Weekly Challenge #290

Happy Monday Everyone!
Thanks for all the work out Kudos.  It's been really hard, physically and mentally, but i'm seeing awesome things like stronger muscles, and perhaps a few waistbands are a bit looser than before.  But at this stage, i'm trying to focus on getting stronger and healthier - in fact, i'm not even getting on a scale at all, and leaving all my success to my measuring tape (which, by the way, tells me i've lost 7.5 inches in 4 weeks... so that's awesome) *i originally had months, not weeks. lol, that's not very impressive at all.

And thank you for all the Birthday wishes for little Artoo.  He actually had his birthday party this weekend, so i have some fun photos to share.

BUT FIRST - i actually taught a beginner's class this weekend with some lovely ladies.

diligent little tanglers

 It was nice to actually teach, again, and i'm always intrigued by how nervous i am of a public speaker.  But, as per usual, as soon as i begin the act of tangling - i calm right down.  amazing how that works.

their beautiful creations

 Thanks Jenn - for having me in you home! It was awesome, you guys were great students. :)

I also got to speak in Artoo's class this week - about what my job is, as they're having Education Week at school and so lots of the kid's parents were coming in to say a few words about what they do for work.  So, i came in and talked about being a Mom, and as Artoo says: "My job is doing the laundry" - cheeky.  But the kids were adorable, and they asked me questions like: "do you make healthy food for your family?" and "do you look after Artoo and Chewie when they're sick?" So - yes, my job is more than just laundry.

my three boys, working hard outside

The weather has been really blah for the past few weeks - and we're all really feeling the effects of the lack of sunshine here lately.  Between the snow and the seemingly continuous rain we've had lately we haven't been able to clean up the leaves, but B-rad took the boys out for a solid 2.5 hours this weekend and they got it done, just before it started to rain, again.

So this year Artoo wanted to have a Monsters University birthday party - and he's been talking about it ever since we went to Disneyland this summer.  He had an agenda all planned out and he's been very excited for weeks and weeks.

Mike Wazowski cupcakes

 I made up these cupcakes and these treat bags filled with halloween candy for his friends from school

Mike Wazowski treat bags!

 it was a full house - there were 12 children, in total, and 3 grown ups - it was pretty hectic

blowing out the "6" candle

 But the kids had fun.

I found these little canvas boards at the dollar store, and hot glued the googly eyes on before everyone arrived
then all they had to do was draw their monster and nae them.
I was seriously impressed. Great little artists in his class!!

 And they each made their own Monster, and then we did "Scare School" where they practiced their roars, and they learned to sneak.... and they played with all the dress up clothes..

All in all, Artoo told me it was the Best Day Ever as i put him to bed Sunday night.  So.  that's pretty awesome.

Weekly Challenge #290 "Duotangle: 'NZeppel vs Flux"
A Duotangle is a term coined here at Casa Diva for a tile or piece using ONLY TWO tangles (and/or their variations).  Sometimes it's tricky to limit yourself to only two, and then you must think of new and interesting ways those two tangles could "Go" together!!

So - this week's challenge uses 'NZeppel - which i love, and FLUX - which i also love.  AND these two tangles also have two different official variations.

'NZeppel first appeared in the Zentangle newsletter back on August 31, 2009.  You can see the step outs HERE - it's a grid based pattern, or a "grid on a grid" pattern, because you start with drawing a grid, then intersecting a grid on top.

However, in June 30, 2010 - they released another set of step outs for 'Nzeppel using a formal or 'wonky' grid, as i call them.  You can see that HERE

both versions have filled in grid sections, and i find when filling in the grid sections of this tangle - it's best to imagine a water balloon filling up the space, as much as it can - but not quite ever filling it all the way.  At least, this is what i say to myself when i do this tangle, and i find it helpful.


The second tangle in this week's Duotangle is Flux - which has a Maria version and a Rick Version.  Both of which, you can find HERE  - myself, i am partial to Rick's verison. ;)

So.... here's my tile for this week:

Spooky

 Because Halloween in right around the corner, i thought i'd make my tile a little bit festive.  My idea for the ghosts was simple, to use the flux shape as the body, and then smaller flux shapes for the eyes and mouth.  It turned out really great, actually.

I thought that the wonky grid 'Nzeppel would make an awesome spider web - and i think i was right.
I wish you could see this tile in real life, it looks so neat.  Instead of using a gel pen, i used a Clear Sakura Glaze pen, and on the black tile it looks so awesome - shiny black on matte black.

ta dah

So, i took three different pictures to show you how the tangled web looks different as i move it in the light.

I hope you have fun this week!! i sure did. 

And if you're on Instagram or the Zentangle Mosaic App, - i'm @iamthediva - come on by and follow me, and i'm going to be using hashtags on the app for each of my weekly challenges. So if you're game - use the hashtag #DC290 (Diva Challenge #290) for your tile this week! You can also search in the app for people's contributions to the challenge by clicking on the hashtag from inside the app, or using the search function. 

If you have a blog or host your images on line (like on Flickr or Picassa or Pinterest), add the site-specific URL where your tile is posted to the linkey machine below! Don't forget to link back here so that others can join in the fun! (if you don't know how to find this, you can see my half assed tutorial here) Also, please feel free to come back often and visit the links of those people on the linkey machine - don't forget to leave a comment or feedback, everyone loves feedback. ;)