Be Safe

Hi there..
I just love it when I can combine 2 challenges....As you all know this past week I was creating projects for Paper Issues Online Crop and this time around it was Mary-Ann's Grid Challenge....I was so happy to see that we could also use circles, because the Major Case File on C.S.I  had a sketch with circles on it.

 

I have had this photo of my son skiing  in my "To Scrap" pile for ages....so here is my page.

 

 

 

As you all know one one has to use  at least two items from the evidence list, and one prompt off the testimony list.

So my evidence is.....grid pattern, camera, circles and metal...I have string too.

For my testimony I used key words on my circles- my boy,champ. Thrilling and so thankful...the speedometer shows his love for speed and the little circle next to it says play, because he plays hard!...However I felt that I needed to write him a little message too...

" Michael I know that you love to have fun, but, please look after yourself, because you are precious to us. God bless you."

My circles were too busy so I journaled just below my title.

 

Before I log off.. I would like to thank all of the Ladies that set the challenges for the Paper Issues Online Crop...I managed to paricipate in 11 challenges.....enough already!

I am off to do some art journaling!

Keep well.

Zeffy

 



 

 

Scraps...do we keep them???

Hi there again....
Twice in a day!! Yes I thought I should write this post, while everything is fresh on my mind...
At this stage you all know that I am busy with the Paper Issues On Line Crop, and I have been frantically scrapping.
Well over the week-end I opened a drawer of my Alex unit, and all of these paper strips popped out at me!! Yes, yes I keep every bit of pattern paper...we pay top  $ for paper here in Greece...shipping alone costs an arm and a leg!
I decided there and then that I would HAVE to challenge myself to use them for Danielle's Paper Pattern Play.....I left them aside and let idea stew for a couple of days...and yesterday the plan came together...

So I lightly stuck the strips onto cardstock....video will be posted below.. I machine stitched randomly...found a print of one of my paintings on my desk....and the photo was lying there too...I was keeping it aside for one of my Life Book 2014 lessons.
So, I decided to incorporate all of the goodies...that is how I roll..I.like to gather things off of my desk...I guess that is why I have a messy desk.

Anyway I gessoed the papers, dried them well and added color with a GaranD'Ache Neocolor,'YellowGreen' and some mist...then I masked the little crosses with a Grape Gelatto....
Added lace, my love...home-made flowers and some rub-ons as well as some embossed watercolor paper....and Voila.

 

Here are the videos.

 

That's all folks...xxx Zeffy

Sleep Safely.

Hi there again.
Three posts in a week....I told you that Paper Issues On Line Crop gave me a kick up the you know what....I have been scrapping like a lunatic!!
I combined challenges today, seeing that I used a big,long title...This was Michelles challenge on P.I.

You all know that I love doing challenges at CSI,,,,and seeing that I wanted to scrap my favourite photo of 2014....I decided that it was a perfect colour combo!

 

For evidence I have misting, animals,some lace,and a long title. My testimony is my journaling directly and the page and it starts with "Then she relaxes and all that energy is at rest.Even at rest she gives me great comfort.To cuddle and hold her while she sleeps gives me great comfort and immense joy.GOD BLESS HER..."

 

 

Stay Rad

Hi Again.....

I told you I was on a roll...
Here is a L.O. that I completed this week-end when I cropped with friends on the island of Aegina...
this page was totally inspired by the moodboard on Scrap Around The World and it was also my entry for Paper Issues On Line Crop.The challenge here was to add stitching to our page.

 

 

I used Crate Paper "Boys Rule" for this page....I hand stitched with string down the edge of my photo. I also machine stitched around my page and over my embellishments...this photo was taken in May of 2013......

 

We were hosted at our friend Aleka at her shop in Aegina...she sells hand-made items anything from altered antique furniture,to hand made jewellary  and scrapbooking albums....photo was taken by our Guru,Eleni Gratsias.
That is it for now.....lots more to do today...I am all alone and having an Alpha Scrapbooking Day ....woopee!
Love.
Zeffy.

yes scrapbooking again...

Hi there,,,
I want to thank Paper Issues for the kick-start that their On-Line Challenge Crop gave me....I have made a ton of pages these couple of days...ok not a ton but at least 6 projects....I do not have much time to show them all to you today, here is the one I finished last night.The challenge was to alter a cut-file.

 

I used a very old Prima Paper...I painted and decorated the heart cut file from Wilna Furstenberg I played with paint and wrote and cut the word love...I loved the effect that the acetate flowes gave the page...
will be back with more soon...
Zeffy

Hi there...

