Relaxing With Zentangle

Nothing relaxes me more than playing in my art room.  I used to refer to it as my craft room, but so much more than crafting goes on in that tiny little space of my very own!  Today, this happened.....

As many of you may know, I love, love, love Zentangle.  Creating these little tiles brings me such peace and tranquility.  It calms me, and helps me detach from the stresses of life.  It is a respite that I can go to any time, almost anywhere, with very few supplies.  Just some paper, a Micron pen or two, a pencil, and that is it!  
To learn more about Zentangle, visit www.zentangle.com.

For my tangle today I used the patterns Bowtye by Jo Flaherty, and Tipple, which is an original Zentangle pattern.  I added some shading, and with my pencil, lightly added some Printemps, and something in the corner...not sure what to call it...just a take-off on something I had seen.  I penciled these designs, then used my shading stump to fade them a little, so they didn't compete with the tangle.

I wasn't sure I was going to like Bowtye, but I think it's a keeper now that I have played with it and added some touches to make it my own.  It will definitely be going into my go-to pattern list.

Some people on the Facebook Zentangle groups had been discussing storage options for supplies.  I thought I would share what I came up with.....
 
I had been on the search for the perfect little container for my tangle supplies.  It needed to be smallish, stylish, and portable, yet able to accommodate my various size pens, pencils, papers, and small sketch book and scrap paper.  I finally found just the thing.  I purchased it at Burlington Coat Factory at our mall.  It is actually a make-up bag, but it has just the right size and style of pockets, and the bonus is that it has handles....

The bag is about 12" x 8" and 3" deep.  It has three clear, zipper pockets, one on each side, and a small one between them that flips either way.  It has room for my phone, and a small wallet.  

I keep my pens in the plastic organizer (got it at Walmart...really inexpensive).  It has three sections.  One is perfect for pens and a couple pencils (I like to have several sizes pens and some extras); the other two hold my tiles and scrap papers, some Post-It notes, an eraser, and some blending stumps.  This fits perfectly inside the bag, and then I have everything I need in one convenient, portable place.

I bring my Zentangle 'bag' with me wherever I go. You never know when you will have a few minutes to tangle.  Waiting rooms, in the car (usually while I wait for hubby to come out of one of those big handy man super stores), airports, planes, trains,hotel rooms, at the playground while the grandkids play, to work for lunchtime tangling.  It's an unobtrusive bag, and perfect for grabbing on your way out.

I'm seriously wishing I had bought two, so I would have a back-up in the event it wears out or something.  I admit, I do have a 'thing' for bags, purses, organizers, containers.  Do you?

So, now I'm going back to my 'art' room to do some stamping and play with my inks.  I may even be back later with another post of a card.

Thanks for visiting.  I enjoy your critiques, and thank you for taking the time to comment.

Blessings,

lynda

Purple Poppies Card With Penny Black Stamps

Today's card is for my sister-in-law, who is recuperating from surgery.  I hope she likes it and it brings her some cheer....

I know poppies are not purple, but I really wanted to use it on these flowers today.  I guess you could say I used artistic license.
Stamps:  Penny Black Poppies 3949H and Thinking of You from Penny Black Gratitude clear set 30-105.
Other:  Spellbinder's die for purple embossed frame; Lawn Fawn stitched squares dies; amethyst gems from my stash, Spectrum Noir crystal clear sparkle pen; fun foam; Copic markers.

I stamped the poppies onto white card stock and colored them with my Copic markers.  I used the stitched square die, then brushed distress ink (dusty concord) along the outside edges.  I then framed it with the purple die cut/embossed frame, then layered it onto black.  I used fun foam to attach it to my card base, to give it dimension.

A strip of decorative paper and some of the same card stock as the frame along the left edge give it some interest.  I gave the flowers some sparkle with my Spectrum Noir crystal clear sparkle pen.  I stamped the verse, and added some gems to finish off the card front.

Here's a peek at the inside....

Simon Says Stamp Prayers stamp set and die.  I don't know who the sprig is...it was in my stash unmounted.

I am adding my card to these challenges:

Penny Black At Allsorts Challenge - All things spring

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Spring or Easter

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Showers and/or flowers

I made several cards today.  Some for our church card ministry to send to parishioners in hospitals or shut-ins, and a few for relatives and friends....just because.   I was on a roll!  This was my last one for the day.

Thank you for visiting.  

