Ho Ho Ho

Ready? I know it is early, but if we wait til mid-December, it isn't fun to make holiday decorations!  This tin will be perfect near the front door, to hold all the Christmas cards we receive. It was super easy to make and is sparkly and stunning IRL (in real life).

Stampin' Up! offers the gorgeous red glimmer paper, so just run it through the stocking die on the Big Shot, add some die cut heals and toes and cuff, then the die cut letters, and stick em all on the tin. It is a window planter from the flowerpot  section of the craft store. A bit of wide striped ribbon finishes it off.

 Would you like a kit to assemble for yourself? email me at dtollaksen at wideopenwest dot com and I'll send you one by mail for just $9, including postage. Ribbon and designer paper will vary, multiple sets can be mailed together for a discount. (tin not included)

Leaves in orange

A little contrast would have helped the photograph, but this stamp is one of my favorites from the Stampin Up mini catalog. It is sold individually, no stamp set. It looks super plain, but it really is quite versatile. I'll show you a few samples over the next few weeks. I am offering a class featuring this stamp. It is a bargain class, look on the right for all the classes and then study the Leaves of a Tree offer.

This card features the new embossing powders in bright colors, as well as the big shot embossing folder for overall texture.


Gotta run, Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Dark chocolate saves the day

Thank you Hershey's Kisses! I recently hosted a small shower for a friend and these are the table decorations/favors. Her wedding colors include this very dark purple you see in the flower, so I wanted to include some candy in the glass that continued the palette. While researching bulk candy options, I stumbled across the Hershey dark chocolate kisses wrapped in purple foil. Problem solved. No special store, no special price, just run to Target and grab a couple bags of kisses. Perfect!

I used the BigShot to die cut all the flowers, added an antique brad and used glue dots to adhere to the glass. The stir stick has a cute little flower punched with the awesome triple punch and layered up on a crafty stir stick.

These were quick and easy because I used the tools I had on hand. I would love to help you bring out your creativity, just leave me a comment or send an email and we can make your shower, wedding or party special!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Whoa, Christmas already?

 Have you studied the Stampin' Up! mini catalog? Not that this is a pop quiz or anything, but the 25 & Counting collage is just so adorable!!  I was challenged to offer this project as a class and gave myself the afternoon to decide if it was manageable. Well, let me just brag and tell you, this is do-able! I put all 25 stamps onto the large acrylic blocks and just stamped a whole bunch at once. 13 at one go, then 12 on the second go. All in Cherry Cobbler ink. Then I cleaned them and reinked in green, maybe artichoke? And stamped half of them again.

Then I used the BigShot and the coordinating die to cut the cute scalloped squares with the peek-a-boo windows, added a bunch of DSP squares, card stock squares and used a few punches to add some circles. Back to the inked images, the new 1" square punch made quick work of most of the stamped images.

For a break, I wandered over to the local fabric shop and rummaged through their "reject" frames. I don't know if people don't collect their special orders or if the frame counter made mistakes, but they always have a couple custom frames at discount prices. The craft miracle of the day. . . a 12" square frame in the reject collection. Wow. What a lucky dog I am!

Back to work, using the cardboard backing from a package of DSP, I used Sticky Strip to adhere the frame and cardboard, then lined up all my squares, scallops, and stamped images. Then I made dinner, washed a load of towels and walked. the dog.  After dinner I added a couple tiny embellishments and relaxed with a season premiere of CSI.

Whew. What a great afternoon!

So, want to come stamp a Holiday Collage? Be on the lookout for the 12 x 12" frame and leave me a comment to schedule your class!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Whooo's been studying their new Holiday Mini-Catalog from Stampin' Up!? This darling little owl is part of the hostess set featured in the mini-catalog. He makes a card simple and fast! We offer the owl punch that will take all the fussy cutting out of the job. Just stamp and punch and your Halloween treats or cards are done in a jif. If you are sending something special to your grandkids or to school with your children, this little fella will get them done in a snap!

Also featured is the new denim ribbon, such a fun texture to add to your cards and projects. Love it!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Community Service

Are you available this Friday? I absolutely must settle down and package up all the cards I have accumulated and send them off to the ladies who get them into the Chaplains hands to give to the Marines (and other service members) deployed in Afghanistan (and Iraq).  Of course my DS is currently deployed, so I have a direct connection to the good work of this organization. But there are thousands of young men and women doing an amazing job in faraway lands. There are no stores or shops in these areas, so having a beautiful hand-made card available to write home is a lovely  treat.

Come on over anytime Friday afternoon and help me get these cards ready to ship.

And I will be happy to share these darling treat bags and tags.So easy to make, inexpensive to give and fun to receive.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Spirograph and Magic Marker memories

Did you have a Spirograph back in the '60s? It was THE most popular gift the Christmas it was introduced. It must have had the best price point in the Kmart! I got one from Santa. One from the company party Santa. One from my Aunt and I'm sure there was a 4th Spirograph that year, I can't remember from whom. I have no idea what else I got, but I know every kid I knew got one also! Gears, pens, paper and the big open gear and we were in the spirograph business.

