Last Dare of the Year

Well, here we are, almost at the end of the year. It's about 18 hours till we toot those horns, or down that Champagne, or sing Auld Lang Syne; or all of the above, if you've a mind to.
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It's now down to 16 hours till New Year's; I had to stop for dinner: preparing, eating, cleaning up. Then I had to redo my husband's list of medications and print them out for him, but now I'm back trying to finish this post.

This is Erin's last Zendala Template of the year, and when I saw it, I immediately knew it was my kind of template. I love the swirly look, and could think of all kinds of things to do with it.

 

In no time at all I came up with this one, and I like it, but couldn't make up my mind about the shading.

So I tried going at it a little differently:

 But I still wasn't sure. So I tried color:

 

Which gives it a totally different look, I think. I even tried one on colored paper, but I really don't think it was very successful; so I'm not including it here.

So here I am again, with more than one version of a Zendala, and I haven't a clue which works best. Luckily, there's plenty of time left this week to try again. There are still 2 more sizes of Zendalas for me to try; I can't remember when I finished so early before. 

So cast your vote for your favorite, and check back early and often to see what else I come up with.

Be sure to visit the the Bright Owl's site; see the other wonderful entries, and maybe try out one of the Zendala Dares yourself.
 

Thanks for visiting; please leave a comment, favorable or not. That's how we learn and grow; and how we know someone out there is paying attention. 

Here's wishing you all a Healthy, Happy, Peaceful (and Prosperous wouldn't hurt) New Year, and may the worst day of this coming year be no worse than the best day of this past one.

Happy Holidays, Part 2: Zendala Dare #84

Well, 2013 is winding down, and with it our last Diva's Challenges, Zendala Dares, and String Things.  This week, Erin Olson, the Bright Owl offered this template:

 

It didn't excite me much at first; when it comes to Zendalas, I usually prefer them symmetrical. But as I started playing around with it, I got all kinds of ideas, and ended up really loving it. So much so, that as soon as I finished the first one, I was already starting the second one.

The 2 are really quite different, as you can see: the first is a little heavy, while in the second one I lightened up quite a bit.

 

Be sure to visit  the Bright Owl's site to see all the other great Zendalas that have been submitted; and perhaps try one yourself.

Thanks for visiting; please leave a comment, favorable or not. That's how we learn and grow; and how we know someone out there is paying attention.

Have a wonderful day, week, month; see you all next time.

If I don't post again before the New Year, may it be Healthy, Happy, Peaceful (and Prosperous wouldn't hurt), and may the worst day of this coming year be no worse than the best day of this past one. Cheers, everyone!

Happy Holidays, and More

Hi, everyone. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. And if you had snow, I hope it was beautiful to look at, but not messy or obtrusive. And I hope the temperatures were moderate. I know some of you have had some nasty weather; I hope it doesn't last. Not to brag or anything, but it's 66〫  and sunny here right now.

The last few weeks I've been a little behind in the Challenges, Dares, and String Things, but I hope that will change in the New Year. Let's start right now with String Thing #20: 

Use String #028, created by Anne Marks

 

and the Tangles: Afterglow, by Carol Ohl, and Ahh, an official Zentangle® pattern. 

As you can see, I took a little liberty with the string, and with Afterglow; it just fell into the string naturally.

And, as usual, I had a second version; can't quite make up my mind between the 2, although I think I favor the first. 

As usual, I urge you to check out all the entries @ Tickled to Tangle, on Monday when Adele Bruno posts them. And, if you've a mind to try a String Thing, check back on Tuesday, when she posts the new ones.

Thanks for visiting; please leave a comment, favorable or not. That's how we learn and grow; and how we know someone out there is paying attention.

Have a wonderful day, week, month; see you all next time. And if I don't post again before the New Year; may it be Healthy, Happy, Peaceful (and Prosperous wouldn't hurt), and may the worst day of this coming year be no worse than the best day of this past one.

Zendala Dare #83 Baby, It's Cold Outside

After missing a week the Bright Owl is back 

with Zendala Dare #83.

This is the template she posted, 

 

and she added an extra challenge: 

Create a Zendala that reminds you of winter.

 I figured a few snowflakes here and there 

would count as winter. 

So I hope this works for you; It works for me.

I just tried colorizing this on BeFunky. I think it makes it more wintery.

 

Be sure to visit the the Bright Owl's site; 

see the other wonderful entries, 

and maybe try out one of the Zendala Dares yourself.

Thanks for visiting; please leave a comment, favorable or not. That's how we learn and grow; and how we know someone out there is paying attention.

Have a wonderful day, week, what's left of the month. Hope you're all having a wonderful Holiday Season. 
See you all next time.

DC#148

I really didn't have a chance to work on the Diva's challenge this week, but since it's the last challenge of the year, I wanted to at least post something, and wish the Diva and all the Tanglers a Happy Holiday, and a Healthy, Happy, Peaceful New Year.

So Happy, Merry everyone.

 Be sure to visit the Diva's site; see the other wonderful entries, and maybe try out one of the Challenges yourself.

Thanks for visiting; please leave a comment, favorable or not. That's how we learn and grow; and how we know someone out there is paying attention.

Have a wonderful day, week, what's left of the month; see you all next year.

String Thing #18

For String Thing #18 we are to use this String

 

and the original Zentangle pattern Verdigogh.

This was my third attempt; we won't even discuss the first:

 and this was the second:

 I've put the second one last because it seems a little heavy-handed, and sort of sloppy to me. But I'm always a little indecisive, and each one of these has something worthwhile about it.

The green in both tiles, and the red and gold in the bottom one, are done with Sakura Metallic Gelly Rolls, which I won from a giveaway on iamthediva, Laura Harms' terrific blog. Thanks again, Laura and Sakura. I'm not sure how much of the shine shows, but trust me, it's very effective.

As usual, I urge you to check out all the entries @ Tickled to Tangle, on Monday when Adele Bruno posts them. And, if you've a mind to try a String Thing, check back on Tuesday, when she posts the new ones.

Thanks for visiting; please leave a comment, favorable or not. That's how we learn and grow; and how we know someone out there is paying attention.

Have a wonderful day, week, month; see you all next time.

Zendala Dare #82 and Diva's Challenge #147

I'm a little late with this, but as the Bright Owl has not as yet posted a newer Dare, here's my take on Dare #82, combined with the Diva's Challenge #147.

This was the template for Dare #82:

 

and the Diva's Challenge, as per my last post, was to use her tangle: Boo-Kee

In this ZIA I've combined the two:

Be sure to visit the Bright Owl's site and the Diva's site; see the other wonderful entries, and maybe try out one of the Zendala Dares or Diva's Challenges yourself.

Thanks for visiting; please leave a comment, favorable or not. That's how we learn and grow; and how we know someone out there is paying attention.

Have a wonderful day, week, month; see you all next time.

Diva's Challenge #147: "UMT v. XXIII - Boo-Kee"

This having been the first week of the month, the Diva's Challenge involved the use of "UMT": Use My Tangle, in which the challenge is to use a tangle of her choice. This time around the tangle in question is one which the Diva herself has devised; thus, a true "use MY tangle". It's called "Boo-Kee" and is really very versatile. It lends itself easily to variations, or tangleations, of which mine is definitely one.

It wasn't until I got it up on my computer screen that I realized I hadn't shaded it, and it appears to really need shading. But it's really late, and I'll just have to post it as is. I spent a lot of time doing a version in color, and I don't think I have it in me to do any more tonight.

So here it is in color:

 Let me know which you prefer. And be sure to visit the Diva's site; see the other wonderful submissions, and maybe try out one of the Challenges yourself.

Addendum: 
I think shading definitely improves it; what about you?

Thanks for visiting; please leave a comment, favorable or not. That's how we learn and grow; and how we know someone out there is paying attention.

Have a wonderful day, week, month; see you all next time.

Zendala Dare #81

This is the template that the Bright Owl posted to be used for this past week's Zendala Dare.
My computer refused to do what I wanted yesterday, so it's a day behind.

And this is my first effort; actually, it's my only effort. Time just got away with me this week; what with Thanksgiving and Chanukah, and appointments and a visit from my daughter.

 Somehow, I just got in a flowery mood. This one is unshaded, and on the next one I tried some shading. Let me know what you think.

Be sure to visit the the Bright Owl's site; see the other wonderful submissions, and maybe try out one of the Zendala Dares yourself.

Thanks for visiting, and please leave a comment, favorable or not. That's how we learn and grow; and how we know someone out there is paying attention.

Have a wonderful day, week, month; see you all next time.