Doodle A Tangle

One of the classes I'm taking through Wanderlust (see my side bar) was on Zentangle - which is like a meditative doodling but you doodle specific patterns - each pattern is called a tangle. A Zentagle is a mix of several tangles that you draw with a 1.0 Micron black pen on a 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" piece of card - preferably Fabriano.  There are rules for this art form - but, of course, you really can do whatever you want!  

I loved the on-line class (you can see some of my Zentangles here) and wanted to learn more.    I ended up purchasing the book by the teacher of the class - Beckah Krahula - the book is called One Zentangle a Day.

 So here is my first tangle from the book -  it's called Poke Root - and I made it on a 2" x2" piece of Fabriano card.  This is the first time I've drawn this tangle - it's my practice piece (but now I'll have to make another since I put this one on my card!  And you, obviously, get better each time you draw it.

 I decided to make a note card with my tangle -  I cut the front flap of the card smaller than the back and adhered the tangle half off the edge of the front - just to kind of spotlight the tangle.  I drew this very simply - just doing the Poke Root repeatedly and filling in the spaces with tiny circles - it's really easy using the 01 Micron Pen.

I could either stamp a verse inside behind the front panel - being sure I didn't go past the edge (!) or I could write a note in the same space.  The card  back measures 4 1/4' x 4 3/4" and the front panel is 2 3/4" x 4 3/4" so it fits into a regular envelope.

It is really fun to Zentangle - and I'm looking forward to practicing and using all of the Tangles that are in the book!

I'm linking my card to:

CASology Cue Card - Doodle

Paper:  Fabriano Card
Accessories:  01 Black Micron Pen - Sakura, pencil, Blending Stub, Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive.

August Waltzingmouse SOAP - Day 1 - A Monogramed Pillow + Gracie

Welcome to Day 1 of the WMS DT August Stamp of Approval Parade (SOAP)! 

For the next 3 days the DT will be sharing with you more ways to use the July Release stamps - Cameo to Go, Cameo Creations, Ovals Classics Frames, Big Day Essentials, Big Day Additions, Eat Cake, You're Lovely, and Flourishes- Scallops and Dots and on August 4th we'll be highlighting an older stamp set Afternoon Tea!

Today I'm parading Cameo to Go

I was looking through the Serena and Lily Summer catalogue and came upon this pretty bed set.

It immediately reminded me of the pretty oval frames in the Cameo to Go Set.

I also used a background stamp from Pic-Nic Patterns and the A is from Victorian Alphabet.  I added some tiny green twinkles around the frame.  The lacey edge is cut with a Lacey Square Nestability.

Claire has surprised us by releasing 2 wonderful Halloween sets today (Claire LOVES Halloween and she just couldn't wait until the September release!)  - if you've been following her blog you have seen the wonderful creations she has made with them over the past week. 

Today I also have a card using the new stamp sets -  this little witch and the wonderful sentiment are from the Gracie at Halloween set -  the moon is from the Cecily at Halloween set.

The sentiment says "When all the world is sleeping and the moon is riding high, If you peep between the curtains you'll see witches flying by."  So I framed Gracie as if we were peeping between the curtains!
I hope you'll continue viewing the parade on these Design Team members blogs and please stop by tomorrow for Day 2 of our parade!!   And hurry over to the WMS Store to order your Halloween sets!

Anya Schrier
Claire Brennan
Jennifer Holmes
Julia Aston   You are here!
Kate Whelan
Laurie Schmidlin
Lynn Mercurio
Mona Pendleton
Sandie Dunne
Sarah Martina Parker
Tosha Leyendekker

Monogram Card: 
Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - frame from Cameo to Go, background from Pic-Nic Patterns, letter A from Victorian Alphabet.
Paper:  White, Hibiscus Burst - PTI
Ink:  Ranger Distress - Worn Lipstick and Tattered Rose, Memento Pear Tart.
Accessories:  Foam tape, tiny twinkles - Taylored Expressions, glue pen, lacey square Nestability.

Gracie Card:
Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - flying witch and sentiment from Gracie at Halloween, moon from Cecily at Halloween, gingham background stamp from Gingham + Company
Paper:  white, Orange Zest - PTI
Ink:Memento Tuxedo Black + Bamboo Leaves, Ranger Distress Antique Linen, Mustard Seed, Weathered Wood, stormy sky.
Accessories:  Copics - E33, E35, E53, E00, E59, YG95, Y21, YR23, YR07, R20, 0, BG11, N6, Wrinkled seam tape - Prairie Bird Boutique Etsy Shop, 3/4" circle punch - EK success, Labels 18 Nestabilities, Grommet tags Spellbinders, chipboard frame - Tattered Angels, lace - Joanne's Fabric.

