Thursday, March 31, 2011

Sell-a-bration ends today!

Darling butterfly, handsome flourish, free stamps! Midnight tonight, stampers everywhere will say goodbye to this gorgeous set of stamps. After today, Stampin' Up! will break the mold and no more Bliss stamp sets will be given away and never sold.

You're always welcome to come over and borrow mine, but it just isn't the same as having it on the shelf and making a last minute card with such a beautiful combination of images.

Call me this afternoon if you realize that you wanted to get free stamps in March from Stampin' Up, but suddenly it is March 31.  I have at least 2 calls coming after 1 pm from procrastinators. So you are in good company, just call!

If you are looking for a way to get all your stamps free all the time, I have the answer. That's how I roll, all my stamps free all the time. Just join me, get your start kit for $158 and receive $360 of products!  That is a 15% savings and a $50 bonus selection. Then you can make a little teeny side business pay off that investment and keep you rolling in ink, paper & stamps for as long as you wish! I'd love to have you join me, but this deal ends today too! I'm here after 1:00, waiting for the phone to ring.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Shabby Chic wedding card

Spring is coming. How can I tell? Weddings!  Word of showers, bachelorette parties, weddings and honeymoons fill conversations everywhere I go!

This is a simple card in Early Espresso made with a wheel. For you experienced stampers, you understand that the rubber stamp is mounted on a wheel and then rolled in ink and finally rolled onto a card element. Love how quick and easy it is to zip up a lovely card!

Remember that Sale-a-Bration ends in 2 days. Don't miss this chance to receive free stamps courtesy of Stampin' Up! Just email me for more info:  dtollaksen at wideopenwest dot com

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Monday, March 28, 2011

Peek into the future

I'm just taking a little break from cards to bring you this cute little tag. Recognize the stamp set? Hmmmm nope. Because it isn't quite available yet. . . coming soon! This set will be in the next mini catalog, coming May 1. Every purchase of this set will be matched with a $2 donation by Stampin' Up! to cancer research. Isn't that cool?

 In the meantime, Sale-a-bration will end on Thursday. If you want to take advantage of Stampin' Up! giving away free stamps, you only have 3 days left until next year! Call me, text me, email me or just go right online and place an order! Every $50 you spend on product entitles you to a free set from the special Sale-a-bration collection. And there's some really nice sets in the special group.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Saturday, March 26, 2011

With sincere sympathy

The world lost a beautiful lady this past week. Patty Polites was a dedicated volunteer to the Boy Scout program for over 30 years. She inspired me through the many training classes that I attended and subsequently taught.  She worked for BSA right up until diagnosed with deadly cancer. Her friends are many and we will miss her dearly. May she rest in peace.

Dee Tollaksen

Friday, March 25, 2011

Happy Birthday Penny!



Happy Birthday Penelope. Aunt Dee can't wait to see you Sunday!

Here is your laugh of the day: Banners are Trendy!  Evidently I have mentioned this before. My stamping "friends" repeat it back to me every time it looks like I might mention this, so I will try not to mention it so often. But it's true!

I have to go find a can of silver spray paint to make that dowel rod look a bit better, then I'm off to a party for a little girl.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

End of the blossom series

Stunning. I can say that because I completely copied it. I only wish the original creator had signed her artwork. If you know who designed this card, please let me know and I will give total credit.  I L.O.V.E. this card done all in neutrals with just a teeny pop of deep pink.

This is the final offer in the run on build-a-blossom, for now at least. I have more wedding stuff to show and I'm making a banner right now for my sweet niece's birthday.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Feeling a little blue

If I didn't already love blue, it would certainly become my favorite color now. This DSP (designer series paper) is so beautiful and versatile. And temporary. Vintage Springtime DSP is only available in the Spring Mini catalog which is available only through the end of April.  I guess I'll be using lots more of it to tempt you into grabbing some.

Oh, yes, this card features the build-a-blossom punch and stamp set. But you recognized that right away, right?

So versatile and so very easy to use! Every pretty card can have a little blossom or a big ol' fancy flower!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Monday, March 21, 2011

Another build-a-blossom idea

A little bit of glitter paper and a whole lot of Cherry Cobbler petals, just keep stamping and punching, then arrange in two big circles and one small circle. Snap!

Really, the build-a-blossom punch and coordinating stamp set make these flowers so easy. And I hope that I can demonstrate their versatility with this series of posts.

This card is bright and bold, but not complex. And quite striking with a limited number of tools and supplies. Great for any occasion, perhaps a birthday?

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Spring showers,bright flowers!

Daffodil Delight cardstock with Rose Red cardstock, must be a card with flowers, right? Of course these bright colors also mean spring must be here!

The build-a-blossom stamp set and punch make it so easy to create a lovely card. This card was inspired by one spotted on-line, I'm sorry I can't find the original.

It is raining like mad here in Chicagoland today, so our flowers will certainly be popping up soon!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Build-a-blossom & scrap supplies

Jill stopped by last night to make cards using the Build-a-Blossom punch and stamp set. We had a great time, confirming how versatile this combination is. I will be sharing five samples with you, all focused on this combo.

This baby uses a sheet of die cut 12 x 12 paper that I received at an upline meeting many months ago. We made a magnet board from the twin of this blue die cut. I think using just the corner of the paper on this card is gorgeous! Then add the flower in eggplant and quite a stunning design is born!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Wedding invite in blushing bride pink


If you have any wedding invite ideas, would you please send them to me. I have been out of the wedding planning loop for ages, so I need to be brought up to speed!

