Life Imitates Doodles

Link to tangle pattern Fleuri

2012-02-13T12:13:00.000-08:00

The steps to CZT® Geneviève Crabe's tangle pattern Fleuri have been posted at Tanglepatterns.com.

Link: MyMemories Suite V3 Video Tutorial! 1 - Where to find what I bought!

2012-02-13T12:07:00.000-08:00

Though I haven't had much time to play with MyMemories Suite lately, I've found it easy to use. The one thing that baffled me a bit when I started was finding the items I had bought. A tutorial has just been posted on the blog showing how to do that. For this tutorial (and many others) check out the MyMemories blog.

Link:Tiger Pens’ Love Is In The Air Giveaway

2012-02-13T10:06:00.000-08:00

Tiger Pens has three giveaways going. They are giving away some Sakura Gelly Roll Metallic & Souffle pens; a Stabilo EASYball pen, and a Pentel Stylo with the choice of a Womble toy!

Link: Monday Morning Review Round-up at European Paper

2012-02-13T08:31:00.000-08:00

Did you wake up this morning wondering about pens and paper? European paper has a round-up of reviews on notebooks& planners and pens&pencils for your reading pleasure.

Link: Weekly Challenge #58: Diamonds

2012-02-13T08:12:00.000-08:00

Laura Harms' challenge this week is to use the Four Diamonds logo as your string as well as other diamond-type tangles.

Link: Dangling Dolly Postcards made with DelightTM

2012-02-13T01:10:00.000-08:00

Check out my post at the Creative Paperclay® blog. I joined the International Postcard swap and used it for my project this month.

Rhodia Journal Swap-Page the Third, My book

2012-02-12T19:00:00.000-08:00

I switched to colored pencil to avoid the bleed-thru, but I wish I hadn't. I couldn't get the detail I wanted, and the scan came out way too yellow. Ah well.

Links: Lotsa stuff happening at Viva Las Vegas Stamps

2012-02-12T15:28:00.000-08:00

If you haven't been watching the Viva Las Vegas Stamps blog, you've missed some announcements--

Supersale! Up to 46% off. (Ends on 2/14)

Design Team Call 2012

Win a Pound O' Rubber from Viva Las Vegastamps-the winner will be chosen on Valentine's Day!

Pre-Order Terri Sproul's Mixers and SAVE!

February Newsletter- The challenge theme is 'Love', check out the new stamps using designs from Mary Vogel Lozinak (you'll laugh, just looking at them!)

Sorry-I had to set up word verification on this blog

2012-02-12T15:00:00.001-08:00

I've been getting an increasing amount of spammed comments, so I've turned on the word verification. I apologize, because I know it can be a pain.

Link: Zentangle Inspired Journal Prompt #7 - Tangled Love

2012-02-12T14:58:00.000-08:00

CZT Patty Farrell has posted ZIA Journal Tangle and Writing Prompt #7-Tangled Love.

Link: Password Journal with Creative Paperclay® & Articus' Mold

2012-02-11T13:31:00.000-08:00

Robyn Correa has posted a tutorial showing how to make a cool 'password' journal, for all those passwords you have to remember (but aren't too sensitive for writing down).

Link to tangle pattern Zentangle Kisses

2012-02-11T12:58:00.000-08:00

Barbara K.1 has posted steps to her tangle pattern Zentangle Kisses.

Link to tangle pattern Icebulbz

2012-02-11T12:57:00.000-08:00

ArjadL has posted steps to her tangle pattern Icebublz.

Link: Geneviève Crabe's Weekly Zentangle Roundup 2/10/12

2012-02-11T12:18:00.000-08:00

Geneviève Crabe's Weekly Zentangle Roundup of new Zentangle patterns and other articles of interest.

Link: Leslie Rahye's Very Steampunk Valentine Blog Hop!

2012-02-11T12:07:00.000-08:00

Like Steampunk? Want some Valentine project ideas? Leslie Rahye and other talented crafters have a blog hop happening today. Lots of projects and fabulous prizes! Blog hop starts here.

Rhodia Journal Swap-Page the Second, My book

2012-02-10T15:19:00.000-08:00

Translation of Left Page:
Page, the Second:
Reasons You Should Not Have a Mastiff
The food bill isn't so bad-about the same as a Shepherd or Lab. It's the accessories that get expensive.

Hats-Mastiffs drool. They shake their heads and the drool gets on the ceiling. 'Nuff said.

First Aid Equipment- Ointment for friction burns after you've been drug across the yard. Plaster cast for broken toes after a mastiff steps on them. Bandages. Mastiffs shed. It isn't excessive, but they are so big that the hair adds up. Sooner or later, you won't realize that one of the furballs you vacummed up was actually the cat. The bandages are for after you let the cat out of the bag. She won't be happy with you.

Yard Cleanup-you need a snow shovel and a wheelbarrow. Hip waders are recommended.

Gas masks are optional, but you'll probably want one, in case you can't get out of the room fast enough when a mastiff breaks wind.

And have I mentioned the snoring? The house shakes and may slide from its foundation. You'll stuff your ears with cotton because you can't hear the TV anyway.

Translation of Right Page:
So why are mastiffs among my favorite things?

Either you know the answer to that or you don't.

If you don't, never bring home a mastiff.

If you do, you probably already have a mastiff or two.

Mastiffs are not for everyone

This is Cedric, Liam's brother. Yes. We had two boys at once. Cedric was the quieter one. Less flash, less flair, but he had a sly sense of humor. When people walked toward him, he'd gather himself, and jump at them--just a little hop--so they would make funny noises.

He'd pretend to want to out, so that Liam would run outside. Then he'd turn back and steal whatever Liam was playing with.

He was always so pleased with himself when his tricks worked.

Link to tangle patterns Whatz that, Leef Chainz & Lot 'o botz

2012-02-10T12:34:00.000-08:00

Texasdoxiemama, aka Linda Rea, has posted the steps to three new tangle patterns:

whatz that
Leef Chainz
lot 'o botz

Bleedthrumanade with New tangle patterns Foh-Liage and Faux-Glove

2012-02-10T09:52:00.000-08:00

Before I get to the tangle patterns or the bleedthrumanade (got lemons, make lemonade; got marker bleed-thru, make bleedthrumanade) I want to show you this cool stamp set that I won from Simon Says Stamp. If you are a crafter and don't follow their blog, you are missing out. They post new projects every day--tons of techniques and ideas, as well as introducing new products from different lines. And they have lots of giveaways!

I used some of the stamps over Copic markers to do the front of this bleedthrumanade.

I didn't go very far with the back. I started tinkering with this pattern that is very similar to Fohbraid. One I thought looked like foliage and one sort of like Foxglove...and then it turned into something else entirely, lol. By that time I decided not to choose a third name. Foh-liage is the main pattern and they are all tangleations from there.

I decided to quit filling in, so that the tangle patterns didn't get lost, so it isn't much of a bleedthrumanade.

How many variations can you come up, now that you see how it's done?

Rhodia Journal Swap-Page the First, My book

2012-02-09T13:29:00.000-08:00

I did up the first page in my Rhodia WebNotebook for the 2012 Rhodia Journal Swap. You can see what others are doing at the Rhodia Journal Swap Tumblr site.

Done with Copic Markers and Multliner SPs.

The sentiment 'Abandon Hope' doesn't apply to the journal. The drawing came from a picture of my late mastiff, Liam, and whenever I look at that photo of him with his mouth gaping and his gullet showing, that thought passes through my mind, because so many objects disappeared through that mouth, lol!

My entry for the Letraset Coloring Challenge #6

2012-02-09T09:12:00.000-08:00

Letraset has a new coloring challenge going. The line art is adorable and I couldn't resist.

Let me say, for the books, I just love Letraset's Pastel Beige Promarker color. It's a wonderful neutral that goes with almost any color. It's almost like Tofu (only it doesn't taste as good. As bad?) in that it adds body without masking the flavor of the colors you are using it with.

Link: Keep Your Green Resolutions with PooPooPaper

2012-02-09T08:27:00.000-08:00

The European Paper Company has posted an article about their elephant poo journals & stationary. These are the ultimate in recycled paper, lol.

I've used elephant poo paper in the past, and have a small journal at the moment. From the pictures, I think the paper in the journals shown is different from what I have. What I've used has been very soft and very rough, so that you need at least a medium point ball pen to avoid puncturing or tearing the paper. Even with that qualification, the paper is great fun to work with, giving lovely textures.

I'm intrigues and I want one of these. It's going toward the top of my wishlist!

Link:Post a Copic Love Poem – Win the 12 New Colors!

2012-02-08T16:53:00.000-08:00

Head over to the Copic Blog if you are interested in winning Copic Sketch markers in the latest 12 colors. (Looks like anyone can submit a poem, but the winner will be from U.S. or Canada).

New tangle pattern Motsided

2012-02-08T13:14:00.000-08:00

I suppose it isn't surprising that how you feel affects how you draw. I've been fighting off an infection and have been feverish off and on. I haven't really felt like drawing (I feel kind of stopped. I intend to do things but just sort of stare at whatever it is instead of doing it, lol). I finally made myself do this tangle pattern, using Carole Ohl's Tangle-A-Day calendar and my fountain pens, but I'm really not happy with the result.

The name--Motsided--was a verification word from when I commented on a blog. I thought it sort of described how I was feeling. You know, "Gosh, I just feel all motsided today." Lol!

Link: Craft Room Purge GIVEAWAY at Wee Memories

2012-02-08T12:31:00.000-08:00

Jenny Suchin is clearing out her Craft Room and will be giving away $50 worth of supplies to a one lucky winner on Saturday. For a chance to win, go read the rules at Wee Memories.

Link: Tanglepatterns.com Badge

2012-02-08T12:27:00.000-08:00

Linda Farmer now has code badges that you can post on your blog to let people know about Tanglepatterns.com. I'm proud to have her badge on my sidebar. You can find out how to get one of your own at this post.

Link: Add your Haiku to the European Paper Facebook page

2012-02-08T12:19:00.000-08:00

Did you miss out on the European Paper Haiku contest? The prize is won, but if you still have a Haiku you would like to share, you can add yours at the European Paper Facebook page, or if you'd just like to read the poems that have already been entered, they're all posted for your enjoyment.

Link: Coloring Curly Hair with Copics

2012-02-07T14:37:00.000-08:00

Brandi York shows us how she uses shapes to capture the illusion of curly hair.

Link to tangle pattern Ojo #zentangle

2012-02-07T12:49:00.001-08:00

A link to CZT Lara Williams tangle pattern Ojo has been posted at Tanglepatterns.com.

Link: Baby Shower Decoration made with Creative Paperclay®

2012-02-07T10:28:00.000-08:00

Brenda Lee Burfeind shows how she made a butterfly decoration for her daughter's baby shower.

Link: Design Team Call for Viva Las Vegas Stamps

2012-02-07T10:03:00.000-08:00

Like stamping? Think you've got craft ideas to share?

Viva Las Vegas Stamps has put up their call for people to try out for their Design Team. I've had so much fun with the Creative Paperclay® Design Team, I've decided to go out for this one two.

Link to tangle pattern Croon

2012-02-07T09:48:00.000-08:00

CZT Margaret Bremner has posted steps to her tangle pattern Croon.

