results and recommended some other starting sizes, that did not work for me. Grrrrrrrr.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Acetate card


As I surfed the web today, I came upon the Cards Magazine blog, and found last week's challenge was to use acetate. So all their cards were posted, and there are some awesome reasons to open that stash of clear acetate and get to work. Here is my first project. It is a standard size card base cut from acetate and simply folded, as if it was cardstock. Works like a dream. While I was using hoarded goodies, I allowed myself a smidge of Bridal Specialty paper, this beautiful white-on-white stripe paper. Arranged a variety of bright hearts, a bit of the flowery Bridal Specialty paper sponged with Ballet Blue ink and punched with the 5-petal punch. A bit of ribbon, a little hello and one last heart on top of a scallop oval punch. FUN!  I guess I was a little punchy, ya think?

So, I bet I will keep this up for a couple more days, then I'll have enough ideas to offer a class in acetate, also known as window sheets at Stampin' Up!  Want to come? When would you like me to schedule such a class? And don't forget that it is still Sell-a-Bration. . . you could have a workshop featuring these projects, and earn loads of free goodies from Stampin' Up!

Leave a message in the notes, tell me what you think,
Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

You're Invited


Sincerely, if you are the least bit interested, you are welcome to come. . . tonight, my place, 7 pm.  All the fun girls will be here, stamping! And this is the card I am bringing.

I am hosting the monthly shoebox swap for my sidelines, because we don't have an active upline. Tonight we will be laughing, stamping, sharing and planning. If you want to see the variety of talented ladies who are Stampin' Up! demonstrators in my group, pop over. This one get-together a month is enough reason to become a demonstrator! The ideas and plans we share are awesome and fun.

Call if you need directions. Just drop in if you know where I live.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Monday, February 15, 2010

Pop Quiz


That's why they call it a pop quiz, cause you didn't know there would be a test. Here is the question, it is pass or fail, A+ or F: Where is my son?

He isn't lost. I know where he is. I'm just checking to see if any of you actually are paying attention. Oh, you say you are here for the cards, not the blather? OK!!

The card is a Yoyo Yellow base, a layer of Whisper White and then Real Red and Brilliant Blue stars. Layers of Real Red and Brilliant Blue and a bit of stamping on Whisper White.  I was pawing through my embellishments looking for bright silver brads and came across these star brads! Bonus!

This card is for Steve, my oldest child, as he received a promotion on the first of the month.  He says it's no big deal, just a matter of time. . . having been in the corps for a given amount of time. But I'm his Mother!  So it's a big deal to me!  So I sent a card and I walked around with a big proud smile for a few days.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Art thief!

Mono-chromatic CASE today. As seen on Debra Burgin's blog, this card made me stop surfing the web and run to my craft room. I just love the subtlety of this card, texture is the star of the show. And somehow this shade of purple works perfectly. So, thanks to Debra for today's pretty card.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Treat Time


Gotta love the Big Shot die cut machine! I have the pillow box die here, in black, so striking! A bit of teal DSP from the free pack in the Sell-a-Bration catalog and a teeny greeting on a belly band of white. Oh yes, the flowers are cut using a Sizzlet on the Big Shot and there is a square gem stone. All supplies are from Stampin' Up! and it uses so little that we could make a whole pile of these as gifts for any occasion.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Final Temptation



This is the last card I made to tempt you . . . please sign up for my class on Wednesday Feb 24, you choose the time, 1 pm or 7 pm. We're making  8 cards using this FREE stamp set from the Sell-a-Bration catalog. It is one of many choices you can select when you place a merchandise order of $50.  This ribbon is so delicious, and it comes in a nice variety of colors. The DSP on this card is also from a free item in the SAB catty, a pad of 6 x 6" DSP in gorgeous spring colors. And the new scalloped edge border punch is featured on the focal point background. Great card, CASEd from Donna Kennedy Juda's blog. She does lovely work.

Hope to see you there (actually, here!),
Dee Tollaksen

Monday, February 8, 2010

Yikes!


When is winter over? When there is never any natural sunlight, I have to use  artificial light to photograph my cards, and it is certainly not complementary!  This looks so much better in real life.