Hi There, everybody.
I have been a terrible Blogger.....I know, I know!
Life has become so fast, and time just seems to run away! So sorry.

I have however been doing some on-line classes and my most recent craze is watching Wilna Furstenberg's videos I have also been following some of her classes...real value for money.
The L.O. below has been inspired by Color Theory Workshop By Wilna....on Studio Calico

Today I got a kick-start in actually sitting down and scrapbooking...nothing that some adrenalin to get one going...Paper Issues has An On-Line Crop running this week-end.

This is for Kelly's Design Team Challenge , and we were to scrap ourselves.......I was inspired by Wilna's warm colours lesson...the cut files are Wilna's beautiful designs....
I scrapped a photo that was taken especially for me to use as a profile photo when I set up my blog in the late summer of 2009.....scrapbooking has given me so much happiness!
Hopefully I will be back on Monday with more L.O.s as I am going to Aegina with my friends to an all day crop.....need to pack, My target is 3 pages !
Have a good week-end.
Lots of love.
Zeffy.

Cool Cats

Hi there
Blogging twice in a day...talk about being on a roll.....
I managed to finish this page today....even though I had a tough time looking for a photo where the subjects did not look very impressed!
This is for Color,Stories Inspiration and one of the journaling prompts was Grumpy Cats Meme......
I chose this photo of my Sister and I not looking very impressed with the sight of a camera on the beach....

 My Journaling reads  "No photos from the waist down PLEASE! Remember we are over 40!
Cool Cat Sisiters relaxing in the sun! Mytilini 2012.

I have flipped the sketch  to read horizontaly...I have used an old rub-on that is a definition of observation...that is what cats always do.....I have used a banner, a cat and some string for my evidence.... oh yes I have also doodled around my title and a little around the page ..can you spot the doodling?
Enjoy Saturday...
Love
Zeffy.

Smile,Laugh,Play

Hi there Dear Friends.

It feels so good to be scrapping again!
As this is the first L.O of the year I decided to make it all about me....
Color Stories Inspiration has a collabaration with Words & Paintery this month ..and today is the last day to enter.
Seeing that the theme at Words & Paintery was "this is the 1st day of the rest of your life" I thought it would be b perfect for a first L.O. of the year......

My theme here is that every day is the "First"day of our lives if we choose to make it so!!

 

I loved the colours this week.....I used a 7 Dots Studio paper "Soulmates" as background...it took strain with the mediums......so I backed it on black cardstock,

I added a see-through element music tissue paper, some Gesso, then some teal paint...I then coloued some water coloring paper with some mists to achieve the True Blue....I decided to add 3 words as a title so there I have my 3 of something. I have hearts moulded with texture paste, a strip of ribbon, metal, and bling.

 My journaling is as follows " HERE &NOW find joy in the ordinary. Today and every day can be the beginning of a new start! Remember each day to try and better myself. Today is a day to remember to smile, laugh and to play and above all to remember to love."

Wishing you all a very good week-end.
Zeffy

Affirmation Feathers

Hello there Friends.
Yes January is almost over and I have not wished you all a very Happy New Year.....
I have been a BAD Blogger and an even worst Scrapbooker.....I need to get back to my Lay-Outs!!!
I have however been playing with my paints....I have signed up for Life Book 2015...and I am up to date woop woop
Here are my paintings from Week5
My Affirmation Feather...lesson by Tamara Laporte

I also enoyed the Lesson by Rachel Rice even though ,looking at it now I think it is a little flat!

 Once I was done last night I looked at the water-colour paper that I had coloured for the feathers, that I had all ready to go and on the spur of the moment I made a little Prayer Box....a first for me...the Midori style booklet hold a little written prayer.

Keep well...have a good week-end....I am hoping to tuck into my scrapbooking today.

Love.

Zeffy

 

To The Point

Hi there Dear Friends....
It has been hectic around here...as usual.
I have been, shopping around for pretty tea-cups and old embroidery,,,,,I have been making pin -cushion and needle-books
I hardly know how I am going to part with them as I love them all!!

the inside of my needle-book.

And my favourite vintage tea-cup pincushion.

Hopefully I will be pulling out my Christmas goodies later this week.....
Keep creating...
Zeffy

Blessed...A quick post.

Hi there Dear Friends.

This week-end I was blessed to crop with a lot of my friends.

I used a photo of me taken abou 30 years ago...so we can call this a vintage page..ha ha!

As you all know I am dabbling with paints too and I am doing Tamara Laporte's Life Book 2014
I did this page on Moday it was a lesson by Tamara....theme for this month is contemplation on Celebration and Growth.

