A Date for the Diary

We are delighted to announce that we will be at the Happy Stampers North West Fesitval in Port Sunlight on Saturday 14 May. And even more exciting is the news that Jo Capper-Sandon will be on the stand demoing with the stamps she designs for Stampotique Originals

Entrance is by ticket purchased in advance only. Visit the HSNW website for details.

This card, also by Jo Capper-Sandon features Surprised Cutie by Catlsife Press, the Crown stamp designed by Jo for Stampotqiue Originals and more of those Jenni Bowlin inks.

An English Rose

Helen Chilton has been busy. This piece based on an embroidery ring - how appropriate - and the Artistic Outpost stamp plate "Jane's Countryside".

Helen has written an online class on how to make it.

This uses the stamp and Sweetness papers by Pink Paislee.
Her she has made a Cameo Brooch which is mounted on a gift card.

Finally this fun card uses the Route 66 plate from Artistic Outpost

Happy New Year

I hope everyone has had a lovely Christmas and New Year. Our Christmas was hectic but fun, however, so far 2011 is testing us - a blocked drain, several more inches of snow, broaband failure and a flat tyre so far and we haven't even got through the first week! Anyway lots to look forward to, like sunshine, new releases from our favourite manufacturers, sunshine, craft shows, sunshine oh and did I mention the sunshine!
This lovely creation is from Jo Capper-Sandon, she has used the Scrolls Work "Miss Tart" stamp along with paper from the Pink Paislee Parisian Anthology range. These papers have a patterend resist printed in them which means you can use inks, sprays even paints to make incredible backgrounds. The piece is topped off with a spoon from the 7 Gypsies Vintage Hardware set.

Gillian Simson has made this gorgeous "House of Horrors" mini frame and has written a class for us which you can see in our online classes section.

I can't bee-lieve it's almost Christmas

A while ago I set a challenge for Joanne Wardle to make a Christmas card using the Medium Bee with Small Bee on the Side stamp Jo designed for Stampotique Originals and this is the festive result.


Jo also had a play and produced "We Bee Kings". I am really enjoying these stamps getting new leases of life at Christmas and will be raiding my own stash for inspiration next year.

Helen Chilton has been in the gift making mood. This wood block features the Pink Paislee Parisian Anthology stamps and Helen has done an online class on how to make it.

This will be my last post before Christmas so I do hope you all have a fabulous time, that the weather does not cause any more disrupution (yes we are under a white blanket again!) and that peace and joy reigns all round.

A Very Merry Christmas to you

Moira

Slides are About

Having spent 2 weeks now sliding about in snow and ice it's rather refreshing to see a different kind of slide. Here Helen Chilton has made some delicious ornaments for the Christmas Tree using Memory Glass, Old St Nick stamp and Glitz papers. The full instructions to make them are in our online classes "Stamped Projects" section.
















We also have a great online class, again by Helen, on making this wonderful Tag Book using the Artisitc Outpost "Oz Collage" stamps.

Hope you are all staying warm in this arctic weather and having fun with all your Christmas preparations.

Snowy Days

Here at Happy Daze towers we are, literally, knee deep in snow, very beautiful and very Christmassy. Helen Chilton, as you can see, has also been in the Christmas mood making cards using non Christmas stamps. Greetings uses "Home" by Artistic Outpost and "Winter Tree" uses "The Outpost" stamp plate also by Artistic Outpost. Helen says: " although this stamp isn’t from a Christmas plate, by choosing your colours carefully and adding a bit of bling, you get a really seasonal feel!"

Jewellery Box and Sticky Winner

Sitting here typing all I can see out of the window is snow, snow, snow, and with Christmas Day just 4 weeks away ot feels very festive. I am knee deep in card and gift making so was wonderfully inspired by this fabulous jewelry box made by Louise Crosbie, especially as she has shared the instructions so we can all have a go, jusy click here to go ot the online class.

Louise has also been reviewing The Ultimate glue and this is what she says:

I sell my crafts on Folksy so I need to be 100% certain items I glue on to my altered art are going to stay on and not be rattling around loose in the packaging on arrival at the home of the buyer. I have had trouble with glues and metal objects. Glossy accents and Bostik are the two adhesives i was using. glossy accents are a little temperamental about what it will adhere to and if its going to hold. and Bostik does that "stringy" thing where it leaves a trail from the glued object all the way back to the tube and over anything you passed the tube over. so i often spend time picking the stringy web of glue back off... So, how would The Ulimate fair?

Here are the types of test I did on this box with the glue.
1) I attached the Tim Holtz Ornamental Plate on top, a reasonably large surface being attached to another large surface. so maybe an easy test but still an important one. a heavy ornate item on my textured surface. It passed with flying coulours, thats not coming off even if I want it to.
2) attaching the filigree teardrops. these items have next to no surface touching the box. they are hollow so its literally just the rims that i could add the glue to. they too are stuck fast ( and i have picked and poked and prodded.
3) my main test i think. I wanted to dangle a chain from the box but i didnt want to get a drill out and start trying to figure out what to attach it to, so, i simply added a small blob of glue at each end and attached it by one link... just ONE link of chain pressed in to the glue at either end and left to dry. its now there for life ... I put two crystals over the links and those are also bonded fast. I also attached the Foundation Feet with the glue.
4) it dried in 100% clear and it was thick enough straight from the bottle to hold things in place quickly, so you dont have to sit holding it till it got tacky.

So is there a down side? Well there are a couple of small niggles that are not to do with bonding power.
1) the nozzle has a very large opening so you are not in control of the amount of glue from it. I overcame this by squeezing some glue in to a bottle lid and used a glue brush (old paint brush) to paint the glue on to the smaller items or thin items.
2) the glue is very thick o again its better to apply it with something other than the nozzle supplied.

I guess the ultimate test for me is... Would I sell items I had used this glue on and feel confident they will not disappoint the buyer? YES I would and will. maybe not on absolutely everything but I have confidence in this glues holding power and versatility

So now, drum roll please as we announce the winner, drawn out of a hat, of a bottle of this amazing glue all to herself it is Netty! Well done and please drop me an email to info@happy-daze.net with your addreess so I can get it in the post to you. Happy Crafting Moira