Well, take it for what it is, a hint at what will be made in the stamp camp on Feb 24. There are still seats available in both the 1 pm and the 7 pm class. We will make cards for all occasions. You will make 8 different cards for just $20. Leave a comment here or shoot off an email. Hope you can join us!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Family Secrets

Fellow demonstrators and stampers: Have you purchased these gorgeous chipboard hearts (or birds or scalloped circles) with the thought that they will make something great? Especially when they are so inexpensive! Me too. They are supposed to inspire creativity, not sit on my table, staring at me accusingly. Reminding me that Valentine's Day is coming and I have not done anything with these great heart shaped chipboards. And of course, on my computer table, there is a recipe. My Grandmother's cookies. Not her favorite cookie, my favorite cookie. I bring them every year to our family Christmas gathering. After at least 15 years of being the only one who has the recipe, I was deluged with requests for Nana's bar cookies. Well, I couldn't just xerox it and mail it, something beautiful needed to be created, right? So finally, I am using the heart shaped chipboard to mount the cookie recipe!  I put a jumbo brad in the pre-punched hole and strung some ribbon through it, thinking the user can dangle it from the cabinet knob while prepping the dough. Hope my Mom and Sister and Cousin enjoy it!
Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Friday, February 5, 2010

Valentine Card

Can you see the sparkle? On the hearts and the frame?  I love a clean and simple card, one that is just right for the occasion, without being too blatant about it. This card has a bit of red and pink, some hearts and ribbon, but enough brown and kraft to qualify for "All Occasion" or "Wedding."  In my opinion, at least, it is a versatile card!

I thought you might like a break from the "Happy Moments" stamp set, so enjoy the sparkly Valentine card.

Don't let Sell-a-bration slip past you without getting your share of the free stamps, paper and punches Stampin' Up! is offering! Call me!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Just a few more





This card is CASEd off Dawn at DOStamping.typepad.com. The face of the card is trimmed a bit to let the DSP peek through from the inside of the card. Super simple, super fast and super good looking.  This is another sample we will make on Wed Feb 24, you can come at 1 pm or 7 pm. I used the blending pen to color the little presents and the new tag punch to dangle off the top of the gift. Cute!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Make your own DSP

Do you speak "SU?"

My son is in the USMC -- U. S. Marine Corps. Everything they say is an acronym minefield.  Sometimes I will slip into Stampin' Up! acronyms and I hope you know what I am talking about!

This card has DSP (Designer Series Paper) that I made myself.  This is another of the cards we will make on Feb 24 all with the free Sell-a-bration set "Happy Moments."  I am LOVING this set. LOVING it. Whooo, it is beautiful, versatile and FREE. FREE!!!!!!

So this is a very soft and beautiful card, using the pastel chalks to color the flowers. I used both the large and small tag punches and a little bit of ribbon. Nice, huh?  Join me!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

CHA sneak peeks from Craft Critique

[tombow+vellum.JPG]Have you been paying any attention to the bajillion blog posts from the CHA (craft & hobby assoc) trade show? Craft Critique is one of my favorites. Earlier this week they posted this sneak peek from Tombow. There is a dot runner which leaves a diamond shaped dot of adhesive when you run it along your cardstock, if you go off target, you can just rub it off without making a mess. Also, vellum adhesive, which is totally clear, invisible behind vellum. Third is a ball point glue pen. Wow. For glittering a handwritten message, or heat embossing a hand written message.  I was thinking of all the teeny or narrow pieces of cardstock that I want to glue onto a card, and have to figure out some magic glue process to keep from making a mess.  Well, I'm ready. Bring 'em on. Hope they get here soon, and I hope that Stampin' Up! will be offering these products! Cheap!
Happy Stamping
Dee Tollaksen

Preview day 3

Are you starting to see how versatile "Happy Moments" stamp set can be? There's more to come!  Today we see a simple panel that has been embossed with swiss dots on the Big Shot; one stamp of the flowers, colored with markers, but any kind of coloring will work; a snip of ribbon and one piece of hardware from the Hodge Podge Hardware kit.

A great "all occasion" card to keep in your stash! Be sure to attend my "all occasion" class on Feb. 24 to make this card.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Monday, February 1, 2010

Day two of previews

Day two of the previews from the Wed., Feb. 24 All Occasions Card Class I am offering. All the cards will be made using the free Sell-a-Bration stamp set "Happy Moments" and some basic stamping supplies. These two cards are almost identical, but turned sideways. I have CASEd (copy and steal everything) them from Diana Gibbs. Diana is a super talented stamper who lives in Arizona. She has been recognized by Stampin' Up! numerous times and she is a very successful demonstrator. I hope you are inspired by these cards to grab your supplies and make some easy cheerful cards. Or sign up for my class and join me and some other happy stampers for an afternoon or evening of fun stamping!
Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen