Butterfly Arch By Paula Tidman

I used the lovely lost coast design Butterfly stamps for my Junebug project. I had an off cut of plywood on which I drew an arch shape and asked if Hubby would kindly cut it out for me as I wanted to keep my crafting fingers intact LOL.

I layered on various colours of  studio acrylic paint with a roller and then used the edge to give the impression of tall grasses. Once dry I used black archival ink to stamp the butterflies. Then I used the crafters workshop template and versamagic chalk inks and outlined the flowers with a white gel pen. I stamped the sentiment with archival ink and then I had my first encounter with beeswax, had fun getting very messy.


There is still plenty of time to enter the Junebug Happy Daze Challenge. 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

Altered Cigar Box by Paula Tidman

I've had an old cigar box lurking in my crafting stash for a while now and I decided to give it a make over. I gave it a base coat of black gesso, then as I couldn't find quite the right shade I wanted for my box, I mixed a few different colours of my matt emulsion together to create a custom shade. I gave it a couple of coats, then sanded it down to reveal some of the black gesso. Next I used vintage photo distress ink and a crafters workshop template to create the harlequin pattern. I distressed some old book pages and used this fabulous vintage bird plate by blockhead stamps (as they are really thick rubber, you don't get any ink transfer on the edges of the stamp, which seems to happen on a lot of unmounted stamps) to decorate the lid of the box, using distress inks and coloured pencils to colour the images. I glued in place with matte medium then I sealed the box by rubbing in a small amount of Judikins microglaze, which is perfect for protecting your inky creations, then I buffed a small amount of inka gold around the deges of the box.

That's all from me I hope you enjoy the last day of the Jubilee celebrations. xx

Miranda By Paula Tidman

I'm loving these Chapel Road Art stamps. Miranda is so pretty and ideal for these new fabric clasp clam bags in the Happy Daze shop.

I started by painting the bag (which is a little bigger than the fabric purses also now stocked,) with a couple of coats of gesso which I'd tinted with a little acrylic paint to make a creamier shade. Then rather than stamping directly on the bag as it is a domed shape, I stamped Miranda onto a scrap of white cotton which was given two coats of same gesso mix I used on the bag. Alternatively you can stamp on tissue paper. The flower stamp is one from my stash. Then I coloured the stamps using my inktense pencils. I zigzag stitched round the stamps and cut out close to the stitching. Then I glued to the bag using matte medium. When dry, I sealed the whole bag with matte medium. Used my hot glue to attach some lace and and small bow from my stash.

Miranda is my "May Queen" which is the current Happy Daze Challenge. 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

The Lady Margaret By Paula Tidman

I was so pleased to see that Happy Daze are now stocking these gorgeous Chapel Road Art stamps. I love this image of Margaret she is so serene and I love this period in history it is so rich, oppulent and fascinating.

 I made two gothic arches out of some recycled card and buffed on  distress inks in Barn Door and fired brick to create the rich red background. Then I used crafters workshop harlequin template and sponged on black soot distress ink and used one of my script stamps, to complete my background. Happy Daze are also stocking Micro Glaze from Judikins and this is perfect for sealing and protecting inky backgrounds. It also protects and seals any inkjet papers or photos. I rubbed a small amount onto each arch, then buffed to a sheen.

Margaret was stamped with black archival ink onto glossy card and coloured using a selection of versamagic chalk inks and a craft nib. I rubbed on some gold leafing wax, inka gold will work too. Then I triple embossed with cosmic shimmer clear utee. I also triple embossed my cabinet card frame with utee, then stamped with an inked up swirl stamp, then rubbed on more gold wax, cosmic shimmer bright gold is a much easier alternative, but unfortunately I didn't have any to hand. I added a couple of antigue bronze corners and a metal flower, then stamped and added the sentiments. Finally attaching the two arches together with some chain. 

A quick reminder about the current Happy Daze Challenge which  you still have plenty of time to enter. It is "May Queen." 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

Vintage Portrait Tag By Paula Tidman

There are some lovely new blockhead stamps in the Happy Daze shop. They are gorgeous quality, and lovely thick rubber. I used the vintage portrait set for my tag. I dabbed distress inks in pine cone, barn door and  picket fence onto my craft mat and sprayed with water, (I think the technical term now used is smooshed) the tag across the ink. Then I randomly stamped one of the stamps from the set in archival ink on the tag. I used an old book page and tore to fit and then stitched it onto the tag. I stamped and cut out the vintage portrait and coloured with distress inks and sewed onto my tag. Adding some flowers, jewels and ribbon from my stash to finish.

A quick reminder about the current Happy Daze Challenge which  you still have plenty of time to enter. It is "April Showers" So have fun using your favourite water technique.  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

Best of British By Paula Tidman

I have to own up that I've never made an ATC before as I've always found the diminutive size rather daunting, but these chunky wooden ATC's are perfect for me as they have plenty of surfaces for decorating. 

I sanded down and rounded the edges. Then coated with black gesso, once dry randomly painting red and blue acrylic paint on the block, then a final coating of a thin layer of white gesso. I sanded lightly to show some of the paint beneath. Then using black archival ink I stamped Artistic Outpost Loverley London plate, ooops and stamped one of them upside too LOL! I buffed over Barn door and chipped sapphire Distress Inks to highlight the paint showing through. I rubbed Inka gold along the edges and buffed to a shine

I bent & cut four of the these filigree corners (an idea from one of Gingers gorgeous creations) and glued in place with glossy accents. I screwed in a small draw knob from my stash to complete.

A quick reminder about the current Happy Daze Challenge which  you still have plenty of time to enter. It is "April Showers" So have fun using your favourite water technique.  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

April Challenge - April Showers

The challenge theme for this month is April Showers. Use anything watery on your project, a water technique as Paula has here, or anything water themed, think mermaids and seaside. Your water technique can be as simple as water colour paints or pencils or using some of the lovely ink sprays available from the shop. Let your imagination run wild.
Just remember to be eligible for entry into the prize draw you must use at least one item that is available from the shop and link to this post on your blog.
To get you in the mood this month Paula has made this gorgeous Steampunk canvas.

Paula Say's about her canvas.

I have to admit I’m not really one for techniques, so you could keep it simple like me. Or you can really let your imagination go wild and show us your different skills and methods.

For this steampunk canvas  I  used a variety of  stencils to build up layers and washes of paint to create the background,  and I used water colour paints on my stamped image.

I used an old book page and gave it a light wash of gesso then I used the Lost Coast Designs Balloon Guys stamp as my focal image. I coloured with a combination of watercolour paints and distress inks and rubbed on Inkagold around the edges.

The two embossed panels are made using ten seconds studio metal in slate, humungo tape, card, this was run through my big shot using an embossing folder. I distressed the panels with sandpaper and sponged on different acrylic paints in black, red and orange until I achieved the desired effect and then rubbed on Inka gold.

I used black stazon to stamp an image onto an optical lense then applied gilding flakes to the back. I used a metal corner,a Tim Holtz hitch fastener , sprocketgears, game spinners and time pieces to finish my canvas.

You can enter the challenge by uploading using the linky Widget below, if you dont have a blog you can enter via the Facebook page or by emailing your entry directly to me a waynemonster@gmail.com.

The challnge will close on the 30th April and the winner of the £15.00 voucher drawn by random number will be announced on the 2nd May. Just remember to be eligible for the prize draw you must use one item that is available to purchase from the shop. You can enter the challenge up to 3 times.

Songbird Designed by Paula Tidman

Inspired by Sam's altered altoid tins, I thought I would make my husband an altered tin. He plays the mandolin and is always misplacing his plectrums LOL, this little tin is the ideal size to store them in. I bought two of these tiny mint tins from Aldi for just over a £1.

I started by giving the tin a coat of gesso. Then two coats of cream matt emulsion.  I then stamped the cute little birds from Prima Songbird and the text stamp from Artist outpost Bluebird plate, in archival ink on the sides and the bottom of the tin. I painted the stamped images with distress inks in Barn door, Dusty concord, spiced marmalade and broken china. Then I buffed more broken china all around the edges.

I used a gold leafing pen around the top edge of the tin and finished with a coat of varnish.

A quick reminder about the current Happy Daze Challenge which  you still have time to enter. It is "March to your own tune" So anything with a musical theme.  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

  

Craft Stamper Magazine: April Issue

The latest issue of the magazine is now available to purchase from the shop.

This month there are four articles by members of the Happy Daze Design Team. Paula has altered one of these bags in a stunning style on Page 14 and this is also featured on the magazine cover. Sam has a lovely Glitter Girl Shaker on page 68. Carol Fox has an altered Domino Bag charm on page 24 using Tim Holtz Ideaology, charm Fragments and shrink Plastic. There is also an amazing spread by  Helen Chilton, called The Big Reveal featuring her lovely cards. 

This is love By Paula Tidman

The current Happydaze challenge is Love - A technique you love to use so I thought I would make my better half a Valentine card, using one of my favourite techniques which is stamping in bleach.

I started with  My Minds Eye Union Square, Beautiful Day paper, then I used some white card and covered it with barn door distress ink, rubbing the pad straight on the paper as I find it takes ages buffing with a foam pad on a large area. Then I folded a sheet of kitchen roll into a square and put it on a plate with a small amount of bleach to act as a stamp pad. I stamped a script stamp randomly across the paper, which removes the distress ink and creates a contrasting effect. I used the heat tool to dry, then I buffed some more distress ink to tone it down  a touch as it was a little to bright. I stamped Lost Coast Designs Cupid stamp in archival ink on top and die cut, Then buffed a some black soot DI around the edges and finished with a gold pen. I used Catslife press this is love stamp for the sentiment.

So please join in the Happy Daze challenge and show us the technique you love to use. 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

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

Shabby Calendar By Paula Tidman

Hoping you all had a great Christmas. Ours wasn't very peaceful as the dog decided to scoff a Thornton's chocolate Santa when we weren't looking (chocolate is poisonous in large quantities for dogs, our dog is small and he consumed a very large amount!) so we had to take him to the Vets on Christmas Day, I won't go into details for the treatment as it wasn't pleasant and I'm sure you can imagine LOL but we returned £130 lighter.

Anyway onto my project as its nearly the end of the year I decided to make a calendar. I recycled some cardboard which I covered in Tim Holtz Vintage shabby paper I die cut the edges, distressed and stamped. For the main image I used the pretty Artistic Outpost Bluebird stamps which I coloured in using new flexmarkers from my stash. The roses were made using some more of the Tim Holtz Vintage shabby paper. I printed the calendar on the computer then used my bind it all to attach it. Some string was added to finish.

Hope you all enjoy the rest of your holidays and here's looking forward to a very crafty New Year.

A Medieval Christmas By Paula Tidman

The current Happy Daze Challenge is 'Explosion of Colour', so I decided to make a tag in bold colours. I used distress stains in Wild Honey & Barn Door to create the background. I used gold embossing powder for both latin scripts and around the edges of the tag. I stamped one of the houses from the Artistic Outpost whimsical melange in black embossing powder, then cut out and added the digital image of the Madonna and Child. I used one of the hinges from the  Tim holtz elements and covered with Inka gold. I dyed some ribbon with the same distress stains and added some fibres from my stash.


The current Happy Daze challenge is An Explosion of Colour. You have until Midnight on 30th November when one 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

Hark The Herald Angels By Paula Tidman

Another christmas decoration from me, this time a hanging. I recycled some card and glued both sides with pale blue paper from my stash then cut out a large heart shape. I randomly stamped and embossed snowflakes and pine cones with white embossing powder, then tinted with versamagic dewdrop chalk inks in pixie dust, sea breeze and aegean blue. I stamped Lost Coast Designs Hark the Herald Angels in archival ink onto glossy paper and tinted with the same versamagic inks. I added some white guipure lace, bead trim and a few embellishments from my stash. I punched a hole each side and threaded through some seam binding to create the hanging.


The current Happy Daze challenge is Christmas or Hallowe'en. You have until Midnight on 31st October when one 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

A Victorian Christmas by Paula Tidman

This christmas decoration uses Artistic Outpost Sleigh Ride stamps. I die cut six shapes from thick card using the Tim Holtz cabinet card die, which I glued together to make the frame. I stamped the image of the two children and masked, then over stamped with the trees. The image was tinted with distress inks  & the frame was painted in red studio acrylic paint. I screwed a hinge onto either side of the frame and finished with stickles and gold corners like these.

The current Happy Daze challenge is Christmas or Hallowe'en. You have until Midnight on 31st October when one 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

It's Christmaaaaaaaas (and Hallowe'en)

On what feels like the hottest day of the year we are getting started on Christmas! the Design Team have been playing with Mini Bird Houses to create Christmas decorations. Helen Chilton has used Pink Paislee Butterfly Garden stamps and coloured them to look like Christmas roses. Red paint, gold embossing. layered up foliage and gold paint heated to bubble it up!

Paula Tidman has made icicles from parchment paper, Glossy Accents and glitter and applied PVA glue and acrylic paint crackle effect technique .  There are 2 ways of  doing this and it depends on your PVA which one works.  The first method involves painting the base colour and letting tit dry fully.  Then a layer of PVA and letting it dry - no heat gun - and when fully dry painting the top colour on and leaving it.  The second method again starts with a base coat colour left to fully dry, then a layer of PVA and immediately while it is wet a layer of the second colour over the top.  Leave to dry.  To know which one works for you do a test of both methods first on some spare card.  Paula has also added a charm to complete.

Joanne Wardle also used this crackle effect but added distress by scraping more of the top layer off with scissors before the paint dried fully but was tacky .  Once dry, she added metallic rub on to the craem fror hifghlight and stamped Mistletoe by Jo Capper-Sandon for Stampotique Originals onto kraft card, cut out and attached to house, addeed Glossy Accents on the berries, a knotted piece of gold ribbon and filled the birdhouse with raffia.

Ruth Philps has gone for a table decoration with this Bird House in a glass case.  She has decorated the Bird House with  Pink Paislee Parisian Anthologie paper  and lots of blingy stuff, and there is a wood fence nestled in there too.

