Monday, January 31, 2011

Clean & Simple in Concord

We had a great time Thursday night at Adrienne's Sell-a-Bration workshop. Most of the attendees were first time stampers so we kept it very simple. This card has a base layer of Concord Crush with a curly label in the same cardstock. Keeping the colors scheme monochromatic, we stamped in Concord Crush and punched the sentiment out with a label punch and layered it up using dimensional adhesive.

Not a beginner? Dress it up w/ ribbon, Dazzling Diamond glitter, I have seen a circle of faux stitching used in the large area of white space. This is a great sample for "where to start" and "where to embellish" a card. And using an intense color really impresses the beginners and experienced stampers, both!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Friday, January 28, 2011

Daffodil Blossom

Mmmmm. Tasty. Love the new Build-a-Blossom stamp set and punch combo. I think this is the perfect way to use this stamp set, inked up and stamped on Whisper White cardstock. I have seen many beautiful cards using ink on colored cardstock, and they are lovely. But ink doesn't transfer as well onto colored cardstock as it does with the white. You get the beautiful contrast of white and ink color, and I have made the base layer of the flower with colored cardstock. Everything here is Daffodil Delight, but almost any color will work.

Want a tip on shaping the petals? Just grab your bone folder and hold onto the point of the petal; treat the petal like curling ribbon and firmly run the bone folder from point to tip of the petal, voila, curled petal. I hope some of the texture will survive being mailed. We'll see!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Puppy Love

Whenever I buy a seasonal punch, like the heart punch, I keep my eyes open for alternative uses.  This cute little puppy is a perfect use for the heart punch, and he is a little bit of a Boston Terrier, like our family pet!

I have him on a treat bag with the gorgeous wide striped ribbon at the top.

This is super easy to make, and I would love to share this project with you!

Just leave a comment or shoot me an email, and I'll show you all the punches needed to create this darling doggy.

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Sell-a-Bration Starts Today!


 These are some of the stamp sets available in the Sell-a-bration brochure. Free.

FREE

That's right. You can't buy them. You can only earn them Free. And I really want to be the one to give them to you. Or some ribbon and DSP (designer series paper). Or some gorgeous digital images for computer scrapbooking and card designing.

Every year, Stampin' Up! puts together an outstanding collection of products to reward you for shopping with us during the doldrums of winter, and you will be pleased to enjoy the great selections this year.  I'll be posting some samples soon, but my calendar is filling up. If you would like to come stamp or invite some friends to your place, let's get it on the calendar right away!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen


Sunday, January 23, 2011

Love what you do!

Ooohh, I love this designer series paper. Love it!  So much that I finally used the rubber stamp I bought last July at the Stampin' Up! convention! This phrase is the Stampin Up statement of the heart, kind of our motto.

So, lots of Springtime Vintage DSP, some celery ribbon, Baja Breeze cardstock embossed on the  Big Shot and a flower cut on the Big Shot as well as a paper flower and glimmer brad. Plus I used the needle tool dealy thingamabob to make some faux sewing and did the stitching with a marker. Fun!

Sometimes a card just pleases me, and this is one of those. Love it!

Come on over and stamp with me, we'll make more like this!
Dee Tollaksen

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Catalog CASE

Copy And Steal Everything (CASE) is the best way to be a creative genius. . . this card is a total copy from the current mini catalog, a beautiful example of the new stamp set and paper punch that work perfectly together.

If you haven't received this mini catalog, just leave me a comment and I will help you out!  There are so many gorgeous products, stamps and embellishments. I am having a fabulous time trying out my favorites. Want to come over and get your hands on them? Just let me know!

Happy Stamping
Dee Tollaksen

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Vintage Look

Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper is featured on this pretty card. I am trying to use the layout challenges that are posted on the web. Last week I saw a beautiful card and it was a response to a challenge, so I grabbed my new paper and made my own version. Do you like this vintage look? It isn't my natural go-to style, but I am enjoying the challenge.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Paper Piecing

Wednesday afternoon and evening, we will be paper piecing at stamping school. This cute little monster is the subject of our affection this week!

Learn the technique of paper piecing and see the new Occasions Mini-Catalog by attending a stamping class this Wednesday. This day doesn't work for you? Just let me know, and we can find a date that will work!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Friday, January 14, 2011

Journal cover

Have you ordered from the new Occasions Mini catalog? If not, add these new products! The Build-a-Blossom punch and the Vintage Designer Series Paper are must-have products!

This is the cover on my 5" x 5" journal. We use this every week at my Bible Study meeting; everyone is welcome to write their prayer requests, then we all pray for one another. Very nice, and it helps that it is pretty.

Today my son Steve leaves with his Marine unit for Afghanistan. Please keep them in your prayers.

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Advanced class

Are you an advanced paper crafter? Are you ready for a challenge? Maybe you are a seamstress and you can follow a pattern and create a tote bag?

I saw this paper tote bag recently and absolutely had to have it. I may be exaggerating about the level of difficulty, but clearly, it is more involved than just folding a sheet of paper in half. And it took a bit of time, but not unreasonable.

Bottom-line, GORGEOUS project, took maybe 2-1/2 sheets of paper and an hour to complete. You need this. You must have this!  Leave me a comment and we can set up a class. If I get 2 or 3 crafters who want to come over I will set up a class.

Fun!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Monday, January 10, 2011

Grand Prize Winner

I am so glad to have so many visitors enter a guess on the blog candy contest. My box holds 242 cards, which makes Arlene the winner of the stamp set. Good job! There were a couple really close guesses and a few really wild guesses (Catherine) but only one winner!  Well done, Arlene. I will be sending your stamps tomorrow, or else I can hold them until you arrive for a class.

Thanks for participating. And if you ever want to make cards to send to the deployed military, just let me know. We can hold a workshop or you can come over and stamp with me or you can simply donate your overstock. They are very much appreciated.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Planning for next Christmas


Yes, I know Christmas is over. I was the one packing up decorations and hauling them to the basement. Officially over.

Yet, one final request was made. I made placecards for a customer, and they went over so well that she placed an order for a second batch. Some years there is a small gathering of family, like this year. But other years, there is a large gathering. So she needed more and wants them to match. So I have been wrapping up the final Christmas project here in the stamping room.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Friday, January 7, 2011

Blog Candy Contest

Free stamp set to a good guesser: I am keeping busy by packing a box of cards for "From Our Hearts" to send to Afghanistan and Iraq. This little group of stampers collects handmade cards, packs them with an envelope into a clear envelope. Then they group them up and ship them to Chaplains deployed in war zones.  Then the military members can come to the chaplain's office, pick through all the cards and select a couple for writing notes to loved ones. The cards stay in perfect shape because they're in plastic envelopes, the soldier gets a free handmade card and the family member gets a little bit of love to treasure. Plus the chaplain gets to offer a blessing over the entire operation. Love it!


You can win a darling hostess set called Silhouette Sentiments, page 11 in the catalog. How? By guessing how many cards are in this box. Here are all the clues I will offer. Each card is already packed with an envelope into a clear envelope. There is one layer of cards. The 4 cards on top of the box are pulled out to give you an idea of the size of the box. You can post your guess in the comments or, if you want to guess "privately" you can email it to me at:  dtollaksen at wideopenwest dot com   Contest ends Monday January 10 at noon.

Good Luck!
Dee Tollaksen

New Mini Catalog


 The new Occasions MIni Catalog is here! If you don't have a copy yet, let me know and I will help you out. If you can't wait, just click on the picture of the catalog on my blog and you will jump right there!

 I have some of the fun and easy products from the catalog in my hands and will be showing some samples soon! There is an irresistible new punch that helps you create the most beautiful flowers! If you are a trend-spotter, you know that paper flowers on cards and scrapbook pages is totally the "in" thing! I would love to help you get this punch and stamp set free, just leave me a comment and we'll get together soon!
Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Make a Monster



Make a Monster stamp set is new in this year's Idea Book & Catalog, and it finally got to the top of my "wish list." Why did I wait? Because my kids are both over 20 years old? Because I wasn't sure I knew I would "get my money's worth." Well, forget that.

These guys are so cute and easy to make! With the clear mount stamps, putting the faces and hair on these monsters is easy and accurate! The hairdo on this girl is actually 4 stamps of the goofy sprout of hair. My DD loves that I gave her bangs!

I hope you have noticed how trendy banners are this year. I am trying to note all the fun banners on cards and scrapbook pages all over the web, and share my versions with you. This card would work nicely as a Valentine, but certainly expresses love anytime of the year! Maybe I'll do a few extra to send to the military for writing home? Want to help? Just leave me a comment!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Ornament punch

Did you think you were all finished using the ornament punch? Have you shoved it to the back of the bin? Drag it back out, this is such a cute flower!

Daffodil Delight is one of our newer colors, and I admit that it doesn't get much play in my color palette, but it works perfectly here.  The flower is simply 5 ornaments, arranged in a fan and sponged around the edges and in the center, two more ornaments for the leaves with a score down the center of them all, for a bit of texture and realism. I used the 1/2" circle punch for the center of the flower and pearls to add some bling.

Then I sent the card right off to Elaine for her birthday. She shared her day with all the football fans and had a Bears vs Packers party, all our Chicago friends were disappointed, but my husband is a Packer fan, so we went home happy.

Happy stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Ribbon highlight

Of course I know it is January 4th. But when you start to slack, it is really hard to shed the slacker sloth speed and rev back up. So, one day at a time, I'm back in the stamping room, playing with my paper. And ribbon!

Don't you just LOVE this wide striped ribbon? There was a sale last month, and if you didn't stock up on great colors of this ribbon, you are gonna be so sorry. Because I did stock up and I will be using it on everything!  This is a one-layer card that I ran through the Big Shot, using an embossing folder. Then I rubbed my white Stazon ink over the raised embossed pattern. Tied up the gorgeous ribbon and stamped a sentiment and the card is ready to go!  And I have already used this beauty to thank a good friend for a lovely Christmas surprise gift.

Thanks again, Arlene. We really enjoyed the Marine ornaments.

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Monday, January 3, 2011

Camps and classes

  • I hope you have a new calendar, and that you want to come take a class!  Join me for any or all of these fun sessions:

  • Thurs. Jan. 13: Choose 1 pm or 7 pm: Calendar Case: This beautiful case will slide easily into your purse or briefcase to hold your 2011 calendar, notepad & pen. Just $10 for the class, $5 for additional calendars.
  • Wed. Jan 19: Choose 1 pm or 7 pm: Sell-a-Bration preview: We will make a set of fun cards using Paper Piecing technique and more, featuring new products. Sneak peek at Sell-a-Bration goodies! $20 will hold your spot.
  • Fri. Feb. 4: Choose 1 pm or 7 pm: Keep the "set" class: Brand new Rub-Ons will be featured, make 5 cards and take home the full pack of rub-ons, $7.95 value ! Save your seat for just $20.
  • Wed., Feb 9: Choose 1 pm or 7 pm: Last Minute Valentine cards: 5 great Love cards, perfect for Valentine's Day or any Love occasion. $20 for will hold your spot.