You Wonderful Sunflower

Hey hey! I'm up today over at the Clever Dexter Challenge blog with my first card for February. All month, we're working with a theme I love: FAVORITE TECHNIQUE.

 

Once again, the super sweet sponsor, Alex Syberia Design, sent some absolutely awesome digital stamps for us to use month as inspiration. I couldn't pass up this giant sunflower called Hello Summer...it's my actual favorite flower IRL (in real life)  :) This card has a combination of two techniques I love, I hope that's not cheating lol. First: making my own backgrounds using stencils, spray inks, paints...pretty much all mediums. I used two stencils, a few red, yellow, and orange spray inks, a mica powder, and ink blending to create the brick wall background and to color the sunflower.

Second: layering for dimension. This sunflower has all of these luscious petals that I knew would be great to fussy cut some out, pop up the layer with foam adhesive, and layer a duplicate panel behind it.

Check out all of my supplies and colors below.

There's also a prize!

The WINNER this month will receive a $15 Gift Card to be used at her Etsy Shop.

Grand prize winner of 2 digi stamps from our sponsor's Etsy Shop is chosen randomly, so everyone has an equal chance to win! You should definitely get in on the action.

Thanks for stopping by and hope to see your creation in our gallery this month! 

xoxo Deidre

Supplies:

Stencils: Tiny Circles TCW361S, Bricks TCW191S (The Crafters Workshop)

Spray Inks: Hog Wart's Orange, Mango Mania, Pineapple Paradise, Luscious Lime & Drop Dead Gorgeous Green (Lindy's Stamp Gang)

Ink pads: Mustard Seed & Wild Honey Distress Ink, clear Versamark

Mica powder: Mission Bells Brown (Lindy's Stamp Gang)

Stamps: Hello Summer (digi), Lovely Day Sentiments (Reverse Confetti, polymer)

Dream Catching You

Hey hey! I'm up at the Clever Dexter Challenge today. We're keeping the theme going all month: SOMETHING NEW.

Our awesome sponsor, Joy Clair Deigns, has some truly lovely images to use for your cards and craft projects. This dream catcher was too beautiful to pass up. I knew I would be using some watercolors, so I made sure to use my craft iron to really dry and set the ink. I did use a little photo editing to create the center banner by copying and pasting some of the images from the digital stamp along side the sentiment.

TIP: Use the same markers you're using to color your image and color a strip of paper for a perfect match. That's my secret for the 2 green borders around my sentiment :)

Prize from Our Sponsor:

The WINNER this month will receive your choice of 2 Digital Stamp Sets from Joy Clair Designs.

Cleverly Concocted Challenge Rules

The challenge runs from January 1 to January 31

Please read the challenge rules for more details.

Our mandatory theme for this month is SOMETHING NEW (whatever that means to you)

We would love to see you use our OPTIONAL color palette (shown below) but its not mandatory to qualify for our prize.

White, Blue, Yellow, Orange, and Green

Thanks for stopping by and hope to see your creation in our gallery this month! Don't forget to tag us in your Instagram posts so we can check out your awesomeness! #cleverdexter, #cleverdexterchallenge, @cleverdexter

xoxo Deidre

Supplies:

Digital Stamps: Joy Clair Designs Floral Catcher
Copic markers: YR02, YR04, YR07, B00, B02, Y00, Y02, Y06, Y08, G43, G46, Y13, Y15, Y17
Watercolor: Lindy's Stamp - Gang Blue Hawaiian Blue
Sequins: Simon Says Stamp - Assorted Moonshine

Something New with Clever Dexter

Happy New Year!! Exciting news to kick off 2022... I'm rejoining the crafty team at Clever Dexter Challenge as a DT member. Hold on to your seats for some awesome digi stamp creations and design tips. 

First up is a sweet Valentine's Day design in a different color palette. I want to thank Joy Clair Designs for the digi stamps this month.

This card is total proof that you don't need fancy or expensive craft supplies to have fun creating cards! I made this card while traveling and using only a handful of supplies. After digging through my mom's supplies, I found some burlap, a yellow colored pencil,  and some Crayola markers (which were partially dried out by the way LOL). I did get a chance to take a quick shopping trip to the https://www.facebook.com/enchantedcottagencEnchanted Cottage- A Papercrafting Boutique in Lewisville, NC and meet the lovely owner and shell out some moolah on some new supplies and this black Valentine's and yellow polka dot decorative paper :) PSA- Support Small Businesses ❤

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

Cleverly Concocted Challenge Rules 

WHEN: The challenge runs from January 1 to January 31

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

WHAT: Our theme for January is SOMETHING NEW

Our OPTIONAL color palette is White, Blue,  Yellow, Orange, and Green

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo Deidre :)

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)