StampWithDee

Super Simple

2012-01-28T07:02:00.001-06:00

When Stampin' Up! does all the thinking for me, I'm just, so fine with that! In the new mini catalog, there is this beautiful blossom set, three nice big flowers, each with their own personality, and a couple little circle elements that can be used as centers or complementary elements. AND a punch that perfectly matches for quick cutting of the flowers. So, when you need a card and you are feeling a lack of inspiration, just pick a DSP, a matching color, stamp some flowers, punch' em out and add an appropriate sentiment. Done.

As I said, sometimes it is nice to be able to let Stampin' Up! do ALL the thinking.

Remember these cute little photogenic gnomes? He looks like he was having fun in a photo booth! I posted this card in a contest Stampin' Up! offered at the Leadership Conference. He appealed to at least one other demonstrator, even tho I didn't win the contest. Jan of Metropolis, IL posted this card in her compilation of gnome cards. Feel free to go peek at her blog and leave her a little comment. http://inkrubberart.blogspot.com/2012/01/do-you-like-gnomes.html

Oh, and feel free to leave me a little comment. I love to know who is visiting!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

The Ladies at Leadership

2012-01-25T15:38:00.002-06:00

How well do you know your demonstrator? Which one of these women is your Stampin' Up! blogger? I'm the one who sparkled all day on the first day of the Leadership Conference. The others are my sideline friends, Dawn, Barbara, Julie and Catherine.

Just to keep you crafting, the second picture is Shelli Gardner, the founder of Stampin' Up! She was showing us one of her current projects and I grabbed a picture off the big screen. Simple, right? A folded strip of DSP, a bellyband of DSP, then two die cut labels and a piece of ribbon, a button and a sentiment. Then stuff it with chocolate! Fabulous!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Sale-a-bration kicks off

2012-01-24T21:59:00.001-06:00

Have you ever hosted a workshop with me? If so, you know I bring 4 gorgeous cards for you and your guests to stamp and take home.

During Sale-a-bration, Stampin' Up! offers you a free gift with every $50 you spend, and the hostess will get a fun shopping tote and if there are sales of $400 you will get a great gift pack of DSP, ribbon and brads.

If you decide you want to join the Stampin' Up! family now, you will save $50 on the kit and receive a bonus every month for the rest of the year: a pack of DSP or a digital download, you pick!

Leave me a comment, give me a call or send me an email. . . I'd love to be able to shower you with free stampin' goodies!

Dee Tollaksen

Ready Set Sale-a-brate!

2012-01-23T21:29:00.001-06:00

January 24 (tomorrow!!!) begins the best time of year in the Stampin' Up! calendar: Sale-a-Bration! Whoo hoo!!

As a hostess, you can pretty much double your free hostess gifts, with a shopping tote, special DSP, ribbon and brads that coordinate beautifully as well as the regular hostess benefits.

As a stamping shopper, you get to select a free item from a special collection with every $50 you spend on stamps, paper, tools or embellishments.

As a new demonstrator, you save $50 on the kit and SU throws in a bonus of a pack of DSP or a digital download every month for a year!

If you are "in the market," just leave me a comment or give me a buzz or email, and I'll be happy to fill you in on the details!

Oh, yea, this card is one of the swaps I made for Leadership conference. Kinda pretty, if I do say so myself.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

SWAG

2012-01-22T13:47:00.000-06:00

SWAG is Stuff We All Got. . . Can you see all this stuff? This is my bed at the hotel in San Antonio. We got a stamp set that won't be released til the next catalog, 3 stamp sets from the current mini catalog, a special release for the My Digital Studio software, DSP (designer series paper) rhinestones, pearls, brads, buttons, ribbon, twine, a gorgeous tote bag and matching portfolio and the printed flowers that match the DSP. And this isn't even everything!

Stampin' Up! really knows how to take care of their demonstrators and leaders!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Romance and sparkle

2012-01-22T07:45:00.000-06:00

Grey and yellow together, so elegant! The new embosslits for the Big Shot (or your brand of cutting and embossing machine) are so versatile and fun. The label shapes here are all cut in seconds with thin metal dies that coordinate perfectly. The Apothecary Arts stamp set is designed to perfectly with the dies, as well. These flowers are so easy to spruce up with just a little color, or a lot, depending on your style. I have also added some shimmery glittery fun that comes in a bottle for just $3!!! Can you see a little shine on the leaves and stems?

I have had a good night's sleep in my own bed and now have the fun job of sorting through 100 swaps I brought home from the Leadership Conference with Stampin' Up! in San Antonio.

I attended awesome sessions on many topics, but the one that stands out in my mind was with SU trainer Carrie Cudney on Why Women Buy. I am all ready to address your shopping wishes and needs! Just drop me a line here in a comment or email or phone and let's get together to stamp and laugh!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

You light up my lawn

2012-01-17T19:43:00.000-06:00

Evidently, gnomes are silly little folks. All the sayings that go with the gnome stamps are funny word plays. And this picture doesn't really highlight the sentiment, it's down in the right corner, "you light up my lawn."

It's time to think about Valentine cards, and I think this one would be appropriate. A bit of glittery red and some pretty ribbon, what else could we need?

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Happiest Birthday

2012-01-15T21:23:00.000-06:00

Vintage style is so trendy, I am having fun learning to stamp in this style. The new mini catalog from Stampin' Up! does make it easy, by providing so many gorgeous options. The Apothecary Arts stamp set is beautiful and it coordinates perfectly with the label sizzlets. These metal dies cut cleanly and precisely in the Big Shot. They take up much less space than the regular dies and much more economical. Fabulous!

I used the pretty little pins we offer to hold a few little flowers onto the beautiful ribbon. And I got to watercolor with the watercolor crayons. And the lovely new DSP from the mini catalog. So much pretty-ness!

Come and take a class with me, see the new products and make some gorgeous cards!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Gnome a little vintage love

2012-01-14T10:44:00.001-06:00

Are you the romantic type? Like a vintage style card? Looking forward to Valentine's Day? Stamping your own cards seems like a perfect activity! This handsome fella is surrounded by shimmering silver glitter paper, there is no mess, no shedding and tons of sparkle. I cut the shape using Stampin' Up! new sizzlet frames, then cut a large sizzlet frame from DSP (designer series paper). The tag is just a rectangle with the edges snipped, from the coordinating DSP. I did texture the background with an embossing folder and added a couple different ribbons.

If you are in love with these gnomes as much as I am, be sure to get your hands on them soon, as the mini catalog is fresh now, but won't be around long!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

How's the weather in Hawaii?

2012-01-10T21:20:00.001-06:00

Did I mention that Nancy goes to Hawaii for 3 months every winter? Since it is 45F in Chicago, I'm not freezing, too much, yet. . . but I know I will be envious when the snow flies and the temps drop.

And Nancy likes to send a note or two to a friend or two while she is in Hawaii. We got together and made some wintery cards before she left.

Tomorrow is our Bible study time, and I will definitely be missing her. Enjoy the islands, Nancy!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Punchy penguin

2012-01-08T08:48:00.001-06:00

How do you feel about punch art? This little penguin is created with so many of the punches in my drawer. . . large heart, small heart, word window, circles, label.

I worry that you don't own all these punches and I don't want you to think that you need to order 10 punches to re-create a card we make in class.

But then when someone is here and gets a look at this silly creature, they clamor for the supplies to copy him!

So tell me. . . how do you feel about punch art? If I get a couple comments, I'll randomly select one to receive this fella.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Wintery note

2012-01-06T08:25:00.000-06:00

My good friend Nancy is leaving tomorrow for Hawaii. Yes, we all envy her, especially as they stay for nearly 3 months during the worst weather Chicago has to offer.

She wants to send home some love notes but doesn't want to make us feel bad, so they are wintery notes. This is CASEd from my buddy Dawn, who CASEd it from someone else. That is how you know it is a great design! Super clean and simple, striking and easy to duplicate.

We used Stampin' Up's notecards. They are 3 x 5" cards & envelopes. The post office will handle these without any special postage, and they are just a cute little note size. They are in the Idea Book & Catalog, 20 cards, 20 envelopes and they just cost $5.95. What a deal!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Holiday Cleanup

2012-01-05T12:32:00.000-06:00

We barely decorated for Christmas this year. Somehow the busy-ness of the season snuck up on me! Combine that with the over-active Boston Terrier who lives here, work obligations and stamping fun, the tree never got unpacked. We did manage to set up a small pre-lit tree, with a few new ornaments, and lights outside.

But our best decoration this year were the cards we received. There were many and they are lovely. I think they got special attention this year, since it was our primary decoration. I displayed them on a wreath in the kitchen and in a big frame in the dining room. We did enjoy each and every one of them. Then comes the big decision about what to do with them after the holiday. Thanks to Pinterest, I made a booklet of them, to stash away with the decorations, or to keep on the bookshelf for year round enjoyment.

All I did was cook up a cute cover in the MDS program (My Digital Studio) and print it on my home printer. Then I punched holes in the cover and in every card and used binder rings to hold it all together. So simple and awesome. Now all my 2011 cards are bound together, with Catherine's Joy card peeking out at the front. Next year I will know exactly who took the time to keep our house jolly and they will definitely be on my mailing list.

My apologies to all who usually get a card from us. We just didn't accomplish that goal this year. Please forgive and look for our card next year.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Gnomes all over the place

2012-01-02T19:02:00.000-06:00

I don't have a weird collection of gnomes or anything, but I do think they are stinkin' cute.

This little fella is starring in an array of poses on one of my swap designs. Even though it is exactly the same image, I chose different angles and I hope it looks like a photobooth array.

Cute? Just a couple days til this set is available for sale. Did you get your mini catalog yet?

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Just my Type

2011-12-30T21:22:00.000-06:00

Peeky peeky, here is another stamp set that will be available in January. I love technology, but that doesn't mean that I didn't truly love the typewriters in my life. Mrs Brown was more effective than Mavis Beacon, and I can type 70+ words per minute til this day. My college newspaper had a newsroom with enough typewriters for every student to crank out articles, term papers and love letters. Mom had a portable typewriter she would allow me to use, only when I was desperate. Dad still works for IBM! Truly, typewriters are the foundation of my love for any device with a keyboard. So I didn't hesitate for a minute when the new catalog came out for demonstrators. And my card for the shoebox at Leadership is this darling composition, 48 cards featuring the typewriter. Love it!

Are you fostering a sweet spot for the typewriter? Have you been studying the new mini catalog? Maybe there are some hearts or flowers you prefer? Or a couple darling gnomes? Let's get together and stamp in January and find out what your favorites are!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Sneaky peeks

2011-12-29T21:00:00.001-06:00

Did you receive a new mini catalog? If you need one, just leave me a comment. The new die cutting sets are fabulous and a great reason to invest in a BigShot. This medallion and the matching stamp sets will be appearing on my cards, over and over again. I love the vintage feel of the shape and the stamp images.

I am leaving for a Leadership meeting in a few weeks and need to bring cards to swap. I'm not sure this is a winner. For one thing, there is no sentiment. I am notorious for creating cards with no sentiment, but it is truly a mistake when swapping.

But I love the new ribbon, the color scheme and the general look. What do you think? I'll show you some other options in the coming days.

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Happy Anniversary

2011-12-27T09:05:00.002-06:00

December 22 marked the one year anniversary for my son and his bride. She told me that, of the 365 days since they married, they had spent a total of 35 days together.

He is in Afghanistan, due home soon. And they are certainly excited to be together!

I wrote that if absence makes the heart grow fonder, they are certainly fond!

January should be very exciting for me. I am flying off to San Antonio for a few days to Leadership Conference with Stampin' Up. I am working on my swap cards and shoebox card. I love this card, but it is too hard to duplicate. So it is a "one of a kind" edition just for the anniversary celebrants. And it is back to the drawing board for me.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Final fabric project

2011-12-26T16:52:00.001-06:00

This lanyard style keychain is super simple to sew and can be a very useful item. I don't have many keys, just the car and house. But I like to be able to easily find them! So if I am using a larger purse, they tend to get lost in the deep dark recesses.

This lanyard helps add a little size to the keys and make them easier to locate. Also it works nicely on a peg in the kitchen for storage. Plus, I can wear it around my wrist when running errands or just running. Ha! Maybe walking, you won't find me running.

So here is the whole suite of sewing projects. None of these were difficult and they make a nice collection of useful items, beautiful in the Stampin' Up! fabric.

Happy Stamping!

Dee Tollaksen

Merry Christmas from the Brits returning home

2011-12-25T21:19:00.001-06:00

Merry Christmas. Every news program makes me sniffle this week. I'm so glad the war in Iraq is over and I look forward to the end of our involvement in Afghanistan. My son should be ending his deployment in 3 weeks. These guys look like they couldn't be happier to be heading home. Grab the tissues and enjoy this hilarious video.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Fabric Gifts #4

2011-12-23T08:34:00.000-06:00

This cute little wallet allows the owner to stash some change or crafting goodies then see them and avoid spilling or dumping them when ready to select from among the stash.

When you open the snap, the wallet opens up into a fabric box. Your brads, buttons, snaps, and coins are all visible but cannot fall out. Handy if you are trying to make a selection but you don't want to dump out all the goodies in your stash.

This one was probably the most difficult to sew. The sides are supposed to be hand sewn, which didn't happen. For some reason, it is easier to find a sewing machine in my house, than it is to find a needle. So I just kept going with the machine. I think it came out nicely!

One more project to share, then we will be on to new stamping projects!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Fabric Gift #3

2011-12-20T07:46:00.000-06:00

Santa came a little early and brought me a Smart Phone! And am I ever enjoying it. But I'm a little nervous for it's safety. I know I have introduced you to my Boston Terrier, right? He loves all things that are mine. And he had a little fun with my last phone. Chewed off a couple numbers and took a nice bite out of the power switch. So I have to keep my phone safe from inquiring minds/jaws.

I found a tutorial by Erin Erickson on the web for this Easy iPhone Sleeve. Really simple to copy and works like a dream!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Fabric Gift #2

2011-12-19T21:33:00.001-06:00

Here we go with my second item in the fabric gift collection. This little wallet is perfect for holding business cards. Why is it that I am always caught with no business cards? Because they float around in my purse and get all bent up and messy. So this wallet will keep them neat and handy!

Come back to see what else I made from the Stampin' Up! fabric.

This pattern was published by Trillium Design.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Fabric gifts #1

2011-12-18T09:39:00.001-06:00

Stampin' Up! offers a few beautiful fabrics to coordinate perfectly with our colors and designer series paper. I recently went on a quest to find blog tutorials for small sewing projects to highlight this fabric.

The first I'm showing is the tissue packet holder. This time of year, everyone gets a case of the sniffles and having one of these holders makes that stash of tissues just a little nicer. There are a multitude of tutorials for this item and they are easy to copy. You will need a sewing machine, iron and some snazzy fabric, some interfacing helps, but isn't really necessary. When I have posted all the projects, I'll point you toward the tutorials.

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Holiday pup

2011-12-17T14:11:00.001-06:00

I am not a big fan of punch art, but sometimes a darn cute little dog comes my way and I can't resist. This pup was on a holiday helper website and I absolutely LOVE him! He requires a bunch of different circle punches, but nothing too crazy. I have put him on a coffee cup cozy, the early espresso covers the brand name, but the actual cozy is there. I cut a couple slits in the card front to hold the cozy, and after I put a sentiment on the card and a gift card inside the cozy, it can come off the card and go straight to a coffee cup.

Hope you're off to a holiday party tonight!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Flocked Christmas

2011-12-16T07:15:00.001-06:00

I just love this card. Flocked black paper, seam binding in the rich color of Cherry Cobbler, and just a bit of Glimmer paper punched in the ornament shape.
Simple, gorgeous. Who would think to make their Christmas cards with black as the predominant color! But it works!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

2011-12-15T07:36:00.003-06:00

From December 15, 2011, through January 5, 2012, nearly 200products are being added to the Clearance Rack in the Stampin’ Up! OnlineStore--with some discounted up to 80 percent! Take advantage of these hugesavings, sometimes items sell out very quickly. Visit the Online Store totake part in the savings! Click on SHOP NOW and select the Clearance Rack.

As of7:30 am, the fun hasn’t started, but when it does, the supply will go quickly!

Enjoy,

Dee

Simple glimmer

2011-12-13T20:53:00.000-06:00

Didja miss me? I have been a busy little Christmas elf. I missed you, and I hope to be actively posting again.

This Cherry Cobbler card was one from my last stamp camp. It is always important to keep Christmas cards simple and re-produceable. And everyone loves the glimmer paper, and the new Simply Scored tool makes the embossing simple.

This card is definitely CASEd from another blog, but I cannot find the source. If you recognize the card, just let me know!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Laura left us an update: this card is from Artful Impressions Blog: http://artfeltimpressions.blogspot.com/2011/11/comfort-and-joy-sparkle.html

Joining SU is at an all-time fabulous deal!

2011-12-13T07:53:00.001-06:00

For two days only, Stampin’ Up! is offering a special opportunity to you. Ifyou have ever been to a workshop or stamp camp with me, I’m sure you can seehow much I enjoy crafting, stamping, sharing and laughing. If you would likeaccess to all the benefits of being a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, now is thetime. You can attend special events, locally and around the country, receive amonthly inspiration magazine and take advantage of the 20% discount. Whetheryou want to build a business or enjoy all these benefits just for your personaluse, we welcome you!
On December 13-14 only, you will be eligible for this exclusive offer,including

A $125 Starter Kit (standard or Digital+)—$50 off the regular price of $175!
A FREE package of Designer Series Paper OR a FREE digital download every month in 2012 (excluding January)—a total value of up to $120!

Of course, you will still be welcome to stamp with me and Iwill be thrilled to help you build a business, if that is your goal. Just giveme a call or reply to this email and I will help you get started. Don’t waitthough, today and Wednesday ONLY! MaybeSanta is looking for something special to put under your tree? If you takeadvantage of this offer your kit with over $300 of stamps, paper, ink andsupplies will arrive before Christmas! And you get to personalize the kit,selecting your own colors and stamp sets. How fun!

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Dee

Cyber Monday Deal

2011-11-27T08:08:00.001-06:00

Free stamps. Have I got your attention? Great! All the world knows that the best deals are happening now, all over the retail malls and online stores, so I want to be part of the fun.

Anyone ordering from my online store or by email or phone today or tomorrow, Cyber Monday, will be entered in a drawing to receive a free "Leaves of a Tree" stamp or a kit to create a bracelet from "Antique Brads."

Order discounted items from Stampin' Up! in the special holiday deals, order by email from your wishlist or have your husband call and place a Christmas gift order and you will be entered to win.

Book a workshop for January or February and I will pay the shipping and tax on your personal order and hostess benefit order. (Pick a date now for Sale-a-bration and take advantage of fantastic bargains!)

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Elegant gift card

2011-11-26T18:06:00.001-06:00

Black and white cards always look so elegant. This pretty card has a useful secret, when you open the ribbon bow, the black embossed label opens up and there is a folder that will hold a gift card.

We made this at a recent stamp camp, but I received one quite similar at the Stampin' Up! convention last summer.

I hope you had a restful and family filled Thanksgiving holiday.

Do you have a wish list ready for your husband this shopping season? I'll be back tomorrow with a Cyber Monday offer.

Stop in for the details and have that wish list handy.

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Easy CASE

2011-11-22T07:47:00.001-06:00

I received a version of this card when I attended the Stampin' Up! convention last summer. The candles are super easy and the flames are punched from the Build a Blossom punch. I love the punch of glamour the black satin ribbon adds.

Stampin' buddy Adrienne commented that this would be a great Hanukkah card with the right number of candles. What a great idea!

Hope you are getting that Black Friday shopping list organized and that some fun stamping supplies are on the list!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

2011-11-21T06:42:00.001-06:00

If your budget isn't set for shopping for yourself, remember to let your Santa know that the bargains on Stampin' Up! products are available online, the easiest way to shop!

Save yourself the chore of returning the gifts that don't fit or aren't your color, and let Santa see your crafting wish list with my online store address prominently featured:
www.dtollaksen.stampinup.net

Just click, shop, ship and save!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Pretty in Pink

2011-11-20T20:11:00.001-06:00

Taking a visual break. Whoo. It has been all Christmas all the time around the stamp room. So, here's a pretty and feminine card you can use for any occasion. The fancy doily is from a specialty DSP pack and there are 16 doilies in pink included. They are absolutely fabulous and they make a card so easy!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Newsprint Trend

2011-11-17T07:14:00.001-06:00

Have you noticed the newsprint trend in stamping? Not only are card makers using newsprint as a background or as a neutral element, but they are stamping right on the newsprint.

I have CASEd a card (sorry, there was no identification on the copy I saved) that uses Autumn Splendor stamp set and Water Color Crayons. I have fallen in love with these crayons. It is so easy to get really deep colors, but have control over it. With markers, it is all or nothing, and that can be great, but here I wanted more control.

Don't look at the sentiment. It is a beautiful old set that Stampin' Up! retired and I have had a hard time letting go. I sold it today, so I won't be tempted any longer!

Don't try stamping on your newspaper pages, the ink will just smear and you will be sad. Grab a piece of DSP from the First Edition Specialty paper set for this technique. Just click on the catalog in the right margin to shop for Designer Series Paper and beautiful stamps!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Angry Birds

2011-11-16T06:54:00.001-06:00

When I see a trend, I jump on it! My stamping buddy Catherine suggested that I needed some Angry Birds in my vendor fair offerings. So she scoured the internet and found Katie Resop's blog and I CASEd these little darlings.

They are pretty easy, hold a little treat and can hang on a package or Christmas tree.

And I have managed to make a few, with another dozen in the works. This fancy chrome display stand helps too! I picked it up at a garage sale for a buck! Perfect for cards and pictures, projects and treats in the stamp room. And it is light weight and stable. Love it!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

BLING headbands

2011-11-14T06:51:00.001-06:00

No stamping today, but I sure used a lot of my stamping tools!

These sparkly headbands are all ready for the Holiday Gift Shop table I'll be setting up soon. My DD helped me search out the bling-tastic headbands. I knew I wanted to offer a fabric flower attached to a headband, and we know the kids at the Shop are K-6th grade, so we thought these bright shiny headbands would be perfect.

When I went looking for silver fabric, Halloween fabric was marked down drastically, just look at how shiny and bling-tabulous this is!

All I did was run the super shiny (and slippery) fabric through the Big Shot with the circle die. It cut through 8 or 10 layers of fabric with ease, giving me a mountain of circles.

The technique is a little risky, but having years of Boy Scout training, I was successful. You have to sit a candle in the center of your workspace and touch the edges of every circle to the flame, melting the edges and making them warp/melt.

I used FabricTack glue to attach the layers of each flower then Crystal Effects glue from Stampin' Up! to attach the flower to the headband.

These pictures may not be the most flattering, but you can see that every flower is unique, the headbands are all done, and the bling level in my stamp room is "DANGEROUSLY HIGH!!!"

I am sure these will sell fast! I am even tempted to run back to the store and buy more headbands, cause there were plenty extra flowers. But what will I do with these if they don't sell out? Maybe the Marines can use them for Toys for Tots? Great idea! I'm off to the store.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Give a presentation

2011-11-11T21:08:00.001-06:00

As demonstrators, we are always trying to bring creative and fun projects to our customers. Here, I am showing the Advent calendar frame I CASEd from the Stampin' Up! mini catalog. I was at a small gathering of demonstrators in Lincolnshire and talked about how easy this is to make, and how pleased my customers are with their frames.

Gimme a call and schedule a class to make your very own!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

25 & Counting

2011-11-09T19:32:00.000-06:00

Crazy season has arrived. I know most people call it "the holidays" but in my world, it is just plain crazy. I love my crafting life. The paper. The ink. The embellishments. The STAMPS!!!

So I have a lot of Christmas cards and holiday gifts to plan and create. And my customers are also interested in a few classes and camps so they can make cards and gifts.

And I work for a company that is crazy busy in November and December, so my schedule goes from 2 days a week to 5 days a week, which is a huge adjustment!

Then, I heard my local school is holding a vendor fair during the Holiday Gift Shop. So of course, I bought a table and have to create all the fun stuff to sell to cover the investment, plus try to meet a couple hostesses and new customers!

Whoa. Crazy, right?

These pix are of an in-home class, everyone made the 25 & Counting Advent calendar. If you were wondering what 8 ladies creating a complex advent calendar looked like, well, here they are! The only one willing to smile for the camera is the gorgeous young teenager, but everyone left with a fabulous, framed masterpiece, ready for the wall!

Wish me luck and don't curse me if I don't post often. I'm crazy!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Free Digital Downloads from Stampin Up

2011-11-05T09:14:00.001-05:00

Stampin' Up! is offering you a selection of FREE digital downloads that will work on every computer. You can download them today thru Monday, and figure out how to use them afterward. Don't miss this chance to get the goods. Click here to shop now: dtollaksen@stampinup.net

If you use any kind of digital software, you can use these images. If you create holiday cards online, you can incorporate these images. If you print from your computer, you can just print out the labels and use them on your Christmas gifts!

If you want help using these, just let me know and I'll try to show you how easy it is to incorporate these into your computer fun.

If you like these and want to try more, put the My Digital Studio product into your shopping cart and start creating great projects right on your laptop!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Great time to host

2011-11-02T21:48:00.001-05:00

Are you keeping a wish list? You know Santa wants to bring you the crafty supplies that you want, right? So keep a list!

And Stampin' Up! also wants to help. For the next couple weeks, we are offering you some awesome deals. Just announced is a BONUS for hostesses from now til Dec 15: instead of $50 free merchandise of your choice when your workshop sales totals hit $350, you will get $85 free merchandise! And it just gets better as your sales go up!

Even better, if you want to be a Hobby Demonstrator or Business Demonstrator, join now and get a FREE Big Shot or an extra $100 merchandise, of your choice! AWESOME!!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Baking a little love

2011-10-30T11:54:00.000-05:00

Are you a fabulous cook? A bountiful baker? Or a holiday chef?

As much as I like to bake, the problem is that I also like to eat all the goodies. So I try not to make too many, or bake when I have an occasion to share! The pillow gift boxes are perfect for sharing a few bites of fudge, a special cookie or a fancy brownie.

Of course they are perfect for a little jewelry, a bit of cash or the keys to a brand new car. (If you're going to ask for a gift, go for something good!)

We will be making two of these at the Holiday Extravaganza on Sunday Dec 4, I hope you will be here to join in the fun! Just leave me a comment, a call or an email and I'll save you a seat!

Happy Holidays!
Dee Tollaksen

Nip in the air

2011-10-29T09:16:00.000-05:00

Have you been outside yet today? Here in Chicagoland it is starting to feel a bit nippy. . . might want to grab a jacket for running those Saturday morning errands.

Keep warm and spread a little cheer! These magic gloves are the best invention! We keep them in the glove compartment, in the hall closet, in the gym bag and in coat pockets. They're inexpensive and they give just the right amount of protection for scraping ice off car windows, walking the dog or running errands. They even work great as a liner inside a good mitten if you will be outside in bitter cold weather.

But best of all, they make a darling gift for a co-worker, teacher, neighbor, the guy who sometimes shovels your sidewalk or even the mail carrier. Tuck a gift card or a pack of hot chocolate inside for an extra treat!

Join me on Sunday December 4 for an afternoon of gifts and home decor at my Holiday Extravaganza. You will learn some new techniques, try some new products and go home with a bag full of gifts for the people in your life. Just leave a comment, email me or give me a call to save your seat at this fun session of crafting. You can even purchase the class "to go" if the date doesn't work for you.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Wedding congrats

2011-10-27T08:13:00.003-05:00

Here is a quick break from the Christmas projects. A lovely couple married recently and we were invited to the gala. Her bridesmaids wore this intense dark eggplant color, so I used it for their card.

It may be hard to see but the zigzag border has tiny hearts over each zig then I repeated the hearts over the border in a variety of pink and purple cardstock and DSP.

Simple but elegant, with a couple layers of coordinating ribbon over the dark cardstock.

Anytime you need to fill that stockpile of cards so you can be ready for any occasion, just check out my class offerings, at right. Coming soon: all occasion cards, Christmas Extravaganza, 3D class. What else would you like to see?

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Easy Peasy Presents

2011-10-25T18:08:00.002-05:00

Simple! You want simple, I'll give you simple. The narrow treat bags have been popular for a while now, and Stampin' Up! has caught up to the craze by offering a very nice package at a reasonable price. I have put jaw breakers, M&Ms, red hots and now pencils into my bags. This makes a cute little stocking stuffer or classroom treat. Maybe if we added a gift card for a bookstore or coffee shop it would even be a nice teacher gift or a little something for the boss? Just a bit of ribbon and some stockings punched with the new handheld punch. Maybe you already own the ornament punch? Or the tag punch? Perfect!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

63 days til Christmas

2011-10-22T15:39:00.000-05:00

Stampers, there are only 63 days until Christmas. I know you want to give personal gifts; gifts that show you care; gifts that show how crafty you are.

Why not let me do all the planning, prep and clean-up? Come on over on Sunday December 4 and make 10 (WOW) great projects for only $30. Of course we will make this gorgeous countdown calendar. The beauty of this is that the chalkboard is on the outside of the glass and the glittery red paper is inside. Who cares? Well, you may have another event this year. . . graduation, wedding, baby, new cell phone. . . and you can change the event easily by swapping out the paper and printed sentiment! Fun and easy!

You could even use it as a menu board, special event reminder, or whatever you might think up.

Just leave a comment here or shoot me an email and I'll save your seat at the Holiday Extravaganza. Can't make it on Dec 4? That's ok, we can make a raindate for you or you can purchase the supplies to be mailed to you. Just speak up!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Vintage stocking

2011-10-21T08:53:00.000-05:00

How can you resist this beauty? The glittery ornaments hanging from the silky ribbon, the antique brad, and most of all, the fabulous stocking? Well, let me tell you, this stocking is also gift packaging: you can put a gift card, a Mont Blanc pen, a jump drive, diamond earrings or whatever expensive but teeny gift you may have selected.

The Big Shot and the stocking die make this project very easy but really pretty!

Attend the Holiday Extravaganza and you will make this and 9 other great giftable and home decor items at the bargain price of just $30. If you can't make it, let me know. I'm happy to offer a "rain date" or "to go" option for friends who don't live here in Chicagoland.

I know my friends and family will be getting this beauty in the ornament exchange, grab bag and on Christmas morning!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

From our house to yours

2011-10-20T00:17:00.002-05:00

Have you ever seen these darling little canning jars? I think they only hold 4 ounces, but it is 4 ounces of total cuteness!

I have dressed this one with ribbon, twine and a couple cardstock punches and die cuts. This is one of the projects you can make at my Holiday Extravaganza. We will be creating a big box of gifts and presents and decor items. I hope you will be able to join us!

Just leave a comment or shoot me an email to save your seat!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

2011-10-18T07:28:00.001-05:00

Elegant AND Sparkly

2011-10-18T07:23:00.002-05:00

Remember that birthday last week? My DD had a milestone birthday. I broke out the silver glimmer paper. This is definitely a "stash" product : a paper that you MUST own, but then no project is worthy of, nobody is worthy of a card made with such an awesome product! You know the feeling. . . what if they don't appreciate the fantabulousness of this sparkly paper? What if they don't preserve this card in a place of honor? What if they just (gasp) throw it away?

Well, who cares. I have lots more of this sparkly paper. And I'm using it on Christmas keepsakes that I know won't get tossed out. And my DD loves the card and the envelope. They will never get tossed out. She will cherish them forever! You can take the dare. USE your stash products. Get an ooohh and an aahhh from your loved ones!

Mark your calendar for Sunday Dec 4. I am offering a fantabulous day of crafting. More info coming SOON!!!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Holiday Wreath

2011-10-16T16:30:00.001-05:00

Have you got some DSP (designer series paper) you're hoarding? Storing? Saving? This project will help you use some of the strips of DSP, and provide you with a gorgeous decor item for your front door, your kitchen door, your living room wall. You just make a frame from cardboard and pull out your hot glue gun.

Imagine this with Halloween paper and some spider web stuff or Thanksgiving colors and a pinecone or two. Maybe you have a wall that calls out for a bit of decor that can match the season, this bit of textured paper and some sparkly glitter will fill the bill!

Give me a call or shoot me an email for a class in your choice of color scheme.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Clean and Simple

2011-10-15T10:26:00.001-05:00

It's a clean and simple autumn kind of day. The wind is blowing here in Chicagoland, so no need to rake those falling leaves, they're all in the neighbors yard by now.

A simple wreath of leaves makes this party invite festive and timely. This pretty stamp is in a hostess set in the mini catalog and is called Warmest of Wishes. It makes a card so easy! Just stamp, color the blank leaves and punch with the scalloped circle punch. Really easy peasy. I have backed it with a little sentiment and then added some texture using the Big Shot and grosgrain ribbon.

This is the kind of design that makes party invites easy to duplicate in bulk. This might be a great way to invite your Thanksgiving guests!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Give Thanks

2011-10-14T09:47:00.001-05:00

Remember to live in the moment. Have you read your email today? Martha (yes that one) sent me a Black Friday offer today. Really? I don't know about you, but I haven't celebrated Halloween yet!

So I checked. It is 71 days til Christmas. That means we have 70 shopping days remaining. 70. Whew. Since I try to make a good part of my gifts, that means 70 crafting days remain.

How about you? Do you make some of your gifts? Do you have some ideas lined up?

Let's talk. I have some great ideas! Gifts, home decor, cards, gift cards and more!

Maybe you would like some new tools and supplies. Let's make a Wish List we can share with your loved ones. Call me. . .

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Shut the Front Door

2011-10-13T15:58:00.001-05:00

I'm ready for Christmas. Sure I am. Well, I'm ready to put a Christmas wreath on the front door. That's something, right?

The Stampin' Up! Simply Scorer made this wreath of medallions super easy. Long skinny strips of designer series paper TRANSFORM into these fun medallions, then I hot glued them to a cardboard circle, added a bit of glimmer paper in the centers, and popped a red ribbon bow at the top.

Bring on the holidays!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Oct 12, 1990, exactly 21 years ago today!

2011-10-12T09:07:00.003-05:00

Happy Birthday Gen! Those of you who know her will agree, Genevieve is one of the nicest people EVER! And I am ever so grateful to have been blessed with such a wonderful daughter.

Today is her 21st birthday. We always get a good laugh when she asks what treat I have planned for her to take to school and share. When she was in kindergarten, I had one of those "blonde" moments and I neglected to prepare cupcakes or any kind of treat for her to share at school. I woke up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat and jumped out of bed to go bake cupcakes. But there was no cake mix in the house. Racking my brain, and the pantry, I found a brand new box of Fruit Loops.

When Gen woke up, she found a box filled with treat cups. I took clear plastic dixie cups, filled them with Fruit Loops, wrapped each one in clear plastic wrap with curling ribbon at the top. All lined up in a gift box, curling ribbon, fruity colored cereal and poofy topped dixie cups. She was ecstatic. What a great treat for school! No one else has ever brought THIS treat before! And I was the hero, even though I felt like an idiot for forgetting it was her birthday.

So every year we have this big "plan" to take something fun and unique for her friends and classmates. Usually it is a last minute crazy run around the house to figure out what I have on hand that can work. Today I actually had a bag of Halloween candy and the kraft paper Stampin' Up! uses to pack inside our orders. I flattened out the paper, ran it through the Big Shot and made square scallop pieces. I stamped them and made "21" squares from the 25 & Counting stamp set. I punched a little hole in the bottom and slid the lollipops into the little bag. Gen can share these in her college classes today, and save a couple for the children she will see this evening when she teaches swim lessons.

Don't you think it is fun that she still wants these "pass out" treats at this stage of the game? I think this is it, really. At 21 we have to start treating her like an adult. Dang.
Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Leaves of a Tree (4)

2011-10-12T05:25:00.000-05:00

IRL (in real life) this card is so cute! Sometimes a photo just can't get the lighting right, no matter how I rearrange the angle, the lamp, the sun, the shadow of the photographer.

We have used Pool Party cardstock to cut a Top Note shape and chopped off one end. Then stamped the Leaves of a Tree in white ink. In Pool Party ink I added the Friends sentiment and just a dash of the great ruffled ribbon in the same shade.

Remember that these cards were created for a class offered at the Panera restaurant. If I was at home, I would add some embossing powder. We used the clear EP last night and it added a nice gloss to the tree.

It is spectacular to be able to use one stamp to make such a variety of styles of cards! I still have a couple stamps available, if you would like a class by mail or want to stop in, just let me know. $14 for the stamp and all the supplies for these 4 cards (minus ink).

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Leaves of a Tree (3)

2011-10-09T20:16:00.001-05:00

I just love this stamp! Here it is stamped in Always Avocado, then a marker is used to make the trunk and branches Early Espresso. We used markers in celery and moss to color in some of the leaves, but not all of them. Just enough to jazz it up a little. There is a Rich Razzleberry punch added on both sides of the tree panel, just to add a bit of color.

An "any occasion" card, just add a sentiment at the bottom, and this card is ready for a birthday, sympathy, just thinking of you, anything!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Leaves of a Tree (2)

2011-10-07T04:59:00.000-05:00

Sometimes, a fast card is a good card. When you are known as a person who makes their cards, you can't get away with a store bought gift card. It just has to be hand made. But there is often a time when the stash runs dry, and this stamp is just perfect for those times.

This 3x3" card is Very Vanilla paper with gold ink. I know Stampin' Up! no longer provides us with gold ink, but I bet a lot of you own some anyway, right? So ink it up in gold, stamp it a little off the edge and voila! Add a tiny sentiment and you're ready to go.

There is still room for you in the "Keep the Stamp" class next week. Check your calendar, maybe you can join us on Tuesday night or Wednesday afternoon. This is the best bargain in town!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Leaves of a Tree (1)

2011-10-05T08:52:00.000-05:00

How tech savvy are you? Being a geezer, I think I'm a little more savvy than some of my generation. Not a whole bunch, but a little. I am blogging, I love Google Reader for cruising blogs, and I even use MeetUp to find new friends.

Last night my bff Catherine and I hosted a MeetUp for card makers. We offered a "keep the stamp" class featuring Stampin' Up! stamp Leaves of a Tree.

This sweet stamp is so versatile! Here I used the Big Shot to diecut some scalloped squares and we stamped in Early Espresso. Using the SU markers, we added a couple shades of green to the leaves, adhered some gold crinkle ribbon and white twine. Lovely, right?

Because we meet at Panera and I have to haul all the supplies, these cards are very basic, but as you'll see, quite diverse.

Stay tuned for cards 2-4 and let me know if you would enjoy a "keep the stamp" class.

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Buy 2, get one free!