Carol Fox has created a place name for the Christmas table. To create this effect cover the roof of the bird house with Tim Holtz Idea-ologyTissue Tape then spray it with Adirondack Colour Wash Spray in Cranberry and Perfect Pearls Mist in Heirloom Gold. Using Cosmic Shimmer Bronze Lustre Ultra Thick Embossing Crystals along the roof and base edges and also apply it randomly to the roof to give it a bit of glimmer. Colour a wood spool with the same colour inks and when dry attach to the bottom of the bird house for a stand using Claudine Helmuth Multi Medium. Remove the hanging cord and push a Tim Holtz Idea-ology Memo Pin into the hole and secure it with glossy accents. Colour 2 of the filigree corners with Inka Gold paint in Old Gold and attach to the front eaves of the house using Multi Medium. Using some wire and threading beads on as you go wrap the house with the wire securing it at the base and the Memo Pin at the top.Stamp and emboss a small quote to attach to the front of the house and place in the memo pin

Julie Dandy went for a Shabby Chic cuckoo clock. She removed the peg from the front of the house and covered it in Websters pages sweet season paper from the 6x6 pad. Any exposed wood was painted with Viva Decor Inka Gold paint in silver applied with a brush. This was also used this to colour the bronze coloured charms. Glue on the prima lace with glossy accents then add Rock Candy Distress Stickles all over the house to give it a pretty sparkle then glued on charms. Julie made the paper beads by rolling triangle shaped strips around a pokey tool then glueing the ends. These were strung on to eyepins and suspended them from chain on the bottom of the house. Add a few buttons and a cute hanging ribbon and the little bird house was transformed in to a pretty shabby chic cuckoo clock to hang on the Christmas tree

Moira also went went for a tree decoration, after all at only 6cm tall these are a pefect size to trim the tree.  This Bird House has a vintage feel, using Inka Gold paints, vintage collage, some bauble trim, beadazzles and stickles.  I think you can tell we had fun

And Christmas or Hallowe'en is the theme for our October challenge.  It could be a card, a decoration a layout, gift box etc., whatever you like that fits either Christmas or Hallowe'en.

You can enter in one of 3 ways:

• Blog your entry and use the Linky widget below to link to your blog entry
• Load to the Happy Daze Facebook Page
• Sent a pic by email to info@happy-daze.net

The challenge will end at Midnight Monday 31st October 2011. One entry will be drawn at random to win a £15.00 Gift Voucher plus free P&P for the Happy Daze shop. Maximum of 3 entries per person. Entries must use at least one product which can be purchased in the Happy Daze shop.

The Sky is the Limit By Paula Tidman

My Little Black Dress is definitely stamping. I have stamped on paper and wood and this time I decided to  stamp on fabric. I frayed a piece of cream cotton then painted with white gesso to make it easier to stamp on. I used  the Artistic Outpost Bluebird stamp plate which is so pretty. I used a combination of distress inks and watercolours to paint the image. I mounted the stamped fabric onto a piece of thick card that I covered in some paper from my stash, die cut an edge and added some lace an pearls to finish.

There is still time to enter The Happy Daze Little Black Dress Challenge. You have until Midnight on 30th September when one 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

Pearly Queen By Paula Tidman

My sister has lived in the US for quite a few years now, and I know she still misses Blighty so I thought these fab Artistic Outpost Loverly London stamps were just the job for this folded card for her birthday, there is a good mix of images and text in this set. (see my blog for the tutorial link) The background paper is made by haphazardly applying watered down distress inks with a paint brush and stamping lightly with archival ink to achieve a faded effect. The pearly queen was coloured with watercolours and distress inks and of course a pearl necklace.

A triangular pocket was added to the inside of the card to store the bookmark. More images were stamped firstly onto the pocket embellishment and then onto the book mark (he looks very dapper don't you think?) which was then sealed with Ranger glue n' seal and finally a red tassel to complete.

Naughty can be Nice By Paula Tidman

Not sure what these two lovely ladies have been up to. I'll leave that up to your imagination!
I used a wood jewellery box which I painted in white matt emulsion then I used Lost Coast Designs Naughty can be Nice stamped in archival ink. I used victorian velvet & dusky concord distress inks to rub over the box. The image was coloured in with water colours, but you could easily use distress inks. I finished the box using a a button and trim from my stash & a chain tassel.

Bathing Belles by Paula Tidman

I used a wooden curio house for my 'Oh I do like to be beside the seaside' challenge piece. I painted the house in matt emulsion paint and used a variety of stamps including Lost coast designs swimsuit girl and Scrolls work Julie & Sarah. The images were coloured in with promarkers and distress inks and highlighted with glossy accents.