Wednesday 23 September 2015

How to use up 5 pens in 15 mins!

I have been hmming and hawing over what to tangle on for the Divas's Challenge this week. That is why I haven't visited any other entries yet. I usually have started that by now. Whilst I am on the subject of visiting blogs I want to say a big thank you to everyone who leaves comments on mine. Without you folks I would never have learnt so much about this hobby as I have. I do reply sometimes when a question has been asked, but I am never sure if the replies go through via email or not. Does anyone know?

Anyway, back to the hmming and hawing...... The only things I could think of were the usual ones that you see here and there on the Internet, some of which the Diva suggested in her blog. The trouble with me is that if something is shown or suggested in the challenge then I feel I have to try and think up something new of my own. Occasionally my little brain seems to freeze because the suggestions are so good and I simply can't get them out of my head - which leaves no room for anything to go in!

This morning I woke up and got my iPad out to do my usual early morning routine visits. I thought about Maria tangling various places around her home and also I had seen someone had tangled a mini-van. I thought about tangling around the toilet cistern handle, I thought it would make you all laugh, but somehow I didn't think my partner would be amused. Then it suddenly struck me - my iPad, - I love my iPad to bits and have never thought to tangle on it.

Unfortunately I have the black version of the iPad so, even if I found a glass marker to use it wouldn't show up against the black. The next best thing I could think of was my iPad cover and that was it, I sprang out of bed and rushed downstairs to try it out. First of all I did tiny practice zingers in the corner to see if my usual pens would work. They did!



Whilst I was trying it out I came across small areas where the pen wouldn't draw, I assumed it was probably a bit greasy so when I had decided on which other areas to do I went over it with my eraser first, in the hopes of removing anything. Next I decided on some simple tangle patterns, as anything with pencil shading was not going to be possible. I started on the other corner using angelfish and Antidots with a little tipple. As I seemed to have a sort of sea thing going on along the bottom, at the top corner I used Florz as a fishing net and creweler as starfishes tumbling out.

I left it at that because I was running out of pens. I used 0.3 pens and I want to warn you if you are think of doing it yourself, it seems to wreck havoc with your pens. I got through 5 pens, two of which were brand new! I don't think I am going to be able to rescue them. The tips of the pens look ok, so I am guessing the surface coating must have gummed up the works - the cover is fairly grubby!.


28 comments:

  1. very pretty. did you have to seal it with anything to keep it from smudging?

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    1. No, it hasn't smudged so far, but then I only did it this morning. It did take longer to dry, so I left it for about 15mins without touching it but I have just run my finger over it now (4 hrs after doing it) and it doesn't smudge. I suppose it might wear off with use, but whatever I used to seal it might crack, so I am leaving things as they are.

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  2. So lovely :-) I had problems with my pens too after trying to draw on my hand with them lol but I found that using them on normal paper got them back working right after a few seconds. Worth a try if you haven't already tried it :-) I am going to try my hand again but I'm going to wash it with washing up liquid first to remove any oils :-)

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  3. Great idea. If you use sepia pens it would be like a henna tattoo.

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  4. Such a clever idea, and you get to enjoy seeing your beautiful work every day now!

    In answer to your question. If people click on the box, at the bottom of their comment, that says "notify me", they will get an email of your response. Otherwise, the only way they know you responded is to check back. I will often go back to read responses when I know that person is in the habit of replying to comments. I always say something to commenters even if it is only thank you.

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    1. Thanks for the info. I usually go back and check if I have left a question in any of my comments, I rather thought they didn't come through automatically. If it is something I quite want people to see I usually try to contact them through their blog and do a sort of double post.

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  5. Nice! This is such a clever idea and it came out beautifully.

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  6. Too bad about the pens - I would have loved to have seen where the rest of this went - it's so beautiful as it is though! If you hadn't warned me, I'd probably attempt this too - a proud copycat!

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  7. Wow - you did it! Tangling on the IPad! I love this idea. Now everybody can see what your hobby is!

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  8. Great idea! I tangled my iPad cover and had the same issue with my pens. Like someone said above, they should come back to life. Just keep scribbling with them on some clean paper. The back of a tile works well.

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  9. Great, on the iPad!!! It looks so beautiful now and really 'personal'. I never reply on comments on my blog, because I don't know if people come back (a lot of time to do that). If I want to reply, I go to their blog and write it in my comment, or send an email if I have their address.

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  10. Great idea - and a lovely design. I have used a lot of pens up by drawing on pebbles and stones, so I know the feeling, but once you start, it's hard to stop. Sometimes, I scribble on a bit of wood and the nib cleans itself and all is well again for a while....sometimes, I have to accept that the pen has given up the ghost.
    I often check back on comments - I like reading them on my own and on other's blogs too...
    Axxx

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    1. Yes, I tried scribbling with them, and today also but sadly they are definitely dead. I would probably try a glass marker or a cd writer next time.

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  11. Fantastic idea! Looks great :-) But 5 pens is really too much... But don't worry - the result is so wonderful :-)

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  12. This looks so good and is a clever idea. I did the cover of my sketchbook a while ago but, although the patterns have not smudged, the whole thing had got a bit gray and grubby. Oh well, I'm happy if it just looked good for a little while. If this hasn't smudged by now, I think you are pretty safe. Nice work.

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    1. No, it still hasn't smudged so I think I am ok now. That is one good thing anyway, although parts of it may wear off eventually. It will be interesting to see.

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  13. You did a beautiful job and it's so delicately done! Just beautiful!!! :0)

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  14. oh how sweet! I know what I'll be doing, next laptop! ha!

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  15. What a super idea and it turned out beautiful. There are other pens that are not quite as good as microns thet work well on other surfaces without drying up. I have used Faber Catell Pitt Pens on acrylic paintings and they seem to be ok afterwards. I have a white iPad cover - guess what I might be going next?
    I get email notifications when someone leaves a message or reply - can't remember if that was in the set up or if it just happened.

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  16. What a wonderful idea, and great way to enjoy your tangles every day! I have used Identipens on the smooth surface things sometimes, but you can't be as delicate as with a regular Micron. Hope this holds up because it is too wonderful to lose!

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  17. Great job. You might try soaking a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and try wiping your nibs. I had the same problem after completing a Ben Kwok template on shiny ink jet printer paper. The alcohol seemed to clean the gunk out of the nib. You can also take pliers and remove the nib and replace it with another one. Sakura has a video on uTube.

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  18. YT, this is so totally amazing!! I love love love love love it!! You have done something so beautiful!! Thank you so much for continuing to comment!! And you got your answer about the comments and email :) :)

    ~ Diane Clancy
    http://www.dianeclancy.com/blog/2015/09/my-diva-tangle-unexpected-challenge-entry

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