Zeus and Zoe Blog Hop

Welcome to the Zeus and Zoe blog hop July 2013 

The exiting design team at Zeus and Zoe is leaving with a trail of pretty blooms. Of the handmade variety. Come join us for an amazing blog hop where you can learn how to make pretty blooms and win some amazing prizes along the way!

There are 6 fabulous RAKs to be won. All you need to do is leave some love at every stop along the hop. You have until 11.59pm EST on Wednesday 31 July to leave your comments for your chance to win! Winners will be announced on the Zeus and Zoe blog on 2 August.

If you have come here from Dana Tatar's blog, then you have come from the right place! ;-)

Today I want to share a tutuorial with you on how to make paper flowers.

These are really easy to make and since you can make them yourself, will fit any project as the colour and size can be adjusted to fit your needs.

Flowers are always great on projects, and so if one can make them yourself, so much the better and is also less expensive than bought flowers.

Firstly choose the papers you would like to use.  You can either use patterned papers or cardstock.  Roughly draw circles on the paper, with 5 divisions. The divisions do not have to be equal, it's actually better if they are not. Make different sized circles, as the smaller ones will have to fit into the bigger ones, and will them be layered.

Tear out the circles.

Now tear along the division lines and ink all the edges, inside and out.

Take a skewer stick and roll the edges of the petals around your stick. This is the reason why you need to ink inside and outside, as when the petal is rolled you see the back of it.

Here is the result below of turning all the petal edges. I know it doesn't look like much now, but believe me, the end result is worth it. You may now need to ink more, so if necessary then do so.

If you have a rounding tool you can now use this, or otherwise just use your fingers to make the centre of the flower rounded.

Lastly, it is about putting the pieces together, to make a stunning flower.

Try and sit them nicely within each other, but not petal within petal.

Add a button or bling or brads, whatever suits your style of project, and voila..you have

a beautiful flower.

These are really versatile and easy to make.

Here is an example of these flowers used on my card.

Well I really hope you will try these...

Here is a little giveaway from me.  Please leave me a comment and and tell me if you are a lover of blooms, like I am! ;-) A random winner will be announced on Aug 02.

Next you need to go and say hello at Marivic's blog.

Happy Birthday Joe

Hi Everyone

Today is a very special day in our household, as my son turns 6!

I cannot believe how the time has flown and that he is six already! Time certainly flies, but I can honestly tell you that I have loved every minute of it and he has brought so much joy and love to us!
Happy Birthday my boy and wishing you every sweet and happy blessing.

Here is the card I made for him.

I am off to get ready for a family lunch!

Wishing you a super day!
Denise x

Today Be Happy and Enjoy Life

Hello Everyone

I hope you are having a super Saturday!

I have a page to share with you with for the current CSI challenge here.



And here is my page.

This photo was taken at the park down the road from us, where the pathway into the park has this arch of Jacaranda tree's. One would think that it's spring or summer, but was taken about 4 weeks ago.  This winter has been so mild that the trees have not really lost their leaves and the grass is still green in many places.

I used Teresa Collins papers Now and Then as well as Everyday Moments. I also did a lot of stamping on the background with some Bo Bunny stamps and a Pink Paislee stencil. The chipboards are Celebr8. The flowers are Prima and Petaloo and my leaves a diecut from Seart Craft.

The title is all about my journalling too, and this is documented on the "Recorded" tag under the photo.
My journalling says this: My wish for you is that you would live everyday to the fullest.  That you would know what you want from everyday, and that you find the things that you are passionate about.  Live what you love and love the life you live! Find you happiness and joy in all things, and enjoy and nurture the small things!

It is my sons 6th birthday tomorrow and so is simply all the things that I wish for him as he grows and lives each day.

I hope you find some scrappy time this weekend.
Take Care
Denise x

Little Fisherman's Tales - Skissedilla Summer Sketch

Hello Everyone

I hope you are having a super day!

I have a page to share with you for the Skissedilla summer sketch.



I loved this sketch and so really wanted to put my hand to it.

I took some photo's this evening, and is the first time that I have taken photo's at night, and so hope you will forgive me, if they are not 100% correct. I really did try and get the lighting etc right and so hopefully they pass! ;-)

I used some Basic Grey paper from my stash and was really pleased to do that! It's from the Oliver collection and is quite old, but still super. The little birdie among the leaves and the frames are also Basic Grey as well. I used a Spellbinders die-cut for the leaves, and W&M alpha chippies, with some Websters alpha stickers. The can of worms sticker is Karen Foster and was just really cute for this page, but actually, when one does fly fishing, one uses just feather flies and no bait. So this sticker is just  for creative purposes!

I coloured some gesso with brown paint and then did some background stencilling, and once that was dry I added some water paint drippies.

These photo's were taken, on our recent weekend away in Dullstroom.  Joe loved fishing, and was just happy to cast out, sit back on his haunches and wait! LOL! Admittedly this wasn't for any huge lengths of time, but at age 6, patience is not exactly their strong point.

The title is also a little fun, as normally it would be Tall Fisherman's Tales, but in this case, since Joe is little, it's Little Fishermans Tales! ;-)

Anyways, thanks for stopping by!
Have a super evening!
Denise x

Oh so Sweet and Handsome - MME Sketch Challenge

Hello Everyone

I hope you are having a good day today!

I have been thinking to myself lately and really wondering if I have a particular style! I love so many different types of styles and sketches, that I combine many of them and so really wonder if I have a signature style!

I look at Keren Tamir's work (for example) and anyone looking at a page of hers, can probably have a pretty good idea that it was she who designed it. I am not so sure that anyone looking at my pages could say...ah...that looks like Denise's work! I just like trying everything and seeing how it all works out.

Am I the only one that questions this, or is it not really that important to put a label to everything?!
Anyways, just a thought and one I have been pondering for a while.

So that said, here is the MME sketch for July.



Here is my take on it.

I used the Kate and Co. - Oxford Lane collection. I think it's so fabulous for boy pages, especially with the navy and green papers.

I used MME stamps from the Lost and Found 3 collection, and one stamp from 7 Gypsies, along with Echo Park alpha stickers.

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

I hope you have a super evening!

Denise x

Card - Bo Bunny Card Challenge

Hi Everyone

Welcome to Monday and hope it treats you gently.

I have a card that I made for a friend that is leaving our workplace for other employment and so I made this card, which is going to be signed by about 120 staff.  So it had to be robust, and also a little bigger to accommodate this.

Here it is.

I used the Country Garden collection.

Thanks for stopping by...
Hope you have a super day!
Denise x

Reach - Prima PPP July

Hello Everyone

I am really loving today and have managed to get quite a few things done! One of them being this page for the Prima PPP.




Initially this was a little daunting for me, as I really don't have to much of these colours, especially in Prima papers.  However, I thought a few touches of these colours would probably be just fine.

I used a combination of the Engraver Collection and Life Time. I wanted to keep the page really masculine and so did not use any flowers.

I did some gesso stencilling and then added all my little bits and pieces, along with the photo.

This photo is of my brother and this layout is about him reaching out and taking hold of the things that he really wants, and holding onto them, if he truly wants to.

Thanks so much for popping by.
Hope you have a super Sunday!
Denise x

Wonderful - Prima BAP July 2013

Hello Everyone

I am really pleased it is weekend and I am able to get some time to scrap and just get some projects finished, that have been sitting on my table this week.

So here is the Prima BAP sketch.

Here is my take on it.

This page really took quite a bit of time, as I firstly did some gesso stencilling on the background and then had to die-cut all the flowers and swirl leaves. But I am pleased with the result and it was well worth the efforts and time spend.

I used a combination of the Fairy Belle collection and the Nature Garden Collection. These papers are just so stunning and I have been waiting for the right project and design.