2011-10-03T21:30:00.000-05:00

During October, Stampin' Up! is giving away stamp sets! When you select two Simply Sent Card kits, you get to select one of these free stamp sets! Whoo hoo!

I'll be getting some. . . how bout you? These kits come with the base card, envelopes and the goodies needed to make them fabulous! Add the stamp set and maybe a bit of ink and you have a complete card kit. Fabulous!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Ho Ho Ho

2011-09-29T18:05:00.000-05:00

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

2011-09-29T08:06:00.000-05:00

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

2011-09-27T06:50:00.000-05:00

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?

2011-09-22T14:48:00.000-05:00

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

2011-09-20T07:51:00.000-05:00

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

2011-09-18T10:08:00.000-05:00

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

2011-09-16T08:57:00.000-05:00

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

2011-09-13T07:55:00.002-05:00

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

2011-09-11T06:29:00.002-05:00

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

2011-09-10T08:34:00.000-05:00

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?

2011-09-07T07:15:00.000-05:00

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

2011-09-04T05:47:00.002-05:00

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

2011-09-04T05:21:00.000-05:00

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

Can you feel it?

2011-08-31T22:13:00.000-05:00

I am feeling the love! We had a great meet-up at Panera tonight! I hosted a free stamping event at my local Panera and we filled a couple of tables and talked stamping for a couple of hours. So fun! We made a cute card with a penguin and a bag of chocolates, everyone went home happy!

Catherine set up the evening and 7 ladies joined me, even tho Catherine ended up having a schedule conflict and had to be elsewhere. Next time, she can run the show and I'll sit back and relax. LOL!!

Two more 4 letter words to share this week, watch for the updates.

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Spell It Out

2011-08-28T08:30:00.000-05:00

Sometimes you just have to spell it out. Today's word is CAKE. This simple project involves a sheet of cork and your Big Shot! The new Perfect Pennants die makes quick work of the scalloped circles and pennants used for background behind the letters and the wood blocks are found on pg 181 in the Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog. They are 3" blocks perfect for home decor projects.

We made four words in 4 different styles. These would be great for family names or special themed events you may be planning. Think LOVE for a wedding or shower or BABY for a new Mom. . . How many 4-letter words can you think of?

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Home Decor

2011-08-26T21:18:00.000-05:00

Of course we all want our homes to look nice, and to reflect our personality, so creating our own decor items just makes sense! This is a shadow box frame created at a stamping event I attended recently.

There are four inserts, appropriate for different events, times of year or rooms of the house. I think it is fun that you could use the one frame and change it up every so often to keep it looking fresh!

The Big Shot is certainly used extensively in this project! Come on over and try it! I'd love to show you how easy it is to create these frame inserts!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Towel time!

2011-08-22T16:48:00.000-05:00

Have you discovered the website Pinterest? It is a visual artist's DREAM! It is filled with pictures, pictures and more pictures. I like to look at crafty fun things, I think it works like Pandora. On Pandora your taste in music is "learned," on Pinterest, your taste in images is "learned." It is very cool.

Anyway, I just saw these white towels with days of the week monograms. A fresh towel for every day. Very cool. The fun thing is, I just made white towels with iron on letters at a workshop Friday, truly!

Scroll down and see my Gourmet towel! You too can make these gorgeous towels! The big ol' WalMart sells the towels nice & cheap, then just pick some letters and cut them super easy and fast on the Big Shot, then iron 'em on! I'll help, just call me!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Holiday Stairstep Card

2011-08-22T07:03:00.000-05:00

Stair step cards are striking and not that difficult. This one will be so quick and easy, you'll be amazed!

Just stamp, punch and adhere! Once you have the pattern for the stair step card, it is just a matter of folding and adding your own personal touch.

We will be making this card and 3 others on Wednesday. Still room in the 1 pm or 7 pm class, just post a comment, email me or give me a call!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

It's a beautiful day. . .

2011-08-21T10:11:00.000-05:00

Outdoor enthusiasts, rejoice! It's such a beautiful day here in Chicagoland! We have the Air & Water Show happening at Lake Michigan, the lawn mower is being pushed cheerfully around the back yard and I know that Camp Lakota is populated by Wood Badge participants enjoying the gorgeous weather.

Hooray for all these events taking advantage of one of the most beautiful days Chicago has to offer!

My stamping friends will attest, this may be my #1 fave stamp set. Although I wish the bear had a smiling eyes instead of the scowl. . . but I love the camping gear and the grrreat sentiment in Under the Stars. Here they are celebrating life on a stairstep card, camping among stars and greenery.

Wednesday I am offering a class of 4 stairstep cards, this being my favorite. Come join us t 1 pm or 7 pm and learn how easy it is to make these stand-up stairstep cards! Just give me a call, post a comment or shoot me an email. I'd love to have you join us. . . or set up a time for your own workshop or class!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Pretty in Pink

2011-08-20T10:00:00.000-05:00

Stopped short as I zipped through the Walgreens, 3 for a $1, very plain, sturdy headbands. Screaming to be embellished, into the basket they go. Then some pretty Stampin' Up! fabric with pretty doilies and flowers, make some yoyos and fine some strong glue. . . voila! Fabulous headbands!

And since I had 3 of them, it was perfect for my two roommates at convention. We were supposed to make garden hats for the opening party, but being sophisticated women, we took a pass on the hats and opted for the headbands! We didn't win the hat contest, but we did get a few compliments.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Bracelet class

2011-08-18T08:27:00.000-05:00

I know I already showed you this bracelet, but I put the class on my schedule, come make one!

Wed Sept 7 at 1 pm or 7 pm, for just $20 we will make a bracelet, a gift bag and a gift card for presentation. As if you would give it away! For just $12 extra, you can make a second bracelet (maybe you would give it away then!)

And because you have already seen the awesome, super EASY, fun stamping supplies bracelet, I also gave you a picture of Marky Mark. Yes, he is a Boston Terrier and is the most handsome and buff guy, so we named him after Mark Wahlberg, also from Boston, handsome and buff. He loves to chew on crunchy inappropriate items, like CDs, eyeglasses, and shoes, so we give him an empty water bottle occasionally. As you can see, he bites the top off then crunches to his heart's content! Then we recycle it and start all over.

As always, if the date and time I have picked do not work for you, just let me know! I would love to have you come at your convenience or schedule a little time at your place to make these great projects!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Convention Colors

2011-08-16T07:28:00.000-05:00

Small but mighty bright! This is a 3 x 3" card, a gift enclosure style card. The new border punch was used to create the bright green flowers. They are in a long strip that wraps around inside the card and it is tied together with a bit of linen thread on the front. An interesting, simple technique that adds a bit of pizzazz to a very simple card.

Gotta love the bright colors, this would be gorgeous used as a tag on ribbon around a gift box wrapped in plain brown paper. Love it! This is another of the items we made at the Stampin' Up! convention in July. I think we actually made this card, because I haven't purchased the punch. . . yet!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Convention creation

2011-08-14T17:25:00.000-05:00

Can I tell you how much I love the fabric on this card? Just a touch of elegant black and white fabric gives it so much texture and interest.

The BFF stamp set went home with every conventioneer. I know I wouldn't have looked twice at this set if it hadn't been given to me. But now that I own it. . . the curlicue branch is fabulous and the cross hatched heart is great. BFF is such a "current" phrase, lots of people use it in scrapbooks. It will definitely identify a specific point in time!

Again, this darling card was designed by the pros at the home office and needed to be completed after we got home. There just isn't enough time during the make-n-take session. I'm told some people finish when they get back to hotel in the evening. Ha! We always have extra events to attend, shoebox swaps and such. There is no time for actual crafting!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Convention card

2011-08-13T16:24:00.000-05:00

One of the highlights of attending the Stampin' Up! Convention is the Make & Take session.
We used to try to complete all the projects in the 2 hour session. This year we knew better. There is no way to finish everything. We just worked on one major project and brought home the cards. Since SU provides us with all the stamp sets as part of our convention package, there is no reason to kill ourselves to complete everything in Utah.

This darling Limeaid colored card was designed by the SU professionals, and completed by me, at home.

Maybe next year you would like to join us? Let me know, you're always welcome!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Layered up

2011-08-12T16:56:00.001-05:00

My Big Shot is directly to my right when I am in my stamping room. It is so convenient, because I use it so much. This pretty card is textured, has a scalloped square die cut, then the next layer is textured too! When I prepped this card for class I did all the Big Shot work ahead of time, because otherwise I have to rearrange the furniture so students can access it.

Silly me! After class was over, one of the ladies commented that that machine must be hard to use or very delicate, since I never let anyone else touch it! Well, hoo boy, I will never be doing the Big Shot work for them again! They will see how sturdy it is and easy too!

Come on over and see how sturdy it is and how easy it is to use, I'll be in the stamp room all day Saturday, since the DH will be golfing!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Clearly Fabulous

2011-08-09T08:16:00.000-05:00

It may be hard to see, but these cards are clear! The window sheets from Stampin' Up! are so substantial, they make a great base for a card. These are little gift enclosure cards, 3 x 3" overall. We used a die on the Big Shot to scallop the edges and cut the flowers, so it was just fold and stick, with a darling brad in the center. Each card has a panel of Whisper White cardstock inside, for a note.

To pack it all together as a gift, we also cut a box on the Big Shot out of the window sheet. One 12 x 12" sheet is all you need for the box and all four cards and envelopes. So economical!

I don't know how we made fun cards and gifts before the Big Shot! I use it on everything I make. It makes everything so polished and professional looking. Love it!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Brag Book

2011-08-08T20:29:00.000-05:00

I am so thrilled and proud to be the Mother of a US Marine. Our whole family spent the weekend with Steve, home on US ground, on leave from Afghanistan. We flew down to Arizona to spend time with Steve and his bride in Flagstaff and Phoenix. Danielle had planned a trip to a craft beer festival, art walk, Phoenix Cardinals football practice, and that was Friday. On Saturday we toured a resort where the happy couple plans to have their wedding (they have had a court house marriage, we look forward to a wedding celebration this spring.) Then the sports fans went off to a baseball game.

On Sunday we all went river tubing. Oh my goodness. Fun, hot, cold, wet, exhilarating and exhausting. And why do I mention all this? Because this fantastic brag book will be perfect for our pictures!

Stampin' Up! offers these great scrapbooking kits. They include card stock, designer series paper and self-adhesive elements all color and style coordinated. This brag book is made from just half a kit and was taught to me at a recent event hosted for my demonstrators group. It took us maybe an hour to assemble and is just waiting for pictures. So cool! Any questions? Want to make your own? Just give me a jingle or leave a comment, I'll be thrilled to help you out.

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Container Critters

2011-08-05T06:10:00.000-05:00

Look out, Cute Factor of 10 coming at ya! These darling critters are so cute, so easy and they're even useful!

Their bodies are made from plastic storage containers! Just little ones, the same size as the brad or button containers that Stampin' Up! uses. They are about 2 inches across and maybe 3/4" deep.

These would be super simple to mass produce, if you wanted teacher gifts, student gifts or party favors. Perfect for a little snack or a few office supplies. Darling!

Just leave a comment or shoot me an email if you're interested in all the details!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Brad Bracelet

2011-08-04T05:57:00.000-05:00

So easy and so lovely. I'm telling you, paper crafting suddenly looks like jewelry making! This terrific bracelet is a blank chain and closure that I have embellished with a few brads. Okay. It is 14 brads, but it isn't even an entire box of the Antique Brads on pg 198 of the new Idea Book & Catalog from Stampin' Up! There are 20 brads in the box, so there are a bunch left over for cards! And the whole box only costs $5.95! How cool is this!

As a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I am invited to so many fun events. This past Sunday/Monday I attended a 3-session meeting with over 50 other demonstrators. We made a brag book from a scrapping kit, home decor blocks with festive phrases, a shadow box with 4 different seasonal decor inserts, very cool clear acetate card set, this bracelet and a bunch more stuff. Plus we had a delicious catered lunch, shared a million laughs, swapped card samples and had a generally awesome time together. Wish you were there! I'll be sharing the projects over the next week or so. Let me know if you would like the details on this bracelet, or if you would like to join me for a class and go home with one or two of your own!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

August Special

2011-08-03T20:58:00.000-05:00

Are you still browsing in the new catalog? So many items on your wish list, you don't know where to start? Here's an idea, choose 3 packs of Designer Series Paper, receive 1 free!

Another option is to host a little workshop and get hostess benefits! They're better than ever, a nice workshop rewards the hostess with free product and you might even earn a 50% off coupon, treat yourself to a Big Shot for half price!

I have been stamping at convention in Utah, stamping at a big fun event in Lincolnshire and there have even been a couple local stamp camps, so I have quite a few projects to share, I'm working on taking pix and getting them loaded onto the laptop. I'll share tomorrow, promise!

Click on "Buy Three, Get One Free" box at right to start shopping now. . .

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Coloring #4

2011-07-29T11:03:00.000-05:00

Can I say that I have a favorite color? I don't want any of the other colors to feel bad, but I definitely prefer blue. Almost any shade of blue, and mixing blues together. . . fabulous! This card features the stamping technique of Direct to Rubber. Using the Stampin' Up! markers, I colored right onto the rubber stamp. I spritzed the stamp with water, using a tiny spray bottle, then stamped. I love the soft, watercolor look it makes!

Just a reminder, deadline for the $99 deal is Sunday. Talk to your husband, talk to your friends, talk to me! This bargain goes on your credit card, you get $120 worth of product and free shipping. If you want it FREE, just hold a workshop or two and let the profits from the workshop pay for the kit. Really! You only need to hold one $350 workshop to completely offset the cost of the kit. And statistics show that an average workshop produces $400 in sales. So, one average workshop and you'll be showing a profit! Whoo hoo!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

2011-07-26T07:28:00.000-05:00

Thanks for taking just a second to think about this deal.

1 – a great way to save on your crafting supplies. Invest in this kit and receive $120 of desirable products and take at least 20% discount on future purchases from Stampin’ Up!

2 – Start your own stamping business for just $99 startup! Offer classes, events, workshops or create custom invites, home décor and personalized stationery.

Offer ends July 31. I would LOVE to have you join my team! Or if you know anyone who is looking to supplement their income, please forward this email. There is absolutely no commitment beyond the initial kit. No penalty whatsoever for trying out the kit and no future purchase requirements.

I just came home from Salt Lake City (paid for completely through my little stampin’ business) where I met this fun guy, Mike Diehl. He is a 2^nd grade teacher in upstate New York. He uses the Big Shot to cut bulletin boards and classroom supplies. He uses stamps to embellish student papers and to make TY cards and classroom décor. Mike’s teacher friends wanted a demonstrator right in their school, but none of them were willing to take the plunge. He signed up a few months ago, orders supplies for the teachers at his school and is using Facebook to build his customer base. This guy has a thriving business and he has hardly lifted a finger! Think about how this could work for you or someone you know and let me help you get started.

Happy Stamping!

Dee

Coloring #3

2011-07-25T06:50:00.000-05:00

Coloring this simple duck was easy, I just grabbed my markers and coordinated colors with the cardstock and DSP (designer series paper). The fact that Stampin' Up! offers cardstock, ink, markers and accessories that perfectly coordinate makes composition a snap!

This card really needs to read "Sorry about all the rain and the flooding in your basement." And thank God my basement chose to stay dry! I'm praying for continued electricity and less humidity for all my friends who were floating this past weekend.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Coloring #2

2011-07-24T06:11:00.001-05:00

Watercolor pencils and the blender pen give this soft effect and allow for dull points to do a great job of coloring. All you have to do is scribble a bit of color inside the lines, then use the blender pen to spread the color. It eliminates all the coloring "lines" and smooths out the image. Love it!

I love to make cards with no sentiment. Then when I need to send a note or have an occasion, I can add the correct sentiment and I don't have to come up with an entire card.

The end of the month is quickly approaching, don't forget that July 31 is the deadline to take advantage of the Stampin' Up! sale on the kit: 2 stamp sets, 4 ink pads, a pack of white cards & envelopes, a pack of card stock, a pack of designer series paper, a blender pen, an adhesive runner, a roll of ribbon, a clear stamp mount, and a box of business supplies for just $99 and free shipping, plus a permanent discount on product as long as you continue to meet purchase minimums, subscription to Stampin' Success magazine and access to an exclusive website jammed with project samples. As a bonus Stampin' Up! is also giving you a gorgeous Holiday Keepsake Box kit with a $40 value. Gorgeous! Still reading? Awesome, just give me a call or post a comment and I'll help you get started!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Coloring #1

2011-07-23T07:39:00.000-05:00

Yes, I do know that banners are trendy. Did you also know that coloring is trendy? You remember, from kindergarten: stay inside the lines. Otherwise, there are no rules. Pick a tool: pencils, markers, paint, ink, or watercolor crayons. Pick a color. Pick an image. Your kindergarten teacher isn't here, you are in charge! I chose these pretty birds from the new Easy Events stamp set. Then I stamped them on the pale yellow page of DSP from the Flirtatious set. I also stamped them on Whisper White cardstock. I used the Stampin' Write markers to color in Wisteria Wonder. I snipped them out of the white CS and used dimensionals to pop them up on the DSP. Using the new pennant punch, I made the pretty triangles from the same DSP set and included the sentiment on word window punch. Cute!

We'll have a couple more coloring examples from the class I taught this week. If you missed it, you'll be sorry!
If you're sorry, just leave a comment and we can schedule the same class again, just for you!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Christmas in July

2011-07-21T07:58:00.000-05:00

If you are like me, the holidays sneak up and then whiz by. I am thinking of creating my major projects very early this year, have them ready and use them to really embrace the season.

This mini-album is a list of 25 things to do to enjoy the holidays. Things like eat a candy cane, go sledding, ring jingle bells. Each page has a holiday suggestion and room for pix and journaling. It is a great remembrance album, a centerpiece, an awesome gift. Perhaps this is a special year with a wedding, a baby or just one of those years that is in danger of being forgotten for all the busyness.

Join me in re-creating this gorgeous book Stampin' Up! demonstrated at convention. It looks awesome, but it is simple to put together. And I will do all the planning, you just have to make time to sit and craft!

Leave a comment or send an email, we will schedule your seat in a class at my studio, your home or office. Schedule a class at your place or mine and bring 3 or more participants and I will have a special gift for you!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Stampin' Up! Convention 2011

2011-07-18T06:24:00.001-05:00

I am home from Salt Lake City, exhausted, but whoooo, what a good time! Pictured here are my roommates Catherine and Sue and a new friend Mike. Sue bumped into Mike at O'Hare, swapped cards and chatted, then ended up sitting with him on the flight. He was traveling to convention alone, so he often found us to sit with for the big presentations and meals. What a fun guy!

There is a good reason that I never let anyone shoot my picture.I had no idea my hair was all smooshed under my glasses, and after I had worked on it with the curling iron and everything! Oh brother. I will have to stop doing that when I take them off.

One of the most thrilling things to happen at convention is prize patrol. After each major new product introduction, they call the prize patrol to run out and give away stamps and tools and paper to attendees, based on your wristband color. Here, Sue won first, scoring a gorgeous large flower stamp set and a spool of new ribbon. Next, Catherine's color was called and she won a super Christmas stocking set and the matching

punch! There are a lot of prize patrols, but not everyone wins. Not even half the crowd wins, so we were doing great, having half our little group win! But that wasn't the end, oh no. Next, Mike's color is called and he scores a stamps set and ribbon! Well, I am so happy for my friends. And who wouldn't be, right? They're so lucky! And I'm soooo happy for them! Sure 3/4 of our little group win an extra stamp set and embellishment to take home! Suffering succotash. $%%#@!!!

Well, I have to tell you, I am really happy for them, but I don't know why I wasn't the lucky one! Oh well, there's always next year! And if you could see all the great stuff Stampin' Up! gave me, you would certainly call me ungrateful. We all came home with 8 new stamp sets, a new collection for the "My Digital Studio" program, mini catalogs for the Holidays, 4 gorgeous cards and a beautiful box to keep them in, what, did I mention. . . 8 new stamp sets? What a fabulous haul!!!

We stayed at the Marriott and had a nervous moment when they couldn't find our reservation. Catherine Healy had become hesly and they kind of thought maybe there was a hesly that would show up later and what her room. Finally, with Shelly Gardner, founder and CEO of SU standing right there, on the right, the hotel manager thought it might be a good idea to give us a room, and damn fast!

It is always such a thrill to get to talk to Shelly! It's like meeting a movie star!

I have so many cards that I swapped, you need to come over and look at the variety and fabulosity of all these projects. Call me, let's make some cards together!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Bright Green embossing

2011-07-11T20:03:00.000-05:00

The Always stamp set is so lovely, curly, fine, so pretty! I have embossed it with the new green embossing powder from Stampin' Up! A bit of DSP and a strip of scallops, some die cut buttons and a teeny bow of bakers twine = Always lovely!

This is the swap I have made for convention in Salt Lake City this week. There are so many organized swaps and events that I have prepped for. . . I only have about a dozen cards to swap on the general convention floor!

That's ok, I'll have almost 100 swaps from the organized events. I hope you'll make time to stop over and enjoy these swaps when I get home! I'd love to see you, and we'll make plans stamp together in the "new year" of Stampin' Up!

Happy stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Convention Card Candy

2011-07-10T08:34:00.000-05:00

Sunday, Sunday, how sweet this day! I am sharing some Card Candy today, and I'll be physically sharing this card candy when I get to Salt Lake City ~~next~~ this week!

Card Candy is a sheet of elements that can be used on a card. They are pre-made and ready to just drop right onto a card. I signed-up for a Card Candy swap. So I have six sheets prepared with these five elements and stashed in a pretty bag. Then I will meet with the six other stampers who are in the swap and we will trade. So I will come home with their card candy sheets.

What you see here are two die cut borders, one with a punched and embossed butterfly, the other with a fabric layered doohickey. Then there is a five petal punch with a starburst and an oval with a crown on it. Also a cheater bow made with a brad and a tag with a double layered die cut daisy. I hope the other swaps are cute and inspiring, but I also hope mine is "up to snuff!"

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Wisteria Wonder version

2011-07-09T05:30:00.000-05:00

Saturday morning! Gotta love the weekend! The big stamp garage sale is here! Come on over to grab a bag of stamp sets at a great discount!

This card is made featuring the new In-Color Wisteria Wonder. So far, everyone is calling it Wisteria Lane summoning Desperate Housewives images. Not sure the card and the Housewives are in the same image collection, but everyone loves this sweet lavender shade.

Again, the fabric flower is attached to a bobby pin for removal and enjoyment as a hair clip or bookmark.

Gotta run, Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Convention swap

2011-07-06T06:46:00.000-05:00

The production line is in full swing here in the craft room. With convention just a week away, I have been working on cards to swap, cards for a shoebox swap and, let's not forget, the wedding invite project continues.

This pretty in pink creation is for the shoebox swap. Stampin Up has this darling fabric that matches our color collection and DSP (designer series paper). I have sewn 50 yoyos, after cutting the large scallop circle on the Big Shot. The pink daisies are die cut on the Big Shot and the background is stamped in white craft ink using Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set. The black scallop circle is cut using the brand new punch featured in the summer mini catalog.

The big WOW on this card is the fabric flower: it is attached to a bobby pin and can be easily removed to wear in your hair or act as a bookmark. I love this idea! It has been around forever, but I think it makes my swap extra special!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen