A Big Thank You To Kaz Broughton

We would like to give a Big thank you to Kaz who has been our Guest Designer this month, she has shared some stunning pieces with us on the blog and we would like to thank her for all the time and effort she has put into making them.
If you have enjoyed what she has shared with us this month, you can keep up to date with her arty escapades on her own blog here. Its well worth following her blog so you don't miss any of her creations.
Thank you Kaz we have enjoyed your visit this month.

Also don't forget that the current challenge closes tonight, so you still have time to enter and have a chance of going into the random draw for the £15.00 gift voucher to spend in the shop. The full details of the challenge can be seen here.

24 Hour Party People

This week I've been playing with some serious party people. Here they are... it's the American Gothic couple from Lost Coast stamps. I stamped and cut the pair out and put them in this house for their very own house party.

The stamped house they are partying in is from the Whimsical Melange plate (Artistic Outpost).

TFL

Mandy x

Altered Domino Pendants by Moira Sutton

The Ice Resin that is now being stocked in the shop is the perfect medium for your jewellery making. It domes easily on your hand made jewellery pieces and gives a crystal clear non yellowing finish that not only gives your jewellery a professional finish, it also protects and seals it against knocks and chips.
Here are a few examples of Jewellery pieces made using Ice Resin.

There is still time to enter the challenge for this month. All the details including how to upload your pieces for the challenge can be seen here on the original post.

Mermaid Post Card By Carol Fox

A postcard using the Lost Coast Butterfly Mermaid Stamp. The quote is from the Artistic Outpost Plate Beyond The Sea, and on the background I have used Gesso and a Dylusions Mask. I then stamped Scroll Works stamps and Lost Coast to add interest and colour.

There is still time to enter the challenge for this month. All the details including how to upload your pieces for the challenge can be seen here on the original post.

Rebel Heart

I really wanted to share this canvas I made using one of the fab Suzi Blu stamps. To be honest it was an experiment to see how many layers I could get on one piece of work, how many can you see?

The quote was something my partner said and is computer generated and the Rebel Heart was inspired by my dogs kennel name. Perhaps being a rebel can bring happiness!

I used a lot of bits and bobs but most importantly I used the Suzi Blu stamp Spirit Girl

Wishing you a happy day, Sam xxx

Coastal card by Kaz Boughton

This is my last project as Guest Designer and I'm finishing with a card I made using the ~{Beyond The Sea}~  stamp plate by Artistic Outpost.

I cut a circle out of scrap paper and laid it on the card blank before stamping the lighthouse stamp. I then sponged a little Tumbled Glass DI around the lighthouse still with the mask in place. I removed the mask and stamped the little birds, then coloured the image with Copics.

I've finished off with some of the shell stamps to frame the circle shape.

It has been lovely to be part of the Happy Daze team this month, thank you for the comments made throughout my time here.

Kaz xxx

Mermen by Lucy Edmondson

Today is the mermaids' Summer Ball, and here are their dates for the evening:-

The Mermen are stamped and cut out from the French Flight set by Artistic Outpost, and their tails were made from Pardo clay and mica powders, from a mould which was very kindly lent to me by Lottie, expressly for the purpose. The sun face has also been made from a mould. The background paper is by Crafty Individuals. The 'sea' is bubble wrap dotted with alcohol ink in Stream and Clover, with a little Snowcap. You can get similar frames to the one I used here. I painted it with Tim Holtz Crackle Paint in Picket Fence and then spritzed it with Cosmic Shimmer inks. I finished the whole piece off with some  mica flakes, and some tiny chopped up pieces of fusible film.

I hope you will try the bubble wrap sea for your 'We're all going on a Summer Holiday' creations!

We're off to see the Wizard

This week I'm paying a visit to Oz .... Wizard of Oz is one of my fave films, so just had to have a play with this set from Artistic Outpost featuring the characters.
I've made a set of 3 ATC's.... to get the bright yellow background I used Distress Stain in Mustard Seed. Wonderful yellow to represent the yellow brick road, I overstamped that with a grey Jenni Bowlin paint dabber and some Tim Holtz bitty stamps.

 Thanks for looking
Mandy ♥

A Bird's Holiday - Free Standing Doll - by Annette Goatley

Hi, this little bird is being given a short holiday by its Mistress as the sun is shining and everywhere is aglow with colour.

Created this Free Standing Doll with Scrolls Work Stamp - Ruffled Feathers which have recently bought from Happy Daze, had been looking for this stamp everywhere and there she was right under my nose..........lol

Have you entered the challenge this month..........such a fab subject ' We're All Going on a Summer Holiday ' and don't forget the terrific prize of a £15 voucher to spend at Happy Daze, brilliant.

Hoping to see you soon.  Take care of yourselves and each other, hugs Annette x

Verday Altered Mirror By Moira Sutton

I have a mirror to share with you today. The wooden surround was given a coat of Verday paint. When this was dry I went over the paint with as sponge dipped in several of the Verday Colours and then sprayed it with the Verday Patina.  The Cameo and the Bird are made from Pardo clay, which I used in a mould and then baked in the oven. These along with the paper flower and silver Butterfly charm were all painted and sprizted with Verday products.
The Verday paints along with other Ten Seconds Studios products are available from the shop


The current challenge for July is "Were All Going On A Summer Holiday" full details of how to enter can be seen here.

A One Layer Postcard

One layer things are something I've not really tried before and this was great fun and a challenge because you have to think ahead when making one layer creations and also because I felt like a real artist because of the time I used a paint brush, don't you feel more arty with a paint brush in your hand?

Anyway I started off with plain white card cut to 6in x 4 in and then another piece of card to mask off the area where the main image is. I then stamped the shell stamps, using distress inks, randomly around the outside, removed the mask and stamped the Stampotique image. Then still using distress inks coloured in the sky, sea, sand and the girls details. To add a little distressed detail I used the brushed corduroy ink on the edges of the outside of the card and the main image. Finally I stamped the seagulls and wrote the sentiment.

Hopefully seeing this will make you feel a bit summery and a lot crafty and you'll join in with our current challenge 'We're all going on a summer holiday' details can be found here.

For this make I used:

Distress Inks in various colours

Stampotique Stamp; 3 Girls and of course some plain white card.

(the shell stamps were from my stash)

Wishing you a lovely day, Sam xxx

Seaside Tag by Kaz Boughton

For my next project as Guest Designer I made a tag using a lot of the stamps from the ~{Beyond the Sea}~ stamp plate by Artistic Outpost.

I started off making some backgrounds with Distress Inks, one with Broken China and Bundled Sage and the other with Fired Brick and Spiced Marmalade. These were stamped on and torn to fit the layers on the tag. There was a lot of shuffling of pieces until they fitted into place!
The stamped images were coloured with Copics and cut out and the shells have had their edges inked to help them stand out.
I inked up a tag and doodled a border then layered everything with silicone glue to give it more dimension adding string, charms and ribbons.

Kaz xxx

We've Packed Our Bags!

With the Olympics this year, the airports might be getting pretty busy, and I thought as We're All Going on a Summer Holiday this month, an alternative form of air travel might be needed. How about a flight to Paris in a hot air balloon?

I have used one of the papier mache suitcases which can be found here. I coated it with gel matte medium first, as this helps to seal it so the paint doesn't cause it to swell. I then used dark brown paint, a crackle layer, and a beige paint.

For the straps I used grungeboard which I painted with the dark brown paint and then sprinkled with Vintage Photo Distress Embossing powder, to give a rusted effect, and added fleur de lys brads dabbed with alcohol ink, which I also used on the catch as it was a bit too silver. I glued them on with glossy accents so I could work the stamping around their positioning.

For the stamping I used Artistic Outpost French Flight and Paris Exposition, which combine well together, and I think I used every stamp on the two sets! I used StazOn in Jet Black, Timber Brown, and Rusty Brown, so that some of the images were more in the forefront than others.

I wanted some rivets on the base so I used hole punched circles of card, covered in brown paint and Vintage Photo ep, to give a rusted effect. I curved then a little on a mat with a ball tool and then filled them with glossy accents which I left to dry, then applied more to glue them on.

I'm going to use this suitcase to store my marker pens in.

Prize Fish

Here is Albert... he won the first prize in the fishing competition!

I've used the Keeper set and also the Whimsical Melange set from ARTISTIC OUTPOST for this picture frame of proud Albert. I used Jenni Bowlin paint dabbers for the background with this mask from crafters workshop.

TFL
Mandy ♥

' Wish You Were Here ' and an update of Stick and Stickette by Annette Goatley

Miriam and Hannah went to the Seaside, they had such fun climbing over everything in sight, including these beach huts.  Luckily the owners were not about otherwise they would have been in big trouble.

This postcard is being sent to their best friend Louise saying ' Wish You Were Here '

Products used:  Anilinky Vodove Barvy Watercolours (from HD)  Postcard.   Stamps by Scrolls Work . The Beach Huts are Paper Pieced.

 *********************** ***************************************************

Since last Sunday I have had a few emails asking if Stick and Stickette got Married......well they did on Thursday

Unfortunately the video doesn't work properly since Stick's brother Stuck messed it up.

'Two Sticks'  Rubber Stamp is by Stampotique

They didn't invite me to the Wedding (which I have to say quite miffed me off)  they wanted a photograph of themselves outside their new home.

Stick wanted to carry Stickette over the threshold, then realised he had'nt any arms.  Yep I could have drawn him some, but then remembered he had left me off the Guest List..........mmmmmmmm Revenge is Sweet.............lol

Looking forward to seeing your creations for the challenge this month.
Take care, hugs Annette x

Los Tres Caballeros By Moira Sutton

A card featuring the Tres Caballeros Stamp, by Lost Coast. The background has been colour washed using mask and some stamping over the top to create interest and depth. The main image has been coloured using Distress Markers. The Flower and Dragonfly are Grunge elements. It has been finished with some Beadazzles.


The current challenge for July is "Were All Going On A Summer Holiday" full details of how to enter can be seen here.

Gone Fishin'

Summer is here (well sort of) and this little lady has gone fishing.... for men or for fish... you decide! Here at Happy Daze we want you all to celebrate Summer Holidays this month ~ check details on this post  All you have to do is use one item that is sold in the Happy Daze shop and you have the chance to win £15 to spend in the online shop!

For these pieces, I've used this Artistic Outpost set.

Here's a tag I made...  the bunting is made from one of the stamps from the Whimsical Melange Artistic Outpost set.

 and these 2 atc's.

What do you think ~ fish or men?

Mandy ♥

Feeling Chunky

I remember when the chunkiest thing that could be found was a Yorkie bar, now it's the chunky ATC!

For this creation I began by adding texture to the top, bottom and sides using modelling paste through a stencil and letting it dry throughly before painting all surfaces with Claudine Hellmuth Studio Paint. I was a bit of wimp and made the designs on card and then glued them on instead of going direct to the ATC.

For this side I used the tissue paper technique and stamped the frame from the Artistic Outpost set, Home cut off the cockeral etc and glued this down, I then stamped and coloured Lily and Zoe and glued them down also.  

 This side was done in the same way with the Angel In Disguise stamp. 

To get the distressed look on the edges I just applied a little burnt umber oil paint with my finger. At this point I liked it but it just seemed a little flat so I added some beads for feet and some random beads on wire for some dimension.

Here's what I used:

Chunky wood ATC

Claudine Hellmuth Studio Paint, Painterly Pink

Lost Coast Designs, Angel in Disguise

Paperbag Studios, Lily and Zoe

Artistic Outpost, Home

I do hope you like it, wishing you a very happy day, Sam xxx

Verday On Glass By Carol fox

I thought I would see how Verday Paints worked on a piece of glass. I had to mess around a bit to stop it from peeling off, but in the end I realised it needed a base like the clear Croco to enable it to grab onto the glass and stay there.

I used a Square memory glass and painted it with the base and when dry gave it a coat of the copper, once I had patined it with the solution I gave it a quick coat of glue and seal to stop the ink soaking when I stamped on it. I then ran a line of memory foil round the edges and soldered over this adding jump rings at the top and bottom as I went. I then realised I should have done this before I patined the glass, so I very carefully treated the solder with the paint and patina solution to give it the same finish as the glass.
The fairy charm was coated with copper verday and then spritzed with the Patina solution. The flowers are tiny metal ones, that I used the gold and rust paints on before adding the patina. I glued these all to the glass once I had stamped the word onto it.

