ROMANCING THE CANVAS

THE ZEN IS IN THE PEN

IT'S BEEN A GOOD TV WEEK!

I say this because it is when I get my ZEN PEN designs accomplished. I figured out that if I put all my supplies beside my couch, on the end table, that I needed for my Zen Pen work - I could create while watching all my fav shows!

So this week, with all the NEW summer series beginning, it has been a GREAT ZEN WEEK!

Enjoy!

CHECK OUT http://www.zentangle.com/ or http://www.tanglepatterns.com/ for more information about the artform.

ZEN IS IN THE PEN

Samara

Truly Madly Craft Monochrome *June*

Crafty Boots Anything Goes

Bunny Zoes Crafts Anything Goes

Digital Tuesday Anything Goes

Creative Card Crew Song (Paint it Black - The Stones)

Crop Stop Monochrome

4 Crafty Chicks Monochrome

The Poodles Parlour Anything Goes

Love to Create Recycled

BLOCKHEADS STAMPS

THE TANGLE!

I just love this new set of stamps I received from Blockheads! They have some of the most fantastic rubber stamps. The images range from Bohemian to convervative to Vintage to Flourishes. You can't go wrong with the Blockheads sets.

For my card, I have used two different sets. What I really love about the centre of this card is that it fits right in with what I am "in to" right now, zentangling. I was SO excited when I saw that Blockheads had this large stamp on a sheet with 9 other stamps!

You have to go over there and see all the choices. They are too numerous to list. I hope you like my card!

The colors around the tangle are done with watercolors and then once they dried, I covered the entire background with frost white (not watered down) by SU and a very wide brush then heated that until it was dry.

I love this stamp! I versamarked it and then put on white embossing powder.

All the edges of my black card have oil pastels on them and then smeared with my finders.

Fushia, teal and Purple

How great is this zentangle!

This too is done with Versamark on the black, then white embossing powder. It is a tad difficult to read, but if you can..."It was all love on my side, and all good comradship and friendship on hers. When we parted she was a free woman, but I could never again be a free man."

What a lovely but sad Quote...Broken Hearted.

FINDING THE ZEN IN THE PEN

Samara

Art with no Boundaries

Bitten by the Bug

4 crafty chicks

Aud Sentiments Challenge

C.R.A.F.T

Lil's Little Fairies

Amusing Challenges

Here Come the Boys

Stamping Sisters in Christ

Make it Monday

SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS..."SHOW US YOUR SPOTS"

I LOVE IT!

We received stamps for this project from Doodle Pantry and a sketch to follow entitled "show us your spots" and rather than a "watermelon and an ant" I interpreted it as "jiminy cricket and a piece of cheese!" Oy yoy yoy!!!

Oh does that say something about me...though I don't know what.

So without further suspense, I shall show you my creations, but PLEASE go over to SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS and see the "watermelon and an ant" and enter for Doodle Pantry's great giftis!

Oh my gosh this makes me laugh!!!

Anyway, the image and the sentiment is from Doodle Pantry.

The Ladybug is something I stuck on (it is a 3D brad)

The Paper is from Simple Stories

And the outlining on the flowers, words, etc. is my own, plus of course coloring with my beloved copics!

FINDING THE ZEN WITH THE PEN
Samara

Challenges:

Catch The Bug - Anything Goes

Gingerloft - Circles

Hot Shot Crafts - Die Cuts

Inspire Me Fridays - Anything Goes

MY BOHEMIAN STYLE - M.I.A...

BUT BACK AGAIN!!

I was going through my art books and found numerous pieces of art I have done in the past. A wonderful womyn I am in contact with, and is a new-found friend ( Sharon at GoddessGift.com) - you MUST look her up, inspired me to go and look for the "bohemian Samara." Each time someone looks at my blog I tell them "look way back to see my real style - crazy Bohemian me!"

So I decided to share two things with you, on an on-going but sporatic basis. One is some art I did in 2004 and another is art from two different courses I am taking right now. The first is from Balzer, and I highly recommend this in terms of learning all types of new uses of media forms. The other course is given by Joanne Sharpe, another Multi-Media artist.

So I am getting down and dirty...and I love it! Control is out the window...it must be with Multi-media or else you are pent up and will be very frustrated. In the Balzer class, I have discovered that I am a complete wipe out at writing with acrylic paint and a paint brush...a total looser! But that is OK because I really love the use of the watercolor techniques and the pastel techniques; something I used as a kid and at University in my art courses. Watercolors are so forgiving and magical. I love how they just blend and flow...kind of how I live my day to day life...Monastic.

So today, I am going to show you my first piece from the Balzer Class. Please go over to her site - it is funky fun and joyfully rich - even if you don't take her classes. She is a yahoo all the way!

This was Balzer's intro to Watercolors.

What better way to start my Boheme Multi-Media Book than reminding myself how important it is to JUST BE ME!

After all - "I ain't that bad!"

I think **wink wink**

I was amazed at the texture that could be created with her instructions

and the freedom that came over me

to just lay it on with no worries

and trust that "it would be ok, as she said"

put all concern to the wind!

I needed that type of advice at this time...how did she know!

She must be a "side-kick" as my oldest used to call me when he was little! (psychic)

and say I had an unfair advantage over him! LOL

Because I am now also studying the ART OF ZENTANGLE ( the originators of zentangle) and well worth visiting their blog to see how they came to discover this art and what they offer in terms of order material to create your own zentange as well as sharing SO MUCH of their own discoveries for free online) from tanglepatterns.com (I love Linda and the way she teaches through her site - she does follow Maria and Rick as originators and honors them but she offers direction on how to do each of the tangles (hers and others AS WELL AS Rick and Marias from beginning to end. She encourages, as do Rick and Marie, to send in YOUR tangles. They are both SO supportive. I say 5 minutes is better than nothing...2 sites is better than 1. Bless both of the sites for helping me/us!) I enjoyed jazzing up my letters a bit, though this is not a tangle, I had little fear of going over my letters with a little jazz a ma tazz because of working with Rick and Maria's ART OF ZENTANGLE!

besides, what can teal ruin!

in my color heart

NOTHING!

So that is it for today folks!

I look forward to sharing so much more. I hope you are up for it. I have a pantload (ew what a horrid saying when you reflect on it) of this type of art to share with you in between my designing for companies that I joyfully design for! My family at SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS is just that...my family!

LUVS and HUGS

Going to try to find some MULTI-MEDIA Challenges.

This will be new!!!

Finding the Zen in the Pen

Samara

SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS - POCKET FULL OF POSIES

Well, for me, I found this card a challenge and must say, I am NOT in love with my card. I'm not a flower artist and therefore, did my best but it is hard to post something I don't like :(

Our challenge this week at SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS *and you should pop over and see the other Design Team Cards, they are gorgeous! - clearly flower people!* So make sure you do go on over and enter our challenge. As usual, our Calypso Leader has arranged the amazing sponsors *she always manages to do that* with fabulous gifties for everyone. My card, by the way, is using a digi by DIGI DOODLE.

Both DIGI DOODLE and CRAFTY CITY have some gorgeous images and are our sponsors for this week!!! Prizes prizes prizes :)

I know you can tell I'm not a fan of this one, because I didn't take a bazillion pics! Sorry folks, maybe next week :(

Finding the Zen in the Pen,

Samara

SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS - FAIRY TALES AND WHIMSY

This card was such a treat to create. I love the digi stamp I received from "A Day for Daisies." She is so precious; it didn't make creating the card difficult at all. The theme at SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS this week is Whimsical/Fairy Tales.

You must pop over and enter a card into the Challenge because as usual, our beloved leader Calypso has arranged for some great prizes!

For my inspiration card for the SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS site, I wanted to do the ol' ONCE UPON A TIME... so here is what I chose. Aside from the adorable girl, my next fav element is definately the frog! I think they are hilarious with their little crowns. I hope you have a great week, wherever you are, and that the weather treats you right and that all your dreams come true!

Please double click to enlarge picture

This digi was a delight with my beloved Copics. The lines for shading were perfect. Oh Thank you dear digi artist!

I mounted our gal onto Stampin' Up! Green Galore Paper that I ran through the Big Shot with a cuttle bug folder. I also decided at the last minute to put a crown, from the dollar store, and a bling that was also from the dollar store on our gal. The star is from a jewelry shop.

Don't you just love the frogs! I decided to put green bling on their tummies! I think you have to enlarge the pic to see it. I used all Stampin' Up! markers to draw and color. The crown in the middle is outlined with liquid glass from CTMH and then glitter from Heather's Haven in Napean, Ontario.

You can see the Jewelry more clearly in this shot. I just loved this star and was waiting for something to use it on. It feels good right here. What do you think? Also, the Pink Paper went through my big shot with a large cuttle bug impressions folder, one I usually use for Valentine's Day. The silver stars are from Ecstacy Crafts in Shannonville, Ontario, Canada.

I have found that household items, especially make up, is one of the best card making embellishment tools. On the "O" I have put some sparkly eye liner. It is a silver glitter liner that is very very fine. It has a very fine tip and is just for those places where I can't get into with my normal glitter tips. I purchased a separate one just for my crafting area. The "O" is colored with Stampin' Up! Markers.

And as a finisher-upper, another shot of the whole card. It was alot of fun to do. I imagined being at the ball and kissing this, or these frogs. Would my Prince REALLY come, or would I just get warts on my mouth? One never really knows about all these FAIRY-TALES! But one can also never give up hope either!

"Finding the Zen with a Pen"

Samara

Challenges to come
http://www.doitwithdigischallenge.blogspot.ca/
http://samaranavi.blogspot.ca/2012/05/sentimental-sundays-fairy-tales-and.html
http://greatimpressionsstamps.blogspot.ca/2012/05/challenge-3-anything-goes-and-winner.html
http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.ca/
http://scrapbitzcopics.ning.com/group/cmccopicchallengegroup
http://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.ca/
http://disdigidesignschallenge.blogspot.ca/
http://thehappyscrapperschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/
http://thesecretcraftersaturdaychallenge.blogspot.ca/

SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS - BIRTHDAYS!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

SMILES AND JOY as I sit on my porch in the sun. I tried to rig up this blocker for my laptop as I could not see a thing with the sun shining on it...you should have seen it. Creative but entirely silly. It didn't work worth beans. So I moved to another part of the deck...shade :( but here I am and the sun has found me again. As I sit here with burning legs (black short leggings of course - come to me sun, come to me - I am happy to post for SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS. Pop over there. Man oh Man, we have the greatest team. All lovely artists and women...family I should say. so it isn't too late to enter your card, though mine is late here. This "ahem new and improved Google" wouldn't let me upload anymore pics and said I had maxed out my space, so I have been looking for a FREE upload space all week...I should be fine now. I hope you enjoy my card (lots of goopy stuff on it - 2 days to dry! LOL And again, pop over to SS. You could win some groovy prizes!

I am extra proud of this, though it was mucky and perhaps not my best card, because I did it completely on my new ART PHILOSOPHY cartridge from CTMH (the cut out that is not the digi.)

I still don't have the art of drying my fluffer nutter on the top without curling my card! lol

CHALLENGES TO COME

SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

So so close! I don't know about you, but I am going with my fam to my daughter's new pad in downtown Toronto for a Mother's Day, a House Warming (hers) and my oldest's Birthday on Sunday! It should be a great day. I hope you have some fun fam plans to celebrate being mommy.

For Sentimental Sunday's Challenge this week, we are Celebrating that SPECIAL WOMAN. Well, Mommy of course! So pop over to Sentimental Sunday's, enter the Challenge *yummy prizes* and have yourself some crazy creative zen moments!

I bought the fleur at a yard sale! I love it.

The paper is all Simple Stories.

This is a new company to me.

I believe the stamp is Waltzing Mouse but if someone knows better please tell me.

Don'tcha just love the polka (s/b pokka) dots?

So much better than the typical stick people I do!

Stampin' Up of course!

I LOVE flourishes.

I'd like to be a flourish!

Oh my beloved Copics, how could I do without you~!

and who doesn't love "ava and deacon sitting on their 'love word'"

I can hardly wait to celebrate Hott-Gamma day (with my Gamma-kids that aren't even here yet!) LOL

Finding the ZEN in the Pen

Samara

I'M BACK......!

I am back from Blog-cation, better known as my month of "Stay-Cation." Much has happened in this last month. The happiest news is the beginning of production of my son Jordan and his Fiance Laura's Wedding Invitations. I volunteered (or did they ask) - I can't remember, but nevertheless - the cutting is complete, ribbon is all measured and cut, printing is in process (wish me luck!) and now all that is needed is assembly!

In the meantime, I have come back to Sentimental Sundays, as Calypso - the owner - has become like a sister to me, and the team like a family. Being on their design team is an effortless bonus in my day and I am SO glad to be back with them. So to start up, I am going to show you what Calypso posted for the last two weeks, then for my next post, talk about some really exciting new art forms that I am involved in.

The "stay-cation" brought to me 2 new types of art I have never been exposed to before. They are exciting, difficult but really demand the whole body, mind and soul to accomplish them. I look forward to sharing about it, next post. All the best! And I do recommend a month's "stay-cation" to all bloggers; perhaps not for the reasons I went on mine, but the end result is a perspective on many things one would never expect to come out with. It's all good!

CARD ONE

CARD TWO

Finding the Zen with a Pen

Samara Navi

ONE STITCH AT A TIME

This week's card was so much fun! With Sponsors Joanna Sheen and Stitchy Bear Stores, it is going to be a great Challenge, and for sure pop over to ONE STITCH AT A TIME to see what you will win by entering the Challenge. I must say when I did this card it was snowy time and it does feel a tad strange now that my flowers are blooming, but I hope that like me, you never get tired of seeing the magic of a "sno-globe!"

If you would like the snow person, hop over to where you can find the GINGER LOFT stamps.

HAPPY SHAKIN'

samara

BLOG VACATION TIME

SPRING BREAK

Please note that after tomorrow's posting from OSAAT my blog will be closed until May 1st, 2012.

See you then.

HAPPY SPRING EVERYONE!

Samara

DELIGHTFUL CHALLENGES

We have a wonderful Sponsor this week

3 sets from The Cutting Cafe'!!!

THIS WEEKS CHALLENGE WAS

EASTER TREATS

AND TO MAKE A CARD THAT WAS NOT YOUR TYPICAL SQUARE CARD.

SO MANY IMAGES TO CHOSE FROM AT DIGITAL DELIGHTS! I LOVE THAT. AS YOU CAN SEE THERE IS A GREAT SPONSOR - IT SEEMS THERE ALWAYS IS ON WENDY'S SITE. WHAT A COO!

FOR MY CARD, I DECIDED TO USE ONE OF WENDY'S ROUND IMAGES THAT I COULD NOT RESIST. YOU HAVE TO GO OVER TO THE DELIGHTFUL CHALLENGES BLOG TO NOT ONLY ENTER THE CHALLENGE BUT SEE WHAT THE OTHER DT HAVE USED. THEY HAVE THE MOST INTERESTING BASKETS ETC.! LOTS OF GREAT IDEAS FOR EASTER.

I've used the

Some Bunny Loves You Circular Sentiment

Easter Dumpling (colored)

Oh my gosh...now how absolutely adorable is this!!!!

I could not resist sprinking all this Easter Glitter on Easter Dumpling that I used in the passed in my Purim Baskets (A Jewish Celebration where you go door to door and give your neighbours gift baskets full of foods and plenty and love - from different types of trees, fruits, candies, wines, nuts etc. each to celebrate a different food blessing in the Jewish tradition one says before they eat each certain type of food - and all the kids dress up and have a huge circus party - literally!) for my decoration

SOME BUNNY LOVES YOU!

SAMARA

BLOCKHEADS PAPER ARTS

USING BLEACH!

Over at the Blockheads Blog there is a Challenge (and tutorial) using bleach. I decided to make up a card using bleach in a rather different, but not too dissimilar way.

I started with black paper and dripped bleach on the paper until it started to turn brown.

I then spritzed bleach on the paper until it started to take on a warmer brown effect.

I then versamarked the Blockhead Stamp Set called FEELING REGAL and stamped the card.

Next I covered with white embossing powder and heated, which served to raise the white on the Blockheads stamp image but also to further lighten the bleached areas.

I then both sponged my bleached areas with some Tim Holtz Weathered colors of Ink and also Sponged my stamped areas with shades of pinks and burgundy.

Then I rubbed the stamped areas with a cloth to the colors of my liking.

I backed my card on brown cardstock, as you can see, with the pink and white and my stamped image much wider than my card, for a really different effect.

The rest of the decorating is history, using Taylored Expressions, Tim Holtz and Basic Grey Products.

I hope you enjoy the outcome!