Zentangle techniques are structured designs for doodlers, usually done in a single color pen on a white background. Because it’s a structured approach to doodling, there are lots of formulas and lessons to pull from to making a zentangle design even if you’re new to it.
The GIS Creative Team used zentangles as a part of their scrapbook page designs on these pages.
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Michelle Houghton says, “This is a family photo from our summer trip to Leavenworth, Washington.”
“I used doodles to frame the photo, border the page, and fill the ice cream cone that I drew directly on the page. I used an Ultra Fine Sharpie marker to create all the doodles and small repetitive patterns that I have used many times over the years. I really enjoy the personal touch my hand-drawn doodles bring to the page. Pinterest is a great resource for doodle patterns if you are interested in creating some on a scrapbook page and do not know where to start.”
Always Better by Michelle Houghton | Supplies: cardstock; Colorbok, doily; SEI, sticker letters, words, flair scallop frame, puffy sticker, brad and Washi tape; Freckled Fawn, sticker words and acrylic dots; My Mind’s Eye, ink; Sharpie, airbrush and ink; Copic
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Audrey Tan says, “This page is about documenting my friends that I met in Singapore during the Easter break. I’ve know them for a few years now and we always try to meet up whenever I’m in Singapore. As usual, food plays a big role, and we have a great meal and natter!”
“I chose a zentangle image that was drawn by a friend of mine, Kirsty Goddard as the background for my page. Kristy has a Pinterest board of her zentangle artwork found here.
Friends by Audrey Tan | Supplies: Tangie Baxter: Everyday Capture; Anna Aspnes: ArtPlay Palette Artsy, Antiquated Frames No2, 12×12 Sand Scratched Overlays; Zentangle image: drawn by Kirsty Goddard; Fonts: Pea Roni Script, Xenography
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Kelly Prang says, I have always been a doodler and am new to zentangling. I saw mentions of it and was intrigued, then followed beginner tutorials from Clipzine. After that, I purchased a book and started doing a tangle a day. I used a couple images of some tangles I’ve made on this page along with a photo of the book cover that I’m currently using to learn to tangle. I would encourage everyone to try this type of doodling- even as a digital scrapbooker I’m learning a bunch about practice and intentionality. My anxiety has been greatly reduced since starting this practice.”
Zentangle: Practice and Peace” | by Kelly Prang, 2014-04-12. Supplies: Template- Simple Scrapper- March 2015; Font: Modern No. 20; Most supplies are from the Digital Press’s April Special Edition, including: Sugarplum Paperie- Let’s Go Outside- papers, elements and alpha, Stand in the Sunshine- wordart, Painted Spring- papers; Danielle Engebretson Designs- Oh the Places I will go!- paper and elements; Little Butterfly Wings- Amaze Yourself-flair; Amanda Yi Designs- A New Yesterday- foliage; From The-Lilypad- Lynne Marie- Sketchbook 02- the zendoodle circles.
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Christy Strickler says, “I used photos of my son’s encounter with a raccoon to tell the story of a particular raccoon I worked with while I was a wildlife rescue volunteer.”
“I tried making my own Zentangles but found the task of creating them for an entire layout a bit daunting. I chose a digital kit with patterned paper and pre-made die cuts that had the zentangle look. These helped me fill in the extra space while keeping with a set color palette. I added a few small elements with my own drawings to the page, namely, a zentangled border and small triangle doodles which I used like confetti around the embellishment clusters.”
Encounters with Raccoons by Christy Strickler |Supplies Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper; Basic Grey; Die Cuts: Basic Grey, The Hungry JPeg Floral Bundle- Hand Drawn Tribal Pack, Wee Woodland Baby Bundle; Letters; October Afternoon, American Crafts
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Summer Christiansen says, “This layout is about brothers, the acceptance of their differences and how that has helped them to develop a close friendship and be understanding of others.”
“Since I knew I was going to use zentangles for this layout I used a photo that had a fun and playful feel. I scoured Pinterest and the web, taking bits and pieces of tutorials or art I liked and just went for it! Here are some of my favorites: for easy zentangle patterns: thetangledpenguin.com, and tinyrottenpeanuts.com.”
“For the heart element I drew “arch flower” zentangles with a pen, scanned, and pulled into Photoshop to extract. I created a heart-shaped clipping mask and clipped it in. The squiggle on the right I drew on my Wacom tablet in Adobe Illustrator without a real pattern–just going where it took me.”
“Zentangles are pretty bold and busy and I wanted a subtle effect for my art. To do this I used the Stamp Actions by Mommyish.”
This is It’s Not Always Easy by Summer Christiansen. | SUPPLIES: SuLu Digital Designs : Tangle with Zentangles, Grundged Edge Brushes | M3 March at the-lilypad.com : patterned paper, word art | Anna Aspnes: Foto N FrameBlendz No.1 clipping mask.
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Kiki Kougioumtzi says, “Here I’m talking about my decision to start exercising again and my reasons why. I decided to use the zentangle technique to show how I feel about my decision: complicated and relaxed at the same time, just like when drawing zentangles.”
“I used this source from the GIS Zentangle Pinterest Board. I started with plain white cardstock and broad-tip black marker and then filled in with designs using a fine-tip black marker. When I finished I used it as patterned paper on my layout.”
Just do it by Kiki Kougioumtzi | Supplies: Pattern paper, alphas: Studio Calico; Cardstock: Canson; Die cuts: Studio Calico, Basic Grey; Markers: Posca, Faber Castell.
