1st Tan Opus Tile

I'm not sure why it has taken me this long to try the tan Opus tiles.  I love the small regular tan tiles with the black and brown pens, and I love doing the white Opus tiles.  It's also been a long time since I did a Mandala too, which I also love to do.  I like to use the Mandala Stencils by Genevieve Crabe when creating a large Mandala because they save me the time of drawing all my grid lines first. You can purchase her stencils at www.tangleharmony.com.

I started out with a Celtic Knot.  I haven't done many of these, but I like  the You Tube video's by David Nicholls.  He has a different sense of humor that will either make you laugh or you might not like at all, but he has good video's that are easy to follow.  Here is the link to the circular border knot I used.  If you do a search on youtube.com of Celtic Knots David Nicholls you will see all the other videos he has.  

So here's is my 1st Tan Opus Tile......



With shading and highlighting



Prior to shading and highlighting

DIVA challenge #322 Aquafleur

This week's challenge from the DIVA is to try the tangle, Aquafleur.  This is an official tangle that has been around for awhile, and while it is beautiful, it is not one I use often.  Like Laura, it's a tangle that I am not 100% comfortable with it either.  If you know me, you know I love hearts, so I did my Aquafleur around 3 heart shapes.  Hope all of you are having a good week and staying cool during this hot summer! 

#321 Non Dominant Aura Challenge

Over at the DIVA challenge this week we are doing a dreaded non dominant hand challenge.  I say dreaded because I am one of those people who don't really care to use my non dominant hand to create a Zentangle tile.  Check out Laura's post and see all of her really good points to using your non dominant hand. I agree with all of them, but that still doesn't make me like this challenge.  I struggled through it and here's my "tile that has character" (since I can't call it ugly). LOL!  

 

DANSK

The DIVA challenge this week is a UMT (use my tangle), DANSK by CZT Margaret Bremner.  Here is my tile with Dansk, Knightsbridge, Striping, and Printemps. Have a good week everyone!  

BEad INSPIRED

Make sure to click on the link at The DIVA challenge this week to read all about the Beads of Courage program.  It's a wonderful program that Laura's son, Artoo (online name) has benefited from and one that Laura has raised funds for through a 5K color fun run.  I have done this challenge several times over the years and it always touches my heart to read about it.  Here's a heart wrapped in ribbon with one bead (although I know you have many beads) for you Artoo!  💞

Diptych

This week's challenge from the DIVA is to create a diptych.

In Laura's words:  A diptych is two panels joined with a hinge - and the panels are mirrored - and i use the term 'mirrored' loosely.

These are fun to make from regular and zendala tiles.  I used two shades of blue pen and shaded with colored pencils.  

TANGLES:  Crazy Huggins, Flux, Tipple, Mooka, Poke Leaf

My husband turns wood as a hobby and I took this picture with one of his beautiful bowls with stone inlay.  😍

Dingbatz Fun

If you are on the Zentangle Mosaic app then you have probably seen the Kitchen Table Tangles video from Rick and Maria on Dingbatz. A version of dingbats which is a typographical symbol or ornament, Zentangle style.  Of course, they changed the last letter to a Z instead of an S.  You see dingbats a lot in books, a little decoration dividing text or chapters, etc.. Give them a try, they are fun to do.  I can't wait to do some more!

Photo Tangles (DIVA challenge #317)

This week's DIVA challenge is to cut out a photo from a magazine, glue it to your tile, then use it as your string.  Since I am late getting my challenge  done this week, I will admit that I didn't give my photo a whole lot of thought.  I just opened a magazine and thumbed through for a picture small enough to file on a tile.  So here you have it, a cute little piggy bank with tangles. 

Alcohol Inks in my kitchen

After living in our house for 23 years we decided it was time to give our kitchen an update. Not a total make over because the cabinets are still in good shape.  We had the Formica counter tops replaced with granite, a new sink & faucet, and also tile from the counter tops up to the cabinets.  The tile we picked is an off white/cream subway tile.  We were going to buy new switch plates when I had the idea of trying to paint the old ones with alcohol inks, which I'd seen on Pinterest. I am new to the inks, but have had a lot of fun experimenting with tiles and Yupo paper.  I kind of have a Tuscan style decor in the kitchen (my house is not fancy but more funky) so I tried to stay with that for the switch plates.  This was fun and I love how they look on the tile!  

Stripes

The DIVA Challenge this week is to use stripes for your string. Any size, width, or shape.  I used a tan tile, shaded with graphite, and used a white charcoal pencil for highlighting.  Fun challenge!  

TANGLES:  Zander, Onamato, Noom, Fassett, Tortuca, Shattuck, Flux,  Poke Root

We had a really fun weekend celebrating Mom's, friends and neighbors from years ago, and a 95th birthday party for my father-in-law.  Good times!

