Getting ZENtangled with Dream Schemes Sketch #5

Last week I traveled to Phoenix, Arizona, for the NAMTA (National Art Materials Trade Association) show, and had soooo much fun. Lynell Harlow (owner of Dreamweaver's Stencils) and Lee Kellogg and I took turns demo-ing with the stencils and all the fabulous products and techniques to go with. Whenever we had opportunities to walk the show, we were inspired by so many wonderful products, artists, and...art! What many of you may be unaware of, is at these trade shows, we frequently have the opportunity to collaborate with other companies and artists...a kind of "We have this, what can you do with it?", and "I'd love to see what I can do with your product!" This show was even more so. Suzanne McNeill of Design Originals and Lynell put their heads together to see how the Dreamweaver Stencils would work with Suzanne's latest fixation, "Zentangle", an art using fine pens to create patterns within patterns. Along the line of doodling, but with a little more brain activity required. We loved her end result, which you can see on the Dream It Up! blog, and had so much fun playing with this new idea.

The butterfly that I created was done in our booth, which shows how quickly you can catch on to this. I love the graphic look of it! Since I wanted to blog this fun process, I chose to incorporate it into this weeks' sketch challenge designed by my booth partner and co-team member, Lee, as seen above at left. I did flip the sketch on it's side to fit the size of the butterfly panel. My three strips were not torn as I

wanted to keep the clean graphic lines, so I paste-embossed the "Zebra Skin" in Glossy White on black cardstock and divided it in three strips. A few dots of Copic White ink at the corner and a sticker sentiment finished it off.

Then, I decided I wanted to play some more, and yet follow Lee's sketch a little more exactly. This time I "Zentangled" the vase on black cardstock with a white gel pen. I created three torn-edged strips of paste-embossed "Damask" and "Flourishes" in Glossy Black and Glossy White. A torn edge black panel behind the vase to frame it nicely. For more texture, I embossed the base card with the Big Shot machine and the "Stripes" stencil. The final card is still graphic, with a softer, more elegant appearance. Now is your time to play along with us. Follow Lee's sketch and link your creation to the Mr. Linky on the Dream It Up! blog. Need more inspiration? Check out what the rest of our fantabulous Dream Team has been up to this week. Interested in learning the art of Zentangle? Check out the Design Originals books on this fun new technique HERE. Interested in knowing how this art form began? Click HERE. Interested in the Sakura pens used to create this? Click HERE.
 

Dreamweaver Stencils:
LJ815 Zebra Skin
LG620 Oriental Butterfly
LM194 Small Ginger Jar
LJ890 Flourishes
LX7002 Stripes
LX7001 Damask
LM2010 Embossing Paste Spreader
DGWP Glossy White Embossing Paste
DGKP Glossy Black Embossing Paste
ET Stylus tool (for perfect white dots)

Sakura Micron Pen Black .03
Sakura White Gel Pen
Copic White Ink
black and white cardstock
ribbon, charm
Big Shot
double-sided foam adhesive