Spring Swap #6

Have you ever used the 70 - 20 - 10 theory when stamping? 70% of the card is the main color, 20% is the secondary color and 10% is a pop of complementary shade.  I think this card from Joyce is a great example. The majority of the card is Whisper White, then the flowers and DSP and sentiment bring us the secondary color, with just a pop of color as the layer and dots in the DSP. Great composition!

She must have done the stamping and embossing ahead of time for everyone at the shoebox swap, because no one brought a Big Shot this year. Every card was a 10 minute card, while they were all fabulous, the participants did enough preparation so the card could be completed quickly. Fantastic!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Spring Swap #5

Happy  Memorial Day! Please remember those who have served and protected our freedom.

We had a great time last weekend at the Spring Shoebox Swap! Carole brought this lovely card, perfect for any occasion.  I love how the Chocolate Chip cardstock provides a frame for the flowers. Doesn't it look like art on the wall? Great card!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Spring Swap #4

What a sweet card! Terry brought this card, and I have to thank HER!  Not only did she bring us a darling thank you note, but she filled in at the last minute for a participant who had to drop out.

We have exactly 4 hours in the room we rent for the Shoebox Swap. We have had as many as 28 people attend, and have found that it is too hard to complete 28 cards in 4 hours.

This Spring, we had 21 stampers, which comes to exactly 12 minutes per card, which was more than enough time to complete every one of them.

Terry is Gina's Mom, and she was so kind to jump in at the last minute to join us.

Whooo, was it HOT here yesterday! Should be another gorgeous day today. My friends are coming this afternoon for a few hands of Mah Jongg. Wouldn't it be nice if we could play outside on the patio?

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Spring Swap #3

Fabulous birthday card, by Gina. Just the color combination tells me that it would be great for a masculine birthday, but it could be for a boy or a man, right? Not too fussy in the ribbon & bow department, and the sentiment works for young or old.

Great option to keep in the card stash for one of those times when a birthday sneaks up on us and catches us unprepared.

It is another gorgeous day in Chicago! I was already in the basement/laundry room/sewing center this morning. The washer is running, the dryer is running, the clothes line is full and my convention roomie gifts are half done. (That's the sewing project.)

Stampin' Up! offers such gorgeous fabrics that coordinate perfectly with our DSP and colors. My roomies are going to LOVE their fabric gifts. . . at least I hope so!  If you want a hint, you can visit this nice lady from England to see what inspired me: http://stampin-n-stuff.blogspot.com/2012/05/retreat-2012.html

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Spring Swap #2

Gorgeous card, right? When you join Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator, you are welcomed into a family of stampers. Laura and I are part of the same family in SU and I couldn't be happier to know her. She is a funny sweet young professional and her cards are exquisite. Always perfectly designed and beautifully constructed.

This one features the doily die for the Big Shot. Every card ought to feature this doily, it totally "makes" a card, with the lovely detailed color and texture it adds.

Thanks to Laura for bringing this card to the swap and letting us all try it, I hope you are intrigued enough to order your own or at least stop over to try my die on the Big Shot!

The weather here in the Chicago area is looking absolutely gorgeous for today. I'm hoping to get out into the sunshine, meet a friend for lunch and maybe hang some clothes on the line in the back yard. Oh, and get into the stamp room to work on pricing retiring products for the garage sale. . . Sat June 9 at 9 am. Join us!

Happy Stamping,
Dee Tollaksen

Spring Swap #1

Saturday was the annual Spring Shoebox Swap I host with my BFF Catherine. We have a blast, with a room full of stamping divas!

For the next couple weeks I'll be sharing the cards every lady brought, in no particular order. I hope you enjoy them. Every one of them is a winner!

This card is from Siobhan (pronounced She-von) and features Summer Smooches DSP. Siobhan was a first-time swapper and I think she did a great job!

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen

Sampler -- Get it all!

You may have to use your imagination, but I have an offer for you.  The new Stampin' Up! catalog is out and available, just let me know you need one and I'll be happy to get it to you.

We have 14 new DSP (designer series paper) offerings. I love to have a swatch book of EVERY DSP. Shown here is the 2011-2012 version. I want a new one! Are you with me? For just $13 ($2 more to mail it to you, if needed) I will provide a 3"x4" swatch of every DSP, a label with the name, catalog # and coordinating colors, card stock separators and all hole punched.

While I believe this is most useful for demonstrators, maybe you just want to own 'em all! If you prefer a larger sample of each DSP with or without the hole punch and labels, just let me know, that can be arranged!

Please email me at dtollaksen at wideopenwest dot com if you are interested. I will only order one pack of every DSP for this project, so there is a limited number of swatch books available.

Happy Stamping!
Dee Tollaksen