August Mystery Hostess opportunity

Boring? Or Clean and Simple (CAS)?

I know it is really early for Thanksgiving, so let me explain. The Stampin' Up! Holiday catalog jammed with gorgeous new products and it is hard to resist playing with them, even if it is still August! This card features the thinlit "thankful" which cuts like a dream on the Big Shot and fits perfectly across the face of a card. I used a single stamp designed for Halloween, covering up the Jack O'lantern with beautiful orange micro-glitter. Since it is such a CAS card, I rounded the corners. So even though there is plenty of white space for the eye to rest, there are quite a few fun details to keep it interesting.

If you are ready to order a few fun items from the Holiday catalog, there are 3 days left in my "mystery hostess" order. Just use this hostess code JNSZNYSG when ordering on-line and you will be eligible to earn all the hostess benefits from all the miscellaneous orders placed during August. At least $25 in free merchandise will be awarded! Click here to begin shopping: SHOP NOW

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

What is Subway Art?

One stamp set + one sheet of Crumb Cake card stock + one length of twine = one trendy birthday card!  Subway Art is so dang popular and this card is a great example. I don't know why it is called subway art, but it is just a panel of related sayings in various fonts decoratively arrayed. So, here is my version!

We will be making this Thur Aug 29 at my Stamp-a-Stack class, you are invited to join us! Imagine this same card on white with pastel colors and a length of frilly ribbon = girly card! I know we all struggle with masculine cards, and I think this version is perfect for any guy!

Clear your calendar and join us on Thursday, just shoot me a comment or an email and I'll save you a seat.

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Heavy Handed

 Starburst technique in Sweater Weather DSP, loving it! This Designer Series Paper is featured in the Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalog, and is absolutely perfect for masculine cards. I love it, but I'm not sure how the blue and white sheet coordinates with all the others?

So we sponged the edges with a bit of coordinating Early Espresso ink, but the camera makes it look heavy handed. In real life, the sponging makes it look more coordinated.

I was honored to be invited to a "Coffee and Cards" gathering recently, so I wanted to bring a nice technique card that would be new to these crafty ladies. These are impressive, but not too difficult! Just cut your DSP to 2" x 4" then cut on the diagonal from corner to corner. You only need 4 pieces to start, 8 triangle sections. Line up two at the center of your card and fan them out to cover the front of your card. The points will be uneven and not too attractive, so use some gorgeous Glimmer paper to add glamour!  We used a die-cut and fun sentiment to finish up the card!

I am showing you two base colors, just to demonstrate the impact of an Early Espresso base vs. the Crumb Cake base, both are good but the darker one is better!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Single and loving it--stamps of course!

Single Stamps. You know I am happily married and loving it, but these Single Stamps are wonderful! It is affordable to buy, easy to store, versatile and beautiful. The Magnificent Maple stamp is so detailed and stamps perfectly!

Here I have paired it with lovely burlap ribbon and Sweater Weather DSP as well as coordinating card stock, and the sentiment stamp of my choice: Tags for You with a matching punch!

If you didn't notice these stamps in the Holiday Catalog, go give it another look, these are great for Autumn cards!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Introducing: the Chevron

I'm piling on the trends today, starting with The Chevron. This is a wonderful blast from the past that is incredibly trendy right now. You can't look at an ad or blog or Instagram feed without seeing stacked zigzags or chevrons. This is the pretty kraft bag that Stampin' Up! is offering this season, preprinted with the white chevrons.

I have piled on some loops of bakers twine, a circle of glimmer paper (love it!) a banner of Summer Starfruit cardstock blinged up with rhinestones, a teeny bit of chevron black/white ribbon and finally a stamped image from a set we received at convention this summer, Hello Lovely. I probably wouldn't have purchased this set, but it is awesome and I expect to be using it often!

I put a couple goodies in this bag and gifted my Hostess this week, she was very pleased with her gift, and I was very pleased that she invited me to stamp with her and her friends!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Instant Replay

Autumn colors are so masculine, don't you think? Even Cameo Coral looks like a perfect fit for a guy. Hmmm.

I used the Chevron embossing folder this time, and rubbed an ink pad over the folder, placed my card stock panel in the folder and ran it through the BigShot. It really highlights the pattern! Then a little strip of Soho DSP as a banner. The new Hexagon punch is perfect for making the flags on the banner--perfect everytime!

The burlap ribbon had to be cut by hand, the punch won't work on it, but not too difficult! Then the versatile Label Love stamp set and matching punch make quick work of the sentiment and focal point!

This pretty/handsome card will probably show up at the Stamp-a-Stack class being held Thursday August 29 at 1 pm and 7 pm. There are still spots available for you and a friend! For just $20 we will make 10 great cards like these! Join us for some FUN and build up your card stash so you are ready for anything!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Let it snow, let it snow, wait, no it is still summer!

What? It's still summer? Oh yea! But I wanted to try out a technique, and the poinsettia embossing folder was the best candidate. Look closely, I applied Early Espresso ink all over the embossing folder, carefully laid a sheet of whisper white card stock in the folder and ran it through the Big Shot. The ink was only in the raised parts of the folder, so it really highlights the pattern. Gorgeous, right?

So I had to finish it off as a Christmas card, the poinsettia is definitely seasonal. For the Birds stamp set is super cute here, and A Round Array provides the snowflake that I highlighted with Dazzling Details. The tag is from the Chalk Talk set.

I am really happy with this card! And the embossing folder is sparkling clean with a simple rinse in the kitchen sink. No soap, no stains. Perfect!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Unconventional

I know you bought all that paper to make cards and scrap books, but why not use it to decorate the house? It is trendy, pretty and you own it, right? So you don't have to pay a fortune for a decor item that you will have to keep forever because it cost so much.  Make yourself a snazzy wreath that you can use for a season and recycle.

This project is made of 1 x 6" strips of DSP (designer series paper) from the Quatrefancy pack. I used a 6 x 8" piece of cardboard and a 7 x 9" piece. I just stapled the strips into a loop, then stapled to the cardboard. I used a whole bunch of foam dimensionals layered upon themselves to connect the two cardboard pieces. Then I used some cardstock to cover the top layer, added a goofy Welcome and some swirls I cut using my e-cutter and a bit of bling I trimmed on the BigShot.

If you like a project like this, we will be making them on Tuesday August 20. Just shoot me an email or leave a comment to let me know you're interested and I'll send you the details. I would LOVE to have you join us!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Vocabulary lesson: favoritest is not a real word

 My favorite new products are starting to pop-up in re-runs. I know it is summer and the networks are running all re-runs, so it must be OK to show some of my favorites again, right?

The Flower Shop stamp set is just so dang cute. And the posy punch that makes it a snap to cut out the flowers? Awesome!

The funny little phrases in the Really Good Greetings are going to get a lot of play time on my cards!  Silver Glimmer paper makes every project just a whole bunch more sparkly!

But the best most favoritest (LOL) product on this card? The printed acetate from the Quatrefancy DSP! Whooo Hooo! When you open this card. . . dancing flowers! How stinkin' cute is that?

I think this is the third item I've shared with the acetate. If you aren't sure how to use it in your crafting adventures, keep an eye out here. I have a bunch of it and I LOVE it!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

E-cutter intro

A Square Wreath! Fun fun fun! Class is scheduled for Tuesday August 20 at 1 pm or 7 pm, for just $22 and you keep the full pack of DSP (designer series paper)! Comment or email to sign- up.

I took the plunge and purchased a Silhouette Portrait electronic cutter. It was my birthday and it was on sale. Now I just have to use it! So I created a cute greeting in a crazy font called Holey Hearts and it looked kind of Scandinavian, right? So I found a swirl in my MDS (My Digital Studio), imported it into the Silhouette software and cut it from card stock.   If you come for the class, I will provide this combo, or you can make your own.

The Big Shot cut the scallops in the silver glimmer paper, just enough glitz to brighten up this project.

Check out all the classes I added to my calendar, here on the actual blog, they are posted at right.

I have two openings in my Stamp Club, I'll have a great gift for anyone who joins us, based on this invite. We meet on the first Wednesday of the month for 10 months, starting in September. We make 3 cards, there is no fee, just place an order of $15 or more. Once during the 10 months, you will be "hostess" and receive the hostess benefits from the monthly order, usually over $40 of free product! We have a blast and some great friendships have formed. You can attend at 1 pm, 4 pm or 7 pm, at your convenience!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Mystery Hostess. . . Mystery project.

This is a page of  "card candy." It may be a mystery to you, but you would probably love it! Sometimes you flip the calendar over to the new month and realize that there is a birthday that you weren't prepared for, or someone gives you a compliment or a gift and you want to get a thank you note in the mail ASAP.  This "card candy" can solve that problem, even when your card stash has run dry.

Just select an item from the sheet, prepare a card base, add a length of ribbon or DSP (designer series paper) and you have a quick card with a beautiful focal element!

At convention, I participated in a swap. This is the sheet of card candy I prepared. Seven additional demonstrators created their own sheet in multiples, then we swapped. So I have 8 great sheets of card candy, ready for a last minute mailing!  Sweet!

Mystery Hostess going on right now: if you are ready for a few fun items from the new Holiday Catalog, just use this code: JNSZNYSG  in the "hostess code" box on the summary page of your on-line order. At the end of August, I will let the computer randomly select from all the participants and pick a hostess. The lucky hostess will get all the hostess benefits! Whoo hoo! Of course, if your personal order is over $150 just skip this code, as you will be earning hostess benefits all on your own!

Go shop at www.dtollaksen.stampinup.net and remember to use the code!
Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalog and new Thinlits Card Dies available

They've been called flip cards, flip flop cards, swing cards, and more-but they have always been a bit tricky to create. Not anymore! Our amazing new Thinlits Card Dies cut and score to create a card that flips in just one step.

These new card dies come with extra die pieces that have versatile designs, so you can use them on other projects, not just flip cards. (The Circle Card Thinlits Die comes with 10 total pieces; the Label Card Thinlits Die comes with nine total pieces.)

With the number of dies you're getting, plus the die that creates the card itself, the price is a great value-especially to create an interactive card!

133479   Label Card Thinlits Die   $32.95

133480   Circle Card Thinlits Die   $32.95

The Holiday Catalog starts today! If you didn't get a copy direct from Stampin' Up! in your mail, leave me a message and I'll get one to you. It is above and beyond any special catalog we have seen before, filled with outstanding projects and kits to make your crafting a breeze!

If ordering on-line in the month of August please use a hostess code. This code will be active for all of August and everyone who places an order will be eligible for hostess benefits! I will select one lucky winner at random and contact you near the end of the month to make your choices. Here is the code:  JNSZNYSG

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen