Zentangle-Diecut Fusion

I've had a sudden need for small gift packages to hold smallish items that are easy for gift giving.  I wanted these packages to be attractive too.  I think that a handmade item is always wonderful to share, especially when I know that the recipient will appreciate the love and care put into creating it.

I have spent a great deal of time creating tangles that resulted in a piece of Zentangle-inspired wall art.  This framed artwork has become invaluable to me in so many ways.  I immediately felt the wonder of relaxation while tangling.  Seeing the progression of my artwork, by my own hands, was amazing to me.  Having completed a framable piece of artwork was incredibly satisfying.  This particular work continues to make me feel such accomplishment.

Again my wall art has come to the rescue.  I've scanned my Zentangle-inspired art work then printed it to both sides of a sheet of Bazzill Smooth cardstock.  Yes, this is my own pen and pencil to paper handwork and with the help of technology, as well as the Sizzix Big Shot Pro die cutting system, I've been able to create these small gift packages to meet my needs.

This photo shows my Zentangle-inspired matchbox.  I've added a strip of Bazzill Black bling to the match striking area.  A Tim Holtz alterations sizzlits rosette and Spellbinders flourish adorn the top.

Here's a view of my Zentangle-inspired carry all box.  The only embellishment needed was a bit of fun fur for the handle.

This photo shows my Zentangle-inspired candy-shaped box looking lovely with simple bows tied to each side . . .

Now I'm ready to add my little gifties!  Sweet and simple is good.

I encourage you to find a Certified Zentangle Teacher in your area and experience the wonder of Zentangle for yourself.

I'm entering one of these projects into the following challenges:
Cupcake Craft's "DIY Background Paper" (here)
Papertake Weekly "Anything Goes" (here)
Charisma Cardz "No Cards" (here)
Cute Card Thursday "Anything Goes" (here)
Moving Along With The Times "Last Minute Christmas" (here)
Creative Card Crew "Tis the Season" (here)

Zentangle: Ideas Worth Spreading

I was thrilled to accept an invitation to participate in a TEDx program early this month at the Princeton Public Library as a guest instructor to share the art of Zentangle.  In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, the Princeton Public Library organized a cornerstone TEDx (Technology, Entertainment, Design) event to bring people together to share a TED-like experience.  As Zentangle is a meditative art form, the library's TEDx event team recognized how incorporating Zentangle into their program would further enhance their ideas worth spreading theme.

I am pleased to share this photo showcasing the Zentangles created by my workshop's participants, many whom had never heard of or tried to tangle this way before.

As there is no right side up or upside down to a Zentangle, these Zentangle tiles look magnificent no matter which way they're positioned . . .

The rest of the evening was full of fabulous motivational speakers and performances.  If you're lucky enough to have an organized TEDx event in your area, I'd strongly encourage you to attend.  You won't be disappointed.

Zentangle-inspired Sizzix Big Shot Pro Bag with Handles

I'm looking forward to our family gathering for our Easter Breakfast meal and want to include a small candy filled favor at each place setting.  In comes the Sizzix Big Shot Pro Bag with Handles.

I printed my previously scanned Zentangle-inspired art on both sides of plain white cardstock.  The Sizzix Big Shot Pro Bag with Handles made it so easy to die cut the shape of this perfectly sized favor bag.  The scored lines made it simple to adhere the tabs.

Double-sided printing allows the inside of the bag to showcase tangles too.

In just minutes, I was able to add a little Easter grass filler and several varieties of individually wrapped chocolates.

A simple bow of ribbon tied around a handle adds a sparkle.  This pretty little favor bag will likely be a great conversation piece for our gathering.

May your Easter be overflowing with sweetness!  Enjoy!

(You can find my other Zentangle-inspired Sizzix Big Shot Pro projects here and here.)

Continuing A Love for Zentangle

There is something so incredible to me about meeting groups of people, guiding them through this simple and meditative art form called Zentangle, then admiring their final work.

This photo shows some Zentangle tiles created at a March workshop . . .

The tiles in this photo were completed more recently.  On a fine Saturday in April, Sam invited some dear friends to her lovely home to introduce them to the Art of Zentangle.  How fortunate I was to be there too!

Many of the magnificent Zentangle tiles shown in these photos have been completed by wonderful people who have never heard of Zentangle.  Before their first tiles were completed, they wanted to learn more . . . in a much calmer way - LOL!!!  Gotta love it!!!

Zentangle-inspired Sizzix Big Shot Pro Square Box with Lid

I liked my Zentangle-inspired Sizzix Big Shot Pro Pillow Purse (here) so much that I thought I'd try something similar using the Sizzix Big Shot Pro Square Box with Lid die.

For this project, I printed my previously scanned Zentangle-inspired art on both sides of plain white cardstock.  (Now that I've refreshed my ink cartridges, my printer is happy again and this time it did what I asked it to do - LOL!!!)

Here's the outside of my little box . . .

. . . and here's the inside!

Having all of those tangles on the inside of the lid and box bottom makes me happy . . . it looks just like I thought it would.

This tangle-patterned box needs few embellishments so I just wrapped some sparkly Beaux Regards Melody 3/8" Black Jack ribbon around the lid, including the inside.  A few McGill branches punched out of Bazzill Bling in white and black added a light filler for my rolled ribbon rose.  Studio112 self-adhesive pearls helped to dress up this box top:

It'll make a beautiful party favor for any occasion.

This Sizzix Big Shot Pro Square Box with Lid is just 2 1/4" x 2 1/4" x 2 1/4" so I can't fit anything very large inside.  It may hold some type of jewelry . . . Hmmm.

Zentangle Tiles from Intermediate Class

Six wonderful individuals gathered, each bringing their own style, background and life's perspective.

Then, they created these similar yet very unique works of art . . .

Same products.  Same instruction.  Same guidance.  Different outcome.  Cool, huh?

Zentangle-inspired Sizzix Big Shot Pro Pillow Purse

There is no right side up to a Zentangle pattern which makes it perfect to use as a background for Zentangle-inspired paper crafting projects.

I spent some time last autumn filling an 8x10" piece of Zentangle-inspired art for framing.  I scanned my completed piece with the intention of reproducing it on an iron-on transfer for fabric.

After playing with the Sizzix Big Shot Pro Pillow Purse (here), I wanted to see how my Zentangle-inspired art would look on a die cut project.  First things first, I printed my black and white image onto smooth, white cardstock.

Yikes!!!  My printer, acting wholly on its own, added red and black stripes throughout my Zentangle-inspired work.  If my printer were anything but mechanical, I'm certain the words spewing out of my mouth then would have at least hurt its feelings.  I could have thrown that paper away and tried again but this is, afterall, a Zentangle-inspired project.  So, in the true spirit of all things Zentangle, I simply moved forward from that moment and continued on with what I had.  Can I turn this blunder into something nice?

I placed my newly printed, now striped, sheet of cardstock over the Sizzix Big Shot Pro Pillow Purse die and ran it through the die cutting machine.  Hmmm.  This just might work.  I attached the handle using black mini brads to allow the handle to be movable and adhered the sides.

I folded a strip of 5/16" Offray sheer black ribbon to the front flap and added a set of magnets for closure.  Using the scraps remaining from the die cut purse, I used a 1/2" circle punch and added these pieces over the magnets.  Cool.

I still had enough remaining scraps to die cut one large and three small Sizzix 3D flowers and curled them to decorate the front of my Zentangle-inspired pillow purse.  A few McGill punched branches, some with a thin layer of Diamond Stickles, and a touch of ribbon made a nice flower cluster.

This little purse is large enough to hold some Zentangle tiles, a couple of markers, a short pencil and more.  I think it will make a nice gift package that can also be displayed.

As the Zentangle patterns wrap around to the back and bottom, all sides are decorated nicely.  Here's a view of the back . . .

and bottom . . .

I guess I need to go now and find out why my printer added red and black stripes to my print job . . .

The Magic of Zentangle

Zentangles aren't supposed to look like anything.

Zentangle is an abstract art form.  You do not intentionally plan the outcome.  There is no goal or expectation of what it's supposed to look like.

Sometimes, though, a Zentangle unfolds into a wonderful, magical surprise.

Check out this little guy!  The more I look at it, I see a little running star, with a backpack full of great things, waving his arm as he shouts, "C'mon!  Let's do something cool!"

I don't have a "D" in my name but would love to share this with someone who does.  It does make a very cool "D"esigner Zentangle.  Or "D"iscover.

If a Zentangle can be related to symbolic journaling, then I really have to wonder about this one.  LOL!!!  Was it the result of my subconscious wandering toward the approaching ghoulish festivities of Halloween?  Or something more sinister?  I'd be worried about a professional analysis of this one.  LOL!!!  It kind of gives me the creeps.

If someone showed me any of these completed Zentangles, I would have thought I couldn't do it.  In fact, I probably can't do it the same way again.  LOL!!!  If anyone tries to recreate them, they may look similar, but each one will be as unique as the individual creating it.

Zentangle is a very cool art form that inspires very unique, unlimited, individual creativity.  No special "artistic" talent is needed.  The outcome is always uplifting and magical!

Find a Zentangle workshop in your area, taught by a certified Zentangle teacher (cZt), and "do something cool!"  You can find a current list of cZts here.

Copic Creations Colorless Blender Tricks! Challenge

The current Copic Creations challenge relates to Colorless Blender tricks and techniques. The sponsor of this challenge, Pink Cat Studio, is offering 5 digi images to a randomly selected entry. Find out more about this challenge and Pink Cat Studio here.

At least 20 very cool ways to use Colorless Blender quickly came to mind. I should add that I have 4 different 0 markers (Ciao, Sketches and Original) that I keep with me at all times. They’re like my personal Copic life preservers. I have replaced a couple of the large bottles of Colorless Blender various ink refill and have a regular sized bottle for ease in refilling my 0 markers. I use A LOT of Colorless Blender.

