Gnomebody Loves You Like I Do

Hey hey! It's almost the end of May. I'm sharing another creation at the Clever Dexter Challenge blog as we wind down our May "Celebration" theme.

First of all, I have to give a big shoutout to AlexSyberiaDesign for the digi stamps this month. I plucked this little gnome out of a whole row of them in her "Valentine Gnome" digi. Her designs are fun, playful, pretty, you name it! Be sure to check out her Etsy shop.

The business of this card :) If you read my previous tip, you'll know I always...yep always...print 2 copies of my digi stamps. This way I can create my background, do any doodling, inking, spraying, whatevs all over it and not have to worry about masking or staying inside the lines. I use the 2nd copy to color, fussy cut, and pop dot onto the card to create some dimension.

I stenciled the background with a sunray design using a yellow and orangish ink for our yellow & marigold color palette this month. I sponged on the kisses, xoxo, and love the same way, then traced them with a black pen. All that was left, was to water color the gnomie and jazz up his glasses with some silver embossing powder. I created the sentiment myself - I had to have a gnome pun! :)

Ok, now it's your turn! See the deets below and join us!

Cleverly Concocted Challenge Rules 

WHEN: The challenge runs from May 1 to May 31

WHERE: Use the link-up at the bottom of our May 1st post to upload your entries

WHAT: Our mandatory theme for May is CELEBRATION

Our OPTIONAL color palette is Purple Rose, Pink Pirouette, Coral, Yellow, Marigold

Thanks for stopping by!

Deidre :)

My Lucky Stars with Clever Dexter

Happy Sunday crafties! I'm up on the Clever Dexter Challenge blog with the theme JUST BECAUSE and optional color combo of: blue, pink, red, dark red, & white. 

I have totally loved playing with CasettaSullalbero digital stamps! This is my second creation this month...and the month is almost over....wowsers!

I love being able to take a digi stamp and switch up the ethnicity a little by using fabulous Copic skin tone colors (usually they resemble my own) and adding textures of coils to the hair. You can see my transformation of "Alice" below :)

I also did a little "digital stamping" with the image to create some extra toadstools. For my background, I did some watercolor smooshing with blue, pink, and green spray inks then layered a diecut star background on top. All of my supplies are listed below :)

I hope you give it a try!

We can't wait to see your challenge projects. It might be cards, a scrapbook layout, home decor, tags, journals, notebooks, bookmarks, and more! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Deidre

Clever Dexter Challenge #14

February 2021

THEME -  Just Because (whatever that means to you)

OPTIONAL COLOR PALETTE -  Red, Pink, Blue, White, and Dark Red (optional)

SPONSOR -  CasettaSullalbero 

Copics & Inks

Pinks: RV34, RV17, RV66 (strange mix LOL, but it worked!)

Blues: B24, B28

Reds: R24, R29, R59

Skin: E11, E13, E15 (my favorite go-to)

Eyes: E23, E25, E27

Hair: Multiliner SP 0.35 Black, BV25, C9

Mushroom shadows: C1, C3, C5

Lindy's Stamp Gang Flat Fabio sprays: Caribbean Blue, Hibiscus Rose, Luscious Lime

Dies & Stamps

Simon Says Stamp! Stacked Stars die

Hero Arts CL582 (Year Round Sentiment)

Happy NOT Valentine's Day with Clever Dexter

Let's just get right to it today :) This bunny and his sign were the perfect images for me to play with!

I passed on celebrating Valentine's Day way back in the 9th grade and have kept up my tradition..even though other people tend to ignore my preference LOL.

We're doing some pretty creative crafting at the Clever Dexter challenge this month. 

I have the pleasure of sharing my creation using a funny, snarky little bunny named Bunny Valentine from the digital stamp collection by CasettaSullalbero.

If you want to see how I took this single bunny and made him a couple, check out my video on YouTube below.

 

Be sure to pop in, create a lil something, and share with us in the gallery! You have until the end of the month. Thanks for stopping by!

Clever Dexter Challenge #14
February 2021

THEME -  Just Because (whatever that means to you)

OPTIONAL COLOR PALETTE -  Red, Pink, Blue, White, and Dark Red (optional)
SPONSOR -  CasettaSullalbero 

xoxo Deidre

Copics

Pink Bunny: R81, R83, R85, RV10, RV13

Sign: R24, R29, R37

Blue Bunny: B91, B93, B95, B29, B66

Multiliner SP 0.35 Black

Dies

Impression Obsession DIE060-I (grass)

Recollections Card and Mat Confetti 542702 (heart background & hearts)

 

Love Mail at CASology

If you enjoy gathering up stacks of your pretty, handmade cards and making that trip to the post office,  then you're in luck. We're celebrating snail mail for our newest CASology challenge! 

