Tangle U 2015 Musings

Last week I posted that I was on my way to Tangle U 2015.  This is the CZT (Certified Zentangle Teacher) continuing education put on my Elaine Huffman.  114 CZT came together for more learning, fun, Santa Fe sights and food (of course!). Three of us from Vancouver Island were present: Barb Round, Marie Browning and Me!

My hubby came too and we met lots of new people and made a new friendship with Char and Mike from California, and Sheila and John from Ontario.  The guys drove around New Mexico while the ladies enjoyed fabulous classes. On the way to dinner one night I found these interesting ladies pants. The design is a lot like the Tangle pattern Printemps.

Friday morning we woke to SNOW! I couldn't believe that I had to travel over 1000 miles just to get snow.  There hasn't been any in my town of Courtenay this year and we usually get a least two little snows! It didn't last long, but it was a surprise!

All the classes and sharing opportunities were fabulous!  I learned so much that I am trying to debrief through all the materials I brought home so that I don't forget too much.  My favourite class was with Sharla Hicks from Southern California. The most inspiring quote of the day for me was her comment that "more is more".
She encouraged us to add elements to the foreground and background of our piece.  This is from my notebook and represents some of what she taught.

Since I have been home I made another attempt at the techniques and I really like what is happening to my drawing.

Well, all good things have to come to an end and on Sunday we said our goodbye's.  We left amid hugs and email exchanges and hopes of seeing each other again at the next Tangle U.

On the way to the airport Dave and I decided to drive the old road called the Turquoise Trail instead of the main highway from Santa Fe to Albuquerque.  We stopped at a vary small town to see what there was and snapped this pic of Dave in front of an old engine.

We couldn't help stopping at the next little town of Madrid.  Turns out this is the town where Wild Hogs was filmed!  Apparently Maggie's Diner has never been a dinner but a little town store.

I'll leave you with a picture of all the Talavera swamp tiles that we exchanged between us all.  And if you are a CZT, I look forward to seeing you at the next Tangle U in Maine!

NancyD

Zentangle Butterfly from Stencil

I've been working in my sketchbook lately trying different Dream Weaver stencils that I purchased at Tangle U 2014.  This one is a beautiful butterfly and suitable for this weeks Diva Challenge. We are to trace an object to use as our string.

Tangles used are Ennes, Brayd, Floorz, and Shattuk. You can find step-outs for these tangle on TanglePatterns.com.

I'll be heading out to Santa Fe, New Mexico on Thursday just in time for Tangle U 2015.  I hope to meet many more CZTs and find more enticing art goodies like these Dream Weave stencils.

Happy Tangling!
NancyD

Birth Date Reminder Project

I don't know about you, but I sometimes have trouble remembering birth dates and how old the grand kids are each time.   I made a practical and pretty birthday reminder book to help me keep track of all the birth dates for family and extended family.

This is the front cover of the folio (no hard chipboard covers this time).  I used Pebbles Birthday Wishes paper pad and the Paper Phenomenon Foto Folios #2 Style 5 tutorial.

Back cover

This is a big folio! Here is the book in the first open position.  There is place for tags or cards or anything I want to put in the pockets.

Open up the two sides and you can see the whole spread, Whew! It is very long but holds information for all 12 months in one neat place.

Each month has its own pocket.  There is place for pictures on the front and back of each pocket - the pockets flip down. 

In each pocket is a folded tag for each month.  On this tag I plan to put a calendar with all the birth dates for that month. There is lots of room so I also plan to put pictures of the family members with a birthday that month.  Here are a few close ups of the pages.....

Underneath all the pockets I made acetate pockets to hold pre-made birthday cards.  After all, what's the point of knowing the birth date if I don't actually send out a card! lol!

As you can see I already made a few cards with the paper collection.

Making this was easy from Kathy's great tutorial and I had a lot of fun making such a practical reminder.  Now I just need to get all the birth dates put on the calendars!

Project Recipe:

Tutorial: Paper Phenomenon Foto Folio #2 Style 5
Paper: Pebbles Birthday Wishes 12x12 pad and Cardmaking Pad, Recollections 12x12 black paper
Embellishments: Pebbles Printed Chipboard Shapes, Tags
Inks: My new Prima Chalk Edgers that I one from Scrapadabadoo - Black and Brick Wall

Have a happy day!

NancyD

So Happy Together - Mini Album

I have a new mini album to share with you all.  This one is happy, happy, happy, with citrus colours and retro graphics.  The paper collection is from We R Memory Keepers - Feelin' Groovy.

I guess this paper makes me think of the Partridge Family TV show and maybe the Brady Bunch with the bright happy colours and lots of big flowers. Can't you just see Jan in a pair of bell-bottoms with these big flowers?

I used the new Paper Phenomenon kit club album, Life in Retrospect, as my tutorial.  I only made 4 pages and a single chipboard cover.  This is a slight variation from the original tutorial.  Here are the pages from the album......

The front of ever page has this design. The front flap holds a tag.

The inside of every page has this design.  There are two tags on the left.

The back of every page has a three tiered pocket for tags.

Lots of room for photos!

These papers are very busy!

Layered photo mats.

My Album Recipe:

Tutorial: Paper Phenomenon  Life in Retrospect (Kit Club 13)
Paper: We R Memory Keepers, Michael's Brights paper pack
Embellishments: Rare Earth magnets, Prima Flowers, Stamp in Up brads, a few pocket cards and embellishments from the paper collection
Inks:None

No matter what paper collection you use this new album style is going to look great!

Have a happy day!

NancyD