Balzer Designs

ScanNCut CanvasWorkspace: Saving & Exporting

CanvasWorkspace is so many things that it can be confusing. For example: CanvasWorkspace is a 100% free program that allows you to create and edit files for your ScanNCut. CanvasWorkspace is the gateway for many of the ScanNCut add-ons and upgrades, such as the Roll Feeder. CanvasWorkspace offers you dozens of 100% free project with instructions and cut files. CanvasWorkspace is where you can unlock additional cut files from Disney, Tattered Lace, and other designers, once you’ve purchased them. There’s no doubt that CanvasWorkspace is extremely useful and definitely worth your time getting to know how it works. Today I... Read more →

Screen Printed Apron

Over the weekend I cut a few new screens and turned a blank white apron into something super cute and unique: I used three different screens, which all have a similar kind of feeling. By printing in a brick formation, and using the same color, it creates a unified pattern. You can see that I even rotated the screens when I printed them so that each print doesn't feel quite identical to the one next to it. I love how it turned out! If you'd like to learn how to screen print at home with minimal supplies, join me this... Read more →

What is Screenprinting?

Screenprinting is a process that has been used for many many years to put custom images onto t-shirts, paper (posters), tote bags, fabric, and more. This is what a commercial screenprinting machine looks like: Each color of a single image is printed separately. You can see that the t-shirts move around underneath the green, orange, blue, and black screens in the photo above. And by the end, they create a complete image, such as this multi-color poster: source Or this single color tote bag: source Over the years people have developed myriad methods for screenprinting at home. Some methods are... Read more →

Watertown Art Fair 2021

The day before Hurricane Henri hit us, I had a booth at my very first art fair! The weather was warm and soupy and I sweat more than I thought was possible, but it was a great experience! I met lots of people, had human contact (yay), and sold a few things too. It was surprisingly very ego boosting. So many people had kind things to say about my work. It was a balm to my soul. If you're interested in all the details, I put together a vlog all about the experience and it's available now to Maker &... Read more →

5 Mixed Media Art Supplies I'm Currently Loving!

I put together a quick edit of an instagram live video I did earlier this month. It's all about 5 art supplies I'm currently loving! Here's the list: Paint Puck Dynasty Stencil Brushes Listo China Markers Plastic Funnel Mesh File Box You'll note that almost everything on the list is something that makes my arting life easier. I'm at the stage in my art supply purchasing where the things that thrill me are usually little things that simply make creating easier and/or more pleasurable. What's on your list of current favorite mixed media art supplies? I'd love to know! Read more →

Around Here: August 2021

Hello, friends! Here is a little bit about life around here right now: What are you working on? The hardest, most difficult, and most stubborn project on earth: me. In all seriousness, pandemic fatigue has set in around here and I'm trying to figure out how to prioritize my own self care while still giving as much as possible to my child, my partner, my clients and students, my friends, and my family, and so forth. If you have any tips, feel free to share! What are you loving? I bought refills for my tape runner for the first time... Read more →

From My Composition Class: Grids Deep Dive

I hosted a wonderful live online workshop a few weekends ago. It's part of a series of "Composition Classes" that I'm offering. This one was about "The Grid" and these are the three demo pieces I created during class: I looooove them! I think they're some of the best pieces that I've done in this series -- and that's not something I usually say about demo pieces. But I think there are a few reasons that they're good and they're things I want to remember: Limited palette. I've said if before. I'll say it again. I even taught a class... Read more →

Balzer Designs Stencils 2021: Live Stencil Party Replay

In case you missed out on all of the stencil fun, here is the replay of Monday's live stencil event: And just to recap, here are the nine designs, which will be available on September 1: And here are links to all of the stencil posts I've done this month: Unboxing Embossing Paste & Embossing Powder Stencil Rubbing Using a Gelatin Plate with a Stencil to Fix Ugly Papers Baby Wipe Removal Understanding Different Mediums Using a Stencil Brush Distress Spray + Stencils 2 Ways to Foil How to Use Watercolor with Stencils Stencil Storage Whew. That's a lot of... Read more →

Balzer Designs Stencils 2021: Stencil Storage

I have hundreds of stencils and in this video I'm sharing how I've stored and organized them for over a decade. Page protectors and book rings are such a simple and inexpensive solution. No tangling, no getting lost -- this system keeps all of my stencils 100% contained! SUPPLIES: 12x12 Page Protectors 12x12 Cardstock 8.5x11 Page Protectors 8.5x11 Cardstock Book Rings Permanent Marker How do you store your stencils? I'd love to know! And if you still want more stencil know-how, you can check out my free email course: Stencil 101. Thanks for stopping by! Read more →

Balzer Designs Stencils 2021: TCW935 Secret Garden & The Gelatin Plate

One of my favorite uses for stencils and the gelatin plate is to make ugly things pretty. In this video I'm sharing how you can quickly print an overall pattern and magically make things look so much better! Check it out: SUPPLIES: Gelatin Plate Speedball Brayer Liquitex Basics Acrylic Paint "A Year of Gelatin Printing" Online Class I used TCW935 aka "Secret Garden" for this video and it made me fall head over heels in love with this stencil. Even after a decade of designing stencils, I still get surprised when I actually start to play with them. I knew... Read more →