Balzer Designs

Inspired By: Dura-Lar Luminaries

As I mentioned before, I've been wanting to actually try out some of the projects I pin on Pinterest.  This week, I decided to tackle this one:

One of the reasons I chose this project is because I had all the supplies on hand: stencils, paint, and Dura-Lar.  I even had the battery operated candles in my stash!

I ended up not using a gelatin plate, as the caption under the photo seems to recommend (the pin, unfortunately, leads to a dead page).  Instead, I used a makeup wedge to stencil onto the Dura-Lar -- btw: If you're not familiar with Dura-Lar it's a plastic meant to take wet media.

I chose to leave some blank Dura-Lar so that when I wrapped it around the candle, the plastic would overlap without the design overlapping that much.  Tip: I used a binder clip to hold the Dura-Lar in place so that I could take a step back and look at it.

I used a combination of stenciling and painting to make my designs.  I even did a bit of finger painting!

Here they are with candles in them -- you'll see that I did some layering in order to take advantage of the clear Dura-Lar:

After doing the circles, I thought it might be fun to try a square version.  For all the candle holders I used regular clear tape to close them up! 

I love how you can really see the pattern where the white candle is.  I thought about cutting the plastic down so that it was mostly white candle and then I had an idea...

I added a crumpled piece of deli paper (last photo).  It's not a real candle, so there's no worry about the paper and the translucent nature of deli paper allows the light from the candle through!

Again, because of the clear nature of the Dura-Lar, you can layer all kinds of things.  I wanted more color, so I decided to try different colors of painted deli paper wrapped around the candle.  I added some multicolored fringed ribbon and strung on some jewelry charms that I had on hand.  

This is a super easy way to use up little things that have been hanging out in your stash forever!

With a little bit of layering, I think you could probably re-use these luminaries for a variety of different events!

Thanks for stopping by!

---

P.S. The stencils I used in this post are:

Faithful Tree

Plaid Fringe

Script Words

Spring Medallion

Texture Love

ScanNCut Techniques to Try

I will be on HSN during tomorrow's Craft Day to demonstrate the ScanNCut, a Brother Sewing Machine, and the PTouch Embellish.  I hope you'll tune in online or on your TV!

Recently, I spent a few hours answering accumulated YouTube questions and I realized that while I've done project videos involving cutting vinyl on the ScanNCut DX, I've never done a video solely on how to cut vinyl with the DX.  And so that is what I give you now:

Some tips to take away:

• Use a Low Tack Mat or a well used Standard Tack Mat.
• Use the Half Cut Function.
• Do a Test Cut.
• Adjust the Half Cut Pressure until the cut is just as you want it!

Here are a few of my favorite recent ScanNCut vinyl projects:

Next up: CanvasWorkspace is a wonderful FREE resource.  Today I want to show you how easy it is to use the program to design a unique one-of-a-kind quilt block!  Absolutely no design experience is required!

I stitched together one block...

...but I digitally played with the one block I made to imagine what a quilt might look like:

What do you think?  Not bad for a simple block!  Looks like I might have to make a few more blocks!

There seems to be some confusion about which ScanNCut accessories work with the ScanNCut DX.  Other than blades and mats, the accessories that you may have used with your ScanNCut 1 or 2 are also compatible with the ScanNCut DX.  In this video, I show you how to use the Rhinestone Kit with the ScanNCut DX:

Doesn't it make you want to bling absolutely everything?  My all time favorite ScanNCut rhinestone project I've ever made is this apron:

You can see more photos of it HERE.

Thanks for stopping by!

---

P.S. I am a paid spokesperson for the Brother ScanNCut.  It is a machine that I love and use.  All projects and opinions are my own.

Product Registration: https://www.brother-usa.com/registermybrother/
Brother Customer Support: https://www.brother-usa.com/support/

When Creative Block Strikes

You've managed to clear a few hours in your busy life to actually make things.  Yay!  You sit down and...nothing.  Sigh. Or perhaps you're generating stuff but it just stinks.  Ugh.

Creative block is a super annoying thing. 

I have developed lots of strategies for dealing with creative block over the years, but after a while you know when you're tricking yourself.  So, I turned to Facebook and Instagram to ask for some advice last week.  The advice I got back was sooooo good and so helpful that I wanted to share it with you here today.  I took all of the advice that came in and I organized it into a couple of basic categories.

Here are some ideas for breaking through creative block:

• Look for inspiration:
  • Watch YouTube videos for inspiration.
  • Look at art technique books.
  • Search Pinterest.
  • Look at blogs.
  • Take a class.
  • Look at random images, books, or magazines and jot notes.
  • Try a challenge.
• Play:
  • Draw circles over and over again until a page is filled.
  • Scribbling and doodling.
  • Take a white crayon and scribble.  It becomes a resist.
  • Spread paint or spray ink on small, square watercolor cards.
  • Take a small card and play with backgrounds or stamping or collage...fun in a small space.
  • Try a different medium.
  • Try new ways to paint.
• Make a particular kind of art you find relaxing and non-challenging:
  • Gelli Print
  • Zentangle
  • Knit
  • Make Mini Journals
  • Coloring Book
• Do something else:
  • Read
  • Walk
  • Organize supplies
  • Clean
  • Swim
  • Explore outdoors
  • Go to the library or bookstore
  • Talk with friends
  • Eat
  • Try Chocolate & Netflix
• Be true to your personality:
  • Just keep making.
  • Just wait.

These last two pieces of advice are particularly interesting to me because they're so contradictory and yet so true.  Are you the kind of person who stops to catch your breath when you're running or are you kind of person who likes to push through the pain?  Neither is the right or better choice, they're just different ways of approaching the same problem.

I'll leave you with my favorite piece of advice, which comes from Marguerite:

"I’ve stopped calling it a block and call it a break or reboot and almost every time I learn something new so that I don’t freeze up anymore and see it more as an opportunity."

Yassss, girl!  In the absence of a chemical imbalance, attitude is the key to happiness.  Let's all see creative block as a wonderful opportunity to grow!

I made you a little list to print up and stick on your wall, in case you need it!  It fits on an 8.5x11 piece of paper.

Thanks for stopping by!

Button & Buttonhole by Machine

This weekend, I helped my Mom with a quick sewing project.  She bought a super cute bathrobe, but didn't want to use the tie that came with it.  She prefers a button.  I told her I could add one for her and here it is:

I took the lazy way out and stitched it with my sewing machine and I figured I'd put together a short video for you showing how lazy a choice that was.  This is a real time video of the process, and even with all the talking, it takes just 5 minutes!

• My Sewing Machine: https://bit.ly/2EjtkfY
• Buttonhole Foot: https://amzn.to/2HrurfF
• button foot: https://amzn.to/2Hsph2V

I hope you found that helpful! Thanks for stopping by!

Filming Season 7 of Make It Artsy

I'm currently in Cleveland, Ohio filming season 7 (!!!) of Make It Artsy.  Make It Artsy is a super fun TV show packed with craft and art projects.  You can watch it online, on your local PBS station, or buy DVDs of each season. 

If you watch this week's vlog, I'm sharing a bunch of the projects that I made for the show.  Take a peek:

Screen printing, cookie decorating, painting, doodling, paper crafts, and more!  It's going to be a great season!

And just in case you've never seen the show, here's a segment from last season (season 6):

Thanks for stopping by!