Mother's Day Card

Hello girls, here's is Rô again!

In many countries of the world, May is the month we celebrate Mother's Day.
In the United States, as well as in my country, Brazil, the date is celebrated on the second Sunday of May.

I believe this is one of the most beautiful dates, because there is no greater love than a mother's love, so if anyone deserves all the tributes, is our Mother!

Today I would to show you a simple card I did with the beautiful produtos Zeus and Zoe, to inspire you to think in a gorgeous gift for your Mother.

To innovate, I decided to use the color blue, but very gently, leaving the card very feminine.

And to sweeten, some beautiful and sweet cookies in heart shape and a beautiful cup to keep the card?

I hope you like it!

Rô Philippsen

Heritage Page by Denise van Deventer

Hello Everyone

Well the weekend is almost upon us and I am sure you are looking forward to it, as much as I am! ;-)

I have a heritage page to share with you today - Dad & Us.

This is a photo of my Dad and us 3 kids.  This was taken when I was about 7 years old. I just know that we were going to a function and we were all dressed up for the occasion. Don't we look spiffy?

I loved using the Zeus and Zoe crocheted round, buttons and text paper, as they really added to the heritage look and feel. The trim under the photo is May Arts trim and is really soooo divine! You will see I also did some  stencilling with gesso and here I used a beautiful DecoArt classic stencil.

Please check out the Zeus and Zoe Etsy store here, where you will find these wonderful crafting goodies.

Have a super weekend.
Denise x

April Challenge: "Life As It Is Now"

 

Hello Zeusand Zoe fans, here's Rô Philippsen today, I’m here to sharing with you my Project I did for April Challenge.

This month we have an amazing Challenge, because it is about yourself. This is a topic very inspiring to do scrapbooking, don't you think so?

And we have one additional requirement for the challenge: incorporate the use of buttons into your creation. This is amazing, because I just LOVE buttons! 

Normally I do not usually write in my layouts and projects, so I decided to hide my journaling in an envelope behind the photo. Because I believe I can show all the light and joy of my soul through the colors and textures of paints, cutouts and layers!

And so I worked my Project, with light and shadows, bright colors and vibrancy, which represent very well who I am! 

I started applying a thick layer of gesso on my canvas, using a palette knife making sure to get a good coverage but not exactly aiming for a smooth finish. I like to leave scrape marks here and there for texture.

As soon as the gesso has fully dried, then I applied several coats of spray inks. Next comes the texture.  I used a palette knife and the DecoArt Stencil to apply the modeling paste. 

Note my base ready to receive and layers of papers and the amazing Zeus and Zoebuttons.

There is still time to participate in the April Challenge.

Here are the amazing prizes up for grabs when you link your project about you in the upper right side bar. Don't forget to read the "Life as it Is Now" Challenge details and rules here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Butterfly Lady Cards

Hello! Riikka here to share my second project for this month.

The monthly challenge asked for buttons and we have a special price by May Arts, so I combined the two to these cards. I used materials from my Zeus and Zoe kit and created two butterfly ladies with old book pages, patterned papers, buttons and ribbons.

Both of the cards have a lovely lace edged velvet trim by May Arts to decorate the card. It also brings lovely vintage feel to them, I think. The vintage ladies are cut from old book pages from my kit. I just love the turn of the centry fashion! I've also used an old post card from my kit instead of patterned paper. 

I created the backgrounds for the cards by stamping with buttons using gesso as the paint media. The other button repeated the pattern better than the other - the rings are more visible than the other impressions from that rose button. The flat, easy shapes work best for this technique, but I wanted to try what kind of texture the rose would create.

I also used buttons as embellishments for these cards. The other card has a little frame made out of a button and the other has an aged rose. For the frame one I added an epoxy sticker inside the beautiful decorated rim. The rose is made to look old with acrylic paints, alcohol inks and gesso.

Please take part to the challenge, if you already haven't done so! We would love to see your project! I hope that my takes on the buttons have inspired you!

Wishing you a lovely Tuesday!

Mini Album - "This is Me" for the April Challenge

Hello Everyone

I hope that you had  a super weekend and that Monday is treating you kindly! Denise here today with a mini album that I created for the April Challenge  - Life as it is Now - and I am really excited to show you what I created.

The challenge this month is to create and journal a project about "life as it is now," the subject being "you as an individual."  This challenge is open to interpretation and you can add as much detail as you wish, and share whatever you wish to share about yourself. Hidden journaling for personal information is fine. There is one additional requirement for the challenge, and that is to incorporate the use of buttons into your creation.

This mini album is about Me, as I am now, in 2013, and is called "This is Me".  So one day, I will hopefully look back at this  little album and remember exactly what my life was like in this year.

It was actually quite easy to get my thoughts together for this project, as I had a pretty good idea what I wanted to journal and the points I wanted to highlight.

So firstly I wanted to have a photo of me, as I am now. Can you imagine me in 20 years time, looking back at this moment?

I also wanted to document what my life is all about and what is important to me.

Then I went on to document the things that I really enjoy and love! These are certainly the "stuff" of life!

I certainly had to have a picture of myself and my son in the album, as he is certainly the sunshine in my days! He has added so much joy and love to my life and is certainly one of the best things I have ever done! ;-)

Here is another picture of me and is adjacent to a big 42!! So that kinda tells you exactly where I am at! LOL!

So that is my "This is Me" album and I used some wonderful goodies from the Zeus and Zoe kit.

I loved the metal trinkets and rounds, the stick pins, the beautiful buttons and the wonderful laces and trims, the Prima Say it in Pearls, and so these were what I used throughout this album. 

I was also fortunate to have some Glamour Dust from DecoArt and this was really fabulous to colour the papers and metal round with.  The Zeus and Zoe Etsy store can be found 'HERE'.. and you can obviously purchase these wonderful goodies there.

It would be so super if you could join us for this challenge and we really hope to see your entry soon!

Just a reminder as so the wonderful prizes you could win:

Our main sponsor for May is kind enough to send some extra trim for a random winner this month..

The random winner will get trims from May Arts.

A mini album cover by Yvonne Yam

Hello friends. Looking for some last-minute handmade gift ideas? How about a decorated chipboard mini album filled with fabulous photos?

The yummy array of goodies from the Zeus and Zoe store makes it easy to put together a pretty cover. I got mine done in 30 minutes.

Text paper, vintage doiley, chipboard, charms from the Zeus and Zoe store plus gorgeous velvet ribbon from May Arts (our sponsor for April) Now just add your photos in your album and you have yourself a fabulous handmade gift. :)

Cheers,
Yvonne

A Layout about me and my true feelings..

Hello everyone...Marivic here sharing with you a LO base on Sandie's challenge...."About Me or Life as it is now"

Here is what I came up with..

We don't normally scrap about ourselves and we thank Sandie for this challenge, now we can share our feelings and talk about us.

I think I've already explained everything in the LO through my journaling.

You have a few more days to join the challenge...Don't miss out on the great Prize!!

A great prize from Zeus and Zoe Etsy Shop and a random prize from May Arts...

Thank you for stopping by..

Victorian Wall Decor

Happy Friday everyone, I hope you've had a fabulous week!!  Today I have a sweet Victorian wall hanger to share with you that I put together using my gorgeous Zeus and Zoe kit.  

The inspiration for this piece came from this beautiful calender image included in my kit.   Aren't these two just the cutest!!



To keep with the Victorian feel that I was going for, I chose to use an oval frame.  I turned it backwards to create a shadowbox and simply cut the image to fit inside



For a nice finished look I added trim around the edge of the frame.  The sequenced trim I used from my kit was a gorgeous blue but it didn't work with my design so I applied a layer of gesso, then painted over it with fluid acrylic.

To create a base for all of the layers, I cut a frame using my Cricut Frame of Mind Cartridge.  The beautiful KaiserCraft papers in my kit were just perfect.  All I had to do was ink them up a little bit.

Once the frame was on, I was able to start having fun with all the layers.  I used beautiful lace, crotchet trim, ruffle trim, a crotchet doily, beads, buttons and ScrapFX chippies all from my Zeus and Zoe kit.  Marivic's kits really come jam packed with a huge variety of items for your creating pleasure.  She can even make you a custom kit based on your style.  All you have to do is contact her and let her know what you're looking for.

Here's a closer look at the distressing I did on the key chippie.  This is layers of embossing powders, crackle and acrylic paints.  I just kept layering until I was happy with the look.

For a splash of color and whimsy I added a large butterfly.  I also mixed in some K&Company pieces and some ribbon from my stash to complete my design.

 To create the hanger, I used some beautiful May Arts ribbon.  I really love the mix of velvet and crotchet trim on their ribbons.  Zeus and Zoe carries a large variety of these gorgeous May Arts ribbon, go check them out.

Be sure to visit the Zeus and Zoe online store to pick up some of these gorgeous products for your next project.  Oh and don't forget, we still have a fun challenge going on right now!  Click HERE to find out all about it!!

Thank you for stopping by and for all of your sweet comments, enjoy your weekend!!

Adios :D

Me - Minicanvas for April challenge

Hi there! It's Riikka here to share my creation for this months challenge. As you know, the challenge is to create and journal a project about 'life as it is now', about yourself. The additional requirement for the challenge was to use buttons in the creation.

I loved the challenge, because until recently I have done very few pages about myself. Although I'm sure my kids will be interested in the pages I have done about and for them, I'm sure that they will be equally or even more insterested in the pages about me - what I was thinking and feeling. At least I would be tremendously happy to find an old diary of my mum's!

  

I was lucky to be able to take a workshop with Finnabair some time ago and used some of the tricks learnt from her to my creation. I used of course the beautiful buttons from my Zeus and Zoe kit, but also some other things from my kit to make this minicanvas. I colored the project using for example some Lindy Stamp Gang spray inks from my kit.

The journaling part of the creation is on the back of the canvas, in an envelope as suggested in the challenge text by Sandie. I journaled about my dreams and about the moment I am currently in my life. I'm sure it will be interesting to read it in a few years or by my children in twenty years.

I hope I'll see your creation of this month's challenge soon! Don't forget our great price - the winner will receive a kit from Zeus and Zoe Etsy! The kit includes a package of flower, pin sticks, buttons, ephemera items, La Blanche Stamp, washi tapes and a package of Magicals from Lindy Stamp Gang. 

Here are challenge the rules: 

1. Projects must be linked up to our linky tool in the side bar, using the URL of the ACTUAL POST, not your entire blog.

2. You may submit as many entries as you would like and combine your entry with up to 2 other challenges.

3. Post this challenge to your blog and mention, in your post, that you are playing along at Zeus and Zoe TOGETHER with a link back to our Zeus and Zoe blog.

4. All entries must be received by MIDNIGHT EST 

5. Entries to be submitted via the linky tool at the top of the sidebar ONLY, not by email and not by linking up in the comments section please.

Information about our challenges:

1. Zeus and Zoe Challenges are open to anyone, anywhere in the world.

2. Our DT do their best to comment on all entries, you can make their job easier by turning off your word verification.

3. Challenges are held monthly and each month TWO winners are chosen. One winner is chosen by our DT and the other is chosen by random draw.

4. Challenge winners will always be announced within a week of the challenge closing and winners are then required to contact Marivic.

5. Prizes not claimed within two weeks will be forfeited.

6. The Merit winner will have an image of their project featured in the winners post, together with a link back to the homepage of their blog.

7. Winners will be awarded a Winner's Badge to post on their blog...full bragging rights included!

Altered Dress Form with Dana

Hi!  Dana here today sharing a paper mache dress form that I altered with supplies from my Zeus and Zoe Kit. The mix of vintage charms, jewelry and lace that came in my kit is fabulous and I highlighted some of those special pieces on the front of my form.

One of my favorite pieces from my kit is this stitched butterfly.  Someone spent a lot of time creating this beauty! I love the intricate design and pop of color it adds to my piece.

Here is the back of my form. I separated the petals of a Manor House Creations flower and used them to make the wings. I used the fun flower center to top the bow that I tied with some pretty May Arts ribbon.

I added the subtle shimmery color to my form with Lindy Stamp Gang Starburst Color Shots in Cape Cod Coral and Clam Bake Beige.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! If you're looking for a fabulous vintage kit that is personalized to your tastes, just contact Marivic and she'll get you all the details. Also, there is still time to enter the April Challenge.  Click HERE for all the details.

Beaded Cabochon Tutorial - Vintage Inspired Tag

Hi Everyone,

The kits available through Zeus and Zoe host a beautiful array of vintage and beyond items.  Often, cabochon's of some description can be found in the kits.  Actually, Marivic the owner of Zeus and Zoe custom makes many of the kits to suit each customers taste.  If this is of interest to you, do drop her an email to discuss.  The Zeus and Zoe Etsy store can be found 'HERE'.

I created a tag from items in my DT kit, including - old book paper, buttons, charms, lace, an old doily, and cabochon. I love cabochon's and have a lovely collection of them.  In previous crafting ventures I have beaded around the outside rim, to decorate and give a more finished appearance.

Today, I am sharing with you a tutorial on how to complete the beading.

Materials:
Cabochon
Tiny seed beads
Beading needle
Fray Stoppa or adhesive
Adhesive
Felt or calico
Thread - either beading or quilting thread

**Please read through all instructions before commencing**

1. Cut a small piece of fabric, a little larger than the cabochon.  Adhere cabochon to fabric using a strong adhesive, and allow to dry.

2. Turn cabochon over, and cover fabric with fray stoppa, allow to dry fully.  This eliminates the fabric from fraying whilst beading, and also when fabric is cut away when beading is completed.

3. Double thread needle with a long length of beading thread or quilting thread, knot well.

4. Take threaded needle and come up from the bottom of the fabric, at top, and as close to cabochon base as you are able. Thread 5 beads onto needle, and pull beads down thread. Lay the row of beads along the edge of the cabochon, and insert needle close to end of where beads lay and pull through to the back.

5. Come back up with your needle half way through previously sewn beads, with the needle being between the cabochon base and the beads. Thread needle through the 3 last beads as seen in photographs above.

6. Continue steps 4 and 5, till the whole outside rim has been beaded, as shown below.

7. Tie off thread onto back of cabochon.  DO NOT CUT THREAD

8. Bring needle and thread back up between cameo base and beaded rim, at top of cameo once more, as pictured below.

 9. Add 5 beads, count 3 beads, and thread needle straight through the 4th bead, as shown in below photograph.

10. Add another 5 beads, count 3 beads, and thread needle through the 4th - keep repeating this pattern, until you have returned to where you started, see above and below photographs.

11. To secure, go down next to last bead placement, come back up and over 'a' thread, and back to the back again.  Tie off, using small knots.  Apply a light application of adhesive over the knot to totally secure, as shown.

12. Carefully trim off excess fabric - be careful not to snip too close and catch a thread - that would mean starting all over again, so do be careful!!

13. Your cameo/cabochon is now ready to use on a project.... 

...and before I sign off, don't forget this months challenge - you can find all the details 'HERE'.  There are some fabulous prizes to be won, including a Zeus and Zoe kit, and also some wonderful trims from May Arts.

enjoy your day and thanks for visiting....
Sandie