Balzer Designs

Make It Artsy: On TV Every Friday!

As you know, I host the PBS TV Show, Make It Artsy. 

(I'm actually in Ohio at the moment, filming season #4 of the show!  Season 4 guests include Dina Wakley, Ardith Goodwin, May Flaum, Michael deMeng, and many other talented artist-teachers!  But more on that another day or check out my instagram or Facebook page for photos!)

I am super excited to share that starting TOMORROW (November 17), Make It Artsy will air nationally on every single PBS Create Channel on Fridays at 11:30am, and 5:30pm.  That's right!  Twice a day every single Friday!  So, set your DVRs!

If you don't get the PBS Create Channel, don't worry. 

You can still watch the show online for free -- a new episode airs every week online.  This week is episode 207: Books. (Watch it now!)

Artist and writer Andrew Thornton sculpts a beautiful book cover.  Julie Fei-Fan Balzer creates a whole book out of a single piece of paper.  Tool expert Joe Rotella (pictured above) binds books inspired by ancient techniques from the Far East.  Jane Dunnewold shares another artsy idea.

You can also watch some individual segments for free on YouTube! For example: Learn special masking techniques on segment 203-3 on the Make It Artsy YouTube channel (or watch below):

You can also buy DVDs of each season:

• It's just $39.99 for an entire season: ones season is 4 DVDs of art techniques. 
• Each season contains 13 shows -- and each show is divided into 3-4 segments.
• In essentials, that's 40+ art techniques/ideas for $39.99!  Better pricing than almost any online class out there!

I hope you will join in the artsy fun! -- online, via DVD, or on your TV!

Thanks for stopping by!

Behind the Scenes of Make it Artsy: Season Three (Part 3)

This is a long overdue follow-up on my previous two posts about filming Season 3 of Make It Artsy (part one and part two).  Today I'm sharing some of the projects that I made for the show.  

You saw this Bullet Journal spread back in May when I shared my burgeoning Bullet Journal obsession.  After it are two worksheets giving step-by-step directions for creating some decorative designs in your Bullet Journal.  They will be downloadable from the Make It Artsy website once the show goes live.

Next up, you can see some jewelry I made using paper clay and Art Foamies.

This next project is one from the archives; September 2010 to be exact.

And a companion piece from November 2010:

The tutorial I share on Make It Artsy is all about how to make the painted and stuffed heart in both pieces.  It's easy to do and provides great impact.

I know that you shouldn't pick favorites, but this next duo of projects might be my favorites from the bunch!  On the show I show the double embossing techniques -- one technique for embossing the metal and another for creating the highly textured background.  I love the way it turned out!

First, a journal cover:

And then a home decor piece:

Screenprinting on fabric with stencils is the focus of this pillow cover, which features my Bird Gathering stencil.

Last, but not least, is this epic partyscape I put together using only Sakura pens and markers:

It's amazing what you can do with scissors, paper, and something to color and draw with!



I'm looking forward to the new season of Make It Artsy.  Until it debuts, you can watch season one and two online, on your TV (PBS and/or CREATE), or via DVD!  And don't forget that you can always download free project instruction sheets for most projects on the Make It Artsy website!

Thanks for stopping by!

BEHIND THE SCENES OF MAKE IT ARTSY: SEASON THREE (Part 2)

More guests!  More fun!  More art making instruction on Make It Artsy.  You can watch it online for free, on your TV on your local PBS or Create channel, or purchase a set of season DVDs.  

Take a peek at more of what went on when we filmed season 3 of the show.  

Cheryl Boglioli shared some unbelievably cool sculpture-making techniques.

Debbi Simon shared easy encaustic techniques with stencils and lots of ideas for casting!

Rebekah Meier brought her shabby chic mixed media style to set!

Sandra Evertson shared how to make some super cool assemblage pieces!  And gifted me with the cutest eye ring.



I made paper from junk mail with Lynne Suprock and she also shared lots of ideas for jewelry making (including using old shotgun casings)!

But it was her little books with gorgeously textured covers that stole my heart!

And then, there's me!  Each day on set is packed with guests and a few of my own projects.  I'll share some more about my own projects tomorrow, but here's a peek at everything on set:





Finally, I have to say that the behind-the-scenes crew does such a great job of making life on set easy and comfortable!

I'll be back tomorrow with a few more photos and some wrap-up thoughts!

Thanks for stopping by!

BEHIND THE SCENES OF MAKE IT ARTSY: SEASON THREE (Part 1)

I recently filmed the third season of my PBS TV show: Make It Artsy.  You can watch it online for free, on your TV on your local PBS or Create channel or purchase a set of season DVDs.

Over the next few days I'm going to share a look at some of the amazing guests and projects from the show!

First up, Candie Cooper!  She shared a ton of ideas for jewelry making and cool home decor and embellishment projects!

As you can see, we have a lot of fun on set while we get the work done.  :)

These next photos are all from the backstage area -- green room, office, and makeup room.  The Green Room is the area where the guests wait and stage their projects.  Each project and all of its parts is placed onto a large baking tray so that it's ready to bring to set.  It's a craft explosion!  The office is mission control where Katherine and Lynn take care of all of the paperwork and other details.  And, of course, the makeup room is where we all get glammed up!

Joe Rotella and Julie McGuffee shared some fun projects that they collaborated on!

I love seeing what two different people can come up with using the same supplies!

Julie and I worked on the TV show Scrapbook Memories together and it was great to have her back on set!

Joe always brings lots of fun art making toys to play with and he did not disappoint.  He shared a number of high tech projects involving power tools and casting!

And then we both shared our new-found calendar love.  My Bullet Journal and his planner!

Mary Hettmansperger is doing the coolest series of jewelry how-tos for the show.  I learned so much about using a torch (yes, you can do it in an apartment)!

Feeling excited?  There's so much more artsy fun to come!  I'll be sharing more photos over the next few days!

This season of Make It Artsy will be available in the Fall!  I can't wait!

Thanks for stopping by!

Adventures in Arting Podcast: Episode 68 (Explaining Things)

Today's podcast features a conversation about wrangling tables at HSN, the Robert Rauschenberg exhibit at MoMA, creating step-outs, and so much more!

If you do not see the podcast player above, please click on this link.  You can listen to a podcast anywhere and at any time.  It is a recording that is available to you whenever you'd like to listen.  If you'd like to download it to your iTunes library, click here.  You can also pause and rewind or fast forward as you desire.  I like to listen to podcasts while I'm making art.  It's a little like hanging out with friends while you art.  Please subscribe to our podcast in iTunes or wherever you listen and be sure to leave us a review!  Thanks so much!

It has been a crazy month full of fake eyelashes.

And so many craft projects that I can't wait to share!  I hope you enjoy the podcast and all the chit chat.  We're going to have a guest (gasp) on our next podcast!

Thanks for stopping by!

All podcasts are archived here.  Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes here. 

P.S. Here is the link to my online pattern design class I mentioned on the podcast.