Friday, January 30, 2015

Pretty teal heart of wood

Oh, what fun it is to see a card and try to figure out how did they do that? And succeed!

I saw this baby on Instagram. If you aren't using this yet, your eyes are missing a real treat! But I digress. So I saw this card, and I put down my Ipad, ran to my craft supplies and tried a few things, then a couple more. And finally figured out the best way to get just the heart shaped image from the background stamp. And keep the rest of the card nice and clean! So beautiful! And I just adore the Banner Blessings stamp set that the bible verse comes from.

What? You want me to tell you? Well, it isn't with the brayer, that was messy and used a lot of ink and got all over my hands. And it isn't masking, because who has a piece of sticky post-it note that is as big as a card to mask the whole heart and keep it in place? So I don't think there is an official name but it is a modified mask technique, I guess. I put the mask onto the large background stamp, inked up the stamp with the ink pad; removed the mask and then stamped onto the card. Perfect!

Back to Instagram: it is intended for posting from your cell phone: take a picture, add a short comment, maybe a keyword (with a # in front of it) for easy searching. The Kardashians keep posting stupid stuff, but your friendly card makers are posting all kinds of cute ideas that you might like! So go take a look, and search for #dtollaksen or #stampinup or #handmade  You will be pleasantly surprised! If you like it you can sign up, follow me and maybe follow some other talented Instagrammers, just for the inspiration!

I'm working on a tutorial for the Owl Punch. Anyone interested in holding a party to help me work out the kinks in my plan? Help!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Swifties really not all that trendy

 Do you ever wonder if you are trendy? If you realize that you are singing along with Taylor Swift, "shake it off, shake, shake, shake,shake" and you're three lines into the song and yell, to yourself, SNAP OUT OF IT!! Well, then, the answer is Yes, you're still on trend, but maybe you don't want to be! LOL Much like the police office who was caught singing the entire song on his dash camera, with dance moves and all, and the video went viral on YouTube! Didn't really want that trend to go public at all!

Last night I was with my besties making darling little animals from the owl punch. They are as cute as anything ever, but fussy. Tiny. Kind of a gluey mess. And the ladies LOVE them. But we all have to have our strong glasses on. And some really bright lights. So here is one of those trends that I don't know if I want to catch on!

Can we please make more fun cute animals from the curvy keepsake box? Has anyone designed Star Wars characters out of the curvy keepsake box? Princess Leia, please! Chewbaca?  Darth Vader? I need Star Wars boxes! They have seen the fox, made the fox, made his tail go shake, shake, shake.

And now, for those of us craving something a little easier, Cheerful Critter stamp  set, so stinkin' cute. The Sale-a-bration Irresistibly Yours DSP starts out white with white embossing; this sheet has diagonal stripes. I sponged teal ink over the panel then wiped the ink off the embossed stripes. You can make the paper match any project, make it multi-color, spray color, brayer color, so many different fun techniques. My little bear was stamped and cut out, then adhered with dimensional dots, and I added the ribbon to look like a scarf. Easy Peasy.

Don't miss this week's Weekly Specials, all embossing folders and the Texture Boutique Machine for under $25!! Free Sale-a-bration choices when your purchase hits $50!! Shop online or contact me today!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

One for the money, two for the show

Two things: class and adhesive bulk buy

First, sign up for class-- we will be making this gorgeous card at my stamp class on January 21. It uses a new fabulous stamp set, wonderful thinlets on the Bigshot and you get a full pack of gorgeous Gold Soiree DSP included in the $22 price. Just shoot me an email or leave a comment to save your seat. Make sure you hear back from me with a confirmation, because I want there to be a spot for you and materials prepared!

Second, I am going to bulk order adhesive refills for the tombow tape runner that we all love to use when making cards. I love to order a giant box of refills and share the shipping cost, getting a discount on a bulk purchase. So if you are local and you want to purchase 6 or 12 or whatever, also leave a comment or shoot me an email and I'll fill you in on the details of pricing, etc.

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen





Sunday, January 11, 2015

Flip - Flop Valentine

 Same Card, two funny little critters! These guys are two of the silly critters in a new stamp set found in the Stampin' Up! Occasions catalog, Cheerful Critters. Whimsical, right? I couldn't pass them up! And their funny faces fit perfectly in the Circle Card die for the BigShot.

Stamp Club got to make this cutie patootie in January, so now they are all ready for Valentine's Day! Or they can leave the hearts off and just add a birthday greeting or whatever they need!

The cool part of this die is that the simple folds  it creates for you cause the circle to flip flop when you open the card. See how the petals of the flower are on the right when the bear is showing, then you open the card and the petals flip to the left and the rabbit is showing now, because the whole circle flips over and now the back side is showing!


The panel with the hearts on it also opens up and you can write a message to the recipient or enclose some cash!

Very easy and quite impressive!!

Remember that Sale-a-bration is running right now, free gifts when you place a qualifying order from the regular catalog and/or the Occasions catalog!  Leave me a comment if you need more info.

