Zentangle Tile #9

I had an idea about flags (I know, weird) and this is what I came up with.  I learned this cute new tangle called Coil and wanted to try it out, so flag is the first thing that came to mind.  So while watching an episode of "The Blacklist" I created this tile.

There is a happy accident on this tile and it is "tux."  I do not know if this is similar to any other pattern but in this case it was created out of necessity.  I did not want to start all over, this was my last tangle.  I was on the earliest stages of the tangle "planateen" when I messed up the curved line.  I look at it and decided to improvise by adding some extra lines and dots and tux was born (I will write up the steps and post the tutorial on the blog soon).

This was the first time I had to tell myself to just work with what I had and not to worry too much and just enjoy the fruits of my labor.

This is a breakdown of the tangles I used for this tile.  
Be safe and keep searching for your creative joy!

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

Art Journal page #10

This is my favorite page so far and I really had a great time creating it.  A few months back I found this charming website called The Enchanted Gallery and they sell some really cool original rubber stamps with all kind of great fairy and enchanted lady stamps.  The name of the store truly reflects the products it has and the prices are reasonable.  It also has free patterns to create paper dolls that go with the stamps  Very cute and original stuff worth a look.

I was not planning anything special when started this page so I did not write the steps in detail or all the products I used, it was really spur of the moment page.  So instead I wrote some general notes on how this page came together.

Art Journal Page #10

Page Notes:

1. Paste (Mod-Podge) old music paper from book as well as some dry wall tape, half a roman clock silhouette (Tim Holtz®), modeling paste for texture, and some birch tree shapes.
2. Using Distress Stain (Tim Holtz®) Black Soot rubbed it over the pages to give it a dark night feel to it.
3. I stamped the wings and corset (stamp sheet #Aplh-115, $17.99) on card stock and cut them out.
4. Downloaded the doll sheet from the Enchanted Gallery and adjusted the size to fit the page and the rest of the look.
5. I cut out the doll image from card stock and covered with printed paper from an old book.
6. I colored the hair, wings, and corset,  I drew a skirt and covered with a coordinating pattern tissue paper.
7. Glue everything to the page using tacky glue and took a 'tea dye" Distress Ink Pad and rubbed it all over the page and then spray the page with water to add more aging to it.  The last touch was the phrase "make a magical life" sticker at the bottom of the page.

Note 1-2

Note 3

Note 4-5

Note 6

Thank you for visiting and as always be safe and keep looking for your creative joy.

WonderingMindField

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

Art Journal Page #9

Following the inspiration with Art Journal Page #8 I decided since this page was going to be next to it to have a similar theme.  I have this seamstress dress form stamp and I really like and wanted to incorporate it in this page.

I started with a creamy acrylic yellow paint and then paste it some music paper from an old book I got at a library sale for $2.00. The next step was to decorate the dress form with the same pattern tissue I used on the other page and created a skirt with some trimmings from handmade paper.

The rest of the page was decorated with various stamps I had in order to give the page a more vintage look.  I did use bubble wrap to add the circles for texture and also used door screen material to add the strips of it to the page.  Screen material is very flexible and adds more texture without been to bulky, the same way the plaster wall tape does.

Overall the page did not turn out to bad.  I tried to make sure I did not overcrowd the page and really take my time and enjoy the process.

Take care and find your creative joy
WonderingMindField

Zentangle Tile #8

The other day I saw some art work with paisley and I thought that was the one shape I had not tried yet.  I have bed sheets with this design so how do I draw it?  Well let just say it took me a few tries.    The buggers looked a little too much like...well, somethings are best left to the imagination.  I knowwww, now I put the thought in your head.  Anyhow, I will continue to practice and hope to get better.

Some of the tangles I used are: (starting from the left)

• Double Forz (Variation) – Margaret Bremner, CZT
• Printemps - (Z)
• Leaf Vine
• In and Out – (SM)
• Bubbles
• Keiko – (Z)
• Paisley

By the way I created this tile while waiting for the clothes to dry.  Multi-tasking!  My life in a nut shell.  Take care and always look for your creative joy…

WonderingMindField

My New Art Community!

One thing I feel I'm missing from this blogging adventure of mine is the ability to see and learn from others.  I go to craft shows and art markets just so i can admire and get inspiration from other creative people.  It is really is amazing what we humans can do if we just focus our time and energy into creating some from our hearts and mind.  If we could only to do same with all the troubles in this world?!

In order for me to try to interact with other crafters and artists, I created an arts and crafts "community" at Google+.  I really like the Google format, it is more lean looking and the posts show better than it did on Facebook.

I am looking forward to seeing where this new social medium takes me.  Please go have a look, feel free to post and join.  Lets inspire each other!!!

Links Information:
WonderingMindField Arts & Crafts

Be safe,
WonderingMidndField