Important Colorless Blender FACT – The Copic Colorless Blender is really misnamed. It is NOT a blender. It is an eraser, a pusher and a fader but it will NOT blend. This is why when you first tried to blend with it, you wondered when you forgot how to color, put your markers far away in a dark corner, and were discouraged from trying to use them again.

It is an eraser, . . .

If you accidentally place color on the outside of your image lines, try pushing the dried color back into the image by using your Colorless Blender. Place the tip of the Colorless Blender at the farthest edge of your misplaced colored line and push the color back toward your image line. It is ok to touch the line with the Colorless Blender tip but do not cross the line into your image or you will erase the color that you placed there. If all color was not successfully pushed back into your image, let the spot of Colorless Blender dry well and then try again.

. . . a pusher . . .

• The Colorless Blender can be used to customize and create distinct texture.
• Use a spritzer filled with Colorless Blender for a cool textured look.




Dabbed with Colorless Blender dampened paper towel


• Dabbing quickly, pounce a Colorless Blender dampened paper towel over your image. Watch as the Colorless Blender pushes color around the image creating a soft, natural, highlighted texture.
• Use the Colorless Blender to create designs in dry images.  When the tip of the Colorless Blender is held over dried marker color, the wet Colorless Blender will push the color away from the Colorless Blender solution and allow a faded or whiter design to show through. Doodle, polka dot, curl, swirl, move the tip of your Colorless Blender around the area. Either the brush tip or chisel tip will work. The longer you hold the blender in place, or the slower you move the tip around, the more pronounced your design will be.
• Add “drops” or larger “bubbles” and “pebbles” by touching Copic inked areas with the brush tip of the Colorless Blender marker until the color moves out of the way. Lift the marker then do it again for a stronger spot.
• To create simple bricks, use the chisel tip of a Colorless Blender and touch the angled side down and hold for few seconds. Watch the color push away and form a frame around a rectangle shape the size of the chisel tip. Place the chisel tip next to that block and form another. Continue to create a row of bricks. Begin a new row by staggering the “bricks” to make a natural looking brick wall. Use this technique in a more random pattern to give a confetti look to a background.

 . . . and a fader . . .

• When the tip of the Colorless Blender is used over damp marker color, the wet Colorless Blender will fade the color away and allow a very soft, velvety, muted color to show through.
• Blender pre-soaking is a way to maintain smooth, even, overall coverage when filling very large images.
• Fill a water brush with blender solution and pick up color from a palette to use Copic ink to create a watercolor look (only way to use Copic ink on watercolor paper).
• To use for Emboss Resist with clear and white embossing powder, while the colored area of a heat embossed image is still wet with Copic ink, wipe over the heat embossed raised lines with a smooth section of a Colorless Blender dampened paper towel. Swipe towel softly over embossed area to avoid scratches in colored area. As the colored area and the Colorless Blender solution dry, the colored area may show signs of a marbling texture.
• When using Copic ink to color directly onto stamps, fill stamping area with Colorless Blender to moisten. When you place your stamp over the moistened area, the Copic ink will remain on the paper, leaving a very clean-lined image.
• You can also apply Copic ink directly to your stamps then spritz the color with Colorless Blender to moisten the stamp. The image will appear to have a more water colored affect on your paper.
• Use the Colorless Blender to create designs in wet images.
• Bring your images to life by Fading with Colorless Blender to emphasize areas of strongest highlights and reflective qualities of shiny surfaces.
• Use the Colorless Blender to fade edges to white and soften color lines.  Remember when fading edges to white with the Colorless Blender, add lightest color only to the shadows and use Colorless Blender only on that color’s edges. The objective is to fade the color, not erase it. Keep the Colorless Blender away from the shadows and/or the lines of your image.

With that said (whew-LOL!!!), I finally decided to fuel my newly acquired addiction to repetitive patterns and combine use of my Colorless Blender as a pusher for creating Zentangle-inspired card art.

I used my QuicKutz Special Delivery gift set to die cut a scalloped card and mat. I love the soft, fluffy look of airbrushing so I sporadically added some autumn colors to the card front.

Once the airbrushed color dried well, I began adding slow, deliberate and overlapping strokes of my Colorless Blender to push the color out of the way.  I intend to cover the center of my card front with matting for my image so I only pushed designs around the card edges to create a framed area.

Pushing Designs with Colorless Blender

In fact, the moisture from the Colorless Blender pushed the color out of the way AND right through to the other side of the card front! I considered covering the inside then found that I like the subtle design there.

Pushing Designs using the Copic Colorless Blender is a fabulous way to add texture and dimension to fabrics, like the sofa that this Well Read individual from My Favorite Things stamp set is resting on.

Create your own patchwork quilt for Get Well cards using this pushing designs technique. Add texture to clothing by pushing and fading. If you need highlights that are soft and natural OR crisp and rigid, then the Colorless Blender is your go-to tool.

For me, the best Colorless Blender trick is to have several 0 markers and Colorless Blender various ink refills ready to go at any given moment.

Copic Colors Used:
Airbrushing, Image: YR24, B37, R59, BV25, T6 (edges only), Y28 (mat)
Skin:  E000, E01, E11