Even though a bunch of December socializing meant that I didn’t have time to put a Tangled Tuesday post together for last week, I have been fitting in some tangling in between all the other fun, and am here today to catch you up on what I’ve been creating. Hope you enjoy!
New Tangles
Since my previous Tangled Tuesday post I’ve learned Quickzly, Bala, Wedge, and Plop, all from TanglePatterns.com.
I also learned Deco Baubles by Neil Burley of perfectly4med, and Ruffel by Helen Williams of a little lime.
Finished Projects
A few weeks ago I spent quite some time tangling four bookmarks as a little Christmas token for the members of our trivia team. Each featured the initial of the person for whom it was created, and I was really pleased with how they turned out – until I took them to the office supply store to be laminated. All four bookmarks fit nicely into one plastic sleeve, but as it was fed through the laminating machine they shifted and two of them ended up overlapping and, therefore, were ruined. What a disappointment!
After all the effort and love I’d put in to creating these little gifts I had a hard time not crying when I saw the mess, and was actually on the verge of tears a few times throughout the day as I made my way from store to store doing the rest of my Christmas shopping. So very silly to be upset over a couple of pieces of paper, considering all of the tragic things that are going on in the world today – and I knew it – yet I struggled with bouncing back from the sadness of losing my little creations. I’m sure there’s a lesson to be learned from the situation, but I’m still not quite sure what it might be.
Anyway, here are the two that came out fine:
…and here are the two that were ruined:
The bookmarks needed a covering of some kind, as I didn’t want the pencil shading to smudge the pages of my friends’ books – but I can’t actually say that I love the end look of the laminated bookmarks (even the ones that worked!) as, though you can’t really tell from the photos, the coating just seems too shiny/glossy to me. Perhaps if there was such a thing as matte laminating plastic, that might work better? And of course, should I choose to laminate anything again, I’d pay extra to have each item put through in its own sleeve so as to make certain that no overlapping takes place.
Ah, well – live and learn!
Challenges
I started out with Diane & Carolien’s Weekly Challenge #35: Tangle with K-U-C, choosing the tangles Kollide, Uptown, and Cornman. All three patterns were ones I’d previously learned but had not yet had a chance to use in a finished project, so I thought this would be a good opportunity to do so.

Zentangle 119 for Weekly Challenge #35: Tangle with K-U-C
Next was the following week’s challenge from Diane & Carolien, Weekly Challenge #36: Tangle with X-P-I. I chose the tangles Xeni, Pop-Cloud, and Inchworm. I’d worked with the first pattern before, but the other two were ones I’d learned but not yet used.

Zentangle 120 for Weekly Challenge #36: Tangle with X-P-I
Then I moved on to joey’s weekly tangle challenge #90, which was to start with a template of hanging Christmas tree ornaments and fill in the shapes with tangles.

ZIA 67 for joey’s weekly tangle challenge #90
Finally I completed joey’s weekly tangle challenge #91, which was another template – this time of a group of trees – to be filled in with tangles.

ZIA 68 for joey’s weekly tangle challenge #91
And OH!… though I didn’t “officially” complete The Diva’s Challenge #248 – which was to “Give the Gift of Zentangle” – well, I’m going to take the liberty of giving my poor sad bookmarks an Honourable Mention as my attempt at the challenge. I really did try…
Now on to a new week of tangling!
P.S.
The Zentangle® Method was created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas and is copyrighted. Zentangle® is a registered trademark of Zentangle, Inc. Learn more at zentangle.com.
Previous posts in this series are all tagged Tangled Tuesday.
For background on how I discovered and got involved in Zentangle, and links to further information and resources, check out my blog post For the love of tangling.
You can browse my entire tangle gallery at Ten Thousand Tangles.
And, if you’re interested in having a little piece of my art for yourself, please click on the GoFundMe button below for more information and also visit my Ten Thousand Tangles portfolios and shops on ArtofWhere, DeviantArt, Etsy, Redbubble, Society6, Spoonflower, and Zazzle. (Pssst… links to my international Ten Thousand Tangles shops on Zazzle are on my “shop!” page – just click on the appropriate flag and you’ll get to the place you need to be!)
How have you been creative this week?
Please share!

Both Joey tiles are very beautiful! As is your other work 😉
Ilse recently posted… Joey’s challenge #91
Twitter: alphabetsalad
December 19, 2015
Thank you!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Sketchy Saturday No. 7
Twitter: Gofashiondeals
December 15, 2015
Love the ornaments! So pretty!
Stephanie recently posted… Christmas wishlist with Banggood
Twitter: alphabetsalad
December 19, 2015
Thank you!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Sketchy Saturday No. 7
wow! Even the ones that you say are ruined are beautiful! 🙂
Twitter: alphabetsalad
December 19, 2015
Thank you!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Sketchy Saturday No. 7
Twitter: mahathi_ramya
December 16, 2015
I loved those bookmarks, even the ruined ones 🙂 Keep it up Laurel
Mahathi Ramya recently posted… First Brush on the Canvas – Anthology – [Book Review]
Twitter: alphabetsalad
December 19, 2015
Thank you!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Sketchy Saturday No. 7
All of them are beautiful! 🙂
Twitter: alphabetsalad
December 19, 2015
Thank you!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Sketchy Saturday No. 7
I think I do understand your disappointment and of course there are so many horrible things in the world happening, but ….. does that mean we can never be sad about little things in our lives???? Of course not.
When I make bookmarks and laminate them I also see that the real beauty is gone with the plastic. A pity.
BTW your tiles are lovely 🙂
Twitter: alphabetsalad
December 19, 2015
Thank you for understanding and for your kind words. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… Sketchy Saturday No. 7
I loved the bookmarks. So beautiful and unique.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
December 19, 2015
Thank you!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Sketchy Saturday No. 7
Twitter: nabanita21
December 16, 2015
They are very beautiful Laurel… I was just thinking, is this your 71st week of tangling Tuesday? Quite a milestone, I must say 🙂
Twitter: alphabetsalad
December 19, 2015
Thank you! Yes indeed it is – I can’t believe I’ve been doing these posts for so long!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Sketchy Saturday No. 7
I’m so sorry about the bookmark accident. I understand when you put so much into making something so perfect for someone, it’s heartbreaking if it’s ruined. The bookmarks and your challenges are all so beautiful. I really love the tangle that you chose for the (right) ornament, so effective!
Thanks for participating in my challenges!
Happy Holidays!
~ joey ~
Twitter: alphabetsalad
December 19, 2015
Thank you so much for your kind words, and for understanding. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… Sketchy Saturday No. 7
Sometimes we feel frustrated by the events in the world that we cannot control, and when something happens that shouldn’t cause us too much sadness, we transfer our grief there. Who says a bookmarker has to be rectangle? Cut them apart and give them with the love intended. Nice pieces!
Jean Chaney recently posted… Zentangle® a Watercolor Bookplate, WUD, and an Inchie
Twitter: alphabetsalad
December 19, 2015
You know, I think that’s exactly it. Thank you for the perspective!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Sketchy Saturday No. 7
Gorgeous work! I especially love those bookmarks.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
December 19, 2015
Thank you!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Sketchy Saturday No. 7
all tiles are so beautiful! I can`t see anything ruined…
Merry Christmas!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
December 19, 2015
Thank you! Merry Christmas to you as well!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Sketchy Saturday No. 7
It’s ok to be upset when something we make with love and care is ruined. I would be upset too.Zentangle drawings take ages, and it’s the time involved that has to be repeated, and you’d probably time these days happenings so you wouldn’t have projects backing up. Glad you got to re-do them.They look lovely.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
December 19, 2015
Thank you, Judy – much appreciated. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… Sketchy Saturday No. 7
Laurel, your work on the bookmarks is gorgeous, even if the laminating machine had too much fun with two of them. I’m making bookmarks for two people and gift tags for for my sister and her pups — and I’ve been making sure to use pen stipples when I couldn’t avoid shading. Maybe you could try that next time? Pencil shading looks fantastic, but it does need protection.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
December 21, 2015
That’s a great idea – I think I’ll do that next time I make bookmarks. Thank you for the suggestion!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Sketchy Saturday No. 7
Beautiful work!!! I wish you a very Merry Christmas!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
December 21, 2015
Thank you! Merry Christmas to you as well!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Sketchy Saturday No. 7
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