Day 3 - Waltzingmouse SoAP!

Wow - we're already at day #3 of the Waltzingmouse Stamp of Approval Parade (SoAP)!!   The Design Team is reviewing the WMS May release giving you more creative ideas on how to use the stamps you bought!

Today I'm parading the wonderful set you can use for notes and invitations called  Join Us.

My niece, Christie, and her husband, Nate, just gave birth to a beautiful little boy named James Charles.  Here he is going home from the hospital - a wee 2 days old!

 The colors in James' room are jungle colors - predominantly greens, browns, yellows and oranges.

So I made these little 4 1/4" x 4 1/4" note cards for Chris and Nate to use for "thank you's" - their last name begins with R so I used that monogram from an older release - Victorian Alphabet -  on the notes.

First I did one of my favorite techniques on cards - which is to emboss a Nestability frame.  Here I used a square Nestability.

 Then I stamped the designs on cream cardstock panels and adhered them inside the frame with foam tape.

I could have just stamped the R in the middle of the decorative stampings -  but I thought it gave more depth to the card to stamp it on card stock and then punch it out with a circle punch.

Then I just added some orange rhinestones to the stampings for a little sparkle.

I hope you'll keep viewing the parade by visiting the other WMS Design Team linked below -  and please stop by tomorrow for Day 4 where we'll all be parading on older WMS release - Free Spirit - Boy.

Anya Schrier

Bonnie Sharp

Carly Robertson

Claire Brennan

Jennifer Holmes

Julia Aston - You're here

Kate Whelan

Laurie Schmidlin

Lynn Mercurio

Mona Pendleton

Niki Estes

Sandie Dunne

Sarah Martina Parker

Tosha Leyendekker

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Join Us, Victorian Alphabet
Paper:  Vintage Cream, Simply Chartreuse - PTI
Ink:  Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories:  Foam tape, square Nestabilities, rhinestones - Kaiser, Tiny Gems - Taylored Expressions, 1" circle punch - EK Success.

A gift for the Pastor

Our new minister has been at our church for just 6 months so this is his first Christmas with us. I wanted to give him something other than baked goods or wine (!) and I thought some note cards might be nice.

I saw a card in blogland using the stamps on this first card but I didn't note where I found it - so if it's your card please let me know and I'll link to you!

I used rustic cream cardstock from PTI to make it masculine and also drew a border around the card with an 01 Micron Pen. The floral is from Life and the quote is from Out on a Limb Sentiments - both by PTI.

For my next 2 designs I used crosses from the Spellbinders Cross Collection - sponging them before taking them out of the die. I used Soft Stone card stock from PTI for the crosses for a little contrast in color. I used Ranger Distress Antique Linen ink for the sponging.

The Bible Verses are both from Everyday Blessings by PTI.

For my 4th card for this note set I used a cross from Everyday Blessings by PTI and a Bible verse from Beautiful Scriptures by Clear Dollar Stamps.

I bundled the 8 cards and envelopes (2 of each design) into a clear box that I tied with a simple narrow silk ribbon from PTI. I made a tag using a scalloped tag Spellbinders die, added a couple of punched ferns and the sentiment from Wordsworth

Here's a close up of the tag - I silver embossed my Victorian Damask stamp by Rubbernecker onto silver cardstock.

I hope he likes them!

Remember to check out the final days of the Waltzingmouse 12 Days of Christmas - today Mona has something to inspire us and Friday Joan will be posting something fun!

And I hope you'll check back on Saturday for the Waltzingmouse Sketch!

ETA: check out PSA Stamp Camp Blog - Libby is offering a free stamp set to one lucky commenter!

Take Note

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone living in the United States - Kent and I will be enjoying the traditional turkey dinner with my sister, brother-in-law, my niece, her husband and my 'cute as pie' 2 month old grandnephew Landon. Don't you want to just squeeze those sweet little cheeks?!?!

Ok - on to a few cards to share. A co-worker asked me to design some thank you notes and personalized initial notes with a seashore theme. So I made up two designs for her.

For this set I used Rustic White cardstock from PTI - I thought it gave the feeling of a sandy beach. I stamped the frame and sentiment in Brushed Corduroy from Ranger. The row of shells is a $1 clear stamp from Michaels that I gold embossed. Unfortunately, the shimmer shows up better IRL than in these pics.

The initials below are from the Waltzingmouse set Victorian Alphabet.

For the second option I used Soft Stone card stock from PTI which is a really light shimmery gray. I stamped the frame in black and the sentiment and initials in London Fog -both by Memento.

The shells are stick ons by Jolee's popped up on foam dimensionals.

My friend Sandy liked them all but preferred the tan/brown/gold embossed ones. What do you think??

Don't forget to come by on Saturday for the next Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge! See you then!