Link: The Carnival Of Pen, Pencil, and Paper for FEB 2012

2012-02-07T09:06:00.000-08:00

OfficeSupplyGeek has a roundup of reviews and articles of interest concerning Pen, Pencil and Paper.

I Won European Paper's Haiku Contest!

2012-02-07T08:39:00.000-08:00

I'm so thrilled to announce that I won European Paper's Haiku contest. I was a little out of my comfort zone with Haiku, but decided to stretch myself. I hadn't thought I'd win!

To read mine, and the other Haikus that were submitted, you can find them on European Paper's Facebook page or go to their blog. There were so many amazing poems submitted. It's an honor to have won!

Link: How to embed thread into gel medium

2012-02-07T08:27:00.000-08:00

Dan Tranberg reviews the book 'Acrylic Fusion: Experimenting with Alternative Methods for Painting, Collage, and Mixed Media' and shares one of the techniques found within--embedding thread into gel medium for use in mixed media.

Link: Tim Holtz Demo’s His New Distress Markers

2012-02-06T14:44:00.000-08:00

Have you heard about the Tim Holtz Distress Markers? I've been curious so I found this video very interesting. I think they are similar to Tombows but the fine tip is plastic so it won't fray, and there is an opaque white for highlighting or using on dark colored paper. *sigh* Another thing I simply MUST buy!

I ask myself-Orange glad you joined the Rhodia Journal Swap?

2012-02-06T14:26:00.000-08:00

Rhodia is having a journal swap, and I'm one of the 12 participants. I just received the 5 1/2 x 8 1/4 in (14 x21 cm) Webnotebook.

I was surprised. I've got the orange cover on one of my Notepads, and I have one of the WebNotebooks with a black hardcover, so I thought I'd know what the cover on this Notebook would be like. But something about the texture of the soft touch hardback and the color of the ivory vellum paper next to the orange makes it different. I love it!

So I ask myself. Orange glad you joined the Rhodia Journal Swap? I sure am! (Sorry, I just couldn't resist!)

Link to tangle pattern Warts and Wobbles

2012-02-06T12:46:00.000-08:00

The steps to Cindy Straight's new tangle pattern Warts and Wobbles has been posted at Tanglepatterns.com.

Link: GOJO $150 AMEX Gift Card Giveaway!

2012-02-06T08:44:00.000-08:00

Have you been following the Shoplet blog. Not only do they have great deals, they post some of the most amazing artwork made with office supplies! They have weekly giveaways and this week's is for a $150 gift card.

Link: Tangle patterns as Paint Tube Color

2012-02-06T07:19:00.000-08:00

Interesting post on the Zentangle blog comparing tangle patterns to the color that comes from a tube.

Link: Win Promarkers! Letraset Colouring Challenge #6

2012-02-06T06:44:00.000-08:00

Letraset has a challenge going. For the chance to win some Promarkers, download their cute owl (looks very zentanglish!) line art and color it.

Link: Weekly Zentangle Challenge #57: "UMT v. I"

2012-02-06T06:36:00.000-08:00

Laura Harms' has started a new feature to her weekly challenges. The first Monday of each month she plans to use one of OUR tangle patterns! This week she challenges us to use Tricia Faraone's Sanibelle.

Bleedthrumanade with Copics

2012-02-05T21:08:00.000-08:00

O:n last week's foray into the wilds of the new Dick Blick Brick & Mortar store, I picked up some new Copic markers. I haven't done a Bleedthrumanade for a while (got lemons, make lemonade; got marker bleed-thru, make bleedthrumanade), so I decided to see how these colors went together.

Sorry, I wasn't able to get to my scanner, and wanted to get to tangling while the time was right, so I didn't scan the pages before. I love the color, but was surprised to find they didn't bleed through as much as the Promarkers. The colors were light to begin with, but are definitely more intense on the front than on the back.
Not really important unless you are doing Bleedthrumanades, lol It made it to resist repeating myself.

Link: GARDENABLES! Episode #1 'Trev's New Look'.

2012-02-05T16:06:00.001-08:00

Miraculous Mosquito has started a new cartoon series. Check it out and let her know what you think!

Winners of the Cast in Love Blog Hop

2012-02-05T09:55:00.000-08:00

Blog Hop winners

Jeannie - Creative Paperclay® from Creative Paperclay® blog (Please go to the Creative Paperclay® blog for contact information. I won't be handling this part of the giveaway).

Mary S-from Amazing Mold Putty blog ( Please go to the Creative Paperclay® blog for contact information. I won't be handling this part of the giveaway)

Tumbling Trails-Creative Paperclay® from this blog. (Jody--I've sent you an email. Please respond with your information because this is my part of the giveaway!)

Link: Zentangle Inspired Art Journal Prompt # 6 Positive vs Negative

2012-02-05T09:37:00.000-08:00

ZIA Journal Prompt #2. CZT Patty Farrell has posted ZIA Journal Tangle and Writing Prompts #6-Positive vs Negative.

Link: Terri Sproul Mixers available for Pre-Order

2012-02-05T09:35:00.000-08:00

Sakura has put out a new line of mica powders to be used with their 3D Crystal Lacquer. These powders-the Terri Sproul Mixers-are now available for pre-order at Viva Las Vegas Stamps (at a 10% savings). For more information, check the VLVS blog.

Link: India meets Steam Punk in Delight TM & Articus' Mold

2012-02-05T09:27:00.000-08:00

Debbie Buckland shows how she created an imaginative card , mixing themes from India and Steampunk, using Delight TM clay and a mold from Articus Studio.

Link: "Giving a Basket of Amore" using Viva Las Vegastamps! and new Sakura Terri Sproul Mixers

2012-02-04T14:31:00.000-08:00

SBArtist, aka Susan Brown, explains how she used Viva Las Vegas stamps and Terri Sproul Mixers to create a beautiful card.

Link: Free Downloadable MOLLY'S DRAGON DIGI

2012-02-04T13:54:00.000-08:00

Vince, at Crafty Moments, has posted free downloadable digi art. And adorable digi art, at that!

Link: Free Felt Kangaroo tutorial and Pattern

2012-02-04T09:01:00.000-08:00

I don't know why, but when I saw these felt Kangaroos, the thought flashed through my head that they'd be cute to substitute for rabbits in an Easter Basket. Both rabbits and Kangaroos hop, right? And they'd both be tasty in chocolate.

More information about Watercolorist Georgia Mansur

2012-02-03T18:17:00.000-08:00

Earlier today I posted about links to PDF articles on watercolor landscapes by Georgia Mansur. Georgia replied with some information that I thought some of you might find of interest:

"G'day Sandra! Thanks so much for the positive feedback on my work~ I am enjoying checking out your cool blog here too~ it was called to my attention by a mutual artist friend, Sharyn Penna. I am teaching workshops in Australia, Italy, UK and the USA in 2012~ please see my website for details and locations and I will be happy to answer any questions people might have as well. : D I am pleased to offer 20 % off discount cards for people that book in to my workshops on all artist materials~ Wishing you a creatively abundant and joy filled year ahead!!! Georgia"

Geneviève Crabe Weekly Roundup 2/3/12

2012-02-03T18:05:00.000-08:00

Geneviève Crabe Weekly Roundup of tangle patterns and articles of interest.

Working on ideas for a Zentangle-Inspired, Steampunk-influenced Piece

2012-02-03T11:37:00.000-08:00

I have a possible commission for a Zentangle-Inspired Steampunk Influenced work and I've been playing around with layouts and ideas. Thought I'd share them with you.

These are all done on Canson Bristol paper using Letraset Promarkers, Micron Pigma Pens and rubber stamps from Viva Las Vegas.

Not shown in the order I drew them, lol.

Steampunk Cat from Viva Las Vegas stamps. Item 17720 Plate 1347

Steampunk Turtle from Viva Las Vegas stamps. Item 15979 Plate 1272 and Gears from Plate 1378.

Steampunk Turtle from Viva Las Vegas stamps. Item 15979 Plate 1272 & Gears from Plate 1378

Steampunk Turtle from Viva Las Vegas stamps. Item 15979 Plate 1272 and Gears from Plate 1378.

Steampunk Turtle from Viva Las Vegas stamps. Item 15979 Plate 1272

Aviator Beagle Dog from Viva Las Vegas Stamps. Item 4448 Plate 83

Steampunk Horse Item 17437 Plate 1336; and Fish & Nest Gears from Plate 1378

Link: Win ProMarker Limited Edition Sets

2012-02-03T09:41:00.000-08:00

Letraset is giving away 3 sets of there Limited Edition – Spring sets with brand new colors! Read more about it at their blog.

My tangle pattern Tri-It

2012-02-03T09:21:00.000-08:00

Okay, the title of this post says 'tangle pattern', but I'm not sure this is, exactly. It's more of a technique. I got the idea while playing with Koolapopper.

You start with two touching triangles pointed outward. Then you add two more triangles that are slightly offset, and you keep doing this. Then you bisect each triangle and make 1/2 darker than the other half. If you add each new triangle toward the inside of previous triangle, you come back full circle. If you add them toward the outside, you meander all over the page. If you make the triangles big enough, you can use them as sections (strings) to put other patterns in. You can make the half darker by simply shading one side, or you can add other tangle patterns.

I should shut-up and just let you look. It's easier to see in the example than to understand with reading.

So, in essence, this 'pattern' is just drawing touching triangles. What you get from it is all about how you place and point the triangles. And honestly? You could do this with any geometric figure--circles, squares, ellipses.

Awesome, huh!

So--Try-it!This was drawn in a Rhodia 'R' Pad with Micron Pigma Pens.

Link: Frozen Charlotte Doll from Creative Paperclay®

2012-02-03T09:06:00.000-08:00

Jingle has made a statement for Women's rights using a Frozen Charlotte Doll mold and Creative Paperclay®. She shows how she did it at the Creative Paperclay® blog.

Link to tangle pattern Footlites

2012-02-03T08:53:00.001-08:00

CZT Carole Ohl has posted steps to her new tangle pattern Footlites. She also has a marvelous example of what can be done with my pattern Koolapopper.

Link: Keep Eyes Open for Georgia Mansur! PDF Watercolor tutorials

2012-02-02T15:55:00.001-08:00

Nita Leland has links to PDF articles on watercolor landscapes by Georgia Mansur! Nita's right-Georgia's work is awesome!

I won the January Viva Las Vegas Stamp Challenge!

2012-02-02T10:41:00.000-08:00

Wheeee! Every month Viva Las Vegas stamps has a challenge 'theme' and I discovered yesterday that I won for January with my 'Celebrate Steampunk' drawing. I'll be getting a $25 gift certificate to the store so I can buy more stamps!

Check out their newsletter for information on February's challenge.

Don't forget too, that if you have a blog, and display their blinkie with a link to their site, they'll send you a free grab bag of unmounted rubber stamps. Follow the newsletter link above and you'll find the information on this promotion on their sidebar.

Link to tangle pattern Pavonia

2012-02-02T06:22:00.000-08:00

Steps to Angie Shade's new tangle pattern, Pavonia, have been posted at Tanglepatterns.com.

Review of the Semikolon Mucho Spiral Notebook

2012-02-02T06:15:00.000-08:00

By Sandra Strait

Note: I get lots of questions about some of the terms I use, so I included a glossary at the end of this review.

Have you ever gone shopping and seen an item that just seemed to call your name? Such was the case for me last week, when I went to a Dick Blick store opening. I kept walking past these brightly colored Semiolon Mucho Spiral Notebooks, and talking myself out of buying one. But I kept coming back and picking them up and yearning.

Okay. So I’m weak. At $13.95, it wasn’t a purchase that broke the bank.

The Specs

Size: 8-1/2 x 5.8 inch (A5)

Cover: Coated Fiberboard with a matte finish

Binding: Heavy-gauge wire.

Paper: Cream color. Perforated. 55 pages lined, 55 pages graph and 55 pages blank. Heavier than most notebook paper.

Extras: Wide elastic band in matching color. Three acetate sheets with tabs separate the three sections. Two acetate full-page pockets in back. Co-ordinates with other Pierre Belvedere products.

My Subjective Opinion

The Cons: They have a coil binding and micro-perfed pages. There is also a small semi-colon brand on every single page. It’s tiny, but I don’t like it. And they are heavy. They’re sturdy, and would be a good to carry around, but—oh! You’d feel the weight after a while.

The Pros. I love the fact that that they have ruled paper, graph paper, and blank paper. I love the smooth feel and color of them. The paper is heavier than most notebook paper, so the extra weight of the notebook is for good purpose.

Both cover and pages flip back easily, but there isn’t a lot of the slop that you often get with coil-bound books.

The micro-perfing is good. I held the notebook by one page and shook it without the perf tearing. When I pulled a page away from the binding, it tore from the punched holes rather than the perf. Once I started from the top of the perf, the ragged edge separated easily.

Performance

Fountain Pens: I tried several fountain pens and various inks. Drying time was quick—I had no problems with smudging. No feathering. There was no bleed-through or shadowing.

Sharpie Marker: The marker did show through on the back, but there was no bleed-through or feathering.

Kuretake Fountain Hair pen: The ink showed through, but didn’t bleed-through.

Letraset Promarkers: There was bleed-through, but Promarkers are alcohol markers, so it would have been surprising if there wasn’t. Not all the color came through—rare, with notebook paper! The color was a bit dull, and once I tangled on the back, the color can hardly be seen. (Sorry, I forgot to scan the front before tangling).

Peerless Watercolors: I used a waterbrush. Very little buckling, dimpling or curling (the amount will depend on how much water you add). The watercolor dried almost as soon as you put it on the paper, so it was hard to spread, and a wash was out of the question. Some of the color bled through. Peerless watercolor is very intense, but it was a bit duller than normal. The texture of the paper changed—it almost felt as though I’d used gesso.

Neocolor II Wax Water-Soluble Crayon: I used the waterbrush again. The pastel spread easily, both dry and wet. There was some dimpling, because I used the water to blend more heavily in some areas than others. No actual buckling though. I got the same textural change that I noted with the Peerless Watercolor.

More Subjective Opinion

I’m impressed overall with the performance of the paper. It holds up well to harsh mediums, and though I haven’t tested it, I suspect it will hold up well to wear-and-tear (I’d love to hear from anyone whose carried one of these around for a while). The coil binding wasn’t too intrusive—I could rest my hand on it at an angle that allowed me to work right up to the perf. The perf doesn’t tear easily, so I won’t have to worry about losing pages.

Still don’t like that tiny brand mark though. It might not have annoyed as much if it were in a corner.

This would be a great all-round notebook—you could use it for the office, school or art journaling. I didn’t use gesso for this test, but I think it would work fine with thin coats, though I’d reinforce the punch holes somehow.

Glossary of terms

Tangling: Zentangle is a method of drawing that breaks down design patterns into steps-usually 6 steps or less. When you draw a design using these pattern steps, you are 'tangling'.

Bleed-through: The color from the ink soaks right through the page and spots the back, and sometimes the page next to it.

Shadowing: You can see the writing from the back of the page, but the ink hasn’t actually ‘bled’ through the page. Sometimes the shadow is so dark, you can easily read the words. Sometimes, you’d have to hold the page up to light to see it.

Feathering: As you write, the ink spreads, leaving spiky edges to the line.

Waterbrush: A brush with a handle that you can fill with water, and squeeze to get the water to flow.

Wash: A technique of using water to make watercolor paint flow and spread or run across the page. Depending on the type of watercolor and the amount of water, this could be anything from just a slight thinning of the color to an uncontrollable run-off-the-page flow.

Buckling: When some paper gets wet, it ‘buckles’. The paper develops waves across the page where the fibers dry unevenly. This can cause watercolor to pool and blotch, and distort the artwork. Sometimes you can put a heavy weight on it, to straighten it out, and sometimes nothing helps.

Dimpling: Similar to Buckling, but instead of waves appearing when the paper gets wet, there are dents or ‘dimples’ in the paper. Much less dramatic than buckling, but still undesirable.

Curling: When the paper gets wet, the corners curl inward.

Gesso: A gluey white medium used to make paper more durable and more amenable to layering of mediums or for collage. Very popular for art journaling.

Note: Check the picture if you decide to order one of these notebooks. When I surfed around looking for information, I saw many differences. The differences are slight -some notebooks don’t have the white border on the cover, some have a narrower band. Some say 60 pages of each type, rather than 55 (probably the 60 is hard to find now). But even though the differences are slight, it was the particular look of this notebook that I reviewed that caught my eye and demanded I take the Mucho Spiral home.

Love Cast in Clay Blog Hop with Amazing Mold Putty and Creative Paperclay®

2012-01-31T18:59:00.002-08:00

Blog Hop winners

Jeannie - Creative Paperclay® from Creative Paperclay® blog

Mary S-from Amazing Mold Putty blog

Tumbling Trails-Creative Paperclay® from this blog

Basket of Roses Postcard with Amazing Mold Putty and Delight^TM

by Sandra Strait (aka molossus)

The Creative Paperclay® Design Team is having a blog hop! It's my first ever, so I'm really excited. If you arrived here from Susan Brown's SBArtist: Painting in the Dark blog, you are in the right spot. If not, you might want to go back and start from the beginning at the Creative Paperclay® blog.

