A Cracking Torso by Annette Goatley (nettyscraftings)

Hi, this is another first for me................altering a Torso.........oooh am having so much fun this month.

First I used Black Gesso to cover the Torso, then painted it with Viva Crackling Bronze keeping it fairly smooth.  Let it dry and then sculptured the Crackling Bronze to create texture and design.  After it was dry  I rubbed Inka Gold Copper over some of it.

Showing the back of the Torso so you can see the detail.  I am very pleased with the overall look of this piece as it looks so different to how it started out.  Even my husband likes it and thats got to be a first........lol
Take care, hugs Annette x

Alteroid by Samantha Read

Well I'm still going strong with the current theme and trying new things by altering empty Altoid tins! My first was a couple of weeks ago, it's now another new addiction!

They are a great size to work with similar to ATC size, with the added bonus that when you heat the tin with a heat gun to dry paint etc, a yummy minty smell fills the room.

I couldn't help but reach for my favourite stamp, the ubiquitous Moon Girl, after all tins help you keep important things in mint condition!

I think this would make a lovely gift for a friend. 

Items I used:

Stampotique Moon Girl

Stampotique Floral Flutter

Ideaology Hanger Clip

Claudine Hellmuth Stuido Paints: Painterly Pink, Traditional Tan, Sky Blue, Landscape Green and Purple Palette

I do hope you like my creation and thank you for taking the time to look, wishing you a lovely day, Sam xxx

* Just one word of warning, Altoids contain Pork gelatin so are not veggie friendly!

A "nod" to the 1930's by Ruth

It's been a busy week for me this week..suitcases to pack, vintage shops to scour for accessories and ........three hats to make for our costumes.

I am off to a 1920's/1930's weekend of fashion parades, car displays, bathing belles and picnics on the beach. All set in the glorious blue sunshine of an Art Deco town in New Zealand.

My day dress or tea dress as they called them in the 1940's needed a hat. I found this one on my travels, it was very 1980's so I bent the brim down to make it like a cloche hat and added a selection of trims and lace and ribbon.

 Happy Daze have a beautiful array of trims and "Guipre" lace that you could use for your own Downton Abbey moment!!

My next project was to alter a hair slide to wear with my flapper dress.

I used gold embroidered flower lace as the base and added a feather and some very old vintage buttons you could use some of the lovely Parisian Anthology Brooch brads for a colourful effect.

Don't fancy making a full sized milinery creation?
 Then why not have a go at the miniature collection of alterable hats  found on the left hand side of the shop products list under "milinery".

Bon Voyage
Ruth xxx

Imagine... altered wooden box by Julie Dandy

This week I have altered one of THESE little wooden boxes with Mady Scrolls Work stamp image.

I started by painting the box with a light green acrylic paint and when dry painted over areas of it with crackle glaze. When the crackle was dry I painted over them roughly with white paint - I didn't want to obliterate the green just make it look shabby.

I highlighted the edges with Inka Gold in ROSE .

I stamped the image in coffee archival ink on to a piece of tissue paper and then glued it on to the lid with Claudines matte medium and then coated the whole box with it to give it a protective coat.
I added some torn pieces of TH tissue tape to the top and sides of the box.

I used Glitz stickers for the word "Imagine" inspired by the tissue tape.

I finished it off with a piece of ribbon and buttons glued on with the matte medium and tied a piece of ribbon around the box in a bow.
Scrolls Work stamps are no longer in production so if you would like any I wouldn't wait to long as when they are gone Moira won't be able to restock them.

Don't forget about this months challenge is to try or to use something new. All the details of the challenge and how to enter can be seen here.

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

hidden message card by Joanne Wardle

Continuing the "try something new" theme for the Happy Daze challenge, I thought that sometimes the easiest way to give something new a try is to copy something you've seen in a magazine.

I'm cheating a little here as I'm copying my own idea from my article in this month's Craft Stamper Magazine, which used Stampotique Stamps available from Happy Daze.

The card is a tent fold card with a gap at the top to hold a strip of card.
I used the wonderful moon girl, as well as Daisy Daisy, hearts Cubed and Each life, all of which are available from Happy Daze.

The instructions are in this month's craft stamper, which you can also get from Happy Daze

Altered Domino By Carol Fox

I have been experimenting for a magazine article and this is one of the little pieces that I was playing with while trying a few things out.
It's a little Domino Fridge Magnet. I have used new things on it so it does kind of fit in with the challenge theme for this month.,
The stamping is done with Teesha Moore Rubber stamps, I am so pleased that Moira has started to stock these as there was no UK stockist before and I always had to order from the US and they would seem to take ages to come.
I have used the little legs stamp and then masked them off to stamp the swirl for the background. Its coloured in with Alcohol inks and then given a coat of glossy accents which has sealed all the charms in place.
For full details of the challenge this month and how to upload your imaged have a look at the original blog post here.

Chunky Wooden ATC, Trying Something New By Carol Fox

I have fancied trying one of these ever since I first saw one a couple of years ago. They now seem to be everywhere so I figured it was time to actually getting around to doing one.
The wooden blocks are ATC sized 2.5 x 3.5 inches, they vary from the normal ATC in that they are wooden and 1.5 inches deep.
I have altered this one in a steampunk style. I covered all the sides apart from the front in Ten Second Studio Metal. I had first run this through my big shot using a cuttle bug steampunk plate, I then lightly sanded the texture to give it an aged appearance and to highlight the pattern. I stuck this to the block with The Crafters Pick Ulitmate Glue , this is the perfect glue for this as it just seems to fuse the metal to the wood.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                                                 

The propeller goes round as it is fixed in place with a screw, these are in the shop but at the moment they are sadly  out of stock .

The large knob on the top is from an old chest of draws that I got out of a skip for all the lovely hardware on it, this is lovely and aged with a great natural green patina finish. The lotto number is from an old set I picked up in a 2nd hand shop.

All the Tim Holtz Gears and spinners are available in the shop as are the other various charms and all the inks I have used.

The challenge this month to try something new or to use something new. All the details of the challenge and how to enter can be seen here.

' Grace in Simplicity ' by Annette Goatley

Hi, I bought a Wooden Arch from Happy Daze and altered it, never done one of these before but I have to say its great fun.  The theme for the Arch is based on a quote from Ben Jonson........"Give me a look, give me a face, That makes simplicity a grace"

Products used: Viva Crackling White and Bronze, Texture Paste, Claudia Hellmuth Studio Matt Medium, Acrylic Paints.
Stamps by:  Stampotique and Lost Coast Designs.

Thought you might like to see some close ups.
Have a great week and take care, Annette x

More Leonardo By Samantha Read

Totally inspired by Paula's fab Mona Lisa creation in Tuesday's post and the constant thinking of Leonardo Da Vinci, here's my design piece for today. It's keeping in with the challenge theme 'Something new for the New Year' because the Mona Lisa stamp is new!

The background Thistle Stamp always makes me think of Leonardos' Vitruvian Man, you know the one, you do! Mona Lisa was stamped on tissue paper and then pva'd to the little canvas which had been painted landscape green.

The thistle then reminded me of a halo and personally I think behind that demure smile Mona Lisa may not have been the angel we think . . . I then added some lace to give the piece a little more dimension and a cheeky flower for the lady! 

I'm also going to share a postcard I created for a swap using Mona Lisa again but also some other Lost Coast Stamps...

... 3 Birds, Border Bingo and Border Tape Measure. Also Long Splatter is there somewhere!  

Thanks for looking, wishing you a lovely day, Sam xxx

A new way to make an old book cover by Ruth

My love affair with everything Art Deco has never faltered since my teens so you imagine my joy when these gorgeous papers arrived. I had plans for one page but when you purchase a Websters pack you always get two, so today I have used both papers on different projects. 

As the theme of this months challenge is "try something new".....I have used my "NEW" sewing machine and made a fabric book cover. I was inspired by the cover of a new craft magazine on the market...but in my haste I forgot to add the handles...duh!!

I used cotton calico and cut the material to fit the opened book with a generous 4cm selvedge. The second piece is the same size as the first but cut in half and turned in to neaten the inside edges. Pin to the outside edges and stitch along all the raw sides. Turn inside out to create the flaps and sew down/neaten the edge of the top and bottom that show on the spine.

Spray with pastel colour sprays.....oh such fun!!

I added (stitched) a luxurious silver trim to the spine Embroidered Lace it's 7cm wide and so stunning that I have been hanging onto it for too long!!

Leave to dry and slip the book inside and decorate with Websters Pages Hollywood Vogue paper. and Fabric Ribbon.

I love how versatile the calico is and so much quicker to make and spray than using paper and creating envelope corners and waiting for glue to dry.

(I think I am going to leave the fancy cover behind and just take my sketch book to New Zealand then add photos on my return and pop the cover back on it).

Tip: You can cover recipe books, vintage books, diaries, sketch books etc to make lovely gifts.

Websters 12x12 number 2!

This layout is my sister wearing a necklace as a flapper headpiece.....the whole family get dressed up 1920's style once a year along with about six thousand locals and tourists.

I cut the patterned paper using a template and glued it onto the black 12x12. The edges are dotted with liquid pearls to represent flapper necklaces. A doiley, stickers, wooden Kaisercraft fence, some journelling notes and ephemera complete the page. 

This year it's my turn to dress up..camera check, diary check, flapper dress check!!

A quick reminder about the current Happy Daze Challenge which is Try Something New for the New Year.

 It could be a new technique you have recently discovered or some new stash you can't wait to to use. There is still plenty of time to enter. One lucky winner will be drawn at random to win a  £15 voucher and free P&P to spend in the Happy Daze shop.

 Maximum of 3 entries per person & you must use at least one product which can be purchased in the Happy Daze shop. 

• You can enter by blogging your address to the linky widget here, 
• emailing your picture to info@happy-daze.net
• uploading your photo to their facebook page

Leonardo Lovelies!

Hoping to see the Leonardo Da Vinci Exhibtion at the National gallery soon, in the meantime I have satisfied my craving for all things Da Vinci, by making this little shrine. I used the little wooden arch which I gessoed and painted in matt emulsion. Then using black archival ink I stamped the Lost Coast designs Mona Lisa and Door and Window set. The other lovely lady is from my collection. I used inktense pencils to paint the images and background. Finishing with a touch of Inka gold in copper.

A quick reminder about the current Happy Daze Challenge which is Try Something New for the New Year. It could be a new technique you have recently discovered or some new stash you can't wait to to use. There is still plenty of time to enter. One lucky winner will be drawn at random to win a  £15 voucher and free P&P to spend in the Happy Daze shop. Maximum of 3 entries per person & you must use at least one product which can be purchased in the Happy Daze shop.

• You can enter by blogging you address to the linky widget here, 
• emailing your picture to info@happy-daze.net
• uploading your photo to their facebook page

Mixed Media - ' Dance ' by Annette Goatley (nettyscraftings)

Hi, have been longing to show you my Mixed Media Piece.

The stamp is by Lost Coast Designs (available at Happy Daze) the background has been triple embossed plus Viva Croco Bronze added.  The left hand dancer has been stamped and embossed and the multicoloured dancers were stamped on the back of an old tissue box, cut out and placed.

I love the whole effect of this piece.  Hope you like it as well.
Take care and have a good week, Hugs Annette x

something new by Joanne Wardle

The challenge theme here at Happy Daze this month is "something new"
I saw this technique on Pinterest recently and knew I had to try it.

It's so quick and easy, yet I think it's really effective. Just stamp, cut some detail with a craft knife and then just tear!

The stamp is from Jo Capper-Sandon's range at Stampotique.

Polymer clay pendants by Julie Dandy

Hi everyone and Happy New Year :D
For my NEW technique this week I coloured white polymer clay using perfect pearls pigment powders.
I used white clay and manipulated it until it was nice and soft. I put my perfect pearls on a piece of clingfilm and squished the clay in to it, then neaded it in.
Polymer clay is much softer than it used to be so is much easier to get to a workable texture.

I added in some clear glitter to see how that would look baked, you can't really see it though on the front of the piece, but I rather like how the back turned out with the crinkles from the clingfilm :DIt could quite easily be made in to a reversible piece by adding detail to the back (which I have just thought of now by the way LOL ).

While the clay was still unbaked I cut it in to the shape, made my hanging holes, then pressed my butterfly stamp in to it.

I baked it according to the manufacturers instructions and left it to cool.

Once cooled I added alcohol inks, I started with greens and blues all over but didn't feel the text stood out enough, so I covered it in black soot.
I then removed the excess by wiping over the surface with a paper towel with a little bit of blending solution on leaving behind the ink in the stamped image.
I added a little bit of perfect pearls to the butterfly.
When everything was dry I coated it with layers of Lisa Pavelka resin.

I tried a couple of other pieces some succesful, others not.
This is the same blue as my main piece but I added beadazzles to it...
This piece didn't work so well as I added the resin just to the indented area first and it puddled the alcohol ink ...And these little birds turned out rather nicely.
The one on the left is just the perfect pearls, the one on the right is swiped over with black ink.

The great thing about this technique is that you only need to buy white clay and colour it any colour with your mica powders.

Whats your something new going to be this month?
Upload it to the launch post to be in with a chance of winning this months prize :D

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Steampunk Brooch By Carol Fox

I have been having a bit of a faff today tidying up my desk from christmas and I found this buried under a pile of stuff. I made it for the blog in December and them promptly lost it before it was photographed but it was very handy to find it as what I was making has gone horribly wrong. ( I put something down on it by mistake before the glossy accents was dry)

This  little brooch I made using one of the Bezel Frames in the shop. A few reclaimed watch parts, a new Tim Holtz game spinner and a swooping bird charm. It's all sealing into the bezel with Lisa Pavelka resin .

December Challenge - Gifts, cards and Tags - Winner Announced

There were 16 entries this month for the challenge. I Used a random number generator to choose the winner and out popped number 3. This is Meggys Way: Book In A Box .

If you would please email Moira at the shop sales@happy-daze.net she will arrange for your gift voucher to be emailed to you.

I personally loved your box and I expect your friend was thrilled with it.

New Challenge for 2012 - Try Something New For The New Year

First of all to wish everyone a Happy New Year for 2012, thank you for your support of the challenges in the past year and we hope to see lots more of your lovely creations in 2012.

The winner of December's challenge will be announced tomorrow.

To start of the new year the challenge is, "Try something new for the new year", either try a technique you have fancied having a go at or just make something with some new stash you have.

To inspire your Sam has altered this lovely box.

Sam says about her project.

I can't remember decorating a box before so this was completely new to me, there's so much to think about because there are so many angles it can been seen from. The stamp set was a present to myself last week.  Although altering the box was new to me I have used one of my favourite techniques on the box. I love stamping onto tissue paper, overlapping the different images and building up the layers. It's an extremely quick and effective way to add your layers and depth to any project.
"No Butterflies were harmed during the making of this box"

Items Sam used

Wooden Box 
7 Gypsies Stamp Set - Conservatory
Archival Ink Pads - Black and Coffee
Clauding Hellmuth - Gesso and Tan and Yellow Paints

As usual you can enter the challenge up to 3 times, either by using the linky widget below, via our facebook page or by emailing your entries directly to me at waynemonster@gmail.com.