Yes, this cute stamp set brings me back to that memory every time I see it! Delicate Doilies by Stampin' Up!  isn't really a spirograph, but it makes me think of all the pretty circular art we made. And Magic Markers. What was so magic about them? Felt tips soaked in ink? I know my Nana kept the box of 8 bright colored Magic Markers locked in a drawer. I could use one. Return it. Get another one. Show her the picture I was working on. Return the one I was using. Request another one. Then I better just go do something else for a while. The Magic Markers need to stay in the drawer. I swear, when Nana passed away, I wondered who the Magic Markers had been bequeathed to.  Please don't hoard your Stampin' Up! markers. Although they seem magical, use them! Enjoy them! Share them, even use 3 or 4 on a project!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Another daisy

I'm just not comfortable being this busy. Back when I was in college, I thought, Gawd, I'm so busy! Then when I was getting married and newlywed, our social lives and careers were so demanding, and I thought, Gawd, I'm so busy! Then we had our kids, and truly, I was so busy.

I thought once they were independent I would feel like my life was my own, but no! I still feel like, Gawd, I'm so dang busy!  It is more about "me" now, but still, there isn't a day that isn't scheduled, blocked off and committed! All good stuff, but still, so busy!

This pretty invite is for a shower this Sunday that I am co-hosting for a lovely young woman being married soon. We will have a lovely afternoon in good company and shower her with gifts.  This week I'm busy thinking and creating decor, dessert and gifts, as well as the regular work, study, friends, stamping schedule. Busy busy busy!

My friend Nancy always laughs at how many commitments I have on my calendar, and I have to count my blessings: I have many good friends and loving family, so I will probably always have to keep an accurate calendar to be sure I don't miss anything. . . but maybe someday I won't be so darn busy!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Let the Holidays begin

If you want to send handmade Christmas cards, it is easier if you don't wait until late December, but don't let me discourage you from thinking that it can be done!  This card would be perfect for giving a gift card, in person. The beautiful ribbon makes mailing a bit bulky and the post office wants extra money.

I love love love this little penguin with his snowballs! He is one of "25 & Counting," a huge stamp set in the Holiday Mini Catalog. Stampin' Up! has done all the work designing a set for Advent calendars, 25 darling images with the 1 thru 25 for your little windows or drawers.  Not only is it cute as can be, but I earned it FREE through a recruiting challenge! Gotta love free stamps, right?!

Because the images are so darn cute, I don't want to wait until I get the time to create an entire Advent calendar, so I am figuring out ways to use the cuties on other projects. You'll be seeing a few in the near future. Stick around!  You should have this gorgeous set in your hands, too, don't you think? Call me or leave me a comment and I'll help you earn it FREE too!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Swap with my SU sisters

Every month for the past 6+ years, I have gathered with the Stampin' Up! demonstrators in my group. When you sign-up to be a demonstrator, you're automatically part of a group of ladies who are just as crafty as you and who love to get-together to share their craftiness.

We often swap cards or else we hold a "shoebox" and make cards. Each participant brings a box with the supplies for one nice, current card.

This month was a swap, so I could take the liberty to make a card that takes a bit more than 10 minutes.  This baby required crimping, punching, stamping, gluing, popping, tying bows and using a punch in a new and interesting way.  Definitely over the 10 minute limit!  But a special card for a special recipient!

If you're interested in creating 10 minute cards, making friends who enjoy crafting and want to enjoy the occasional "over the top" creation, just give me a call, comment or email. I'd love to tell you more about it.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Wishing?

The Final Four Letter Word! Remember when you were little and birthdays were all about the "wish list?" How the anticipation was centered on the presents and party?

And now, from this side of "the hill?" When we are wishing that the birthdays didn't fly by so quickly, that time would slow down and let us enjoy life a little more?  I love the celebrations and the relationships, and wish for many more, just so I can be reminded of how wonderful my family and friends are!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

My Mom and her wreath

Rita's wreath

Are you a blog surfer? I have quite a few favorites, but The Nesterwww.thenester.com is right up at the top of my faves.  She is always showing us tips and tricks for enjoying our homes, just the way they are, or with very affordable decorating ideas. There will be a wreath feature starting today and I'm hoping this beauty will make the cut. I created two of these, one for my Mom and one for my Aunt Louise. The wreath form is covered in black velvet and then costume jewelry. Every piece is from my grandmother's collection. They were languishing in a box in my closet and as much as I loved every single bauble, I never wore them or displayed them. This way, these beauties are out on display all the time and we are reminded of Nana every day. Love it!

Hope you enjoyed this little trip down memory lane, off of the usual rubber stamping topic.
Enjoy the 3 day weekend,
Dee Tollaksen

Hope

When I think of 4-letter words, this isn't usually one of them! I gotta clean up my act. this is the 3rd side of the decor cubes we created recently. I'm glad we made these at the meeting offered by my stamping group, because they are way out of my comfort zone. I'm all about cards, so these home decor projects make me stretch my wings and try new things. If you are looking for a little stretching of your wings, just leave a comment on this post and we can get together to use our crafting supplies to make something "out of the box."

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen