Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Copied from the best

If you're going to copy a design, go ahead and steal from the best.

This card is darling in silver and vellum and grey. The original was in gold and kraft. And it was posted by Shelli. Gardner. The CEO.

So, I CASE (copy and steal everything) all the time, but usually I can't remember who I am copying and I just mention that I am glad that the original artist posted the card and that I loved the design enough to copy it. But here, I figure I better give credit, to the CEO.

So go ahead, use a bit of the gorgeous metallic striped vellum and pull out the Bitty Banners stamp set and the new banner punch, but be sure to give credit to the artist!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Monday, February 24, 2014

Hope you got what you wanted

 Sweetheart treats are such a classic, even though my grade school days a long behind me, I love to use the conversation hearts every year as Valentine treats.

This year we made a tag at Stamp Club to attach to a bag of conversation hearts. I used the extra decorated candies to give out to everyone I saw on Valentine's Day. It is just fun to give acquaintances a treat!

We stamped and punched and used the Big Shot, some shiny gold paper, vellum with gold hearts, rhinestones, doily, washi tape, the new scallop tag punch, lacy ribbon, whoo boy, if you can name it, we used it on this over-the-top tag! This is what you might call "collage style!" But since we limited out color scheme and kept our pieces small and in one style, it all works.

My sweetheart brought me red roses. He is a smart guy, since I'm working the weight watchers program, he got me a cute pair of Olympic Fan Mittens instead of any chocolate treats. And I love them, and him!

 Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Yes, all alligators have crazy eyes

Go ahead, check. Get up nice and close. It is true. All alligators have crazy eyes. And no one has ever lived to refute the fact. Because if you get close enough to check if an alligator has crazy eyes. . . chomp. The alligator has big teeth and strong jaws.

But on a cute hand made card, the crazy eyes are made of plastic and the little pupils roll around in an entertaining fashion. I absolutely CASEd everything about this card from Jennifer Timko, she is wildly talented and a Stampin' Up! Artisan Award winner.

We made this darling card at Stamp Club in February. Really, you should be in Stamp Club. We meet once a month and make cute cards. Why aren't you part of this club? There's always room for one more fun person! Give me a clue that you're interested and I'll give you the details.

Some details here are the Sale-a-Bration See You Later stamp set, Sale-a-Bration embossing folder, Basic Metal Buttons and High Tide DSP (designer series paper) from the Occasions Catalog from Stampin' Up!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Friday, February 21, 2014

What to do if the Love is gone

I'm ready, Stampin' Up! I don't know if anyone is listening, but I loved these Thinlit sentiments that were in the Holiday catalog and I am ready for some new ones! They have retired, but the "love" die cut was perfect for Valentine's Day and I wish it was still available to purchase. I keep imagining it on wedding cards!

We made these fun layered cards at Adrienne's party back before Valentine's Day so the ladies would be ready to gift their "special someone" with a little bit of red glimmer paper on a handmade card. It would be fun to substitute the die cut with a button threaded with twine and tied in a bow since we do have a sentiment at the bottom corner. It would be easy to swap out the LOVE you with a Thinking Of You or even Happy Bday or Get Well sentiment if we have removed all the Love!

Hoping to spur a bit of creativity today, Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Blue, I always go back to blue

It might be this shade, it might be another, but my favorite is always BLUE. Color can influence your mood, your decisions, your impressions, and I know that if I want to stick with a piece of furniture or a paint choice, it better be some shade of blue!

So when a new DSP (designer series paper) is just shades of blue, I am pretty darn sure I will be loving it and using every scrap of it!  Julie A. brought this design to our last Demonstrator Group meeting, I have modified it a smidge to conserve the DSP, so that I can make the beautiful blue paper go further and last longer, otherwise, I love this design and thank her for sharing!  It comes from the FREE Sale-a-Bration DSP you can earn with a $50 purchase during February/March. Also featured on this card is the FREE embossing folder you might choose with a qualifying purchase.

We made this beauty at Stamp Club in February, I love those really large sparkling rhinestones, but I would love to hear from someone who has mailed a card like this. . . do they survive the USPS? Or are they better suited to a card you plan to hand deliver?

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Elegant Rose Bouquet

I wasn't sure I wanted to mess with these flowers when I first saw them appearing online.  They look a bit fussy and maybe difficult, but I am here to tell you, EASY! And the Big Shot Spiral Flower die is only $17.95 to make them.

 I have doubled up on the card stock for each flower, and used hot glue gun to hold them securely. It took only half an hour to make this bouquet of 7 flowers on a doily and then on a pretty box.

Super fun and easy! And really stunning in person!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Friday, February 14, 2014

Happy Heart Day

If you're a last minute kind of stamper, or you're not a stamper at all, but you find yourself in the craft room. . .I pulled together a few fun bits and pieces and made a perfectly fun Valentine card!

The love die cut is from a retired thinlet. Stampin' Up! didn't have the good sense to offer this through to Valentine's Day, which is too bad, because I had a ton of good ideas for this pretty sentiment! Add a bit of silver glimmer paper, some bright DSP (designer series paper) and match up a length of ribbon and hearts and voila!

This harks back to my CAS (clean and simple) roots. I love a card that leaves some white space for the eye to rest but has enough action to make it interesting.

I hope you have someone special to hug today.

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Necessary but hard to find inspiration

We find that sympathy cards are part of the ebb and flow of our lives, we definitely need to send a note when a friend loses a loved one. But I find them very difficult to create. And sometimes I see a bright flashy card on someone's blog and then notice that the sentiment is "with sympathy" and it is such a shock, the happy bright card just doesn't match the sentiment.

When I noticed the set of pre-printed notecards in the new Stampin' Up! catalog I thought they would be perfect! They are a little smaller, they are water color paper, so just off white, and the pre-printed patterns are soft and muted and beautiful.  I added a die-cut from the Apothecary Art stamp set  and Loving Thoughts sentiment, then a little coloring on the flowers. With a dash of ribbon, I was all done and I had one card done for the friend who needs a note right now, and I have one ready for next time.

Sale-a-Bration is in full swing right now, with a great selection of FREE gifts for every shopper or a lovely bonus of $30 free merchandise for a qualifying hostess or a big bump in the demonstrator kit for new demonstrators. Leave me a comment or give me a ring or an email for more info!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen