Tri Color Zentangle ATC

I have been playing with a new technique of combining zentangles with a paper bleaching process. I am happy with the results and want to share it with the group. Hope you have as much fun with it as I have been having!

I am calling them Tri Color Zentangles because three colors are used. There are endless possibilities of adding more colors, adding seasonal designs, etc. which I will explore in future swaps. But for now, this will be a traditional style of zentangle with a new coloring process.

You can see examples on my Flickr page:

You will need: CHEAP colored cardstock. The kind you find at hobby stores at low prices. No texture. I find "The Paper Company" and "Reflections" papers work beautifully.

A colored pen -- the same color as your paper -- a sharpie, a gel pen, a Bic marker, etc. I used Sharpies on all of my examples.

Cheap old-fashioned 100% laundry bleach (not the fancy concentrated stuff).

Black markers. I use Micron pens which are fairly bleed resistent.

You can apply the bleach with a fine paintbrush or a blender pen. I have been using "Fantastix" which are inexpensive "disposable" blender pens found at JoAnns, Michaels, etc. They come six to a package and are usually in the stamping supplies. I can use them for many projects before the tip gets eaten up by bleach or flattened too much for detail work.

PLEASE NOTE: Test both your pens and your bleach on a piece of scrap paper! Some papers don't bleach well. Some pens bleed when the bleach hits them. Please test BEFORE you do all of your zentangle work!

When you are picking your zentangle patterns, try to pick ones that will lend themselves to coloring. You will have light bleached parts, parts where the paper is the color, and parts where you will have dark penwork.

When you are done with you black zentangle, carefully apply your bleach. Full strength. (Do this over newspaper, a craft mat, waxed paper, etc. in case of bleed-through). I lightly dab the blender pen tip against the paper. If you rub and scrub too much you will smear your penwork (even Micron pens). It sometimes takes a minute or two for the full effects of the bleach to appear -- be patient. Once the bleach has dried, go in and do your colored penwork.

Please feel free to PM me with any questions or problems.

You will be making ONE ATC for each of THREE partners (3 ATCs in total). They can all be the same color combination since they are going to three different partners.

I am allowing a long turn-around on these to avoid holiday hassles (if fact, if the holidays are stressing you out -- go sit in a comfy chair and zentangle for awhile!)

Have fun!!