Keep well...have a good week and remeber we have 63 days till Christmas!
Love.
Zeffy

You & I.......A perfect Team

Hi there .....
Luckily the weather has cooled down and it is a lot easier to create now...
I had such craetive satisfaction creating this page last night....
Thank-you CSI for the very fun inspiration...I enjoyed making this page. without pattern papers...this is a picture of the case file.

This is my fun page......

I used Gelatos for my colour....greatly inspired by Wilna.
Before logging off I want to give credit to Tamara Laporte for helping me grow with her Life Book 2014 lessons.
And a fellow South African whose videos I love to watch and that has such a fresh style , Wilna Furstenberg,  we both went to the same University in Pretoria, the city in which I was born.....both these gals are so creative I love them!

Keep well have FUN xxxx.

Love Forever

Hi there Friends.
A week has flown by again......amazing how time flies!
I have had this L.O. in my head for about 10 days now...ever since I saw the challenge on
Scrap Africa's blog.....to create something vintage so I thought yummy lace and ribbons......
I decided to use a vintage photo of my Father and Mothe In Law......

I also like to play along at CSI....as I love their color combos as well as their journaling prompts...even though this week my journaling is not so revelant to the prompt...
I thought the colours would be fabulous for a vintage feel and I love the result!

The only bold scarlet color iIhave on the page is the flowers I am sure that will be fine....once again I have used a number of the evidence items even though one only needs to use 2.....I have wooden hearts,stripes and tree branches...I have used moulding paste and  misting with perfect pearls for my wet medium....I also have a couple of lace curves....
My journaling talks of an adventure...I think marriage is a HUGE adventure!
"Love Forever. 13 Januart 1957.
On a cold wet Sunday 2 young people that had been in love for a long time, started a new adventure together.10 full moons later  a son was born to them. A year later a move to  a new continent down South.!"
 I am wishing you a blessed Sunday...I have crafty Friends coming over to play today,,,,,what fun.
Kisses
Zeffy

2 See The Sea

Hi there dear neglected Friends.

The Summer of 204 has just flown by.....I thank the Lord for a very blessed Summer....Lots of family time and a lot of special places were visited........

One of the places I have been wanting to go to for years now has been the island of Symi....I was blessed to be able to go there with my DH...I eventually was able to visit the Monastery of Archangel Michael Panormitis.

These photos were taken on Symi.....you all know that I love the sea, so I thought a page dedicated to my beloved sea would be fitting for the end of Summer.

Color stories Inspiration better known as CSI always has beautiful inspiration and color stories, so I played along again today....

I have my journaling in a cloud..in a sort of a couplet form..."To see the sea on a boat.To feel the sea while afloat-heaven-"

I always say that I feel the sea in my veins I feel it in my DNA. The sea is my heritage and I love it!

As evidence I have used a cloud some string and 2 small brads, I also have some stripes and triangles...one only needs to use of these prompts but I always enjoy using as many as I can!

Keep well, enjoy each and every day.

God bless.

Zeffy

Special Moments and Say Cheese Faces

Hello Friends.
I do hope that all in the Northern Hemisphere are enjoying their Summer and that all of my Friends down under are keeping warm and snug.

I have not participated in challenge blogs for ages...I was very inspired by the mood board of Scrap Around The World iy is the first time that I have joined the chalenge on this very interesting site.....

The cotton reels inspired my Grid design and I used tulle on the birds to represent the feathers....I also decided to use a blue and pink button....the shoe inspired the placement of my arrows.

AND because I always play on CSI and I am always inspired by there Case Files I played along this week...and I hope to join in again on a regular bases!

As I always like to challenge myself  to use a lot of the evidence, I have two pieces of paper one with polka dots and the other with gingham...can you sot them? I have a birdie with blue tulle wings and a little fox too....What does the fox say??

I am currenrly on a lace binge so I wanted to use a doilie.....I have a scrap of ribbon too , the arrows are a stamp that I carved onto a cheap eraser....

I journaled around the edges of the pages and I wrote how happy these two little faces make me....their Mommy took these photos with her mobile phone one morning...in fact the morning of her birthday!!

Keep well dear Friends.

Love

Zeffy

BLOG HOP with a DIFFERENCE

Hi  Dear Friends.

My very good friend and Guru as we love to call her Eleni Gratsia has me to join this blog hop.
Eleni is always an inspiration to me and she always knows a thing or two or three and I am honoured that she asked me to play along, and for giving me a kick start to get my blog going again!

The aim of this hop is to tell our readers a little bit about how we function as crafters......I have spent an hour ot two reading blogs and trying to trace the origin of this blog hop but, to no avail......I went as far back as June 9th to Lynns' blog A Moment In Time...but it still goes further back and it has many, many branches as each blogger introduces another 3 Friends......so happy surfing!

What am I working on right now?
As many of you know I am currently at my FIL home on the island of Lesvos, so I have a limited amount of things with me.... see previous post for video.
I had packed photos for P.L. and for a couple of L.O.
I had packed a pack of precut cards...to decorate.
And lastly I wanted to catch up on some of my Life Book 2014 lessons, this week the lesson was a short one by Finnabair

This is a mixed media page...I had limited Distress Inks with me.....and for the base I used Prima ATC cards ripped up.....the laces are sprayed with very old Black Tea leaves that I found in my FIL pantry....at least 25 years old!!I have used some of my vintage findings to embellish my page.

How long does your creative process take?
I only spent an afternoon on this page as I immediately knew which photo I wanted to use and what I wanted to say...even though it was not according to Anna's prompt!.... Creative licence.
The time I spend on a project varies according to many factors for example how much time I have time to craft, I often need to come back again and agian to finish of a project, due to othe commitments.
MOJO...... decision making.that can take long when MOJO os missing!
I often take things that I think I may use from my stash and lay them out...I never choose papers in the night!

And lastly time spent on a project depends on the project itself....  for example a mini album can take me days to complete as I do tend to get very finicky about tiny details and finishes.....luckily I have a space where I can just leave my things till I am ready to take up again....as long as my Grand-Son is not around!!

What are my current favourite things to use when creating?
My favourite things vary, and my appetite for creating is very vast..I like to try new things all the time....currently my fetish is lace and doilies, and lots of vintage (junk) items.

I found this stash of treasure in town last week and I have used it on my projects...the lace , the star and the chain with leaves...

I love flowers, my Gesso, texture paste...I love making my own stencils on my Silhouette....as well as my own stamps.
Often one thing leads to the next...for instance on this page we needed to use tea to spray our page...I ended up dying pieces of lace and doilies as well as paper.. these items lead to further inspiration.

My Style??
I do not know how to answer this question, I know that it is not CAS as much as I try when crafting with my friend Aliki.I do not seem to get it right...and I hate to copy other peoples work....I want it to be my own...
Maybe you guys can tell me what you think my style is?
I guess my style is what story I want to tell and what emotion I want to show......My style also depends on what project I am working on.....I love Mini Albums, ATCs, tags, altered matchboxes, scrapbooking L.O. and Art Journaling, Gelli printing.....
I also do believe that when creating we should  just let ourselves go and not overthink things too much, and in this manner our projects will become are our very own and individual creations.

What  Inspires me and how do I remain inspired?
I want my work to tell a story.......I want my children and Grand-Children to be able to look at photos and to know what I was thinking and what I was feeling....
I scrapbook to create a lagacy for the next generation...I want to tell everyday stories as well as stories from yesteryear......I want to express my emotions through my art and at the same time I want to heal my soul....
I am inspired by my children and by my family.....
I remain inspired by all of my crafty friends in Athens..and by all of the many wonderful friends I have made on the net......each and everyone of you sows a seed of inspiration.
Each and everyday brings new inspiration by things and colours around me.....I am so blessed...I just wish I had more time to create all the things in my brain....I often dream of my projects!

3 Old Friends.....and very talented to boot!
I met Irini Liolia on the same day as I met Eleni. It must have been on a winters day in 2008...we had been chatting on the web, so we decided to meet in the center of Athens, ...all 3 of us are of Greek heritage but we were all born in different parts of the world! Irini in Australia, Eleni in Canada and I was born in South Africa.....a crazy concoction indeed!
What I love about Irini is that she just gets things done...nothing is a big deal...she just does it...and she is a wizz with her mists, spraying and dripping. She also makes the mosy beautiful little crochet flowers......a lady of many talents!

I went to our first crop in 2010 with  Vicky as we  both live in the same area in Athens......I sat next to her....she had never done a L.O. before...she only used to make guest books and cards.....she dared to dare....and once she started playing with paint, pretty paper and photos, she became crazily addicted to scrapbooking and moved from strenght to strenght and has not stopped since...go for it Gal!!

Last but not least I need to tell you about Roula....my sweet sweet friend, who LOVES glitter!
I love her fresh, crisp and always original style, a person that can accomplish anything she sets her heart on, from guest books to L.O.s to party favours, to jewellery, to decorating sandals......but best of all was her latest idea a 'Lemonade Stal' to refresh guests at functions...I loved the concept!
Please pop over and visit these blogs they are a true inspiration!

If you made it to the end of this post I thank you for reading to the end...
Many Blessings.
Zeffy

My Inner Eye...lesson by Tamara Laporte                              A    card with vintage lace

August Again.

Hi......
Yes I am still alive and kicking! I have neglected my poor blog......
It is Summer here in Greece and I write to you from a lovely balcony overlooking the cool Agean with a soft wind gently blowing.........the very same balcony  on which  I set up my blog a number of summers ago....

I have  taken some time out and have been very busy being a Grand-Mother to the lovely addition to our family....she is 5 months old now....

I have been doing some arting namely Life Book 2014.//..and I highly recommend.the course. I will post picture of my work in my next post.

As my poor neglected blog shows I have not done any challenges, but I have been scrapping I have been doing Project Life type of  pages with the odd full page spread thrown in betwen the PL sleaves.

My latest craze is lace and I have just finished a guest book for my Grand-Daughters' baptism next month....I guess you will have to wait till then to see the creation!!!

As you can see from this quick video I did bring a couple of things to keep me busy, here on the island....a suitcase full in fact...my poor Hubby had to lug it onto the ferry for me!

LIfe here has been hectic, we go for a morning swim at 7 am.......a lovely habit, and it is great to have the whole beach to ourselves...then I have been slowly spring-cleaning the house, we had painters over, so there was a lot of cleaning to do...washing and hanging up curtains is a tiresome job to do when it is so hot and when you have a pile of crafting waiting for you.

I have however managed to do most of the things on my To Do list....I had made and packed a packet of about 15 blank cards in various sizes, I have made about 6 and in closing I will share one that I made with my new Julie Nutting stamp.

Remember Life is Good...go out and enjoy it and make some fantastic memories....promise to chat again real soon.
Zeffy.
In Lesvos.

Wednesday 246

Hi Folks..
It is Wednesday again and I have been MIA...again. So I thought that today I might play along with the curious crowd of WOYWW
WARNING it is not NEAT!

Under the pile of junk..that I need to put away or maybe even throw away, I rarely throw away paper...what can I do?  I hoard the stuff...hence the messy enviroment...
Anyway, as I was saying under the pile of papers ,I have some images from my Life Book 2014 lessons...I succumbed and signed up. And I have not regretted it at all!...These images are going to become pop-ups,this was a very challenging workshop for me, it was hosted by the amazing Jane Davenport.
I do not know if I will be brave enough to post the finished page....we will see...
Keep well, I am off to see what everybody else is up to.
Zeffy.
 

Learn and Grow

Hi everybody.
Yesterday was my little Boys' birthday, so I decided to do a page about him.....and yes time flies, this photo was taken 18 years ago!

 

Case File 109 on CSI was mainly about reading....and I promise you this photo has been in my pile of photos on my desk...it is slightly scratched....and I am on a quest to get that pile of photos documented!!!I decided to make a pile of books as one of the pieces of evidence is to stack something,

 

I have journaled in the little book that says memories.
Michaels photo is on an excercise book that is labelled 'Life Skills"
I am so proud of my title in my own handwriting, cut on my new Silhouette....

Ok back to CSI dor evidence I have: book pages, something stacked, silver element,
My testimony is im my book of Memories.
Keep well ...enjoy your Sunday.
Zeffy

Reflections.

Hi there Friends .
I want to share a L.O.that I created on Zeffy Scraps on USTREAM this week.

 

I was inspired  for the colours of thos L.O. by the Special Case file for Scrap365 on CSI I love the challenge icon and the colours are my absolute favourite!!!
I have flowers, jewels, metals, fabric, decorative border,  textured paper, lace and velum...I did not stamp on this L.O....wonder why?
For my Testimony I journaled in a blinged up journaling spot and I wrote a little love note to my daughter that is hidden in the vellum envelope under the photo.

The crazy Masking and Misting that altered this BoBunny paper beyond recognition is due to the fact that SCRAPBOOKING GREECE wants us to get inky this month.

I used my LindysStamp Gang Mists and an old tattered Angels mask to mist my page.....I also gessoed out some of the details on the paper especially the top corner that is all glittered so that I could add my journaling...The butterfly was an image on the paper, that I cut out and covered the hole in the paper by my photo.You see my process on my video.
Some details on my masking with various mediums.

Thanks DeAar for helping me name my L.O.

Keep well.

xxx

Zeffy