Greeting card. You know, I may have actually found my colring style. I really like the limited pallet and the sepia micron pen work. This card is mostly to explore the coloring technique again though I may just send it to my mother. I'd really like to work a soft grey in here. None of the blues are exactly what I want. It could be very good or very bad. I will need to experiment when I have more time.

Coloring Calendar Colored Page Sample

Had some time after cleaning house so it can be shown to work on coloring this sample page to post in the etsy shop when the April page is no longer appropriate. It is sure odd to color Christmassy things in the Spring. The digital download coloring calendar pages (13 pages to color) is for sale in my Etsy Shop 

Sepia with color

So, I tangled an Easter egg with sepia and colored the flowers on it with the Derwent inktense pencils. I loved the effect. Last night I made this Mother's Day Greeting Card. I'll probably make another. I really like how it looks. 

This is just a doodle on some previously wet-on-wet watercolor. I still haven't found the secret to tangling on that rough paper. I like working with the color; but I really don't like the texture of the paper under the pen. 

Split Rock Lighthouse

Split Rock Lighthouse, Lake Superior

I'm a Basket Case

Well, with this limited bandwidth due to some malware, I guess I'm way behind on posting things.  Here's something to soon appear in my etsy shop. I upcycled it from Turn A Leaf. It was just a lot of fun. I never know what I'm going to do until I've done it. I used  Sakura Permacolor and Sakura Identipen markers.

And there are a few other things I've finished but neglected to post. Decorated tea cans and an upcycled postcard frame.

I'm a big teapot

I just realized I haven't posted any pictures of the teapot I tangled last week. I love it; but, I think I'll try to sell it on etsy so watch my shop for it to arrive.
I used an Aqua Oil Paint Sharpie. It was great fun - Sooo smooth but no room for second thoughts or a slip up.

Paradox Puzzler

I've spent quite a few hours trying to master this tangle that I simply adore. For some reason my brain just can't figure it out. I can get the basic tangle but still can't put them together to look like this. So, I've been finishing up the Easter eggs and did a paper wrap for one of the tea cans that I can't paint and tangle just to see how it works.  This will be the lid

It was alot of fun to work on the smaller scale for a change. I may also explore adding some color though I think it would be more fun to tangle on vellum or bristol board for a change. The watercolor paper is most versatile; but it doesn't give you the same feel while tangling.

Spring has Arrived!

"Sometimes our fate resembles a fruite tree in winter. Who would think that those branches would turn green again and blossom, but we hope it, we know it." 

-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Sakura tangle

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Sometimes it's fun to just tangle a tangle 

I do miss springtime in places outside Alaska. Here it is pretty muddy though it's nice to have the sun returning. There is a shift - yes - there really is a shift.

Doodles Color me Square

Just playing around with the watercolor paper and new tangles.

Coupla Greetin' Cards for Fun

Not sure I like this one - seems too dark. Still learning my way around color

Did this one in early February but just now scanned it. The part of the tree where I originally wrote Happy Birthday was pretty messed up; so I made it a 3d card ;D 

New Markers & New Tangles

I've been tangling - just not doing ZIA.  I did indulge in an inexpensive set of Infinity Metallic permanent ink markers that I stumbled upon at Target.  I took a risk since the price was so low.  You know, I really like them. They are fun and lay down a rich color easily. They don't smell as bad as Sharpies either. I am also trying to learn new tangles and remember to use them. I created the above ZIA using those new markers and some new tangles I picked up from Caren Mlot of Tanglemania in her new book Stepping Out in Style.

Each "tangler" develops their own style. I like to "try on" styles. When it comes to tangling I'm just a teenager. 

I need to get busy and tangle the Easter eggs. I will post a ceramic basket I tangled when I get pictures.  So, no, I'm not sitting around watching TV and not tangling. 8D

Hopping Down the Bunny Trail

This bunny is one of those cardboard forms from a craft store that someone covered with dark flowered fabric. She was sitting on the shelf at Turn-A-Leaf Thrift Shop and I couldn't resist. I can tangle that!  So after several coats of Titanium White acrylic craft pain I watched Dallas Seavey & Ally Zirkle finish the 2014 Iditarod Sled Dog Race to Nome and tangled this bunny with a brown Sakura Identipen. It is also sealed with acrylic spray. It was a lot of fun. I had no idea with I'd end up doing.  Sometimes that is part of the fun. I'm seriously considering selling her in my Etsy shop so stay tuned./ I probably need some better pictures. The outside world doesn't look too Springlike and indoor lighting is the pits.

Spring is on My Mind

It's so hard to get good pictures. I picked up this watering can for $1 on clearance. Had lots of ideas; but sometimes the tangle just happens. I'm rather pleased with this. The flowers are from Turn a Leaf. Sakura Permacolor metalic blue and sealed with acrylic sealant. 

I tangled the bottom of another tea tin with pink and really liked the effect. I used a Sakura pink Micron .01 and .05. I'll probably do another pink can. Need to start saving now for another  set of colored Micron pens. This one reminds me of my mother who loves all things pink.

The Hand of May

I tried another hand - this time it's Maybelle's hand.  It reminds me so much of her dad's. He had long fingers and similar shape. I enjoyed this - Micron sepia .01, .05 and inktense pencils (I think I prefer the dark earth color to willow though I used a bit of willow on the wrist.)

Saturday night I watched Game of Thrones and did a little piece on some of the old wet-on-wet watercolor painting scraps.  This was not planned - I just went with the color and how I was feeling at the moment.

Green Envy

Those mushers (what's left of them) are getting closer to Nome on the Iditarod Race. They are cold and miserable. It's a tough trail this year. But, my thoughts have turned to spring and sunshine and all things green.  I played with my inktense pencils for this background and shading.  I used a micron .03 pen (my .01s are pretty worn and I wanted to pop the black a little.  Wasn't sure what was going to appear on this page until it appeared.  

ZTC March Swap

I decided to try something new. I seem to need some challenges to keep me from tangling the furniture and the kid's clothes and the appliance.  Tangle all the things.  Tiffany Lovering whose ZIA is inspirational runs a Zentangle Trading Card Swap each month off her blog. This month the challenge is to use color and no black or gray. I'm not terribly comfortable with color yet; but this is the only way it's going to happen. I do love my inktense pencils. I"m like a little kid with a new toy.  I'm really pleased with the flowers. Not sure about the shamrocks though.  I think I'll run it by Tiffany.

Uncanny Tins

I have finished tangling some tea cans. today I decided it was time to put them up for sale on Etsy. I still have several that are early prototypes that I keep for myself; but these should go to good homes.  I really like how the purple and gold turned out though they are my first gesso covered tins. The gesso is sturdier but it tends to be a bit rough on pens.  I might try sanding it a little.  Maybe apply 2 coats of gesso & sand lightly?  The rectangle white can does not have a gesso base. I used acrylic paint which I think is more fun to work on though not as forgiving. I tired some shading and watercolor on another tin that I had only covered in paint and it ended up with some places without a base. I will have to recover and try those again.  I've also toyed with using chalkboard paint as a base.  I think I may have to sand that as well.  It didn't take the paint marker very well and looked sloppy.  I might try Sakura Souffle pens when I have the patience.  Those pens are slow to dry and you can't get in a hurry to lay down a design. If you want more pictures follow the link to the listings on Etsy.

This tin on Etsy

This tin on Etsy (different from the above can.  This one doesn't have any shading and the lines that hold it together are thinner.

This tin on Etsy

More March Tangles

Used a .08 Micron pen for the main part of this tangle. I think it works better on the rough paper. Shaded with a dark indigo Inktense pencil.  I really like how that came out. It was a lot more fun too.  I think there are some amazing things to be done with those pencils but I have to work on my skill and courage. I'm not terribly confident when it comes to shading and coloring.

Sketched the string for this one a few weeks back. I was looking for a quick project while I watched this week's DVR recordings. I love Hotel Impossible & Castle.  Also blended a bit while I watched the crises unfold in the Ukraine on CNN.  Such a culture clash. So much corruption. It is very sad. I will take it into my mindfulness.  Being mindful and meditating can change the world.  Zentangling is very meditative too.  This is "Lotus 1" I was going to use color but when I finished the shading I decided I liked it just fine without color. I'm hesitant to get too complicated because I can quickly ruin a piece with my novice attempts at color.