Aquafleur-y

Aquafleur is a tangle that had been giving me some problems, so when I attended the Renaissance class, I took the opportunity to ask CZT Mabel about it 😁 

With CZT Mabel's help I think I have a better understanding of the tangle and its execution and decided to use it to test the Renaissance effects with other coloured Microns. 

I am liking Aquafleur (though I admit I need more practice and perhaps need more creativity when it comes to step outs)... but since I was obsessing over Aquafleur (and check it out! The Diva's Weekly Zentangle Challenge appears to be Aquafleur) - MY FIRST EVER DIVA CHALLENGE!!!! WOOHOO! 🎉🎊🎈🎇...  

I've seen Zen Gems before but sadly CZT Mabel's class on Zen Gems was before I knew about Zentangle so I had to make do with Youtube videos. Passable? 😕. 

Done it!

I can officially say that I have attended a Zentangle 101 class! And! A Renaissance tile class! Woohoo! 😁

With much gratitude to CZT Mabel Yap and her team at Heartistry💓! For those in my locale, do check out Heartistry and the classes they offer (which are not limited to Zentangl btw). 

Am quite taken by the effect of renaissance tiles so I tried a little on my own. 

This was done with Sakura Microns in black and blue, with a Koh I-Noor grade 2 charcoal pencil on Starthmore 400 Series Toned Tan Artist Tiles. 

Am undecided whether the effects are as nice as sepias on the official Zentangle tiles. It seems to have a different feel. But I still kinda like it anyhow! 

Next... to play with different coloured papers and inks to see whether other combinations work! 

Huffin the Puffin

[credit to Ben Kwok for the Puffin string!]

Pocket tissue sleeves

Sewed up a quick batch of these last night to giveaway at the office for a local festival🎁 (I have a tendency to give small gifts at the office during "special occasions" - new year🎉, Christmas🎄, Valentines Day💘, Easter🐰...)

It's a great scrap buster and I've tested them myself (mine is blue with puppies and frogs😁). Hope my colleagues like them.

"Humble Beginnings"

Read the latest post on Blog Zentangle entitled "Humble Beginnings".

Comparing my first tile to my last two tiles I swear I regressed!

My first attempt at Zentangle at a local workshop in February 2017.

My latest 2 projects which I intended as a contrasting set of orbs in straight lines and squares in curves. I would like to think that they are at least better than my first square tile!

4 months into my journey - I still have much to learn and a long way to go... 😍

Blending with Copics

Having fun with my 6 Copics. Sadly have received feeback that the unblended cat looks better! 😱

Taking the Copic plunge! If you're a beginner at Copics maybe you'd find this useful too!

I've eyed Copic markers for years but never took the plunge. 

Copics whilst toted as the best markers in the world felt "out of reach" for a lowly "part-time crafter": 

• there were too many options! - honeycombs and honeycombs of wonderful rainbows🌈! I want them all but...
• they are (inhibitingly) expensive💲- the moment you are paying dollars per marker, a set of even 12 is going to be a substantial dent in your fun money... 
• which then begs the question - If I am a lowly "part time crafter", is it really worth it to shell out that kind of money for Copics?

However, I have recently been fortunate enough to have been gifted a small budget for me to get me some Copics (WOOHOO!)! [yes I know I'm one lucky devil😈😍] 

Which kicked off this "research" trail:  

• this was useful for newbie me for general information on the markers; 
• this was good information for how to apply the colours; 
• was so tempted to top up my gifted budget and splurge on the "beginner" set of 36 markers recommended but I must have some semblance of self-control (for now) right?!?
• this article on  how to choose your first 6 markers may have been the ultimate gem that had me put on my big girl panties and decide "yes! I'm going to do this!" (and also had be going "yes! my gifted budget is enough to get me started! woohoo!") 
• and since I can't draw to save my life - these two sites on Copic compatible ink pads were also helpful. 

Big girl panties put on, budget in hand, fast forward past the lllllooooonnnngggg (but enjoyable) trip to the art store:

I opted for Copic Ciao - the cheapest in the Copic range. I was inhibited by thoughts that I'm not good enough to warrant the "good stuff" (not to mention it would allow me to get more colours since I had a limited budget 😉).

Colour choices were substantially limited for the Ciao range compared to the Copic and Sketch ranges but hey, who can really complain with 100+ colours to choose from! In fact, 100+ was already enough for me to go a leeetle crazy just trying to narrow myself down to 6 colours (plus the colourless blender). 

Perhaps pointers for other Copic newbies on what was running through my head when I took the plunge:

• Resist the primal urge to go for the "pretties" 💪 and consider what you are likely going to be using the Copics for - since I normally end up doing furry animal stamped images, I exercised substantial self-control (if I don't say so myself) and decided to forego the pretties, opting for for a browns 
• I took the advice of some of the sites to go for 3 shades per colour from the same colour group - I also went for the same saturation number to start with (and I was quite happy with the outcome) 

I can so see why Copics are the best markers in the world. I love the even brightness of the colours - it almost looks printed! (though yes I know my shading needs work)

I was however disappointed at Hero Hues ink pad😞. Although online articles suggest the ink won't bleed with Copics, it bled substantially for me - bit of a downer because I bought the Hero Hues ink pads just for Copics (and they weren't exactly very cheap). To make matters worse, the Hero Hues stained my clear stamps (again even though online research suggested it was ok to use with clear stamps). I should have just used the money I spent on the ink pads to top up by Copic budget =(.  

As a saving grace Tsukineko Brilliance (which was substantially cheaper than Hero Hues), once gunned with my embossing gun to heat set the ink, was, well.. brilliant 😀. Ink cleaned off much better than the Hero Hues too (phew!😅). 

To all other part time crafters - FEAR NOT! TAKE THE PLUNGE! 

• you can get started with just 6 markers (man, I love the person who wrote that article) 
• Copic Ciaos are a more economical option if you are running on a budget
• they are easy to use 
• and the results are clearly worth it. 

This may be the beginning of a beautiful (and pocket emptying) relationship...  

Beginning of a Zentangle adventure

Earlier this year, I took a Valentine's day Zentangle project class at Overjoyed.

Thoroughly enjoyed the adventure and have been indulging since.

The portability of Zentangle is awesome and to up the ante, I spent the last 2 evenings planning, designing and constructing my new "Zentangle on the go" kit.

I quite like it (of course I would since I customed it to what I wanted) but I'm not particularly pleased with the depth of the pockets (too deep) and more importantly... am supremely annoyed that once I put the pens in, the front of the case seems to resemble an inflatable raft! grrr.

Contemplating whether to unpick the pen pockets and reduce the number of pen pockets to make it less raft like but unsure if I should take the leap...