Sunday, December 26, 2010

Something from Yesteryear


Hi there Ladies,
a quick post to show you what I made for Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge.We had to make something from yesteryear, something that looks vintage. I had this birdcage ,so I decorated it to put on my balcony for Christmas eve. I used Prima Flowers plus some others from my stash, I  cut the little bird with a Sizzix die, using some Christmas paper with glitter on it, added the feathers and bling for its eye, I have cut 2 birds so it looks pretty from both sides. I then coloured the white pearls with some mushroom alcohol ink,to make them look old. I have wedged a charm under the lid of the cage and tied it with the white ribbon,that keeps the top from closing.
This was a very quick project ,it must have takem me half an hour, I made it just before my guests arrived.
Keep well, I am off to Cyprus at 6am tomorrow morning!
Love Zeffy.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Time to Give!


Hi there and a very Merry Christmas! I hope that have all had a magical day,with family ,good friends and food,hopefully you don't all feel as stuffed as I do!
This year for the first time I roasted a full suckling pig!! Poor Babe...I felt like a murderer...maybe I will post a picture of him on facebook....a before and after type of thing.
Anyway for the matter on hand...I made 3 broaches for my friend Chrystel she asked me for  a flower broach ages ago....I eventually made her 3, then I decided to decorate her card with the 2 of the broaches and her envelope with the 3rd...
I needed a big envelope and was about to make one when....my friend Irini on Get Creative got creative agin....thanks Irini  for being such an inspiration!
This is what I made. Oh yes and the Poinsettia was inspired by my hero Tim Holtz!
Anyway Ladies I wish you all a fantastic festive season full of joy, health and happiness......
Filakia Zeffy.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Flowers

This is what my table looks like, the left-overs  from my fabric flowers,maybe I will make one or two more, my Countdown-to Christmas Jouranl, getting filled up day by day, no place for it on my desk as that is strewn with a new project, my sewing machine is out as there is some sewing to do. Christmas shopping to do, grocery shopping to shop,cakes to bake, food to freeze....and most important of all, to help my son get organised and help him with his move to Cyprus for his first job....


As I had said in my previous post, the elves did come and help and my flowers are almost finished, I will add the finishing touches on the 23rd when I lay my table, and make an arrangement with my paper tree ( see previous post)and candles in silver candle-sticks and silver stars....will post pics.

These flowers were inspired by none other than the amazing Tim Holtz...he made the Poinsettia  on day 7 with the  Alternations Tattered Florals die.  I had some off-cut from one of my husbands Chino pants, I cut the shape ,then dipped them into plaster of paris,with some gold mica and shaped them...once they were dry I never liked the colour so mich so I painted them a little with gesso....
Once dry they were glued onto cereal box circles with the glue gun and glitter circles were added.....
The round flowers are a thin muslin, also dipped into Plaster of Paris and all scrunched up.with a tulle backing.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Tree Time Video

A quick video made on the spur of the moment whilst assembling my tree...I was not even sure that it would stand!! View Video More detailed instructions are in the previous post...
Now for the flowers!!!

TREE TIME




Hi gals this week-end a few of my scrap-buddies and I got together...this is what I started making amongst all the chaos and fun...a paper tree for my centre-piece on my Christmas table.
 I cut about 24 of these tree shapes from cheap drawing paper, I then diveded them into 4 stacks and sewed down the center of each.


I then took the inner tube of wrapping paper...we have ample of those these days!!And cut two strips that I folded and sandwiched between the two sections of tree....once the two pieces were stuck to each other  I also added a piece of steel cut of a coat-hanger for extra support then I stacked the 2 glued sections together...I had a pile of 4!.once that was done I just opened that up...and voila....you can see from the photo above that the paper tends to curt a bit.....so I added strips of cardstock at the bottom for some extra standing 'Feet"...see video which I will post in the course of today!!!


As you can see in the photo above I have pieces of fabric all around my tree.....I am hoping that the elves will appear this evening and turn those into beautiful flowers.....they will then add extra interest to my table...we will see..
Bye for now...must fly busy, busy ,busy!!

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

A Quick Mini Album


Hi there Ladies
Join me this afternoon Wednesday 8th at 4pm on USTREAM to make a quick mini album for a friend.This album is embellished with Tim Holtz Idea-ology and Alterations embellishments. Linda Elbourne demonstrated this mini at one of her lessons at PACS and I loved it so much, that i decided to make another for a good friend for Christmas.
See you there....the show is in usually in Greek,but if we have any non Greek speaking guests I will broadcast in English..
Love
Zeffy

Saturday, December 4, 2010

I AM Zeffy and I LOVE to Scrap!!

Hi ladies,
yes after a week-end in Paris at PACS I have decided that I love to scrap !! 3 days of cutting ,tearing painting and glueing...and I loved every minute! I chose a very full programm, I decided seeing that I am there I may as well learn as much as I can, so I chose lessons in mixed media and some painting ,two things that I would like to continue implementing into my work, two mediums that I am not familiar with.
My first teacher was Nathalie Kalbach, imagine we used paper that she designed!!You can see her name at the bottom of my canvas. Nathalie was super friendly and funny too ,a lovely humour that immediately set the tone of her class, she encouraged us to explore and express ourselves...so this is who I am and the things I love...I love to express myself, travel, romance,laugh,and I love trees and Iwish I could put them into a cage and protect them...especially here in Greece where burning trees seems to be a national passtime!Please note the pre-menopausel, thin I wannabe me...ha ha!
Nathalie is also a Tattered Angel demonstrator so we did a lot of glimmer-misting too...


The next canvas I have posted for the lovely Sophia whom I met in  Julie Fei Fan Balzer clas, amazing how you get to meet such lovely people...check out Julie's blog lots of pictures of Pacs there...So anyway this is a self potrait of me the first I have painted since junior school...a good 40 years ago..Julies class was also very interseting we first collaged our canvas with gel medium and paper scraps, a great way to use all those left-overs and then we learned the basics of potrait painting Da Vincis' golden rule of thirds or should I say PHI , ok I am rambling now, Julie did not go into such detail she just showed us how to divide our oval and position all our facial features,and then also how to highlight and shade our image....a far way I have to go to discover the real Zeffy!
I think that this is enough for now...I have much more to share...so join me on Zeffy Scraps on USTREAM on Monday 6 December at 21H00 and get ready so that we can make a mini for you ladies to give away as a Christmas gift.
have a lovely week-end and remember to have fun!
Filia
Zeffy

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Paris PACS here I come!!!

HI there ladies,
My bag is packed ...I don't know how i am going to lug it onto the trains!!! I have re-packed it 3 times!!! Only to take out a paint brush or 2 ,a steel ruler and a track-suit...lets not forget that the max. temp is 4degrees! and the venue is in a forest...who know how warm our rooms will ??
I wanted to look smart in Paris but how chic can one look with snow boots and a waterproof jacket?
This is a photo of one of our my projects.

I will be srteamiing when I get back, I will post day and time on tuesday,then I can show and tell you all about our adventure.
keep well.
Will chat next week.
ps. please excuse this odd post but its 1:28am and I am exhausted!

Monday, November 15, 2010

Let the Countdown Begin!

This is what my daughter Raphaella is saying" I wish it was the first of December!" Why?  Even though  she is 20 years old ,she still LOVES Advent Calenders and has  had one, every year, ever since she was 2!When Irini from Get Creative asked me to do an advent challenge for November, I knew that I had to make something for Raphaella, so I made her a Matchbox House, here it is. She is dying to tear the first opening to reveal what the matchbox has inside......
I don't have many Christmas paper, but I did have a pack of 15x15 Websters Holiday Collection Combo pack, and I thought it would be perfect to decorate the house...so I started cutting away...bliss I had so much fun! Here are some details........
I used my Nestabilities ClassicScalloped rectangles to cut the window and the door details. I added a Basic Grey brad for a doorknob.I added Transparency to all the windows to give the glazed effect and I also stamped the chandelier and added ribbon and lace to the windows to create a real effect. If I had a smallish dress form I would have used it for the attic window, but I don't so I settled with a stained glass effect,with some left over Graphic 45 paper ,a flower brad and some Sepia Glossy Accents
was looking for a fence in fact I asked a couple of friends, for a die,but to no avail, so when I saw the fence dies at the opening of Sfragidomania I thought there is a God...and then when  I saw the little key dies I was ecstatic!! This is what I  did with them.


For the detail on the other side I cut out the tree and birdhouse, coloured the birds and covered them with Glossy Accents,  for some definition, I also used Stikles on the Christmas Tree and on the Holy and some of the roses. 
                                       
I have left the back for last, even thought I finished the back of first...this is what I did....I first added ribbon tags on each box so as to pull open easier, then I added the little something into each box.....#25 has the main part of her christmas presant in it.I stacked and glued boxes together leaving 6 for the roof.I then drew there shape onto the back of the Jillibean  paper and serrated 3 of each side of each box and punched a hole at each box too,  I wanted a way to seal the boxes so as no cheating could happen. Once all this was done I stuck the paper onto the sides of the boxes and  also to the sides and top of the house.

Once that was done I covere the side of the remaining 6 boxes and the stuck them together to form the roof and then I stuck the roof structure onto the main body of the house with masking tape.I then cut out rectangles of Prima Annalee,Parlour and trimmed them with my Fiskars border punch to make the roof  look "tiled"
I then added the little bird and some icicle dies as well as some wool to give a snowy effect.
I also decorated the house with some ribbon to make it more dimensional and I also did some finger stamping to give the walls some texture, Lastly I added some roses.......
Make one its fun!
I will stream tonight at 9pm at  Zeffy Scraps USTREAM so as to answer any questions, this show will be in English so as to accomodate my English speaking readers as well.
Keep well.
Love Zeffy

Friday, November 12, 2010

Gate- Fold Mini

Hi there ladies,
I have not been aroung much as I have had a lot on my plate recently. Anyway things are on track now, still have a lot to do but I will get there.
The videos of my first gate- fold mini, are just before this post so scroll back to see them or click here for PART 1. and PART 2 It is rather big and chunky,maybe I should have used a different binding! I used a lot of Pink Paislee papers as well as some Basic Grey,7 Gypsies and Bo Bunny.
I have not even had a chance to photograph it so the video will have to do for now. The video has two parts...enjoy.
I have also just finished a very exciting project for Irinis' blog Get Creative so keep a look out for the next post!!
I am going to PACS in Paris on the 25th of November ,so a lot of things need to get prepared, I have also started a new mini album so join me on Zeffy Scraps on USTREAM on Sunday the 14th  at 9pm so that you can have a chat and take a loook at what I am up too...
Be happy, love
Zeffy.

S.A. Surprise Part 2

S.A. Surprise- part 1

Monday, November 1, 2010

Its almost Christmas.

Hi there  Friends.
I wish you all a very good month...
I was very honoured when Irini from Get Creative asked me to be the Guest Designer  for November. And the challenge for this half of the month was to make a Christmas Card.
I have always said that for commercial purposes to make Christmas more attractive to all Christ has been taken out of the picture so we have the word Xmas....and X can be all sorts of other things.
So when Irini asked me to make a card I started looking for a picture of the birth of Christ....thats whats its all about!!
I decided to draw onto our rich Orthodox heritage  and make a card depicting the Nativety  of Christ.
I had a sketch that the Nuns at the Monestry of the Dormition of theTheotokos in Panorama, Thessaloniki gave me, they use these big sketches 20x30 for  their iconography classes. So I scanned and shrunk it down to 10x15 and then printed it on matt photo paper.


Once I printed my image I coloured the halos with gold paint. For the patterned paper I used Graphic45 Renaissance Faire Collection, Awakening and for the solids I used Core Color Core'dinations. The little title is stamped and heat embossed with gold.
I wish you all a very creative November...its going to be a busy month!!!
I will be streaming on USTREAM on Wednesday evening at 21H00.I will be making Christmas tags.Join me.
Talk again later..
love Zeffy.

Monday, October 25, 2010

A Quick Post!

My L.O. for   Get Creative.   The challenge was to make a blue and white page  and we had to add the word "NO"....as we have a national holiday,in Greece, on the 28th of October.
This is my quick take on the challenge...I must rush off now, and no it is not to tea!
Chat later.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

So was I sewing or scrapping?

Hi there Ladies.
I have just come home from the opening of our friends store Sfragidomania.It was lovely to see all my Greek scrapbooking friends, I had not seen them since before summer.
Today I want to share with you a L.O. that I made for Elins's challenge. we were to use only one paper and one title. I thought of this challenge whilst putting up hems of about 8 pair of trousers.......I much rather could have been scrapping,you understand?
I used the pieces of denim that I cut off of the trousers to make  flowers you can watch the video here Zeffyk on USTREAM



I used a Hambly die cut and some Hambly transparency ( I won them at the Lotto at our last crop!)
I sewed around the 2 sides of my paper with my sewing machine.
I was doing this L.O. on USTREAM and I had pulled out some Basic Grey alphas that would have worked perfectly, But then I realised they were paper,and we were not to use any other paper! So I decided to write my title,and then just highlight it with some Glossy Accents.I also had an embossed matal strip that I used,as well as a little scissors charm. Once I did my journaling I decided to stamp around the page, I wanted the stamping to look like embroidery.

Good-Night

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Birthday wishes in a Tin!

Hi there .
Today is my darling Panos' Birthday!
When he unwrapped his gift he got excited,almost like we do when we see scrapping stuff, anyway he thought I had bought him a new tin of  Macanudo Cigars.
I used a thin metal for the cover,and for some of the tags. I inked up all the metal with alcohol inks.

The back page was A purple  cardstock, that I had embossed at one of the crops with a friends Cuttlebug embossing folder. Anyway  I ditressed inked it,  and then I glittered and modged it all up, to give it a metalic feel.


Before I link up the video I also want to tell you that I will be streming  Here on
 Monday the 18th of October at 17H00  Don't forget that I will be drawing the winner and runner up of my Celebration Blog Candy on the show.
And lastly her is the video of Wishes in a Tin
Ok Folks thats all for today,off to ice the Birthday Cake!
Love Zeffy.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Sunday Afternoon..U and I on USTREAM

Hi ladies,
A quick post to say, live streaming this afternoon at 17H00.....Here.
I will be showing you how far I am with my South African  Gate Fold Mini. I will also continue with another page or two,this is how my first page looks so far.
I will make a page or two with you this afternoon and then I will start another project, something for MDH s' birthday next week.
My address on Ustream is as follows:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/i-am-zeffy-and-i-love-2-scra
I don't know what I was thinking when I signed up.....no there is no P after -scra!!!
Just before I sign off.....have to go and cook as I  have some friends coming over for lunch, I want to say THANK-YOU!
A big thank-you at the amazing response that I have had to my "celebration candy" and a big welcome to all my new followers. I will be drawing the winner on the 18th, I will be doing that streaming session in English if some of my non -greek followers join us on that day....
That's all for now folks, chat later, bye.
Zeffy

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Cyber crop time at Life on the {Scrap}Beach

Hi here are my 3 challenges for the crop on Life on the {Scrap}Beach
#1 Zoombie Attack....we were to use something from deep down in our stash...I hauled out my very first paper pack...just love it!! ...BG Romani collection and someK and Co Glitter Die cuts ,also my very first ....  JUST LOVE MY NIECE ATHINA xxx
Now #2 is Fangs for Noticing...we had to pierce our paper and decorate ...I pierced holes and sewed the top and bottom of my pattern paper with a bit of hessian type rope... This L.O.will also be entered in another challenge Crafty Croppers gr that needed to have autumn leaves on it...I made the leaves...using dabbers and cracle medium.
Then lastly the third challenge was #3Howl at the Moon....here we had to use something unusual...I used a butterfly that I embroided instead of a stamp inside a frame that I painted and perfect pearled.This will have to be a card for a special person!.....stamping is a lot faster!
Ok...thats it for today...enjoy the rest of your Sunday and don't forget I have Celebration Candy for 2 lucky gals!!!See previous post.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Celebration Candy

Yes, yes, yes, I finally have my act together and I have my blog candy all lined up!
Reasons to celebrate......
                                 My blog is just over a year old.
                                 My birthday went by last month            
                                 We will be married for 28 years on the 4th of October.
                                 My DH Panos has a birthday on the 16th of October !
I have decided to draw the winner live on  USTREAM Zeffy Scrapson the 18th of October.
Please join me on Saturday morning at 10H00 USTREAM Zeffy Scraps and I will explain and tell you all about the blog candy and the 2 prizes that I have. I will be starting a Gate-Fold Mini to house my S.African memories.I am planning to use papers from one of my new kits....come and join me at my desk and you will see.....
Ok Gals off to cut up some chipboard!
Have Fun....oh dear! Forgot to tell you the blog candy rules.....you all know them......leave a comment, please and post a link on your blogs. GOOD_LUCK
Filakia xx

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Blog candy from Lena

Lenas birthday give-away....visit Lenas blog to win a chance to win, some lovely paper.
Lena you have reminded me that I have a pile of things to give away too....better get going and get my act together...talk later.
xx Zeffy

Monday, September 27, 2010

Wedding Guest Book for Val.

Happy Monday to all my Friends.
 I hope that you are all settling down to your Autumn chores and that you are all getting ready for a creative winter.
As promised here are some photos and a video of the guest book that I made for my sister Vals' wedding.
I had to use papers from my stash as the wedding was planned in 8 weeks ,so I used mainly Prima papers and a couple from Jillibean and EK success. the rub-ons were mainly from Jilly Bee.
Enjoy.
                                                                      The Hall


                                                                  The Guest Book
Some of the tags
                                                                      The spine
                                                                The Video
                                                 Guest Book for Manolis and Val