Me and my beautiful daughters

Me and my sisters from WI

Family

Family and good long-time friends

4 generations

95 years young

My one and only (so far) granddaughter

Tangle Study - Molygon

The DIVA challenge this week is to study the official tangle, Molygon. On the Zentangle Mosaic App, Rick and Maria have a series they call Kitchen Table Tangles which includes a video by them on tangles, tips, and techniques.  It's quite a fun series to watch and learn something new from.  The latest KTT video was on Molygon, and it just so happens that I was inspired by that video and did a Molygon tile last night before the DIVA introduced this week's challenge. So, since I have a fairly busy week ahead with out of town company coming and a 95th birthday BBQ for my father-in-law, I am going to use that tile for the challenge. YAY, I rarely get the challenge done this early in the week! I hope you all have a wonderful week and weekend ahead, and Happy Mother's Day to all of you!  

MOLYGON done with two shades of blue pens and colored pencils for shading

Scallamps

The DIVA challenge this week is to use the tangle, Scallamps by CZT Sarah Uram.  I have never used this tangle before, and I really like it.  It's very dramatic and could be used large or small, maybe even as a border.  Here's my tile....

Amanda (Earth Day)

The DIVA challenge this week is the 6th annual Earth (Amanda-the name her son gave the earth years ago) Day challenge.  I had this vision of using a tan zendala tile and doing tree around it with different tangles for the trunks and leaves.  I am traveling right now on an RV trip to visit the 5 national parks in UT (how earthy does it get), and my supplies are limited.  I didn't have any tan zendala tiles with me, so I used a tan square tile.  When I made my trunks, I didn't really have a way of making all different leaves on the smaller tile, so they all share the same leaves. Happy Earth day and happy week!  

Red Red Wine

No, this post isn't about the UB40 song, but my response to the DIVA's weekly challenge, coffee, tea, or me.  We are challenged to spill, spray, blot, etc. some type of liquid on our tile to use as our string. I used some red wine, very little, why waste something that good!  I wish I would have remembered to take a picture prior to tangling, but I didn't.  Anyway, I had some rings and splotches to work with and I tangled in and around them.  It looked funny with just the blank color, so I added Printemps to the color spills.  I enjoy staining the tiles prior to tangling. They always come out interesting! Enjoy the weekend, and thanks for visiting!  😊

Tangles: Knightsbridge, Betweed, N'Zeppel, Purk, Florz, Arukas, Paradox, Printemps

Diva Challenge 311-Circle Square String

The DIVA challenge this week is to use a circle/square string.  You can use however many circles or squares you want, just make sure to use a least one of each.  I kept mine quite simple, with one square and two circles, and black ink on a white tile.  

This week has been all about heavy duty spring cleaning!  Washing out and organizing kitchen cupboards, washing and wiping down the wood cabinets with an oil to shine them up. Cleaning the wood blinds one slot at a time, washing windows and shining all the woodwork around them, ceiling fans, wall hanging, pictures, etc.... (omg, I am embarrassed to say how dusty some things were, yikes!)  We've had some beautiful weather (70's) so it's been nice to open up the house and air it out, along with the dust.  Ahh, love springtime!  

Hope you are enjoying the weather where you are, and wishing all of you a very Happy Easter! 

FRUNKY (disguised as Opus)

This week at the DIVA challenge, we are trying out the tangle Frunky, by Katharina Konigsbauer-Kolb.  It's been a busy last couple of weeks for me, and then I came down with a sinus infection, mild flu, and pulled my back out.  I am on the mend now, and feeling a little stronger each day.  I did my tile last night and now as I am getting ready to post it, I see that I didn't do it right.  Oh well,  no mistakes....so I am posting it anyway.  When I looked at the step outs I saw the 3 Fescu type shapes with an aura around them, so I just added more aura's to mine.  I didn't realize the curvy crescent moon shapes were part of the tangle.  I don't have the time to do another tile, so this will have to be a variation of Frunky (even if it does look more like Opus).  😉

  

Noom

The Diva challenge this week is to use the newly released tangle, Noom. I used the black and brown pens, and now wish I would have done it on a tan tile. I also tried the clear nail polish technique from Maria at Zentangle HQ. I applied it to the Striping in the background and two corners of the Printemps.

Have a good weekend, everyone. The forecast here is calling for up to 9 inches of snow for Saturday. We have had unseasonably warm weather this spring, and the flowers, bushes, and trees, are all budding out. While we need the moisture, I am hoping it doesn't hurt all the plants too much!

MacNCheese Tangles

The DIVA Challenge this week is to use our MacNCheese tangles, or in Laura's words...

So i thought a great challenge would be to use your MacNCheese (or Kraft Dinner as we call it in Canada) tangles.  No pressure! Enjoy the process, love each moment.  Do the ones that feel great.