The large metal flower at the bottom has been "Verdayed" , distress stickles have been added and I then hung it using a jump ring.

I also thought I would try  the Verday over the Croco crackle and as you can see from this photo it gives a nice effect. I will use this for something at a later date, I have no idea what yet.

Carol x

Icarus Steampunk Slidemailer Hanging by Lucy Edmondson

I'm so delighted to be staying on after my guest month in June! Today I have made a quadruple slide mailer in the form of a hanging, with a steampunk theme. I started by spreading some texture paste over the inside of the mailer, leaving the centre of the top section clear, and once dry painting the whole piece with Claudine Hellmuth Studio Paint in Landscape Green from this set.



 I used Graphic 45 Steampunk Debutante papers for the back of the mailer, and the images behind the microscope slides, and stamped Icarus from Lost Coast Designs above the slides and added a little colour. I die cut a yellow shrink plastic cog to represent the sun, and stamped the whole of the inside of the mailer with the Prima en Francais stamp in black. I used Inka Gold in Gold to highlight the raised areas and edges of the piece.
.

For the back of the mailer, I placed the clock and cog masks from the Tim Holtz set over the roses paper and sponged with the Landscape Green paint. I wasn't sure if I would make a mess at this stage, but I felt it broke down the floral pattern a little and made it more edgy.

To finish off I added some beaded trim. You can find some very similar ones here.

Be Odd

Happy Monday!
I've been having a play with the new Summer Distress Colours. This is the background I made to begin with. I used a white paint dabber and one of the large foam stamps to add some contrast.

and this is what I made! A zettified pocketed tag holding an ATC.

 I cut out a large tag of the background and made a little pocket ~ big enough to fit an ATC inside. I've used a selection of Zetti stamps which you can find here

 Here's my Zetti ATC 

Hope this project has brightened up your day ~ it's rainy again here in Derby!
TFL
Mandy x

A Holiday Romance and going Cubist - by Annette Goatley

We all love to read a good holiday romance and this is no exception.

Stick and Stickette met on holiday in Portsmouth and it was love at first sight.......aaaaaaahhhhh.
One evening on the way home after a gorgeous meal down at the Wharf,  Stick proposed to her......and of course she said yes.

No date for the wedding has been set yet, but in anticipation I have made this label for their honeymoon luggage as am sure they will need one, don't you ?

Formula for the tag is a brayered background, Chicken wire screen, acrylic paint, distress inks, Stickles and the stamp Two Sticks is by Stampotique.

CUBIST SILHOUETTES

Plus I snuck in a sneaky one mainly because I adore the colors.  Bought this stamp by Lost Coast Design quite a while ago now but had only stamped her in Sepia.  Stamping her various colors gave her a new lease of life.  Hope you like her like this.

Take care of yourselves and will see you soon, Annette x

Altered Domino Fridge Magnet By Carol Fox

Just a little quick make from me today, as I am very busy this month outside of the craft room...yes the big out side does exist lol.

A domino from a games set given a coat of multi-medium, (I have found this helps the image stamp better), I then stamped the image in Stazon. I gave it another coat of MM, this stops the colours from running into each other. Then using my refillable alcohol ink pens I then coloured it in, I love these pens as they give so much extra use to my alcohol inks. When it's all dry coat it with a layer of glossy accents. Stick a little magnet on the back, and there it is all done. Nice and quick and easy.

The image I have used is the Flying Flower Girls By lost Coast.

The challenge this month is "Were all going on a Summer Holiday" full details can be found on the original post here.

Who wouldn't like to live under a mushroom?

This creation was inspired by the TV show 'The Cube', for those who haven't seen the show, to cut along story short contestants go into a huge glass cube and can win BIG money by basically throwing balls in buckets! Saying that there is some skill involved!

Can you spot Marci?

Here's a step by step:

1  Stamp required characters and foilage stamps on to shrink plastic, colour and shrink.

2  To start construction on the cube glue each piece of memory glass to the edge of the next using super glue,   the super glue sets really quick so act fast! Firstly make the bottom and three sides so that you have access to the inside of the cube.

