dragonfly by Joanne Wardle

This is my final water themed piece this month.
I really like dragonflies when they hover over water, and that was the ideas behind this one layer card.

 I masked off a square and inked it with tumbled glass ink. I then positioned a mask and inked again. I splashed water onto the square and dabbed it off and left to dry. I then just stamped the dragonfly from Stampotique, and addded some stickles to the winds and randomly spotted the background witch stickles.

products used
prima masks
stampotique dragonfly stamp
stickles
tumbled glass distress ink
black stazon

faux mulberry flowers - a water technique

following this months "april showers" water related theme, I have decided to use the technique which I detailed here to make some faux handmade paper along with the tatty paper flower tecnique which I detailed here, to make this simple tag. I stamped The squiggle arms stamp from stampotique with brown ink onto a tag cut from Kraft card. I distressed the edge of tag with a tim holtz distress tool, coloured the stamped image with pencils and added the flower which I finished with metallic rub-ons

Little dancer gift bag by Joanne Wardle

Continuing with the music theme for the March Happy Daze challenge, I decided to use some Tim Holtz tissue tape and lost Coast's Ballerina 2 to make a simple gift bag from a A4 envelope.

To make the bag cut the envelope to 9 inches long. Use the cut off part to make the tag.

score the sides and base of envelope at 1.5 inches and fold. Score 3 inches from the top and fold this to the inside of the bag. Do not make up the bag until all the inking is done. Attach the tissue tape all the way around the bag leaving a little space.

Fold back the bottom 1.5 inch and ink with vintage photo distress ink below and just above the tape.

Stamp Abstract foliage along the bottom with vintage photo.

Fold into the bag shape, glue the base triangles to the base of the bag.

Punch holes in the top, attach the tag (which was simply stamped, inked and coloured with pencils)

Tie ribbon through holes.

Music Card by Joanne Wardle

To fit with the "march to your own tune" theme this month, I have made this easy music themed card using Scrolls Work Stamps. Scrolls Work Stamps are not trading anymore, but Happy Daze still have a limited amount in stock.

for this card I used Sheet Music and Knapp music Chart.

To make the card I masked off a strip of the card and inked with various brown distress inks and overstamped with the sheet music stamp. I then stamped the knapp music chart with sepia versafine ink. I embossed two lines down the sides of the strip to make it stand out more,

to make the embellishment, I stamped the sheet music stamp onto white thin card. I ripped it into strips, and inked with distress inks, rolled it up and glued the rolls. I tied a ribbon around them added a charm (these are similar to what I used)and then glued to the card. I have left it sentiment free, but a sentiment could be added for any occasion for a music lover.

"blue" by Joanne Wardle

Continuing the theme of using techniques that we love this month. I have decided to go with my all time favourite technique of colouring with pencils. Usually I colour onto Kraft card, but I wanted to show how it works just as well on any coloured card.

I also used another technique I love: Making tatty paper flowers which I also inked with stormy sky, and added just a hint of stickles

I stamped Jasmin in a dark blue ink (deep lagoon, versafine) and coloured with pencils, I inked around the edges of the card with stormy sky distress ink, and also stamped with abstract foliage with the same ink.

a sneaky valentine by Joanne Wardle

So you have a crush on the guy you sit next to, and you want to send a little valentine, but you want it to be a little different: how about sneaking this little note into the book he is reading?

The theme this month at Happy Daze is "a technique you love". I love to mask. I get through so many many post-it notes, that I have to buy them in bulk. This technique is so easy. just fold your post-it not in half and cut out half a heart. Attach to the card and ink with worn lipstick distress ink. Add a little interest with a background stamp. I used the marble background from Scrolls Work Stamps

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

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.

Last minute gift by Joanne Wardle

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To fit in with this month's challenge of gifts, cards and tags, I decided to share my last minute gift ideas. I often give Amazon vouchers as gifts, but any voucher that prints out onto an A4 sheet of paper will work.

I simply fold the voucher into thirds both ways to create a "z-fold" and then add covers (8cm x11cm) (be aware that the cover is attached to the top left corner of the voucher so make sure that there isn't any important information there.

The covers can then be decorated anyway you like. I have used Stamps from Stampotique.

We Three Kings by Joanne Wardle

As Christmas rapidly approaches, I find the need for quick and easy cards gets more urgent.

Here's an easy one made with one simple stamp from stampotique.

I have coloured the card with pencils, highlighted with glossy accents. I have also used some gilding flakes to accent the bands around the crowns. I finally finished with some gold cord.

explosion of colour by Joanne Wardle

For this month's challenge theme I have made this one layer card, using stamps from Jo Capper-Sandon's range at Stampotique. These Splatter stamps are perfect for the theme. I have used distress inks for the colour.

Christmas with non-Christmas stamps by Joanne Wardle

You don't always have to buy special Christmas stamps to make your Christmas cards. Sometimes you just have to look at the stamps you have in a different way. This general tree from Stampotique, can easily be made to look wintry with simple colouring, and the addition of white flower soft or glitter. The tiny bird from Jo Capper-Sandon's range can easily be made to look like a robin redbreast with the appropriate colouring

a "Stella" Hallowe'en by Joanne Wardle

In previous posts I have used Stella Sitting on various props, and have used masking to achieve this. I know that a lot of people find masking a bit too "faffy", so for this card I used the simpler "cutting out" method!!

I just stamped Stella, the broom and hat, onto white card coloured with pencils and cut them out.

I made the moon background by cutting out a circle mask (by drawing around the inside of a roll of sellotape), then applied black soot and pumice stone distress inks with a cotton wool ball. I
removed the maks, applied a litle more pumice stone ink, for clouds. I stamped happy (from Happy unbirthday) and old english Hallowe'en. I glued Stella and her accessories in place.

All of the Stamps are from Jo Capper-Sandon's range from Stampotique Originals.

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.

splashy dragonfly card by Joanne Wardle

This as a really simple card I made with Jo's new Dragonfly stamp (again) from stampotique. I created the simple background by doing a very small spray of adirondack sprays in 3 colours. I then used the same blue spray with a paintbrush to colour the dragonfly.

my little black dress technique, by Joanne Wardle

Anyone who has visited my blog will know that my little black dress technique is pencil colouring on kraft card and using my home made stamp positioner to combine stamps to make one layer cards.

I've used these techniques with some of my new favourite stamps from Jo's new collection from Stampotique.
Stella and dragonfly are both fantastic stamps to use individually, but combined I think they create something quite magical.
To achieve this effect, stamp Stella first, then create a stella mask from a post-it note, use a stamp positioner to make sure that the dragonfly is in the correct place and stamp the dragonfly.
colour with pencils, and add the quote also from Jo's collection.

by the seaside by Joanne Wardle

I made this piece for this month's challenge theme beside the seaside.
I've made a really simple piece using starfish and words by Jo Capper-Sandon for Stampotique, and mesh from Scrolls Work.

I finished it with a scrap of blue vellum, a scrap of sandpaper and a few dots of liquid pearls

Housework by Joanne Wardle

I decided I needed to add some lost coast stamps to my collection and I had a browse of the happy daze shop and came across Housewife, which I knew I had to have.

I decided to make this card in chintzy housewife colours but with a not so housewife quote

Summer grass by Joanne Wardle

This was my piece for the Stampotique challenge this week. The theme was to use orange, yellow and red. So I used distress inks sponged onto a masked off shape, with Jo Capper-Sandon's Grass stamp.

Merry Kiss-mas by Joanne Wardle

Every year I do a couple of designs for cards that I will be able to batch make (usually in late november). I think this is this year's first design. It's quick, uses minimal materials that are easily replaced, and is perfect for batch making.

The Stamps are all from Jo Capper-Sandon's range at Stampotique, (available from Happy Daze in the UK) stamped in brown versafine on kraft card, and coloured with coloursoft pencils. the berries are highlighted with Glossy Accents, and the knotted ribbon is glued on.