I have a couple Valentine classes scheduled and a couple open calendar dates for your party, just give me a call!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Valentine Card Classes


Sweetheart Class
Wednesday January 21 at 1:00 or 7:00 Create a banner and 3 cards to use for Valentines Day or another romantic or non-romantic event; fee includes a full pack of beautiful designer paper! I must have your payment by January 14 for supplies to arrive. $22 will hold your spot. Take a peek at the Gold Soiree Designer Series Paper, it is fantastic. On one side it offers patterns with gold that will make your cards or projects glisten and soar. The other side offers deep greens and solid colors to set a great tone for cards that are just right for winter months birthdays, graduations and anniversaries.

Quick & Easy Valentines
Friday February 13 at 1:00 or 7:00 Go ahead and wait till the last minute, these cards will save the day! So cute and so easy, four cards for your favorite sweethearts. Just $15 will save your spot.

Leave me a message or shoot me an email or give me a call and save your seat! I need to get your materials ordered and save your seat!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Happy, yes, but suddenly very cold


Happy New Year! So glad to share a couple great action items this morning. Sale-a-bration season has started at Stampin' Up! So grab your calendar and your catalog! If you don't have a catalog, grab your phone, dial my number and let me know, I will get one to you pronto! Then we will get that party booked so you can earn the cute and fabulous free offerings 2015 has for you.

I am showing a new stamp and framelit set, Crazy About You bundle, with the happy die-cut on the BigShot and the beautiful flower and sentiment. There are so many darling sentiments in this set, and 3 big fun words. You will be able to say anything you want, for any occasion!

I have layered them over fancy new paper I earned free from the Sale-a-bration brochure. The paper is all white, with patterns embossed. I used a stencil to sponge Daffodil Delight ink over the pattern, you might use a brayer, spritzer, markers or an aquapainter. Did you ever have those magic coloring books when you were little? My grandpa used to bring us these books where you just used water and a paint brush and the picture would magically be *^"revealed"^* when you painted over it. So exciting! That's how I feel when I used this DSP!

And a happy little family picture! 2014 saw a lot of changes in our family. My daughter has moved into her own place, so our nest is empty, that might have happened in 2013, but the impact was really felt this year! My son completed his contract with the USMC and he and his darling wife have blessed us with our first grandchild. Eric was baptized just after Christmas. And I have been re-thinking my eating habits, changing my attitude toward food. My love affair with sugar and carbs has had to come to an end and my adjustments have helped trim some weight off my frame. But now I'm cold. The weather has changed and my built-in insulation layer is gone, I can't wear enough sweaters!

Today is Stamp Club! If you are interested in joining or starting your own Stamp Club, stop in today after 1:00, 4:00 or 7:00 to meet the members and see the projects we are making, hear about the benefits and pick up an Occasions Catalog and Sale-a-brations brochure.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Purge . . . ummm, maybe not the image I'm going for!

I have three large baskets lined up in here, just waiting to be filled. Trash, recycle and donate. Don't stand too close to me, you might get sorted into one of the baskets.

My computer is over three years old and you know that means it is getting slow. So every time I want to blog, with a photo, I have to have another activity planned, because the computer takes a long time to think about the bits and bytes. So I look at my shelves and drawers and I sort and purge into the baskets.  It is New Year's Day, and time to turn over a new leaf and all that stuff. So I'm also trying to pick a "word for the year" while I stare at my PC screen that is slowly processing.  Purge comes to mind, but it isn't really "the word" I want foremost in my mind all year!

Today's post is a clean-up as well, of Christmas cards. Some cuties that went out in the mail and may or may not have arrived before Santa.  If you have resolved to be better than me and get your cards out before Christmas in 2015, I have a great idea for you. Go to the Stampin' Up! clearance rack RIGHT NOW and buy this kit at an amazing discount. It is only $9.99 today, discounted from $25 earlier this season! OMG!!

Then call in sick the day your package arrives, stay in your pajamas and make the gorgeous cards. The water coloring is so fun, the glimmer paper is gorgeous, the cards turn out so cute and you finish the kit in just a couple hours and have 20 gorgeous cards and envelopes. There are loads of leftovers, in French, Spanish and German, but that's OK, they are so beautiful, your friends will think you took a trip and bought your cards in Europe.

The cards shown in picture 3 and 4 are from the kit, with the gold happy and the red sled die cuts.


 Just give me a call if you have any questions about any other products. The Holiday catalog ends January 5, many products will retire forever and you will be reduced to bidding on ebay at crazy exorbitant prices to obtain them . . . others are being carried over into the fabulous Occasions Catalog that starts January 6.

I have your copy, if you didn't get one yet, let me know! Sale-a-bration starts January 6 this year, a wonderful time of year to have friends together to craft and stamp. I have some awesome products and great cards to share with you, so let's get our calendars synchronized and p a r t y ! ! !

Just leave a comment, email or call me

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen