PEP tangles - my Zentangle Inspired Art blog

Saturday 15 December 2012

Zigzag Ziggurat & Zentangle Alphatag

My "Z" tag for the Baroque Guild Alphatag swap is based around a Ziggurat (an Assyrian/Babylonian temple tower or staged tower in which each storey is smaller than that below it) of parcels with a zigzag pattern for the background. The inspiration for the pile of parcels came from The Gift of Christmas stamp sheet which I originally used but wasn't happy with as I wanted something more tactile. I was going to put a large "Z" at the top of the pile but it didn't look right at all - my husband suggested a star & that reminded me of the Christmas Auraknot Star that I've been drawing (see PEP tangles), hence I acquired another "Z" in the form of Zentangle. It is actually quite apt in terms of the Ziggurat for it is quite likely that the Zoroastrian priests or Magi who followed the star to Bethlehem for Jesus's birth spotted that star on one of their nightly scans of the sky from the top of one of their Ziggurat towers. (See here for Zoroastrianism and my fellow Alphatagger, Vronnie at Vroncards, who used the wise men for her "Z" tag).

front of tag
close-up of upper section showing Zentangle star
& overstamping of patterned paper on parcels
close-up of lower section showing the patterned
paper parcels tied with different metallic threads
close-up showing dimension of wet embossed
"Z" plus zigzag background
close-up showing dimension  & layering
of Zentangle star plus zigzag background
back of tag 
close-up showing paper pierced scallops & inked edges
of theme panel plus textured pearlescent ivory cardstock

The parcels were made by wrapping oddments of the patterned paper around different sizes of thick cardstock & then tying assorted colours of metallic thread round them. The paper for the top two parcels wasn't particularly patterned so these were overstamped before wrapping. The creasing of the patterned paper when folding such small pieces occasioned some 'white cracking' which was "removed' by running the tip of a Coloursoft pencil in an appropriate colour along the sides of the parcels.

For the star shape I drew around a large star gem & enlarged it to the size I wanted & then tangled with a brown fineliner using the Auraknot pattern skipping two points (see here for a detailed explanation). A brown Coloursoft pencil with a paper stump was used for the shading. Two of the stars were offset & layered in order to achieve the ten-pointed dimensional star as above.

Recipe
Stamps Elusive Images UA4HC0177  ATC Art Plate (zigzag pattern); Chocolate Baroque UA4 SP0150 Texture Blocks (overstamping patterned paper) & UA6GW0211 Celebrations Alphabet ("Z" letters).
Inks Chestnut ColorBox Pigment "Cat's Eye" (tone on tone backgroud stamping, Memento Tangelo (overstamping patterned paper), Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink (inking various cardstock edges), Emboss Tinted Stamp Pad with Stewart Gill Metallic Copper Embossing Powder ("Z" letters).
Pencils/Markers etc... Staedtler Triplus Fineliner & Derwent Coloursoft pencils with paper stump, Signo uni-ball copper gel pen.
Cardstock Brown, cream & textured pearlescent ivory from stash.
Paper Graphicus Guild Membership Pack.
Die Sizzix Movers & Shapers L Die - Tag & Bookplates.
Punches EK Success (small circle), Woodware (scalloped squares).
The gems & ribbon are from stash. 

20 comments:

Sandra said...

Gosh Paula, you are a walking encyclopaedia!I have learnt so much through your tags! Beautiful as always, Sandra

jackiescrafts said...

Wow Paula how do you do it? I think I will have to try harder with next years swap. Your Z tag is stunning

Jackie x

Jean said...

Your tag is fabulous Paula, I love the coloured parcels against the black background. Your knowledge of words is amazing. Jean x

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Hi Paula, your Zentangle star is quite beautiful (love all your Zentangle drawings), the gifts are quite pretty and indeed you have a lot of knowledge ! Cheers, Shirley

GinaA said...

Beautifully detailed Paula, I love the stack of parcels that build the tower and the star on the top is just perfect, very representational of the time of year and fabulously presented front and back as usual.

Pink Dandelion said...

Fabulous tag Paula. I love the overstamping of the presents so effective. Debs xx

Gill said...

Absolutely stunning Paula. Your ideas are so innovative. I really love this. Talk about thinking outside the box!
Gill

Aquarius said...

Your imagination is amazing and I can quite see why this took you a long time. It is beautiful and I hope it has my name on it!! Mustn't be greedy though 'cos I do have one of your tags from earlier in the swap.

Deborah Frings said...

Oh, this is gorgeous! I love the stack of parcels with the fab Zentangle star on top! I think your alphabet tags have been a wonderful project!

veronica said...

great idea Paula,and beautifully do ne as usual - love the zentangle star, works really well. Glad the zorastrians came in handy!

Elizabeth Allan said...

Paula seeing this post was bittersweet. Your tag is magnificent and the category you thought of for "z" shows another realm of creativity. I was sad to see that we are at the end of the alphabet!! What is next?! :0)

alexandra s.m. said...

Fabulous work Paula!
I've enjoyed reading your post and following your creative journey!
Thank You for sharing your art with us...

Sally H said...

Stunning! A wonderful array of zs, and more fascinating facts too. thanks for sharing x

xxxtglxxx said...

Ooh this is interesting Paula :) Great contrast of colours and effects and the background embossing is fab! :)

Hope you have a smashing christmas hun! :)

hugs

xxalisonxx

Anonymous said...

Stunning tag. Really, really gorgeous.

Cathy A said...

Paula your tower of parcels is wonderful, the zen tangle star is a perfect topper, so glad your husband takes an interest and helps to inspire you too. Have a wonderful Christmas.

Arnoldo L. Romero, MLA said...

I love your color scheme and the beautiful tangled star. May your holidays be filled with blessings, Paula.

Heather said...

Sensational Paula, your black really sets the images off - your zentangle is beautiful - brilliantly executed!!

I'm just catching up and would like to wish a very Merry Christmas and may for the wishes come true for the New Year !!
hugs
Heather xx

Could you please send my your address again - mine went missing in my computer !!!

craftimamma said...

Hi Paula, I thought I had left a comment here but I must have got distracted by someone. It doesn't take much, lol!

I'm sorry I've not stopped by for a week or two. I've been a bit poorly with a nasty sinus infection. It'll be painkillers with my Christmas dinner I think, lol!

Congratulations on finishing the tag swap! Your tags have been fabulous and very inspirational. You have a great way of coming up with original themes and this one is no exception. What a great idea!

I also wanted to make sure I visited before the 25th to wish you a really Happy Christmas and I hope 2013 brings you lots of all the best things in life ..... and I'm sure you know I don't mean money, lol!

Have a lovely Christmas Paula.

Big Hugs
Lesley Xx

Elaine said...

Just wanted to pop by Paula and wish you and The Saint the Merriest of Christmas's and a Very Happy New Year, that brings only the best your way.

Big hugs to you.
Love Elaine xxx