I Love Thee - Zeus and Zoe - May Challenge

 Hi Everyone,  the new Zeus and Zoe challenge for May is inspired by a beautiful mood board that Riikka has created.  You can find all details 'HERE' on the Zeus and Zoe blog.  

My inspiration this month comes from the contents of the mood board, and I had a lot of fun in combining my Zeus and Zoe kit contents, with the sponsor items.  

Our sponsors this month are Couture Creations, and May Arts.  It was fabulous using such beautiful products - the beautiful lace die above and below on my layout is from Couture Creations.  I also used lace which I dyed with Shadow Mists, and leaves from  May Arts. The leaves I actually painted, and then inked to get that earthy appearance which teamed nicely with the colour hues already used.

There is a fabulous prize this month, consisting of 20 yards of  May Arts ribbons, lace, trims. 

  and.....a random prize (below) of a gorgeous die, and embossing folder pack from Couture Creations. 

 The photograph I scrapped for this layout is of my Mum, with my Grandfather, and my Aunts Helen, Janet and Diane.  I am unsure who the blonde lady is and must ask my Mum!

I loved the words below and thought it would be nice to incorporate as a tile.

The old doily, key, papers, ornate yellow jewel piece and flowers are from my Zeus and Zoe kit - Marivic puts together the most amazing kits, and even custom makes them for her customers.  You can find the Zeus and Zoe Etsy Shop 'HERE'.

I will be back later in the month with another creation to show....

Sandie

Ornate Tag Using Old Buttons - Scrap For Help

This months challenge theme for Scrap For Help is 'Buttons'.  I have collected old buttons for many years- with a fascination for all the older intricate details.  We don't see buttons like this anymore!

Scrap for Help is a community blog - promoting friendship and the use of recycled products around the globe.  Each month there is a challenge, with the theme's each being related to using something that is able to be recycled.  There are a number of wonderful sponsors who support in generous prizes, so please call on over and check the challenge out, grab some inspiration from the International design team members, and perhaps take the time to participate.

You can find all the current challenge details 'HERE'

 I adore vintage, so I created this tag with a vintage element, with the picture being the main focal point, and opulent button flowers, and roses to decorate.  The button flowers were created by making pinwheels from vintage lace.  All I did was gather the lace with a needle and thread and carefully sewed the ends together - forming the pinwheel.  A vintage button highlights the lace pinwheel.  So simple! 

 Products Used:

Antique/Vintage Buttons and Lace

I am Roses, Roses

Cheery Lynn Designs die 'Olive Branches'

Bazill Cardstock

Vintage Picture

Ranger - Distress Ink 'Walnut Stain'

Spellbinders Die - 'Labels Two'

Ribbon

MPress - Die 'Peaked Frame'

Vintage Memory Book - Meg's Garden

All products for this project can be purchased from 

This month Meg gave the DT members a challenge for February, to create something either Vintage, Victorian or Parisian.

“Vintage Memory Book”

Created using a Kaisercraft wood album, painted with Gesso, and aged using various mediums. I have left the pages blank to show the gorgeous detail in each of the papers. The papers used come from several different card makers, paper packs, available through Meg's Garden. Envelopes were added, which would be perfect for holding memorabilia, photographs or journaling. Paper doilies were used to decorate, as well as, beautiful guipure laces and fussy cut elements from various Meg’s Garden papers. A range of flowers were used, and other trinkets. 

The envelopes I used in this album, are a heavy duty and a high quality so they will stand up to the test of 'time' (sorry there was no brand as they have been in my stash for some time).  The envelopes were perfect to create journal/memorabilia pockets throughout the album, or even to hold extra photographs.  Eyelets are important, so the envelopes do not tear over time.