This style of invite was featured on the Stampin' Up! demonstrator magazine recently. I CASEd it in a different color combo using the Bliss set from Sell-a-Bration. The bride I am working with hasn't seen it yet, so I don't know how she will react.

The inside card would be generated in My Digital Studio software and printed prior to trimming and embossing on the Big Shot.  Even if the Bride doesn't choose this style, I love it!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Monday, March 14, 2011

Daisy prototype

This is the prototype for the shower invite I shared yesterday. These colors are more like nature demonstrates. Hmmm. The flower and ribbon seem to be in different places on this version. Oh well, nobody noticed the difference.

Again, the original artist on this is Fran Sabad. Using an embossing folder to pattern the base layer is really a critical step. It totally makes this card work!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Sunday, March 13, 2011

30 wedding shower invites

Spring is coming. Even here in the Chicago area. I heard it on the news, so it must be true.  In an effort to believe, I am delving into the spring colors. This is a Wedding Shower invite I was commissioned to duplicate.  All credit goes to Fran Sabad who posted a gorgeous Gerbera daisy on a lovely card which I have greedily CASEd.

Just to illustrate how much fun it is to make 30 identical daisy cards, here are some of the steps.
This is 30 flowers, each with 6 layers of daisy cut on the Big Shot and glued together, then ruffled so they have some depth, waiting for chunky gold glitter.

Another element: the teeny tags: each has a length of gold cord, consuming my entire stash of retired cord from years ago, before Stampin' Up! erroneously removed it from their product line. Also a semi-retired stamp set from a mini catalog earlier this year. It may pop up in the main catalog come next July, but in the meantime, it is unavailable.

Each tag also has a dimensional adhesive on the back to help it stand out on the card.

Here we see 30 card bases that have been run through an embossing folder on the Big Shot.

I have a tip for those of you thinking of making 30+ embossed card bases: you can run two bases through the embossing folder at the same time!  Just drop down one level on the Big Shot multi-purpose platform. Works perfectly.

A smidge of ribbon and lots of double-side Scotch tape, and Voila! The shower invites are complete.

The hostesses will print the inside and adhere them.  I just hope the post office treats them with respect!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Another wedding option

Designing a card for a shower invite requires that it is easy enough to duplicate 30 to 50 times or more. This very feminine dress silhouette fits the bill. This card is shown in Elegant Eggplant and Whisper White, but could be created in any color whatsoever!

Just a little piece of bling and some border punch edging, and you're ready to rock. I like the simplicity of it. Now, if you want to keep going and make it fancy, put some glitter and crystal effects in the little buckle; run the dress through an embossing folder and give it some texture. Use glimmer paper for the dress so it shines. Or spray the whole card with a shimmer spritz. Just remember that you are making 30 to 50 or more of these, and you are adding to the workload with every technique you add.

Just a few more wedding options remain. Couple more days.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Friday, March 11, 2011

Retired wedding card

If a wedding theme starts to emerge here, just go along with me.  A couple friends have asked for shower and wedding cards, so I've been focused on the bride and groom.

This gorgeous stamp set was available in a mini catalog earlier this year. That means that it is currently semi-retired. It isn't in the big catalog, but it could still show up in next year's catalog.  If you love it as much as I do, but you missed buying it, you'll just have to borrow mine!

I have completely CASEd this card from a blog, unfortunately the post doesn't have a name or website on the picture, so I can't give credit. Thank you, anonymous blog poster.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Spring Shoebox Swap

Spring Shoebox Swap is coming. Do you have shoeboxes? Do you want to swap them? Well, keep searching the web, because this is not for you.

Do you have an idea for an awesome card? Want to get together with other stampers and trade your awesome card for their awesome cards? Want to spend the whole day chatting, laughing and making cards?

Join us on Saturday April 30 in Arlington Heights for a wonderful day of stamping and sharing.

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Optical illusion

Looks like I missed the target here. I have seen this technique a couple times lately, but I think the black punches are supposed to be a tad closer together. If I look too quick, it looks like a cow. Not as romantic as I had hoped. Cow experts? Any comment?

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Fancy Fold Card

New friends, good friends, friends with similar interests, I love my stamping "job" that brings great friends into my life.  My stamping group recently got together to make "fancy folds" cards. This fab pink & orange beauty was my contribution.

Please know that that wad of ribbon at the top is really a bow that just was a little camera shy.  This DSP (designer series paper) is so delicious, I could just eat it up! No hoarding this paper, I am using it every day!

I have a whole collection of fancy fold cards now, so give me a buzz and come take a look. Maybe something will tickle your fancy and you'll be inspired!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Friday, March 4, 2011

Masculine Birthday

When creating a card, the most difficult is always masculine. It is so much easier to select flowers and curlicues and pretty ribbons and shiny sparkly embellishments.

So today I was challenged to create a masculine card that can be made in a workshop with a bunch of guests who have never stamped before.  I think this does the job!  One stamp, some gluing and a bit of punching.

Hope they like it!

Happy stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Takin' a break

I was looking for inspiration.

Really, I was. I started at the manicure shop. They have a wall filled with polish bottles, organized from pale pink to fuchsia to eggplant.

While I was there, I had a pedicure. Seemed like a good idea.


Then I was working on composition.

Really, I was. You can't just throw punches and stamps together and hope for the best.  It works so much better if you plan your layout, choose a focal point. Select coordinating colors.







Then I was working on texture.

Really, I was.

Something soft, perhaps?  Touchable?  Irresistible?








Then I needed to fine a quiet place to sit and work.

Really. That's all I need. Good lighting. Solitude. A little peace and quiet.







I'm sure that I'll be cranking out cards and projects by the boatload!  As soon as I get all the laundry done.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen