Zen Keyboard

First of all, three things to tell you:  One is that Art 'n Soul's first ever Featured Artist, Sherry Barello has started her own blog.  Please check it out, and visit often.  Her work is amazing!  Click here to visit, and be sure to bookmark.

Art 'n Soul customers, please be sure to visit us this weekend for our monthly Recycled Rubber event!  It will be the biggest one ever, and it will be super fun.  Lots and lots of fantastic bargains to be had, so come early!

Please check out the post I did yesterday about the August Magenta challenge.  Just do a project using one or more Magenta product, with the theme "Garden Party".  Click over to the Magenta blog to link to a picture of your project, and you have a chance to win a cool prize.  It's easy and fun!

OK, here is my newest Zentangled project:
I work a lot at my desk where my laptop usually resides, and since my laptop normally sits open, my work often ends up ON my laptop keyboard.  I'm constantly cleaning adhesive, inks, paint, etc. off my keyboard.  I remarked to my hubby that I really need something to protect my laptop keyboard, but I wanted to leave the trackpad open.  The next day, I found that he had cut this perfect piece of illustration board, and left it for me on top of my keyboard!  After thanking him profusely, the next thing I thought was "what a nice, large, open area, that really, really, needs to be Zentangled!"  Here is the keyboard in question.

 Here is the illustration board cover that my hubby cut for me.  the trackpad is showing so that I can still scroll and click, even when the cover is on.

Here is the progression.  I worked on it for 4 evenings, a few hours at a time.  I don't really time myself when I'm Zentangling; how long it takes seems so not the point.

Evening one

Evening two

Evening three

 I just had a little left to do for the last evening.  This project was SO much fun.  This is the finished piece.

Evening four

A few closeups

If you're thinking that now I need something to protect my Zentangled board, I'm all over it!  I can just flip it over!

August Magenta Challenge

Magenta Challenge - August 2013 :

Garden Party (Layout or Card)

Use the above picture as your inspiration.  You have till August, 28 to submit a layout or card inspired from the above pictures and color combos, using at least one Magenta product:  papers, stamps, embellishments, Peel Off's, chipboard or other.
You have till August 28th, to participate to the Challenge

You could win this Magenta Prize :

Click over to the Magenta Blog to enter your card or layout

WINNER - July Magenta Challenge

A winner has been chosen for the July Magenta Challenge!!

The winner is Joy!

Joy wins this fantastic prize of Magenta paper and stamps

Be sure to participate on the Magenta site for the next challenge!

White Gel Zen

Susie gave me a Pentel white gel pen, and I have been playing with white gel on black smooth, almost shiny cardstock.  It's really been fun trying it out.  It has such a completely different feel to using an 01 black Micron!  Not sure if the first one is completely finished.

by Dianne Johnson

by Dianne Johnson

Summer Flowers

I'm back, using another beautiful stamp from the new Magenta catalog.  This one is Echinacea, by the very talented Ellie Knol.  All three cards use the same technique:  I colored the stamp with Memento markers; then spritzed it with water mixed with a little perfect pearls, and stamped it onto white cardstock.  I added Stickles to the top of each flower (because I like everything to be shiny).  I'm showing 3 different color palettes, and 3 different layouts to showcase how versatile this stamp is.  The ants in the second card are also a new stamp from Ellie Knol (LOVE the ants!)

By Dianne Johnson

Magenta stamps used:  Echinacea 48.005.O; Life's a Gift 07.640.G; 

Floral Border 40.299.L

Memento markers:  Bamboo Leaves; Cottage Ivy; Bahama Blue; Danube Blue

Memento Ink:  Danube Blue; Bahama Blue

1/4" white silk ribbon colored with Copic B14

Waterfall Stickles

Blue So Silk Paper

By Dianne Johnson

Magenta stamps used:  Echinacea 48.005.O; See the World 07.734.F; Ants 48.009.D

Memento markers:  Bamboo Leaves; Cottage Ivy; Lilac Posies; Rose Bud; 

Memento Ink: Rose Bud; Grape Jelly

Embossing Folder:  Secret Garden, Craft Concepts -

Ornate Treasures Collection CR 900041

Purple Stickles

So Silk paper in Pink Beauty and Purple

By Dianne Johnson

Magenta stamps used:  Echinacea 48.005.O; Script & Postmark 95.085.M; 

Circle of Friends 07.674.F

Memento markers:  Bamboo Leaves; Cottage Ivy; Grape Jelly; Elderberry

Memento Ink: Grape Jelly

Spellbinder Dies:  Tear Drop Circles S4-344; Standard Circles Small S4-116

Dark Blue Stickles

Mardi Gras Candis from Craftwork Cards

Magenta green patterned paper

Purple So Silk paper

All of these cards are on display at Art 'n Soul.  Be sure to check out the new Magenta collection.  You're going to love it as much as I do!  You can see the catalog on the sidebar, or you can view it in person at Art 'n Soul.  I'll be back soon with more creations from this fantastic collection.

Beautiful Leaf from Magenta

The new Magenta catalog is so full of fabulous stamps, it's hard to choose a favorite; but if I did have to choose, it might be the new Leaf stamp 0661.H.  I can't seem to stop stamping with it!  Maybe it's because no matter what you do with it, it looks beautiful.  I've made 4 cards, all using the Leaf stamp in some way.  These cards are now also available to view on the Magenta blog, and in person at Art 'n Soul.  Our order from the new collection is due in to the shop today, so come in early to get the stamps you want.  If we don't have the image you want, Magenta is always an open catalog!

For the card below, I stamped the Leaf on the left side of the card, inked with Memento Lulu Lavender and Grape Jelly.  The butterfly was stamped onto watercolor paper with Versamark and heat embossed with Judikins Lapis Lazuli embossing Powder.  I colored over the butterfly with Tombow markers 606 and 636 and applied a wet brush.  The image was puched out with a 3" circle punch and popped up with foam tape.  The sentiment was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.

by Dianne Johnson

 Magenta Stamps used:  Leaf 0661.H; Large Butterfly 0659.O; 

and Sending You Warm Thoughts 07.806.K

The next one is such a simple card!  I inked the Leaf stamp with Kaleidacolor Melon Berry ink and stamped, while masking the nearest other leaf.  The panel was affixed to Flame Stardream paper, and I applied a few enamel dots from My Mind's Eye and some orange fuzzy twine.

by Dianne Johnson

 Magenta stamps used:  Leaf 0661.H; Anyone Who Keeps the Ability 07.590.J

When Helene Metivier of Magenta Stamps was in Washington state and stopped to teach at Art 'n Soul, she challenged us to look at our stamps in different ways.  This is one of my favorite techniques she taught us:  how to use a leaf stamp to make a beautiful flower. 

I stamped the first 4 petals inked with Memento Lulu Lavender, and edged with Grape Jelly.  I continued around the circle and stamped 4 more times, inking with only Lulu Lavender.  The sentiment was stamped with Memento Grape Jelly.  The panel is matted with So Silk Purple paper, and the pearls are from Hero Hues Pearl and Gems, Floral.

by Dianne Johnson

Magenta stamps used:  Leaf 0661.H; I Am in Love With This Day 07.730.H

The Wedding card below uses the same technique, but it looks so different, I wanted to include it.  The first 4 petals were stamped onto white cardstock with Versamark ink and heat embossed with Judikins Detail Silver embossing powder.  The second 4 petals were stamped with Memento Gray Flannel ink.  The sentiment is stamped with Memento Gray Flannel and the rings are embossed in silver.  The panels are matted with Black glossy card stock.

By Dianne Johnson

Magenta Stamps used:  Leaf 0661.H; Congratulations 07.665.I

Zen Bleu

I've been Zentangling in the evenings to unwind, and have been sticking my pieces up everywhere.  I did this one last night, and decided to stick it to a card base that I had lying around, and take it in to Art 'n Soul for the Zentangle table.  I'm not completely happy with the earthworm-type image, but I really like the idea of using it as the string.

By Dianne Johnson

For my Art 'n Soul readers, our Magenta order is due in on Friday the 19th, and I will be there!  Many of the new stamps from the new Magenta catalog will be in the order.  You do not want to miss this!  I have some samples at the shop already, and they will be appearing on the Magenta blog soon.  After that, I will also share them here, and I'm working on more.  Stay tuned!

Zentangled Thank you

Just a short post - I wanted to share a card that I did with L-Letterpress and Zentangle.  When we were playing with our letterpress plates from Lifestyle Crafts one day over at Art 'n Soul, Susie Tracy casually said that she thought the scalloped plate from the Petals printing plates would be fun to Zentangle.  Oh yes, I immediately stole that idea, and brought out the black ink to crank through a few cards in preparation.  I'm not sure why I thought I had to do a different tangle in each scallop though.  Next time, I will definitely use some repeats.  I showed this card to Pam Nelson, and she said "But...will anyone you send this to even have any idea what they are holding in their hands?"  Send this to someone?...what?  Maybe I would, but it would absolutely have to be someone who would appreciate it...no trash bin for this card!

By Dianne Johnson

 This is a view of the whole piece, flattened out.  I tangled in all of the scallops, front and back.

By Dianne Johnson

This is the front.  The Thank You and the scallops were L-letterpressed.

By Dianne Johnson

This is the back.  It was so much fun to do, I'm sure I will do more.  As soon as I can find the time!

Zentangled Bike

I promised to post pictures of my son's bike with the Zentangled chain guard, and here they are!  We had been warned not to spray a clear protective coating onto the piece directly, but to test it first.  The first test we did with a spray lacquer blasted the marker right off the test piece.  Sherry Barello, our current Guest Artist at Art 'n Soul, advised using a spray fixatif on the piece first (2-3 coats) to protect it.  We obtained some fixatif and did a test spray with that first.  The fixatif did work to protect the piece, so anyone who is interested in trying this, be sure to take this step.

Photo by Austin Johnson

 Here is the bike; isn't it a beauty?  It's made by Public, but he has made lots of changes to it.  The knitted piece is from the Netherlands.

Photo by Austin Johnson

 He painted the chain guard piece first with white primer; then spray painted it with white paint.  I used a fine point sharpie to do the Zentangle.  I'm afraid it will fade, and would like to find a better pen that won't fade.  I don't think the bike gets left out in the sun much, but it does get ridden a lot!

Photo by Austin Johnson

 I had given him 5 different samples, drawn to scale so he could choose the tangles he liked the best.  I love how this turned out.

Photo by Austin Johnson

 He used leather washers so as not to scratch the artwork!

Photo by Austin Johnson

I told him now I want to do a whole bike!  He may try to find one to refurbish so we can do that.

I'm working hard on some samples using the new Magenta stamps!  Stay tuned!

Memory Box Dies

For my Art 'n Soul readers, I just wanted to let you know that we have received the first shipment of Memory Box dies and stamps from the new 2013 Holiday collection!  It arrived at the shop late today, too late to even be unpacked; but I will be doing that first thing tomorrow.  Please come by and see what we got in!  Check out Memory Box online for what's in the new collection, and make your wish list.  If we didn't get in what you want, we have the catalog open, and will be sending another order very soon.  Also check out the Memory Box blog (a link is below in my favorite blogs list) for some cool projects using their new dies.

Here are a few of my favorites: