Creating to create

So this week has been less creative than I would have liked.  Instead, I've been spending my time creating materials to help other people create.  I've been working on workshop flyers, business cards, and other marketing tools.  I enjoy this type of work, but I need to tangle before the day is done.  Even if this week's focus hasn't been on my own craft, it's exciting to think that I'll be helping other people begin their artistic journey with Zentangle®.  I also booked a few more classes too.  I can't wait.

Diva challenge: break free

This week the Diva challenged us to "Break Free" from the usual border that we often use on a Zentangle tile.  She encouraged us to go outside the lines of our coloring book and to picture images in the clouds.  I didn't have trouble with this one since I typically ignore my borders.  I had fun with this one.  My dual Paradox in the middle didn't come out quite as cleanly as I would have liked, but I'm pleased with the overall result.  I like the look of my internal border.

Challenges are a fun way to keep your hand in your craft and to push you beyond your usual boundaries.  Give one a try today!

Oops there are no mistakes in Zentangle

While I was working on a Zendala tile, I had planned to alternate sections using two different tangle patterns.  I enjoyed the coloring in of my squares so much that I colored right into two connected sections.  It wasn't how I intended the tile to look, but it ended up being great.  I had planned to use Purk in every other area, but I abandoned that idea immediately and kept coloring--quite happily, I might add.  It reminded me that there are no mistakes in Zentangle®.  This happy accident encouraged me to go with it and to keep having fun coloring despite my original plan.

Zentangle art evolves and isn't all mapped out in the beginning.  Even if I have an idea in mind, it's great to be flexible enough to see what happens.  New shapes, new ideas, new inspiration can change everything!  Hmm, this seems like a good way to approach life, doesn't it.

Here's the tile:

Logo is a No Go

After seeing a tangled logo by Christine Turner Gardner, CZT at Tangle Party, I decided to create a challenge for myself.  I designed a "logo" that I could tangle.  It was fun to do, and I like the end result as Zentangle Inspired Art.

I think I'll still play around with this, but I need to get a better scan first.  I may try cropping it as well.

Diva challenge 85

This week's challenge from I am the Diva was to use the tangle Copada created by Margaret Bremner, CZT.

I love this tangle!  I reminds me of one of my favorite tangles, Cyme, so I had to incorporate them both.

Even better, I enjoyed doing this tangle in my car while my daughter was fast asleep in the back seat.  I tangled to the sound of her deep breathing.  I was so relaxed and focused that I didn't notice her music was still playing on the CD (which is saying something since we've listened to it 800,000,000 times).

Here's my Zentangle tile:

A few days later, I threw Copada into a Zendala tile I was working on, and here's the end result.

A Wonderful Crafternoon

I spent a truly wonderful day with a dear friend catching up and crafting.  In the past, our craft days involved scrapbooking and/or card making.  I tended to agonize about my scrapbooking to the point where I'd get very few layouts completed.  I stressed about where to place the photos, what to write, and which embellishments to use.  I enjoyed scrapbooking, but it was draining and often left me frustrated.

Today, I brought my Zentangle® supplies with me and some current projects.  I completed my first Zendala tile and was thrilled with how it came out.

I did the trick that Rick and Maria, the founders of Zentangle®, suggested of holding the tile out in front to get a different perspective.  It looked even cooler!  I can't wait to do more of these.

My friend made some lovely holiday cards with great colors and texture.  I'll add a link to her blog when she puts up some pictures of her finished projects.

While playing with her Stampin' Up supplies, I fell in love with a bird die-cut she had for her BigShot.  She handed me a cut out bird and wing and said I should tangle them for her, so I did.  It was such fun. I played with tangles I learned during my CZT training and explored some other favorites.  The wing has a 3-D effect that added to the design even more.  Here is the finished project:

The day was amazingly creative and delightful.  Instead of stressing about a scrapbook layout and not getting much done, I produced some pieces that I loved.  More importantly, I enjoyed the process and had a relaxing day.

The next time I pick up my scrapbooking supplies, I'm going to try to approach that craft with the same "one stroke at a time" philosophy of the Zentangle® method.  Maybe I won't stress as much with other crafts I love--maybe I'll love them even more.

To invert or not to invert, that is the question.

After working on a tile featuring IX, to make sure I remembered how to do it from the CZT training, I started to play with my editing software.  I was interested in the inverted color mode with respect to this tile.  I think I'll have to try doing IX in white ink on a black tile to see if it's similar.

I absolutely love this pattern!  I find IX complex but very easy to do.  It's a great one for filling in a tile and getting into a zen mode for me.  I find myself immediately in a relaxed state because I don't have to think too much about it.  I just make sure to count the lines if I really get stuck.  Auras in threes.  I think this will be a go to tangle when I'm stressed about something.