Megs Garden Products Used:

Various Papers from Card Makers Sets

Several Laces

Various Ribbons

Tassels

Chipboard Frame (aged via crackle medium, paint and inks)

Vintage Images

Transparency

Paper Doilies

Tim Holts Tickets

Pearl Strand

Other Products:

Friskas Punch

Hand-dyed variegated silk ribbon

Cheery Lynn Designs dies

Distress Ink

Crackle Medium

Gesso

Various Paints

Brads

1st prize - Vintage Image Craft & a New Challenge for Valentines Day

I have been meaning to blog about my 'win' for weeks, and just have not found the time to do so.  Today, I was going through my list (I live from lists) of things to do, and ticked this one off as 'done/completed' - phew!  Sorry Martin and Scott (proprietors of Vintage Image Craft), but I know you are such wonderful people, you will forgive me... LOL

In December, I won first prize for my Christmas Cat, Book-Card, in the Vintage Image Craft challenge!!!  I had a wonderful time in creating this card, which was inspired by the beautiful papers at Meg's Garden.  I also completed a tutorial for this book-card, which can be found "here".You can view my entry "here".  As a first prize winner, I received the most amazing book called  "Scraps" by Elsebeth Gynther and Christine Clemmensen .  It really is an amazing book, with so much inspiration.   I spent way too much time 'reading' and not blogging this post!

This month, Vintage Image Craft has another challenge running with some great prizes up for grabs. You can read about their current challenge "here".  All the information can be found on this link, and also is available (along with free vintage images) on their facebook page - "here".  Worth entering, very much worth checking out the entries for some inspiration and of course, great prizes to be won!

I am so hoping that some of my blogging friends will enter.

Taken from Vintage Image Craft's website:

Creative Challenge
February 2012

Valentine Ornaments!

What special ornament can you create with a romantic Victorian Valentine image like this one?

Romance! Flirtation! Unrequited love! Requited love! Hang around for our Creative Challenge, February 2012 - Valentine Ornaments! Submit your craft photo, and if your Valentine Ornament craft is selected, you will win a new copy of "Paper Cuts," the beautiful book by acclaimed paper artisan, Taylor Hagerty.

You begin with a vintage image of a Victorian Valentine. Download FREE images from VIC's Facebook page, now into February. Or you can purchase ready-to-print Image Books from our VIC Store.

Cut up those images and craft a hanging ornament that expresses the glory of love. Through February 8, you can submit your Valentine Ornament craft photo to VintageImageCraft -- and you are in the contest!!

The top three winners will share adulation, international acclaim, and PRIZES!

SUBMISSIONS

• Your ornament can be suitable for a Valentine tree, a wall, a ceiling fixture, a doorway, or a door - anywhere you can hang something.
• Use a VIC vintage image, free on Facebook or purchased from Vintage Image Craft, for your Valentine ornament.
• Incorporate any techniques, including collage, assemblage, altered art, stamping and/or distressing.
  

    Submit your entry by February 8, 2012 by sending

• photos or scans of your artwork (up to four)
• a full description of the techniques, materials and products you used

    Winners will be announced by February 11, 2012.

JUDGING

Entries will be judged on creative use of vintage images, design, color, materials and textures, embellishment, techniques, and pure whimsy. The judges are Scott Henderson and Martin Bray.

PRIZES

First Prize is a copy of Taylor Hagerty's beautiful book, Paper Cuts, 35 Inventive Projects from Lark Books. This book takes paper crafting to a "cut above." The folk-art tradition of paper cutting has become the new darling of the fashion and design worlds. Taylor Hagerty builds on the trend, drawing on a variety of cultures—from Mexican to German to Chinese—and brings together today's top artists. The result is a collection of 35 smart, fresh, and contemporary projects, including party ware, centerpieces, and more. The book is a $17.95 value (donated by Lark Books!).

And a prize beyond value: The winning craft and artist will be displayed on the VintageImageCraft Home Page!

Second Prize is ONE download of a VintageImageCraft Card Book of your choice, an $8.99 value.

Third Prize is ONE download of a VintageImageCraft Image Book of your choice, a $4.99 value.

VintageImageCraft invites you to submit your
"Valentine Ornament" by February 8, 2012!