Blessings,

Lynda

Birthday Card With Altenew Stamps

Greetings!  I'm quickly dropping by to post a card I just finished.  Altenew is celebrating their third birthday, so I thought it fitting that I use Altenew stamps for my card today....

Stamps:  Altenew
Stencil:  Prima and Crafter's Workshop (background)
Inks:  Tim Holtz distress inks
Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Happy Birthday
Gemstones:  The Paper Studio
Clarity stencil brushes
Watercolor paper, card stock

On watercolor paper, I stamped the flowers and leaves with antique linen distress ink so I could watercolor them in the no-line fashion, masking them as I stamped.  I used distress inks to watercolor the flowers and leaves.

When dry, I masked the images, then brushed inks through the stencils to create the background, then removed the stencils and brushed ink to distress the background.  One of the background stamps was script, but when I brushed over it, the script kind of got lost into the background. 

I added the birthday dies, and the gemstones, then layered the panel into a card. 

I am adding my card to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge, Happy Birthday.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  

Blessings,

Lynda

Wishing You Happy Birthday Card

What a glorious day in upstate New York today!  The sun was shining all day, and temps were well into the 70's!  We attended Palm Sunday services at church, and walked the grand-dog several times today along the river trail.  Our windows were open, letting in the fresh air.  Ah, I think spring has finally arrived.  My daffodils survived the blast of snow we had on Friday, and were proud and tall in their gardens today in my yard.

I managed to get some stamping time in today, and finished the insides of my Easter cards, so I can mail them tomorrow.  I made a challenge card, as well.....

Stamps:  
  Simon Says Stamp SSS101582 Roses For You
  Simon Says Stamp SSS101475 Sending And Wishing
Other:
 Lawn Fawn Large Stitched Square Stackable Dies
 Tim Holtz distress inks
 Clarity stencil brushes
 Inkssentials Glossy Accents
 Memento tuxedo black ink pad
 India ink black ink pad
 White card stock

I just love these flowers from the SSS Roses For You stamp set.  They are fun and perky, and so spring-like, so I simply had to use them today.  I die-cut three squares and stamped the flowers into them, then watercolored them with distress inks, which I had rubbed onto a palette.  

On an A2 card, I used a stencil to create three squares, slightly larger than the die cut squares.  I used my Clarity brushes to brush on rainbow colored squares.  Then I mounted the stamped and colored die cut squares inside the rainbow squares.  I used foam tape on one for a little dimension.

I added the verse and a few dots from the stamp set, then added some dimensional glaze to the dots.  That's it!  Easy, and CAS.  I know....that makes two CAS cards in two days....a record for me.

I am adding my card to these challenges:

Simon Says Monday Challenge - Make a rainbow

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Happy Birthday

Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday - What are you working on?

Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenge - Something new (new stamp set)

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge - 

That's it for me today.  Early to bed....all that fresh air and walking has made me sleepy.  Thank you so much for visiting. 

Blessings,

Lynda

Easter Lily Card

I made my Easter cards today.  They are nothing like what I started out to make.  Funny how that happens sometimes.  I decided to keep them simple, in the interest of time, since Easter is only a week away, and I have at least a dozen to send.   Anyways, here is what I came up with.....

I started with a bright green A2 card, and embossed the lily stamp (an oldie but goodie Personal Stamp Exchange stamp) in white.  Using full-sheet Post It notes, I made masks for each of the lily flowers, and placed the mask over each.  For the rectangular background behind it, I masked off the sides of the card with 1" wide painter's tape, then used my Clarity brushes to brush in twisted citron distress ink. 

When I peeled off the tape and masks, the flowers were a little lighter than the background.  I wanted them just a little brighter, so I used my picket fence distress marker to color the petals.  The marker added just the right amount of white, as I did not want them so white that the embossed lines got lost.  I colored the leaves with the twisted citron distress marker.  Since they were embossed, I used a dark yellow Copic marker to color the tips of the flower stamens.

I added shimmer with my Spectrum Noir crystal clear sparkle brush pen.  While the petals were still wet from the pen, I sprinkled on some ultra fine crystal multi glitter for a little extra sparkle.  

The 'happy easter' verse is from Penny Black, and I embossed that with white embossing powder.  Some tiny white pearls add just a touch of bling.

I did spray a finish of hair spray over the cards to help insure the glitter stays intact.  I will finish the inside, then get these in the mail on Monday.  

