Tangle Refresher 229 – Inexpensive Zentangle®-inspired holiday season DIY projects, our random string, plus how to draw Floo, Hearts + Diamonds, Hexa, Dayzee-Mae, Sling-Slang

Hi everyone!

A happy Friday to you and a very Happy Thanksgiving weekend to all my Canadian tangling friends and rellies.

Each year in October we revisit this round-up of links to inexpensive holiday season do-it-yourself (DIY) projects that lend themselves perfectly to adding your own personal Zentangle flourish.

These projects are fun and entertaining for all ages and it’s a good time to get a head start on your Zentangle®-related holiday crafts. Or — if you’re at all like me — at least have fun checking out these ideas while there’s still plenty of time to procrastinate 😉

These DIY projects are easy to do and perfect for decorating your own home as well as for from-the-heart gifts for friends and loved ones.

DIY GLASS ORNAMENTS

One of the most popular DIY Christmas tutorials on TanglePatterns is this one by CZT Anna Houston: How to tangle on glass Christmas ornaments. Here are some of Anna’s beautiful examples from her step-by-step tutorial using classic Zentangle-original tangles.

DIY DANGLING BIJOUS

Last year around this time CZT Jan Brandt shared her lovely Harp tangle and her beautiful “Dangling Bijou” ornaments along with guidance on how to make them.

DIY SEASONAL PAPER CRAFTS

Many primary school teachers use all the resources of TanglePatterns for classroom assignments and this time our Buried Treasure includes some useful links for inexpensive do-it-yourself paper crafts that are fun to do for the upcoming Christmas season. Originally published a few years ago, it’s worth repeating – and asking you to share your favorite links for similar crafts in the comments.

This is a perfect way to give the gift of love this holiday season.

There’s still oodles of time before Christmas arrives for some easy and inexpensive Zentangle®-inspired DIY crafts for the occasion that are especially fun to enjoy time making with young children, and the young-at-heart of all ages 😉

Going with our theme of buried treasure, here are a few interesting links for you to check out with ideas for inexpensive paper crafts and more do-it-yourself projects just waiting to be tangled.

DIY PAPER ORNAMENTS

How to make lovely Zentangle-inspired ornaments using Zentangle tiles – video tutorial by CZT Dorian Eng

How to make a ringing bell ornament using Zentangle tiles – video tutorial by CZT Dorian Eng

18 Homemade Christmas Ornaments That Kids Can Make – links to various ornaments, some are paper, some are not 🙂 I love the reindeer made from recycled empty toilet paper rolls

Paper Ornaments – this page is a collection of links to all kinds of paper Christmas ornaments and crafts

30 more Easy DIY ornaments, Advent Calendars and more, including Pompom Snowmen (Cute, but not tangle-able)

When you search Google for “Origami ornament instructions”, you’ll find a wide range of beautiful projects of varying complexity to explore. Click on the “Images” tab for quick reference.

DIY PAPER SNOWFLAKES

Create a Blizzard’s Worth of Snowflakes (How to Make Paper Snowflakes) – from Martha Stewart

The Essentials of Making Paper Snowflakes – including design tips and tricks (be sure to check them out, great ideas there)

• • how to make a 5-pointed paper snowflake
  • how to make a 6-pointed paper snowflake
  • and how to make an 8-pointed paper snowflake

DIY PAPER STARS

How to Make a Paper Star – right click for free downloadable PDF template by CZT Susan Breen Silvy, top example on right

How to Make a 3D Paper Star – no template but similar to Susan’s, make it from scratch with scissors

How to Make a Paper Star Ornament – this one’s a bit more complicated, but very pretty result

Post-it Note Paper Stars – shown on right, the red star

Kirigami Paper Stars – made from paper strips – shown on right, the yellow star

DIY GIFT TAGS AND GIFT BOXES

Great for gifting handmade goodies or small items:

Easy and quick ornament gift tags – tutorial by CZT Sue Jacobs

How to make beautiful Zentangle-inspired gift boxes from Zendala tiles – video tutorial by CZT Dorian Eng

How to Make a Paper Gift Box – a Google search with a whole range of beautiful boxes including some unusual shapes for you to tangle then assemble

DIY ORIGAMI CHRISTMAS TREE

Video showing how to make a simple origami Christmas tree from three sheets of printer paper.

You can find lots of inspiration by searching Google for more paper crafts. Enjoy some inexpensive fun and some relaxing time tangling on something lovely that you made by hand!

If you have some Christmas DIY craft links you love, please feel free to share with us in the comments.

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Many tanglers like to use these occasional Tangle Refreshers as their Zentangle® challenge-of-the-day.

This TanglePatterns String was selected for today – either to go with today’s Buried Treasure or just to use as a starting point for your day’s tangling. The RANDOM TANGLE SELECTOR in the left sidebar makes it simple to choose a String-of-the-Day from the 250 free strings in our resource. Or just click on the STRINGS tab in the pink alphabetic tangle menu bar and choose one at random yourself.

Think of this as your tangle Challenge, if you’re so inclined. TanglePatterns String 104 is from CZT Nancy Newlin and was originally posted here.

Remember that Zentangle strings are always drawn freehand in pencil so that they magically disappear when you’ve finished tangling the tile.

A string is a simple device to “divide your drawing surface into sections to be filled with tangles“.

In the Zentangle PRIMER Vol 1 (now available in paperback for $23.95, or as an instant download Kindle Edition $9.99) there’s an entire section devoted to Strings which in part explains:

“As you tangle, your strings disappear as if by magic. This adds to the charm and unified appearance of your completed art.

If you had used a pen to draw your string, you would still see the initial sectioning in your completed creation.“

Strings are not intended to be the focal point of your tile, Zentangles should not look like coloring book drawings.

More String advice from The Book of Zentangle (now available in paperback for $19.95):

“A string is a useful reference, but it is not an impenetrable barrier. Practice going outside your string. It will help increase your ability to think outside the box.“

To download eBooks containing all 250 TanglePatterns Strings, visit the STORE > EBOOKS page.

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The Tangle Refresher series, aka Buried Treasure, spotlights hidden tangle gems from the past. It can remind you of tangles you might not have used for a while or introduce you to some you haven’t come across yet.

Here are five more tangle pattern gems and a Tangle Refresher from the past for your tangling pleasure. Remember to check out the “More Good Stuff” links below too.

BTW as you visit these tangles please do leave a comment of thanks and encouragement to show the artists you appreciate them for sharing their creativity to inspire yours. And please share a link to your favorite tangles with your followers on all your social media. Thanks!

Zenful tangling!

Buried Treasure from the tangling past

	Floo and Floo-ish
	Hearts + Diamonds
	Hexa
	Dayzee May
	Sling-Slang
	Tangle Refresher 200

More good stuff …

• The Importance of Strings in Zentangle – and String 001
• Zentangle Primer Vol 1 – your CZT-in-a-book by the founders of Zentangle! Now available in softcover, or as an instant download KINDLE Edition.
• Everything you need to know about creating Zentangle-Inspired Art or Products
• Free Interweave eBook – Know Your Rights: Copyright 101 for crafters and artists
• Tangle Pattern Refreshers – the entire Buried Treasure series
• Find dozens more free tutorials on TanglePatterns by visiting the TUTORIALS tab on the pink alphabetic menu bar
• Find a CZT near you – the link to the list of Certified Zentangle Teachers is located in the left sidebar of the site under the heading SOURCE WEBSITES
• Interested in becoming a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT®)? Here’s more information.
• Linda’s List of Zentangle-original tangles – THE tangles to learn first if you’re new to Zentangle.

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