Even though these papers have some darker tones, I really wanted to create a soft page and I think I managed to do that.

Thanks so much for

Make Waves - CSI Case File no.80

Hello Everyone

I hope your week is going okay and hopefully Friday is making it's way steadily to you! ;-)

I finished my CSI Case File for the challenge here.



As you can see, it has great colours and a super sketch.

So here is my version.

I used the Pink Paislee Nantucket collection, which was the perfect colouring for this page. I applied gesso and also added 3 different spray inks, which also have a little bit of a sheen.

Evidence: Triangle photo corners, flowers and texture paste
Testimony: Documenting Summer

My journalling is at the back of the page and says this:
There is nothing better than a beach summer holiday! Where all we do is swim,sand and sea! This was our 2011 holiday at Umhloti and the kids had an absolute ball! It was bliss to just relax and enjoy the sun, water and each other! To me, there is nothing better!

Thanks for popping in!
Your visits are always appreciated!
Denise x

Time Flies - OUAS July Challenge

Hello Everyone

I have had such a busy day, that it is actually so nice to just sit behind my PC and just have a few mins to post this page today and just relax a little.

My page is for the OUAS challenge.

Journalling Theme: "Grow"

So I went and found 2 photo's of Joe, 4 years apart. It was amazing to see the difference and this is what I wanted to scrap.

So here's my page.

My journalling in the little envelope says this: My Sweet Boy, you are growing up so quickly! Just the other day you were a baby boy and now you are already turning 6. I love you more each day and love watching you grow! You will always be my Sweet Boy!

I used My Little Yellow Bicycle Saturdays Collection, and love that the diecut piece was stitched. I then did some gesso stencilling on the background and added all the bits. The flowers are also from the Saturdays Collection, with a few Petaloo flowers thrown in between. The chipboards rounds are Enmarc Crafts and the corners Celebr8. The leaves are Petaloo as well, and are coloured with Enmarc Dazzles.

I cannot believe how the time has flown and my baby boy is no longer a baby! In a way I am sad, but in another, so love the relationship that we share now. He is certainly growing tall and I hope that we will always be close.

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Denise x

Happy Days - Scrap Africa Challenge no.19

Hi Everyone

I hope you had a super weekend and that Monday has been gentle on you.

There is a new challenge at Scrap Africa here and is all about PATCHWORK.
It would be great if you could join along.

Here is the page I created.

I used Echo Park Happy Days papers and stickers. The chipboard arrows are Wilpro and the background stamps are Bo Bunny.  The rings were created with gesso using my circle template. The red enamel dots are My Minds Eye.

Last week we took the boys for some bowling and bumper cars and so I got some really cute pics of Joe.  I thought it would be fun to cut out the little car image and just use that.

I really like how this page turned out and is just fun and happy!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

I hope you have a super evening!

Denise x

Sisters/Friends - Berry Bleu Anything Goes July Challenge

Hi Everyone

I hope you have had a good week, and are seeing the weekend in sight! I am mighty pleased to be home already! Let the weekend begin!!!! ;-)

I have a canvas to share with you today, which I am entering for the Berry71Bleu challenge, here. So here is my project.  It measures about 60cmx60cm.

I used Bo Bunny Prairie Chic papers. The big chipboard is Celebr8, and the alpha chippies are W&M. The flowers are Prima, Petaloo and no-name brands. The swirl crystals are Prima too.

I firstly gessoed the big chipboard frame to the canvas and then added layers of gesso, cheesecloth, sprays and paints. Then I randomly stamped and added fussy cut Bo Bunny hexagon papers on the canvas.  Lastly, I added my photo, with the blooms and bits.

This is one of my favourite photo's of my sister and I, taken at her 40th birthday party. It really is testament to the fact that we are good friends, as well as sisters.

Thanks so much for popping in!
I really appreciate the visit!
Have a super evening!
Denise x