I am adding my card to these challenges:

Addicted To Stamps Challenge - Anything goes

Allsorts Challenge - Bring on the bling

AAA Cards Challenge - CAS w/twist of shiny spring


We are watching our grand-dog this week while the kids are vacationing, so I took him on two nice long walks today.  It was really nice out, sunny, but a bit nippy.  I did enjoy being outdoors, though.

Thanks so much for visiting today.  

Blessings,

lynda

Cas-ual Fridays Challenge Card

Waking up to snow this morning was NOT fun.  But the good news is that Monday is supposed to be in the mid 70's!!  My poor flowers and plants don't know what to do.  My tiger lilies are about three inches high, and daffodils are trying to grow, and now they are knee deep in snow!  I hope they survive.

Since spring keeps playing peek-a-boo with us, I decided to create some spring-y cards with my stamping supplies and colorful inks today.  This card is for the  
Cas-ual Fridays challenge   

I decided to make the background rainbow.  I used painter's tape to tape off the edges of watercolor paper, then brushed on Tim Holtz distress inks in rainbow colors with my Clarity brushes.  When I removed the tape, I had a luscious rainbow background.  I also taped the edge of the card, and used finger daubers to create the rainbow border around the edge.  I created the ribbon border with my black Micron 01 pen.  I attached the panel to a black A-2 top fold card.

I embossed the verse from Cas-ual Fridays Stamps Pretty Posies set onto a black scrap with white embossing, cut it out, and added it to the card front. I stamped flowers from the same Pretty Posies set onto watercolor paper, then fussy-cut them and added them to the card with different depth foam tapes. 

Some tiny sequins finish off the card. 

I am also adding my card to these challenges:

 Simon Says Monday Challenge - Make a rainbow 

Addicted to Stamps challenge - Anything goes

Time Out Challenges - Quote:  'When it rains look for rainbows, when its dark look for stars'

I will be back tomorrow with more cards.  Thank you for stopping in today.  

Blessings,

lynda

 

Bunny Saying Hi Card

Just a quick post to get my card into the Mojo Monday sketch challenge for this week....

I used Verve stamps (Hip Hop Bunnies vs-0239).  I stamped lightly with distress inks, and used the no line coloring technique, using distress inks to paint the bunny and carrots.  I masked the bunny, and stamped some carrots to appear as though he is holding them behind his back.  The two on the left I stamped and fussy cut.  The panel is layered on with foam tape, and the rest of the layering is to meet the requirements of the challenge.


For the background, I smooshed some ink onto watercolor paper.  
This was a fun card to make.  I do love sketches, as the work of deciding on a layout is done for me.  

I can't wait to make more cards with this adorable set!

Thank you for stopping by.

Blessings,

lynda

Saying Hello Card For Altenew Challenge

April showers bring May flowers!!  We have had rain for two days now, so fingers crossed that means spring is finally really here.  It is still chilly, but at least we are snow-free....hopefully until next winter.  Today's card makes me think of spring.

Stamps:
Altenew Best Mom stamp set (flower) and Painted Butterflies stamp set (Just saying hello)
Other:
Watercolor paper, Tombow markers, India Ink Black stamp pad, Misti, Our Daily Bread double stitched rectangle dies.

I stamped the flower onto the watercolor paper, and painted it using Tombow markers.  I rubbed the markers onto a palette, and used the marker ink as watercolor.  For the background, I used the marker ink like watercolor.  I wet the paper around the image, and dropped in blue and green, and manipulated it with my brush.  Then I spattered on water droplets, and used a paper towel to pick up the color, creating the white ghosty spots.

I used my Misti to stamp the phrase, as I knew I would need to stamp it more than once on the watercolor paper.  I layered the panel onto card stock layers, and used a frame I had die cut with the Our Daily Bread double stitched rectangle dies.  I chose not to embellish my card, as I felt it was busy enough, and really did not want to detract from the focal image.
 
I am adding my card to the Altenew Inspiration Challenge .





Before I close, I just have to share this picture of the boots my daughter bought me for my birthday. 

 Aren't they fun?!  I love the flowers.  They make me smile.  I was kind of glad it was raining these past two days, as I was able to wear my boots when I went out to run my errands.  They made walking through the rain much more fun.

Thank you for stopping by today. I appreciate your comments.  

Blessings,

lynda