I was super excited when I saw this challenge cue card because I knew exactly which stamp I was going to highlight! It's the Letters background stamp by Create A Smile stamps (that I was hoarding in my stash LOL). I only stamped it on one side of the card, then heated embossed in black. I triple die cut the "love" sentiment in a cherry red cardstock to give the card a little dimension. I loosely watercolored a few of the envelopes using Twisted Citron and Peacock Feathers Distress Ink.

A few little hearts from ?who knows what stamp set LOL and it's all done! This color combo really brought my little idea to life. What kind of envelope stamps or dies or even origami can you use to join us at the challenge blog? We love seeing your interpretations!

And don't forget to say hi to our Guest Designer -  Rahmat

I'm also playing along with the (sad to say) last CAS(E) this Sketch challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo Deidre

KINDNESS and Some Digi Stamping at Clever Dexter

Hey hey and happy Satur-yay! We're heading into the last week of our January Clever Dexter challenge. Our theme is KINDNESS challenge with an optional color combo of: white, blue, green, purple, and yellow.

I have totally loved playing with these AlexSyberiaDesign digital stamps. You may also see them go by "digi stamps" - it's the cool kids lingo :)

These florals are so pretty! I wanted them to drift across the front of my card, so I did a little layering in my fave editing software that I bought years ago, that still works just fine. 

Disclaimer - I totally ADORE every single digi that I use! My editing is simply to create a card with the look I'm going for...Not to sell or claim the new image as my own. Please think copyrights and kindness for the super talented artists who share their gifts with us!

You can check out a quick how-to at the Clever Dexter blog or watch the video below on how I "stamp and fussy cut" my digi stamps.

Clearly, I'm a Copic marker fan(atic LOL). I went for more muted tones of our color palette...or at least muted for me. 

I hope you give it a try!

We can't wait to see your challenge projects. It might be cards, scrapbook layout, home decor, tags, journals, notebooks, bookmarks, and more! AlexSyberiaDesign will be giving away a $15 Gift Card for this challenge to her Etsy Shop.

Copic Markers

Blue: B00, B21, B91, B93

Green: G12, G40, G46, YG67

Purple: BV08, BV20, BV23, BV25

Yellow: Y00, Y17, Y21, Y23, Y26

 Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo Deidre

 

UNITEd We Stand - a CASology Challenge

Hey hey! Crazy 19 days of 2021 or nah?! Lol. Either way, I hope you can find some time to join us at CASology for the next 2 weeks. We have a heartfelt theme (and sooo timely) to play along with:

This stamp set is a must have...here's the story:

In June 2020, 12 stamp companies in The Stamping Village, pledged to create a collaborative stamp set, We Stand with You Stamp Set, in support of racial justice. This inspiring stamp set features images that symbolize unity, friendship, and community, as well as lots of motivational quotes by well-known activists.

This set includes one 6" x 8" clear stamp set containing 28 stamps made in the USA from high-quality photopolymer.

Sentiments: This set includes fifteen motivational sentiments to inspire us to stand together:

• we are better together
• you are beautifully and wonderfully made
• the time is always right to do what is right
• you matter to me
• we are all one
• "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." -Martin Luther King Jr.
• choose
• kindness
• "Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean." -Ryunosuke Satoro
• "May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears." -Nelson Mandela
• the hand of friendship has no color
• stick with love
• be the
• change
• you wish to see

**As part of a pledge by The Stamping Village to donate $10,000 for racial justice, $5.00 from every We Stand with You stamp set sold will be donated to the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund.

So tell me again why you shouldn't buy this stamp set!

I used 9 Distress Oxide inks for the rainbow color effect of the hands: Candied Apple, Crackling Campfire, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn, Mermaid Lagoon, Faded Jeans, Wilted Violet, and Picked Raspberry :)

I outlined all of the hands with my favorite tracing pens (Faber-Castell PITT artist pens). Oh, that stenciled heart and circle is from a forever ago stash stencil of which I have no idea of the name lol.

Pop in to see the other DT card images and our crafty guest designer for this challenge!

I hope you UNITE in our efforts to get some quality "me time" to play along and link up in our gallery.

Guest Designer: Tracy

I'm also joining at CAS(E) this Sketch

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo Deidre

Kick it off with KINDNESS - Clever Dexter Challenge

We made it!! Happy New Year 2021 to everyone! I know there were such heavy burdens to carry this past year. As we go into the new year, the Clever Dexter Challenge has the perfect theme : KINDNESS. Our (optional) color palette is White, Blue, Yellow, Purple, and Green.

I created this card using a lovely floral digi stamp from our creative sponsor AlexSyberiaDesign.  You should really check out her Etsy shop! I can't wait to craft more with her designs this month. She's also offering a $15 gift card to her shop for this month's winner!

