Balzer Designs

ScanNCut: Perfect Placement & Easy Sizing for T-Shirt Designs

One of my favorite things to do with my ScanNCut is to make custom t-shirts. It’s quick and easy and they make great gifts. As you may know, Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV) is a breeze to cut with the ScanNCut (especially with the Vinyl Auto Blade). However there is one part of the process that I have messed up a few times, much to my chagrin. And the worst part of this mistake is that it really makes the whole project look bad. So here’s my true confession: I don’t always get the sizing and placement of my designs right.... Read more →

#CarveDecember 2021 Begins Today!

This is the EIGHTH year of #CarveDecember. I can hardly believe it. Here are five reasons why YOU should participate in #CarveDecember right now this year today: 1. You don't need a lot of supplies to carve a stamp. If you don't have rubber, use a potato or an apple or a pencil eraser. And you don't need carving tools. If you've got a craft knife, you can carve a stamp. Here's a video tutorial from me on how to carve a stamp from a pencil eraser: And even if you do have all the supplies, we're still talking about... Read more →

Around Here: November 2021

Hello, friends! Here is a little bit about life around here right now: What are you working on? I've been experimenting with collograph. I don't have the right supplies, so I've run into a little bit of trouble, but I'm enjoying myself. I'll share more about it soon! What are you loving? Christmas lights! It's dark by 4:30pm around here and I have to say that the Christmas lights make it a lot less depressing. Plus my little guy says, "Oooo, light," every single time we pass a house with Christmas lights. It's really sweet. How is the little guy?... Read more →

Creative JumpStart 2022

Hey friends! I'm delighted to once again be teaching a class for my friend Nat Kalbach's mega online course, Creative JumpStart. This year's theme is "Creating Connections" and don't we all need a bit of that nowadays? It's quite an impressive line up of teachers -- probably some names you know and some that are new to you. Personally, I'm excited about some of the quilty people on the list like Jane LaFazio & Drew Steinbrecher. Both of them make quilts and do surface design work. One of the pleasures of a big class like this is discovering fresh new... Read more →

Happy Hanukkah!

As I mentioned to weekly newsletter subscribers several weeks ago, I was hoping to make the time to create some sort of non-fire related Hanukkah countdown thing for my son. Well, I finally figured out a simple project that would work for his age and interest level, but still work for us as a family down the road. Plus, it's pretty. Inside each of the little houses is a small toy and a piece of Hanukkah gelt. After we light the candles each night, he can untie the bow on top of the appropriately labeled little house to release the... Read more →

Happy Thanksgiving!

To all who celebrate, a very Happy Thanksgiving from us to you! I hope these photos give you a little giggle. He was not in the mood for a photo! Time is the most lovely gift that any of us can give another human being. So, thank you for taking the time to read this blog, leave comments, buy artwork, take classes...I appreciate all of it! Thank you!!! Read more →

Sun Printed Napkins

Here's an idea for your Thanksgiving table: sun printed napkins. Sun printing is a surface design technique where you allow the heat and light of the sun to help you dye your fabric. Besides sunlight, it requires stencils or masks to create the pattern. You can learn more about sun printing (even without the sun) in my online class all about it. Class is $25 with lifetime access, and the technique works on paper as well as fabric. I used cloth napkins I bought online, but you can also print fabric yardage and make your own napkins. Here's a look... Read more →

Bad Art vs. Good Art: Personal Taste?

I stumbled upon this YouTube video yesterday and it made me think. Give it a watch: I do remember the first time I saw art that provoked an emotional reaction in me. It was in Norway at Vigeland Park. It was pre-phone camera and pre-blog, so I found this photo online to share with you today: On that day, I walked amongst the giant statues and suddenly started weeping. And yet, I remember showing photos of the sculpture to my Father and he didn't understand why I liked it so much. I thought, "Well photos don't do it justice." But... Read more →

Place Cards are Kind of My Thing

Thanksgiving is just around the corner! Hopefully you're anticipating good company and delicious food on Thursday. I have always loved adding fancy DIY place cards to my holiday table. Here are a few of my favorites from the blog archives: 2013 - City Skyline Place Cards (tutorial is here) 2017 - Leaf Place Cards (original post) 2018 - Egg Place Cards (original post) 2013 - Stamped Place Cards (original post) 2014 - Pop Up Place Cards (0riginal post) 2015 - Playing Card Place Cards (video tutorial is here) 2010 - Butterfly Place Cards (tutorial is here) 2019 - Paper Flower... Read more →

#CarveDecember 2021 is Coming!

As you know, I have been hosting an annual carve-a-stamp-a-day challenge (aka #CarveDecember) in December since 2014! The challenge will continue for FREE this December. It's time to order your rubber! :) As always, everyone is welcome to join. New stamp carvers will develop their skills quickly and experienced stamp carvers will sharpen those skills. Everyone will connect with new friends. Here are the basics: Carve a stamp. Print it. Post the print to instagram. Use the hashtag #CarveDecember. Here is a quick side note about the hashtag. A wholesaler of carved stones has been spamming the tag for months... Read more →