Challenge 123: Is it a zentangle?

This week's challenge was to get back to the zen of zentangle and not use any existing tangles or tangleations - really to get away from thinking about what tangle you are going to use next.  It was more difficult than I thought but once I got going with it I really did just take the next step and let it evolve.  Oh, I should also say that I used a pre-strung zendala to try help the process get started and take some of the thinking out of the equation from the get go.  It took a lot of time to complete over several different sessions and ended up being way more colorful than I ever would have imagined.  I started creating with a red micron, since I have been trying to use a little color lately, but once I started adding the colored pencil it really got lost.  That is when I just started going over all the red with white gelly roll pen.  It was an interesting experience and a nice change but I am ready to get back to my tangles.

Happy Tangling!

New Tangle: Hako

This is a tangle I discovered on a recent trip to Epcot in the Japanese Village.  There was a wooden box with a pattern I thought I had not yet seen in tangles.  It can be built one block at a time and allows for personal variation/tangleation.  I don't think it quite fits into the idea behind the grid (un)tangled as I first hoped, but I think it makes for a fun new tangle.  AND it easily allows the tangler to create depth within it as well with the aura'd boxes floating over the grid.  Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Happy Tangling!

Blue Rock

I decided I needed some more paperweights and had a few more rocks.  I tried one in blue and didn't like it till I added in the white highlights.  It was kind of blobby (is that a word?).  I think the white added some definition and helped make it more delicate and lace-like.

Happy Tangling!

Challenge 121: UMT Birds on a Wire

This week's Challenge from the Diva is a Use My Tangle Challenge.  This week it is Birds on a Wire from Mary Kissel, CZT.   It took me 3 days to find the time to complete it, but I got it done.  Yay!  I decided to try another zendala and this time to use a sienna colored pen. I used a white sakura gelly roll pen where I colored with the sienna pen.  I used colored pencils to shade and color in some areas.   

Tangles: Birds on a Wire, Printemps, Barber Pole, Tipple

Happy Tangling!!

'Nzeppel Stones

I have seen a lot of stones on Etsy that have a crochet covering over them and look like they would make funky paperweights.  There is simply no hope that I would ever be able to create one of those for myself, crocheting and knitting are two skills that seem to completely elude me.  My mom tried to teach me once and she was on the floor laughing at me.  This was the first and only time I have ever seen my mom rolling on the floor laughing.  Luckily for me though there is a lovely pattern from Rick and Maria that can mimic the crochet covered stones, 'Nzeppel.  I created these for my office one white rock with black identipen and one gray rock with white Sharpie oil based paint pen.

Happy Tangling!

Project: Zentangle Inspired Art - Tangled Tin Frame

I am a big fan of Mexican folk art, Especially Dia de los Muertos and I have been collecting it for quite a while.  One thing I don't have is any tin art from Mexico so I thought I might try to make some of my own.  I was inspired to try this way back at Christmas time when I saw my nephew's tinfoil art on the fridge at their house.  It looked like a stained glass window and was colored with Sharpies.  It reminded me that I had bought metal tape that is used for duct work (I think) at the hardware store and had done some tangle etching on it a few years ago.  At the time I had also bought alcohol inks (which I love) that I knew you could use to color the metal - but had never considered you could get the same results from Sharpies.   Here is my finished frame and the steps to get there.   

Start with a plain wood frame found at any craft store.  

Cover the frame with the metal tape and then use an empty ball point pen to etch your tangles onto the surface.

You can add color to your tangles to create a vibrant and colorful piece.

Here is the top colored with tangles: fringe, zinger, cyme, tipple

Here is the side colored with tangle ojo

Happy tangling!