As usual, I jumped right in with my Copic markers. I wanted to add some dimension to the card, so I fussy cut around the flowers and mounted in on some foam adhesive, just slightly askew from where I cut it so the cool green wood grain paper would peek through. I added some sparkle (ummm it is New Year's lol) with some Stickles.

Ohhh, and by the way...I accepted an offical DT member spot with the rock star creative ladies at the Clever Dexter Challenge. Be sure to check me out each month on the 23rd (happens to be my birthdate). Thanks for all of your support!

I'm also joining at the Colour Crazy Challenge.

Copic markers

Blue: B24, B28

Yellow: Y00, Y06, Y15

Purple: BV00, BV02, BV04

Green: G12, YG17, G46

Stickles: Yellow, Star Dust

xoxo Deidre

Tofurkey Love at the Clever Dexter Challenge

 Hi crafty friends! I'm guest designing over at the Clever Dexter Challenge blog and hosting a reminder post for the November challenge. I hope you squeeze in a little time to play along while enjoying your turkey, tofurkey, or any other goodies.

My card is made with a super duper cute digi stamp from our fab sponsor Oddball Stamps. His name is Ted the Sweetest Turkey and don't you agree he's perfectly named! I also added cloud digis from her digital stamp shop too named Patterned Clouds and Hearts.

I was of course inspired by the red, orange, and gourds for the challenge. Staying true to my Copic love with digi stamps, I used a ton of colors and I'm in love with the combos. 

Turkey: Y21, Y23, YR24

Feathers: E25, E27, E29

Pumpkins: YR02, YR04, YR09, E35

Stems: YG63, YG95, YG97

Blank cloud: E08, E09

Heart: R37, R59

Okay, moment of truth...I never plan my backgrounds in advance. I let the colors, focal points, and layout of my images talk to me :) This background is made with some cool copper and gold embossing powder and a Tim Holtz background stamp. You can check out the shine on my Instagram page!

P.S. - I'm a vegetarian, so this one is special to me :) Thank you Oddball Stamps!!

Our grand prize is drawn at random, so play along. You have the chance to win a $10 virtual gift card from Oddball Stamps.

Thanks for stopping by!

If you'd like to see more of my creations, pop into my blog or Instagram page!

Have a safe, healthy, and happy Tofurkey Day!

I'm also sharing at Colour Crazy Craft Challenge

:) Deidre

What's a STAG by Any Other Name at CASology

Hey hey! I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy during these times! At CASology, we're doing some crafting to keep us busy and our creative juices flowing. I'm sharing my mid-challenge post with the cue card. You still have a week to join us!

For my card, I used a reindeer stamp from Purple Onion Designs and sentiments from The Alley Way Stamps. I l-o-v-e how this little guy turned out with some Copic coloring. I reached for a different set of browns from my norm and they were a winner (see list below)! What do you think??

Don't forget to jingle all the way over to the DT member blogs to check out their creations!

And don't forget to play along...make a quick CAS (clean and simple) card, snap a photo, link up below. You can join from Facebook, Instagram, Flickr, your personal blog...anywhere :)

There's a prize for this challenge's winner, provided by the awesome STAMPlorations!

SPOILER ALERT - there are COUPON codes at the CASology blog 

I'm also joining at Inspired By...#IB150 and CAS(E) this sketch! #398

 

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo Deidre

Copic markers:

Reindeer: E21, E23, E25, E27

Scarf: R24, R29, R85

Bells: YR24

Hooves & Antlers: C5, C7, C9

Gourds Galore and a VOTE Inspiration

I'm loving guest designing at the Clever Dexter Challenge! This month the cue is Gourds Galore and some great color options. I was provided a super cool digital stamp from Oddball Stamps and I hope you love my card :)

I was inspired by sooooo much; the colors of the pumpkins, the digi stamp, and even current events.

The digital stamp by Oddball Stamps is Bad Girl Carmen and I love it! If you have not tried out digis, they're amazing...seriously, for real :)

As you can see, I switched up the logo on her hoodie and gave her hair that is representative of an ethnic texture. There was a bunch of Copics used here:

Greens: YG00, YG01, YG06, YG23, YG67

Reds: R14, R29, R89

Oranges: YR02, YR07, YR18, Y28

Blues: B95, B97, B99

Grays: C1, C3, C5, C7, C9

Skin: E11, E13, E15, E17

Blush: R83

Hair: C5, C7, C9

For the background, I used some spray inks, stencils, embossing powder sprinkled on top of a metallic embossing paste, ink blending, and markers. I printed the quote and colored the strip of paper with the same Copics and adhered it to ground the card.

I really hope you misbehave a little and get crafty, inky, messy, and creative with us for the challenge this month. By the way, the awesome Oddball Stamps is sponsoring this month, so there's another chance to win!

Thanks for stopping by and hope to see you in the gallery...you have all month :)

xoxo, Deidre