Get It Scrapped and the Zentangle Trend

I have long admired the amount of work that goes into creating zentangles. Learning how to draw them is on my creative to do list. However, when I was challenged to create a full scrapbook layout with the zentangle trend for Get It Scrapped, I was a bit overwhelmed. I can attribute this to the fact that I have never tried a zentangle. I was putting undue pressure on myself to design paper or elements for the page and so I wasn’t really enjoying the process. I took a step back and came at the challenge another way.

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; Appears in an article on the Get It Scrapped Blog

I have come to realize that when it comes to a new technique it’s best to start off small. Choosing a project with a larger scope can be intimidating and doesn’t always facilitate mastery of the technique. When this happens, the probability is high that the project will be abandoned. It’s hard to start off small sometimes, especially when it comes to a creative endeavor. We have a grand ambition in mind and the end result seems fabulous. If the end project doesn’t meet the expectations, the disappointment can cause us to simply walk away. At least that is what happens to me. Knowing this, I chose to doodle and practice some zentangle drawings on a smaller scale. I created a border strip and I doodled a few sprinklings of triangles around the layout. But was this enough to meet my criteria for a zentangle style scrapbook layout?

Once I determined that I wanted more zentangled style elements, I had to find other ready made solutions. I chose patterned paper and elements that I felt embodied the trend. Indeed, I found a whole kit to inspire me. This was quite beneficial for me as my second stumbling block was trying to figure out a color scheme and additional items to coordinate with my small doodles. I also needed a photo to go with the kit. Zentangled items have a wild and free form feel. I thought this might translate well to a story about an animal. I also happened to find a digital image of a raccoon with a doodled style design. I chose a photo of my son watching a raccoon and documented some of the tales from my encounters with raccoons from my days as a volunteer wildlife rehabilitation. Everything fell into place when it came to creating my layout.

Using something on a small scale doesn’t just apply to experimenting with trendy new techniques. It’s a concept that you can apply to any type of trend, even those pertaining to color and texture. Choose to represent the trend in a small way on your layout, then fill in the blanks with other supplies that you feel compliment it. It is easier to feel comfortable with new concepts if they come in small doses. I know I want to experiment more with zentangles but given my lack of experience with them, I probably would have been unhappy with my end result if I attempted to zentangle a full scrapbook layout. Given time, I can try again. Perhaps even experimenting on a slightly larger scale in an art journal.