There's Blog Candy! One winner from both the Amazing Mold Putty blog and the Creative Paperclay Blog will receive a 16oz package of Creative Paperclay® and package of Amazing Mold Putty. For a chance to win (U.S. only, sorry), just leave a comment on all blogs and become a follower of all blogs on the hop. .

I am also giving away an 8 oz package of Creative Paperclay® or a package of Delight to one of the people who comment on my blog. (This prize is open to all but because of weight and postage, I'll substitute a 3 oz pack of Delight^TM if the winner is international.).

For my project, I made a postcard to send to my husband on our 30^th Wedding Anniversary. I’ll be out of town (wah!), so I wanted something special for the occasion.

Supplies:

Delight^TM

Amazing Mold Putty

Rolled Paper Rose

2-3 ft. of 1/8 in Diamond Braid rope

A piece of lace for tablecloth

Robin's Nest Diamond Drops

A Postcard

A scrap of paper with the sentiments "Nothing Says 'I Love You' Like Flowers" written on it.

White Glue

Acrylic paint and brushes

A toothpick or two

Scissors

Rolling The Roses:

I rolled two sizes of rose—one from a 2 x 2 inch piece of paper, and one from a 4 x 4 inch square.

The Rope:

I cut off three pieces of rope around an inch long, but of slightly different lengths, to be used as flower stems. I tugged the strands at one end to fray them, so they’d leave a texture when I made my mold.

With the rest of the rope, I tied an Ocean Plait knot 2 ¼ inches long by 1 ½ inches high. (Don't know how to tie an Ocean Plait knot? There's a quick and easy template here-but be sure to come back for the rest of the hop!)

The Amazing Mold Putty:

I made four molds for this project—two for the roses; one for the leaves and stems; and one for the basket.

Amazing Mold Putty comes in two parts, Part A--white putty and Part B--yellow putty. Nothing happens until you start mixing the two. Once you start smooshing them together though, you only have 3 or 4 minutes before the putty sets.

For each mold, I scooped equal amounts of Part A and Part B and eyeballed the amounts next to the object(s) I was going to mold.

Once I felt I had enough I smooshed them together until the putty was all yellow with no marbling, then f flattened the ball out to the needed size. The last step was pushing my rope, knot or flower into the soft putty and to leave it there for 10-15 minutes.

The Delight^TM

Delight^TM dries lighter and whiter than Creative Paperclay®, but either can be used in this project. The Delight^TMwill be cheaper to send if you intend to snail-mail your postcard.

The next step was to add the Delight^TMto the molds. You get the best effects if you leave the DelightTMin the mold for a day or so, but I needed 5 small roses and 3 large ones, so I admit it. I let the Delight^TMset for a couple hours, and then very carefully worked it free, so I could add more.

Finishing

I did wait a day before trimming off the excess bits of Delight^TM with scissors and painting. During that time, I painted a background on the postcard.

I used white glue on the lace, then the basket, then the stems and then the flowers. Then I added the Diamond drops and sentiments and my card was done!

Don't forget to leave a comment on my blog, to be entered for the great blog candy. From here, you'll be visiting Peg.

If you wish to start at the beginning or think you may have missed someone, here is a list of the blogs on the hop.
LINKY:

Link: Taking your Comic Art to the Next Level Using Copic Multiliners

2012-01-31T18:55:00.000-08:00

Excellent tutorial and fantastic artwork showing how to use Copic Multiliners in comic book art (or any black & white illustration for that matter).

Link: Original ACEO drawing Giveaway

2012-01-31T10:50:00.002-08:00

CZT Norma J Burnell is giving away one of her original ACEO drawings. For a chance to win, check out her giveaway post.

Link: SAKURA ® Gears Up Bracelet

2012-01-31T10:50:00.000-08:00

Gloriann Irizarry's tutorial shows how to create a beautiful bracelet using Sakura® Crystal Lacquer and Terri Sproul Mixers.

Link to tangle pattern El-zee #zentangle

2012-01-30T14:13:00.000-08:00

Lizzie Mayne has posted steps to her tangle pattern El-Zee.

My Tangle Pattern Koolapopper

2012-01-30T13:47:00.000-08:00

This pattern was drawn in one Geneviève Crabe's Tangle Organizers. There is still time to enter her giveaway(end 2/1/12). You can find out more at her blog.

Take note of this drawing--it's one of the rare times you see me using a pencil, because I got caught out without a pen. I don't like drawing with pencils (mini-rant: I don't like the smell, the feel or sound of one moving across the page. I don't like the way they smear and require fixative. And I'm allergic to graphite. I bet you've got the feeling that I don't like pencil.). Lol. Sounds like the lyrics to a song!

The pattern uses repetition--you divide a section into triangles, draw stripes along the edges, and then repeat that motif in the center. As you can see from the example, You can fit this into almost any shape, and the variation is endless!

Oh--and the name. It was one of those verification words you have to type in when leaving a blog comment. And how could I resist a word like that? I had to create a tangle just as an excuse to use it!

Link: Weekly Challenge #56: "Non Dominatrix* v.2"

2012-01-30T07:15:00.000-08:00

This week the Laura Harms' challenge is to do an ENTIRE tile or ZIA using only your non dominant hand.
If you are right-handed, use your left-hand; if you are left-handed use your right hand.

Link: Valentine Postcard Tutorial

2012-01-29T17:46:00.000-08:00

Lyric Kinard has posted a tutorial at the Sketchbook Challengle blog showing how to make a collage Valentine Postcard.

Drawings from Geneviève Crabe's Tangle Journal 2012

2012-01-29T10:06:00.000-08:00

These are a couple of the lines drawings from Geneviève Crabe's Tangle Journal 2012. She is having a giveaway and I wanted to be sure you knew about it. You can find out more at her blog.

The first one I have already posted in the review I wrote about her Tangle Journals. I painted it using Peerless Watercolors, but have only recently got around to tangling it. I used Micron Pigma Pen, and added highlights with a white Neocolor II water-soluble wax pastel.

The second drawing was also tangled with a Micron Pigma and then painted entirely with the Neocolor II Wax pastels. I used a waterbrush, but was careful not to wet the paper more than was needed to blend the color, and I left some color dry. There was no buckling of the paper.

Link: A Valentine Creative Paperclay® Delight Clay Project

2012-01-28T21:56:00.000-08:00

Barbara Moore has posted a tutorial showing how she made Valentine Heart embellishment with Delight Air Dry Modeling Material.

Link: Zentangle Journal Page #5 - Tangle and Writing Prompts

2012-01-28T21:19:00.001-08:00

Patty Farrell has posted a zentangle discussion "Are There Perfect Zentangles" and both a tangle and a writing prompt.

Link: Journaling Background using Spray Gesso

2012-01-28T16:41:00.000-08:00

Lesley Venable demonstrates how she creates a beautiful 'doily' background in her art journal using Spray Gesso.

I know! I'd never heard of Spray Gesso either. It looks pretty neat.

Link: Doodling over a paper-pasted collage

2012-01-28T15:39:00.000-08:00

Leslie Tucker Jennison shows how she doodles over paper-pasted collages using ephemera from her travels and local events over at the Sketchbook Challenge blog.

If you aren't familiar with the Sketchbook Challenge you might want to check out How the Challenge Works. Besides all the fantastic mixed media tutorials, there are monthly prizes, a Flickr group and you can participate whenever you like--no minimums or maximums or themes required!

Link: Neil Burley Adds ‘Templates’ section to his blog

2012-01-28T12:41:00.000-08:00

Neil Burley has added a section of templates that he has used for his projects over the years.

Link: How Zentangle® Changes Peoples Lives

2012-01-28T12:29:00.000-08:00

Linda Farmer has started a new Series at Tanglepatterns.com-How Zentangle®Changes Peoples Lives. She shares stories from people who have written to her (and agreed to share their story) about how they have been helped through dark times by Zentangle®.

My tangle pattern Triarchy

2012-01-28T10:05:00.000-08:00

This pattern was drawn in one of Geneviève Crabe's Tangle Organizers. She is having a giveaway and I wanted to be sure you knew about it. You can find out more at her blog.

I'm using the Tri-tips--those three little drop shapes that I used in the pattern Tri-Me--again. It's really a very effective enhancement.

This pattern also uses a very common repetition technique, where you keep repeating the same shape in increasingly smaller sizes. This could be done with triangles, circles, almost any shape you want. As you can see from the example, you can repeat the shape once all around the original shape or keep drilling down and repeating until you run out space. There is a very interesting video that shows this geometric feature in action. It's highly entertaining as well!

Geneviève Crabe's Weekly Roundup 1/27/12

2012-01-27T17:06:00.000-08:00

Geneviève Crabe's Weekly Roundup of zentangle patterns and articles of interest has been posted.

Link: Free Online One-of-a-kind Creature Design Courses from Copic

2012-01-27T17:03:00.000-08:00

Wow! Copic is offering a free lesson from industry-leader Terryl Whitlach (creature design artists for Star Wars, The Katurran Odyssey, Brother Bear). It looks like it is going to be awesome. I could be wrong, but I suspect, even if you don't think you'd want to draw imaginary critturs, or don't use Copics, this class will offer some hardcore info that could be used with any animal and with any media. And from the video used at the sign up, it will be a feast for the eyes!

Sign up today for your free lesson in drawing the Creatures of Amalthea. (And I'm not associated in any way with Copic, nor was I asked to promote this. I just followed their twitter link, and got all excited by what I found!)

Link: Free Downloadable Line Art from Copic

2012-01-27T16:22:00.000-08:00

I think I posted this link a while back, but it's worth posting again. Free manga style line art for you to download and enjoy.

Link: Big Stamp giveaway at PaperCraft Connection

2012-01-27T13:11:00.000-08:00

Papercraft magazine is having a blog hop. They are giving away thirty (yes, 30!) stamp sets to one winner, and for each blog you comment at, you have a chance to win their magazine 'Stamp it 3 Ways'.

And this will be good practice to limber you up for MY blog hop with the Creative Paperclay® and Amazing Mold Putty team on February 1st! My first blog hop ever! *dances*.

Link: Tangle Refresher 17

2012-01-27T12:20:00.000-08:00

Do you remember: Ixorus, Struzzle, Embellish, Lilypads and Bundles? Linda Farmer has posted Tangle Refresher 17--five patterns that were new this time last year.

My tangle pattern Tri-Me

2012-01-27T11:11:00.000-08:00

This pattern was drawn in one of Geneviève Crabe's Tangle Organizers. She is having a giveaway and I wanted to be sure you knew about it. You can find out more at her blog.

For some reason, I was a bit unfocused last night. Hubby has been on vacation, which disrupts my routine, so that may have been it (that's my story and I sticking to it!). At any rate, this pattern was meant to be an exercise in using 'lacy' bits to add interest to almost any pattern. I meant to show it used in several ways in the example. However, I lost focus, and realized I hadn't used except as shown in the pattern. *sigh* I'll do up some more examples this week.

Although, I've shown this as border, the Tri-me tips work almost any place that you have a regular indentation. Just one set of Tri-me tips won't add a lot (though it can help), but if you have a pattern with a regular in and out flow, adding those three little tear-drop shapes can add an eye-catching delicacy.

Link: Golden Cameo made with Creative Paperclay® & Terri Sproul Mixers

2012-01-26T21:12:00.000-08:00

Gini Cagle shows how she made a golden cameo embellishment with Creative Paperclay®'s Delight™ Air Dry Modeling Compound product and Terri Sproul's new line of mica powder mixers.

My tangle pattern Curvaceous & Link to Geneviève Crabe's Giveaway

2012-01-26T21:00:00.000-08:00

I saw a photo of curving spiral stairs and this pattern popped into my head.

Tip: You may find that as you hit the curves, you lose track of which way your line should go. You may have less problems if you focus on one section at a time. You are drawing triangles-2 smaller triangles inside a larger one. Focus on the section your are one--draw the large triangle, and bisect it so you have three triangles. Then draw the next triangle set and so on all the way down the curve. If do get confused, though, just go with it. Your curves will look a little different, that's all.

This tangle pattern was drawn in one of Geneviève Crabe's Tangle Organizers. She is having a giveaway, so head over and check it out!

Link to tangle pattern Bandola

2012-01-26T16:50:00.000-08:00

CZT Sadelle Wiltshire has posted steps to her tangle pattern Bandola. She also shows how she bound her copy of Linda Farmer's TanglePatterns.com Tangle Guide into a book!

Link to Tangle Pattern Whistler

2012-01-26T11:27:00.000-08:00

JJ LaBarbera has posted the steps to her tangle pattern Whistler.

Link: Submit Your Love Letter to Win a Leuchtturm Planner!

2012-01-26T11:09:00.000-08:00

Planning a love letter to your Sweetie, and would love the whole world to see?

European Paper is having a giveaway for Leuchtturm Planners, and four winners will be chosen.

Link to tangle patterns Starry Night, Camob and U&I

2012-01-25T21:14:00.000-08:00

ArjadL has posted steps to her tangle patterns Starry Night, Camob and U&I.

Link to tangle pattern TOF

2012-01-25T21:08:00.001-08:00

Ellen Wolters has posted steps to her tangle pattern TOF.

Link to tangle patterns Horse Chestnut and Crobe

2012-01-25T20:52:00.001-08:00

Lizzie Mayne has posted steps to her patterns Horse Chestnut and Crobe.

Steampunk Turtle and Bird's Nest Soup

2012-01-25T20:50:00.000-08:00

Link: Terri Sproul's Mixers Video

2012-01-25T18:38:00.000-08:00

Terri Sproul's shows us how her beautiful mixers work.

Link: Terri Sproul's Mixers at Sakura Hobby Crafts

2012-01-25T15:47:00.000-08:00

One of the new product lines that will be introduced at the upcoming Craft and Hobby Association (CHA) show this year is Terri Sproul Mixers. These are mica powders designed to give your crafts a fantastic metallic or jewel-like shine when used with Sakura Crystal Lacquer.

I haven't had the chance to use these myself, but I've been watching the projects that have been posted on the Sakura Hobby Crafts blog. I've got some ideas for ways to use these with Creative Paperclay® and zentangle. Can't wait for the chance to get some!

Link: Layout with Creative Paperclay® faces

2012-01-25T15:41:00.000-08:00

Lori Williams shows how she used Creative Paperclay® faces to embellish her scrapbook layout.

Weehah! Today's my day for winning!

2012-01-25T15:40:00.000-08:00

Okay. I admit it. I'm both a giveaway and art supply shopping junkie (you didn't have a clue did you, lol).

This morning Dick Blick had a grand opening in Portland, Oregon, and advertisements said the first 100 people through the door would receive a tote filled with $100 worth of Art supplies. To me, this was the siren call to high adventure. There were coupons involved too!

I managed to get there early enough to score the wonderful, marvelous tote, plus everyone who visited the store today gets a $5.00 Starbucks card, a free T-shirt, a spin on the wheel to win a Dick Blick product (I got a sketchbook) and an entry to win a $5,000 art studio.

I shopped for hours, got some fantastic deals and I'm giddy with the fun of it all! And to top it off, when I got home, I discovered I'd won some Copic swag on Twitter. Honestly. Could life get better? I'm so easily pleased.

Link to tangle pattern Fohbraid

2012-01-25T15:38:00.001-08:00

Linda Farmer has posted a link to my tangle Fohbraid at TanglePatterns.com. She also has links to Brayd and Twisted Rope, so this is a good link to compare rope/braid type patterns.

Kitty Cat Unravels the Rug

2012-01-24T15:27:00.000-08:00

I was trying a couple of new things here. I had some blank index cards and wondered how my Letraset Promarkers would do on them, and I also recently received a sample of De Atramentis Pale Blue fountain pen ink that I wanted to try, so I used it to tangle everything but the cat. I used a Kuretake No 8 Fountain Hair pen for the cat.

The Promarkers don't have the glow that they get on some paper, but they aren't bad. Love the De Atramentis Pale Blue fountain pen ink.

Tangles used are Yuan by CZT Margaret Bremner, Bitten by CZT Carole Ohl, Zazzy by CZT Sue Clark, Basketweave by CZT Suzanne McNeil, the official tangle Bales, my own Raisin8s and some noodling with tangle possibilities.

Link: Stamp Cleaning Tips

2012-01-24T11:37:00.000-08:00

Check out this video, if you are tired of blackened stamps. Kristina, at Simon Says Stamps, shows how to clean stamps of all kinds.

Link to tangle pattern Zazzy

2012-01-23T18:56:00.000-08:00

CZT Sue Clark has posted steps to her tangle pattern Zazzy.