3  Glue your scene in place, I glued the Cheesey Moon directly to the glass at the back but Great Moon would look well, great!. I used super glue again for speed and reinforced with some glossy accents. It's important to make sure they are well stuck because once the cube is complete there is no way in!

4  When happy with your scene add extra little details, I used microbeads of green and gold in pools of Glossy Accents but Bedazzles would look fab too. 

5  Now it's time to add the front and top piece of memory glass, again using super glue. This bit is really important go over all the edges with glossy accents to make the joints stronger, if you don't when you start dipping the edges in the molten embossing powder the super glue melts and your cube will fall apart. Believe me, it happened to me twice! 

6  Dip the edges of your cube in the molten embossing powder, this strengthens the cube further and looks like faux soldering. Please note the cube will never be a really strong constuction. (Mine has been sitting on top of the microwave for 7 months and is fine, just don't drop anything on it or drop it)

7  Add a curio knob on top and some hitch fasteners for feet. Enjoy.

I used:

2in x 2in Memory Glass

Stampotique: Floral Flutter, Wee Owl, Marci, Mushroom Group, and Kitty

Shrink Plastic

Glossy Accents

Curio Knobs

Hitch Fasteners

Copper Embossing Powder

Melt Pot

The male character is called Head but any other male character from Stampotique in the Happy Daze range would be happy to be followed by Marci, I expect they are all fun-guys, get it? Funghi's. . . I've so enjoyed posting this I feel like making another, Stampotique stamps here I come!

Wishing you a very happy day, Sam xxx

Beware the Sirens By Kaz Boughton.

I'm very excited to be the guest designer for July, thank you for inviting me to join you, and I just had to make something with Stampotique stamps!

I have used Smumauha, Smushallaum, Smushasha  and Octopet - love the mermaids, but those names! I coloured them with Copics and cut them out.
For the bases I used Wood Spools Pack and painted them with acrylic paints, then wrapped some fibres around them. I then cut some mesh randomly and stamped Splatter Long in different inks and cut these out. Both of these were used to make faux seaweed and stuck onto the top of the spools and the mermaids were then attached entwined in this.
Finally I took the words from Beyond the Sea by Artistic Outpost as a warning to anyone going out on the sea.

Kaz xxx

Zettie Tag By moira Sutton

The background has been created by using colour wash ink and Dylusions Masks. The stamp for the main image is by Teesha Moore. It has been finished with various charms, all of which are available here.

June Challenge Winner

Mr Random Number choose 8 as the lucky winner of the gift voucher this month. Number 8 was Tracey-B with her cute little pencil pot, you can have another look at it here.
If you would like to email Moira at the shop to claim your voucher Tracey, she will arrange it for you.

Thank you to everyone who entered the June challenge and we all look forward to seeing what you produce for the July Challenge.

July challenge - We're All Going On A Summer Holiday

July is here and so to celebrate the summer and the nice weather ( I am sure it is on the way) our theme this month is "We're All Going On A Summer Holiday"

Think of the never ending days of childhood summers, days out on the beach and just generally lazing about in the sun. Make anything summer themed from postcards to your summer beach bag, just use one item available to purchase from the shop and you can enter it for the challenge. Here are a few examples by Dt members to get you in the summer mood.

Verday Bird Cage Weather Vane - By Moira Sutton

If you are planning a holiday you need to know what the weather is up to, after all we have just about everything thrown at us lately.  So to start my holiday season I have gone for a weather vane to help me work out the days that are ideal for a day trip.  I started with a  chipboard birdcage has been painted with Verday paint.  When dry I have dabbed  Verday paints in different colours using a sponge and spritzed with Verday Patina.  The birdy is a plastic toy which has been coloured with Inka Gold paints.  The fabulous cog came from my lovely friend Ann and the game spinners complete my weather vane.

'Wish You Were Here' - by Annette Goatley

Post Card Art, Using Scrollworks Rubber Stamps

On The Beach -  By Sam Read

Using Stampotique 3 Girls Image and Distress Ink Pads


You can enter up to 3 times either via the linky widget at the bottom of this post, our facebook page or you can email your entry direct to Moira at the shop, sales@happy-daze.net. There is a £15 gift voucher to spend that be won by one lucky random drawn entrant. The winner will be announced on the blog on the 2nd August.