Tangle Journal

I’ve been working on creating my own tangle journal and just about done with it, but I have been trying to find the right paper to print my pages on.  I really like the way is coming out and hopefully will soon be able to show it to you all soon.  In the meantime I have been using a Moleskine® storybook notebook to draw tangles I like and learned.

What I like about this notebook is that the pages are thick enough that the ink does not bleed through so you can use both sides.  Another great feature is the boxes it has on every page.  It has 4 boxes lined horizontally on every page and next to every box is a blank space where you can write the name of the tangle, creator or any another short notes you might want to add.  The boxes are not big, but I find them to be just the right size to draw just the tangle.  The notebook has your typical Moleskine features; the back pocket, ribbon bookmark and it is hardcover.

The reason I am creating my own is that is it of course more economical, the Moleskine is about $14 at Amazon, which is the cheapest I have found.  This particular notebook is 5" x 8-1/4", it has 4 frames per page, 104 pages and the paper weight is 1655 gsm/111 lb.; FSC Certified Paper; Acid-Free (pH Neutral).  I really love it and wanted to share it with everyone.

Leave me a comment or post and let me know what you use and how it works for you.  Thank you for reading my blog in this little corner or Cyber space and as always be safe and enjoy your creative journey.

WonderingMindField

Large Stencil Organizer!

I love stencils and they have come such a long way from the paper cut out I used to buy from Dover Publications.  Now there are so many artists out there creating such interesting and complex stencils and thank goodness technology is advanced enough that now they have laser cut which allows for more detailed designs.  Since I started with mixed media last year I’ve been slowly purchasing stencils and have been storing them in some plastic containers.

The problem is that some of the more thinner and detailed stencils keep getting snag with others and a couple got torn up. So I started thinking how I could take store some of the more expensive and delicate stencils more appropriately in order to protect my small investment.  I’m on a craft supply budget and can’t always replace my supplies unless I pinch and save every penny.  After all I have a mortgage and a child in college!

My Idea?  I got a $4 Scrapbook at Big Lots that is 12” by 12” which included 10 page protectors with an expandable spine.  Well as you can see in the picture it really did the trick.  In this scrapbook the protectors had blank kraft pages inside of them so I was able to store two stencils per page.  It really works for me for now, who knows as my collection keeps growing!  This idea works best for the large stencils, smaller stencils such as 6”x6” I still store on a folder but I’m still looking for another bargain for a smaller scrapbook.

Hope I have inspired you and always look for your creative joy!

WonderingMindFiled

My Creative Space

I have been living in my current house for a few years now, and for reasons beyond my control I haven’t been able to do a lot renovations.  I have this image of my dream home and life has gotten in the way of that dream.  This is a house in need of some care and I am hoping life gives me a  little break so I  can give the house some deserving TLC.

One thing I was able to somewhat accomplish is making some room for my mind to have a space to quite down.  I know I sound like a mental health case, but I have always liked a little solitude and I find that people now and days with all the craziness and the fast pace don't really have that.  It’s not an easy thing to find.  Lucky for me I was able to recently finish a space in my home to find my solitude and be able to just surround myself with things that bring me quiet time and creativity.

These are pictures of my creative space!  Here I get to just be inside my mind and come up with ideas, write my little blog, pay bills (not very relaxing!), and keep all my supplies.  When I am really making something is messy and chaotic but hey I know where everything is, most of the time :).  I try to keep it clean and but my daughter teases me constantly because every time I get a good deal on supplies I have to rearrange things. I do have to confess that sometimes organizing my craft room is part of the fun of having one!  Don’t you think?

The little girl on the picture is my daughter when she was 5-years-old and the drawing next to her is my design for my Etsy shop.  Of course there is no fun in your creative space unless you surround yourself with things that make you smile; Curly from the “Three Stooges” is my fun buddy and every time I look at him I can't help but smile.  I keep him in from of me for fun inspiration.

A few tips that work for me (at least for now!) are:

• Shoe rack & clips - I use them to organize embellishments I use the most. 
• Door Shoe Organizer - I keep extra glue sticks, sponges, brushes, other small things
• 6 Drawer from IKEA - It is great to keep all my wooden stamps, markers, & Zentangle® supplies.
• Recollections Carrousel - (got 65% off during Christmas season) It is great for all my most used tools, pens, and drawing supplies.
• Filing Cabinet - I keep all my card stock, stencils, as well as my household records all nicely organized and next to me for easy access.
• Drafting desk table - I got this at Amazon and love it.  I can do my Zentangle® or take me with me if I want to go outside since it has handles for portability.  It raises from the table to give me a better angle.

Anyhow, is small and not too fancy but it is my space!  Hope you have a space or your own.  Keep creating and always find joy in you art.

WonderingMindField

Traveling Zentangle® Kit

While cleaning my purse (more like a tote) I realize I had way too much stuff in it.  I had a bunch of pens, papers, cardstock, and even books.  I was trying to carry all my stuff with me everywhere yet all of it was inside what I like to call the black hole that resides inside my purse.  You know the one, where everything that you need to have right now goes into. 

So I took a breath and started cleaning the black hole in my purse.  I have a rather impatient personality and I seem to always be in the move, either physically or mentally.  My mind like the title on this blogg wonders a lot, so I like to have all kinds of little projects with me so I can entertain my mind and if an idea strikes me I can just jotted down.  It occur to me that Zentangle is the perfect traveling partner, since you do not need a lot of supplies to enjoy the method. 

Here are pictures of my supplies, starting with the really cool zipper pouch my daughter had lying around in the desk and was not using.  We bought is for $2 and It is perfect for what it is carrying. Seriously, It had tangles on it.


What I carry in this nifty pouch are some of my favorite supplies:

• Copic 1.0 pen—Eraser
• clear quilters ruler
• Pencil
• BIC® Intensity Fine marker (my favorite to draw since it is sturdy, affordable, and does not bleed through)

Also among my supplies are of course Zentangle® tiles, black cardstock tiles and some round coasters. 

I also like to carry some stencils to add interest to   a tile if the mood strikes me.  These stencils     comes in packages and are distributed by Plaid® and the best part they cost around $3 dollars.  The coasters are great for zendalas and are very affordable.  I got mine at Amazon and they came is a pack of 50 for under $15.  The last piece I like to carry are blank bookmarks which are my favorite since I love to read and have been a great fan of bookmarks.


Carrying this little Zentangle kit is great and I love it. Now I can create my own unique pieces and never have a boring moment while on the go.

Be safe and continue looking for your creative joy!  

WonderingMindField

How I Organize Zentangle® Patterns I’ve Learned?

Dylusions® Spray

So, I have all these journals from Moleskin to Hand-Book to Piccadilli and so on.  But what I really wanted was to be able to practice the tangles and when I felt confident, draw a very nice final copy and keep it for future reference.  Eliminating the need to keep them all in my crowded head or have to go to my computer to check a web or a YouTube video, and so on.  Using these journals for practice seem a little wasteful to me.  Why you ask, well because I have many OCD’s and one seem to be collecting journals and then loving the paper so much I don’t what to ruin it.  Yes that’s nuts but there lies my confession:  I love journals, and the feel of a good quality paper.  What can I say?  Some women like chocolates and roses, I like paper.  Lots of it.  I think I need to see a paper therapist, HA!

So with compulsive behavior aside I got a SN@P™ Simple Stores Binder Kit (used a coupon at Michael’s) and they have these sheet inserts that have pockets that come in different sizes (on sale!) with some chipboard dividers.  With my OCD along for the ride I took a pad of Strathmore Bristol Vellum Paper Pad (which I got at a buy one get one free sale, mind you) and took a few pages out.   

GelliArts® Print

Very patiently while watching a Perry Mason episode, which by the way I am obsessed with since I was just 9-years-old, I measured the pockets on the sheet inserts of the binder then drew 3in. x 4in squares on the 11in by 14in vellum paper pages.  The 3in by 4in cards fit just right in the pockets leaving enough room to easily take them out of the pockets.  To cut the square I used my very handy X-Acto™ paper trimmer and went to town cutting these squares out.  It really is therapy for me, you know.  All you hear is the courtroom drama and the whoosh of the blade cutting through paper.  Music to my ears!

SN@p Inserts

After all the drawing and cutting I had a nice little stack of these beauties and now I was ready to start practicing my tangle patterns.  After a few days I notice my binder was a little plain and decided it needed some personality.  Out came my Gelli Arts™ printed paper (more on this great product in future posting) and some stamps and one hour later Voila! (See the picture?)  I think is pretty cute, at least for my personality.  Now I have my very own customized Zentangle® Library Binder.  If I keep this Zentagle® thing going I think I’m going to need to do some more cutting.  Oh well I still have Season 3 – Vol. 2 of Perry Mason to watch.

My Zentangle® Binder

Be safe and always look for your creative joy,

WonderingMindField