Zendala Dare #88

Zendala Dare #88

This is my first completed Zendala Dare; template is available through The Bright Owl.  The templates are outline zendalas ready to download, print and tangle.  I think the most amazing thing about this process is the zendala you start with sometimes ends barely resembling the original.  And the tangles create the magic with color placement.  

If you compare the original template #88 from The Bright Owl, you can see the dramatic difference just in the addition of three tangle patterns with the picture below.

There are only three tangle patterns used here; Paradox, Girders (used in the center) and a fan type fill I used at the top of each segment. Paradox is available here on YouTube.  Paradox provides many varied and interesting results based on the shape you start with.  If this statement sounds confusing, watch the video and it will become more clear.  I started thinking I was going to apply color in a certain way and when I set the piece down and then walked by it later, the sections popped out at me in a completely different way.  So that's what I went with.

After printing the zendala outline on an ink jet printer, I used Canson semi-transparent marker paper as an overlay and traced the zendala in non-photo blue pencil.  After all of the tangle patterns were added I photo copied the piece onto Xpress It Cardstock (specifically made for Copics) and added my color.  I also applied the same color technique to the Canson which works very nicely and saves a photocopy step.  Both papers are great with inks.  

Color was applied with Copic markers:  R22, R24, R29, BG10, BG13, BG25, V12, V15, V17, YR21, YR23, YR24 with warm grays in W1, W3, W5 and W7.

Tangles patterns drawn with a Micron .01 pen.

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Tangled Peacock Moth

Tangled Peacock Moth

Tangling and Copics, that's been so much of what I've been doing lately.  All I can say is it's so much fun to see things take shape and I just want to start another!

Ben Kwok posts such beautiful blue line templates on Facebook that adding the interior design with tangle patterns and then color application with Copic alcohol markers provides so many creative avenues.  So here is the moth template with a few design changes of my own.  I continue to want to give a peacock feel to everything, I hope the moth doesn't mind the cross breeding!  I'm still experimenting; I've used the micron pens in 01, Copic alcohol markers, graphite pencil and a glitter brush on Xpress It card stock.  That's about it.  I need to take a break and get back to my watercolors soon.  Well, maybe one more tangled template.......

PHYLLIS WITH TWO I'S - EYES!

Meet Phillis!

 

My son-in-law requested a sign for the front of his Russian tortoise's new home located in the "tortoise habitat" of their yard.  Phillis, spelled with two i's, because Phillis has two ;-), is a very lucky girl.  You can't believe the splendor!

That said, the request was made for natural colors so I started with a latte colored, handmade pastel paper.  It presented some challenges because of the softness and texture but in the end I enjoyed working with it.  I used mostly an 05 Micron pen for the tangle patterns and an 08 for all of the outlining. This is by far the largest  piece I've completed using tangle patterns; the outlining and letters alone took seven hours.The piece finished up at 16 inches square or there about and I finished the edges with a deckle edge pair of scissors.  Phillis (the picture) is at Staples as this is being posted, waiting for lamination.  I thought about all kinds of different all-weather coatings and finally ended up with lamination.  The finished piece will be adhered to plywood, sealed and hung on the new house. 

I had an enormous amount of fun working on this and it's spawned a whirlwind of nature images in my head.  I best go feed the beasties!

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LIMITED COLOR CELTIC #31

 

 

 

I posted this same Celtic knot last week which had Copic alcohol pens applied to the entire piece.  This week I wanted to try the same knot with a limited amount of color to see what the results would be. 

 

I used a cobalt turquoise #153 Faber-Castell PITT pen for the blue which turned out to be a good choice.  The reason being when I shaded with my Copics, the blue did not move at all when the alcohol pens were applied on top.  Had I used Copics for the blue I probably would have had issues adding the shading in grey.

 

The shading was done with Copics W0, W1, W3 and some W5.

 

 

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CELTIC CHALLENGE #31

 

 

The above Celtic knot is offered up in answer to Judy West's Celtic Knot Challenge #31.  I'm not submitting this piece because it does not comply with the parameters of the challenge in that each and every section had to contain a different tangle pattern.  I just couldn't bring myself to put 36 patterns in this one piece, I have no courage.  So I used a wee 6 tangle patterns and some color and this is what I got.

 

The piece measures 8 x 8 inches, was drawn on X-Press It card stock for alcohol pens and I used my Copic markers for the color application.  Then things sort of went sideways when I decided to use a graphite pencil to shade the intersections of the tangles instead of just sticking with my Copics.  Don't know what I was thinking but lesson learned.

 

I still had fun with this technique, I'd never tried a Celtic knot combined with tangle patterns and it's the first time I've combined my Copics with tangling.  All in all I'm glad I tried it.

 

 

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Alcohol - Pens That Is! Really?



Take a few very creative women, add great surroundings, lots of paper crafting supplies and tools, a generous supply of Copic and Marvy alcohol pens, shake and serve for a weekend of fun and productivity!

That's what happened this weekend at Scrapbook Connection's event house in Warrenton, Oregon.

We focused on the Marvy and Copic lines of alcohol pens and the voluminous information offered to produce some really fantastic focal images for paper crafting projects.  After getting a little practice under everyone's belt, we moved on to combining Elizabeth Crafts Designs and Glitter Ritz products using alcohol pen techniques for detailing.  The result was extremely gratifying and oh by the way. . . we had a great time!

Becky and Terry showing off their first practice image.

Paula deciding a real cup of hot chocolate might be next!

Jeannette Hayward, owner of  Scrapbook Connection

Here are a few works in progress:

We started at 10 a.m. Saturday, held class, had a great dinner in the well equipped kitchen, worked and played until 2 a.m., then fell, pleasantly tired into comfy beds all ready and waiting for us.  I should say, I was in bed by by 2, I heard this morning at breakfast that the fun went on until 4a.m.!  When people start creating with no distractions and great people to talk to and share with, it's difficult to stop!

With breakfast over it was back to the work tables, and me?  I headed home to attack the laundry and take a nap!

By the Way:  You can now find me at my Etsy Store: Crane Island Comforts and on Facebook!

And don't forget to follow me here!

Until next time, enjoy life.

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Poppies, Poppies, Poppies

I'll be posting a series of cards I made as Christmas gifts for family this last holiday season.  The cards were combined as a set of twelve in a very simple, upholstered box constructed for the dimensions of the twelve cards.  The color scheme for each box was chosen with the particular individual in mind.

Initially, I was designing a totally different box, much more complex, but after two months and 96 cards later. . . I revised my plan!

I'll be posting photos of the boxes at the end of this series to give you an idea of how choices in cardstock and pattern can make such a dramatic difference.

I'll also be posting the recipes for the cards as I go but of course, couldn't find my notes for this first one, poppies.  Hope you enjoy anyway and keep checking back. . .or. . .better yet, "follow me" on my blog!