I have a handful of MacNCheese tangles, so I just sat down and decided to do what Laura said, no pressure, enjoy the process, and do what feels great.  Today that was Flux and Tipple on a tan tile.  I didn't do a string or border, just began by tangling Flux, this way and that.  I love Tipple and use it a lot, and I especially love it around Flux.  I added a few aura's, made the edges black, and added shading and highlights.  It was enjoyable to just do a simple tile with some favorite tangles!

ZINGO

This week at the DIVA's weekly challenge we are using Zingo, a tangle made by Indy & Mazzy.  They are the grandchildren of Rick & Maria, and Molly's children.  They made a video for the Kitchen Table Tangles series and you can see it here at this link. It is such a cute video, I watched it several times.  I love how the girls interact with each other, how they know all the Zentangle terminology, and how they teach as they tangle.  I especially love their imaginations that they share! Future CZT's, not doubt!

TANGLES:  Zingo, Paradox, Crescent Moon, Purk, Tipple

Amphora

This week's challenge from the DIVA is to try out the tangle, Amphora, by Lily Moon.  I have never used this tangle before so I used it as my main tangle focus, taking up most of the tile.  I had fun with this one and added lots of variations to it.  With graphite as the new black, I added Florz on each side with my pencil.  Fun tangle, thanks Lily & Laura!

P.S. Make sure to check out Lily's work when you go to her blog.  I see it all the time on the different FB groups and it's always incredibly beautiful! 

Marasu and Molygon

The Diva has challenged us this week to Duo Tangle, Marasu vs. Molygon.  I am a fan of Duo challenges since they usually make you think outside the box a little.  I used a tan tile with a black, tan, and red pen.  For shading I used graphite and a gray marker.  For highlights the white charcoal pencil and the white gel pen. 

Can you believe it's March already!  We have been lucky this year with a pretty mild winter so far, but sometimes March can be our worst month.  Winter's not over yet. 
Hope all is well by all of you.  Enjoy your weekend! 

Waybop

The DIVA challenge this week is to use the new official tangle, Waybop. This tangle was one of the 4 new tangles introduced at ZenAgain this past November.  I really like this tangle because the possibilities are endless and it's really fun to explore and play with.  I happened to have a tile that was dyed with some blue watercolor paint so I used that with 2 different colors of blue pens, and some white charcoal pencil highlights.  This is really a great tangle to grow a zendala with! 

Happy Valentine's Day from Loveland, CO

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

I was happy to see another Valentangle challenge at the DIVA's blog this week.  I have always loved hearts and making valentangles!  This tile was inspired by Rick & Maria's Kitchen Table Tangle video on the tangle Waybop, and the heart variation that is posted on the zentangle.com blog today. 

I used a tan zendala tile, with a black, tan, and red Micron to create the Hearty Waybop and aura's. I used Noom around the outside border (love that tangle in the round!).  For the background I used graphite to make the Printemps, and shade the tile.  Also, a white charcoal pencil for highlights. 



#Iheartwaybop, #Noom, #Printemps, #GraphiteIsTheNewBlack

As you can imagine, Valentine's Day is a big event in Loveland, CO!
In February of 1947 the Loveland Valentine Remailing Program was born.  Every year, over 130,000 Valentines are sent to Loveland, where volunteers hand-stamp them with a Valentine verse (contest every year) and send them on to the intended recipients.  Approximately 60 volunteers gather to stamp the verse (there is a waiting list for this duty) which is sent all over the US and more than 110 countries.  Since 1962, a high school senior has been chosen to represent the program and the city as "Miss Loveland Valentine".  

For more than 40 years, the streets of the Sweetheart City have been lined each February with hundreds of wooden hearts. Many proclaim personalized words of affection, devotion and admiration in 25 letters or fewer. The Thompson Valley Rotary Club has been managing the program for nearly 20 years.
Community members can request nearly anything written on the hearts, including notes in foreign languages and symbols. Each message will be stenciled on the heart with the help of local students. Proceeds of the sales go to help children locally and abroad through the Thompson Valley Rotary Club.
 All quite fun to read as you are riding through town (not while driving, of course...wink). 

Hamadox

Another UMT (Use My Tangle) at the DIVA challenge this week.  We are using the tangle, Hamadox by Diana Schreur, CZT.  I have never tried this tangle before, which is something I love about the UMT feature of the Diva challenge!  I had a little bit of a hard time with the middle part not looking totally like Paradox, and I'm still not sure I have it right, but I really love this tangle!  Thanks for another fun challenge!

Duo Tangles: Paradox & Diva Dance

This week at the DIVA challenge, Laura has us doing a Duo Tangle (2 tangles) Paradox & Diva Dance.  This was prompted by a video that was released by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas, the co-founders of Zentangle.  To see the video you can click on the above link to Laura's blog, where she has posted it for everyone.  I've always loved the Duo Tangle challenges, and this one was no exception.  Hope you are all having a wonderful creative week!