Zero Stamping Christmas Card with Polkadoodles and Clever Dexter

I've had the chance to be a guest designer this month over at the Clever Dexter Challenge blog. It's been awesome using some of Polkadoodles winter and holiday digital stamps! For this card, I did ZERO, yep ZERO stamping :) Check it out below.

I used a technique called "paper piecing" where you use different decorative papers (or plain) for different parts of your images and glue them down.

I picked out the little girl's hat, the mistletoe and berries, and the bear's scarf as my focal points. I printed the image 4 times, twice on white paper - one for the actual design and the other to color for the mistletoe and berries, and then two more times on the decorative paper I was using. After doing all of my coloring, I glued those fussy-cut pieces into place. 

With lots of coloring, tracing with a fine tip black pen to make the lines pop, and fussy cutting, I created a card I'm really happy to gift this Christmas. 

Craft Design Tips: Don't be overwhelmed with lots of small images. Pick out some focal points and give lots of color and interest to those. And don't be afraid to add some personality! I believe representation matters, so my little fairy is curly-haired and brown-skinned :)

You can join the fun and maybe win a prize at the challenge blog!

This Month's Theme Challenge is:

EVERYTHING HOLIDAY

  With our Optional Color Palette:

Red, Green, White, Blue, Gold

Thanks for stopping by!

 xoxo Deidre

Out of This World with Clever Dexter

Hey Clever Dexter crafties! I'm wrapping up my month of designs today at Clever Dexter Challenge using that fun little astronaut and rocketship. You have to be a lunar-tic to not like these digital images from our amazing sponsor - La Casetta Di Chicca! Did you get the pun there LOL; a friend helped me with it :)

The trio of stencils I used along with the color combo (some I snagged directly from our optional color palette this month) made a crazy cool background! It kind of reminds me of the Matrix, just not in black and green :)

Don't forget the theme this month is: Use a Stencil

We want you to join us! Check out how to play along below and be sure to share in the gallery before August 31st. I can't wait to see what you create!

Cleverly Concocted Challenge Rules

1. The challenge runs from August 1st to August 31st
2. Please read the challenge rules for more details.
3. Our mandatory theme for this month is USE A STENCIL.
4. We would love to see you use our OPTIONAL color palette White, Navy, Dusty Blue, Fuchsia, Sand, but its not mandatory to qualify for our prize.
5. Have fun creating & use the link up below to enter your creation!!!

PRIZE FROM OUR SPONSOR

2 Digital Stamps from La Casetta Di Chicca

Check out the stencils, Copic markers, and ink colors I used for this card below and swing by my Instagram page for closer looks. Thanks for stopping by! 

Deidre :)

Copics & Inks

Spaceship: C9, C7, C5, C3, C1, R17, R29, R59, BG000, B00, B02

Astronaut:  C5, C3, C1, R29, R59, B93, B95, B97, B99

Background: Blueprint Sketch, Fired Brick, Mustard Seed Distress Inks

Stamps & Stencils

Hero Arts: CL773 Shoot for the Moon

Crafters Workshop stencil: TCW259S Chicken Wire Reversed, TCW486S Labyrinth

Alexndra Renke stencil: Bubbles

To the Moon with Clever Dexter

Is it me, or has there been a lot of space talk in the news lately? It's easy to see why we'd like to get away from our planet :) 

I'm guest designing again today at the Clever Dexter blog using another cool image from an amazing sponsor - La Casetta Di Chicca. I had a blast (pun intended LOL) making this card!

I thought it would be cool pop this little guy inside the rocket. Using some photo editing software to combine the images, our adventurous astronaut is waving to say hi!

The galaxy background is watercolored with some of my favorite super pigmented watercolors; the yellow stars are stenciled on and heat embossed; and the black stars and hints of galaxy flashes are stenciled in black. Check out all of my supplies below.

In case you didn't guess, the theme for the month is: Use a Stencil :)

Check out how to play along below and be sure to share in the gallery before August 31st. 

I can't wait to see what you create!

Cleverly Concocted Challenge Rules

1. The challenge runs from August 1st to August 31st
2. Please read the challenge rules for more details.
3. Our mandatory theme for this month is USE A STENCIL.
4. We would love to see you use our OPTIONAL color palette White, Navy, Dusty Blue, Fuchsia, Sand, but its not mandatory to qualify for our prize.
5. Have fun creating & use the link up below to enter your creation!!!

PRIZE FROM OUR SPONSOR

2 Digital Stamps from Oddball Stamps

You can pop over to my Instagram page for closer looks. Thanks for stopping by! 

Deidre :)

Copics & Inks

Spaceship: C9, C7, C5, C3, C1, Y17, Y08, Y02

Astronaut: R29, R59, B29, B24

Galaxy: Dr. Ph. Martin's Carbon Black, Cobalt Violet, Ultramine

Versamark/Versafine Onyx Black ink

Embossing Powder

Ranger: Wendy Vecchi Buttercup

Stamps & Stencils

Hero Arts: CL773 Shoot for the Moon

Crafters Workshop stencil: TCW454S Specimens

Star stencil (unknown brand)

 

Favorite Technique and Oddball Art Co at Clever Dexter

Hey hey! It's almost the end of June.  I'm sharing my last creation as a part of the fabulous DT at the Clever Dexter Challenge blog as we wind down our June "Favorite Technique" theme.

Another awesome thanks to Oddball Art Co. for the digi stamps this month! This hungry little worm, apple, and pencil digis come from CCC #17 Back to School. I used a little photo editing to stretch out the pencil and flip the orientation of my apple.

My favorite technique is layering stamps and stencils with spray inks, stains, paints, and emobssing powders to creating real interest. Here I used a starry background stamp with some white embossing powder. Then I layered two different letter and number stencils with orange and peach stains and inks. 

I colored the entire image with Copic markers. You can check out the colors below. I love how bright and cheery our colors are this month! 

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

Cleverly Concocted Challenge Rules

1. The challenge runs from June 1st to June 30th
2. Please read the challenge rules for more details.
3. Our mandatory theme for this month is Favorite Technique.
4. We would love to see you use our OPTIONAL color palette Yellow, Orange, Peach, Tangerine & Gold but its not mandatory to qualify for our prize.
5. Have fun creating & use the link up below to enter your creation!!!

Prize from Our Sponsor

$10 Virtual Gift Card from Oddball Stamps

Thanks for stopping by!

Deidre :)

Copics:

Apple: Y00, Y06, Y15

Caramel: Y23, YR14, YR24

Stem: E55, E57, E59

Leaf & Worm: G40, G43, G46, B24

Pencil: YR02, YR04, YR07, E21, E23

Eraser: R14, R29, C3, C5, C7

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