Balzer Designs

4 Ways for Mixed Media Artists to Use the ScanNCut

As you know, I love my ScanNCut. But, I'm definitely not into using cookie cutter designs. That's part of the reason I love the ScanNCut so much: it allows me to express my own quirky style quickly and easily. There are so many ways to design custom files: Using the built-in editing functions in the stand-alone ScanNCut. Using the built-in scanner to scan my own original drawings or copyright free artwork from books or the internet. Using the free computer-based software, CanvasWorkspace. Using any third-party software that can output an SVG cut file. And the ScanNCut cuts a wide variety... Read more →

ScanNCut: Vinyl Auto Blade Kit

The ScanNCut Vinyl Auto Blade Kit is a great buy if you own a ScanNCut DX machine and like to cut vinyl -- adhesive-backed or heat-transfer. You can “just” use the Vinyl Auto Blade for cutting your intricate vinyl designs or you can take advantage of a number of exciting new possibilities that come with kit activation: New Vinyl Designs – There are 21 detailed designs for you to resize as you wish and cut out with your ScanNCut machine. With the Vinyl Auto Blade kit you can choose to make a design as small as a piece of paper... Read more →

Cut Custom Stencils With a ScanNCut

I have been using a ScanNCut since 2013. I have been designing stencils for The Crafter's Workshop since 2011. They're two things that I absolutely adore and have been doing for a long long time, so mashing them together seems like a total no-brainer. The exciting news is that there are many many ways to create stencils with your ScanNCut. Some of them are simple and based around scanning drawings. Some of them are complicated and involve spending a lot of time with a computer screen. But the good news is that you, yes YOU, can create awesome stencils with... Read more →

Don't Miss Friday's FREE Webinar!

My friend Nathalie Kalbach hosts monthly FREE webinars on a variety of art-related topics. I will be part of the panel this Friday, April 30th, at 12PM EST. Here's the official description: Join artists Nat Kalbach, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer, Iris Fritschi-Cussens, and Jimmy Leslie as they discuss the ups and downs, ins and outs, and the good, bad, and ugly of using social media as artists. We'll talk about balancing privacy and sharing, potential benefits and downsides, and how participating can change your practice. Metrics, negative comments, and thoughts on how to get started will also be touched on. Let's... Read more →

ScanNCut: Temporary Tattoos You Design

I got a tattoo! I'm scared of needles and commitment, so the good news is that this one will wash right off. I have always loved temporary tattoos, but I don't always love wearing someone else's design. Well, did you know that you can buy printable temporary tattoo paper? Yes, you can! You simply design your tattoo and print the design onto the paper. Now, one of the important notes on using temporary tattoo paper is that you need to cut close to the edges of the design. So, I decided to use my ScanNCut to do just that! As... Read more →

Upcycled Easter Candy Jars

About a month ago, I started saving all the glass jars that we otherwise would have put in the recycling bin in order to create a slightly different take on the traditional Easter basket: an Easter candy Jar! Fill it with your treat of choice -- jellybeans, chocolate, Peeps, etc. Besides being super cute, it's actually a great way to keep the candy fresh in an infinitely resealable container! Here's the how-to: Supplies: clean empty jars stickers (or digital cutter, removable vinyl, & transfer grid) primer acrylic paint (plus paintbrush) candy optional: tweezers If you don't like the chalky finish... Read more →

Paper Birds Now Available For You To Make!

If you'd like to make these super cute paper birds, you can visit my online shop to grab BOTH the SVG cutting file AND a printable PDF to cut by hand. Here's a video on how to put them together: I love how quick and easy these birds are to make! Thanks for stopping by! Read more →

ScanNCut: Background Scan

What is the ScanNCut Background Scan? How do you use it? When do you use it? What do you need to know about it?! I'm answering all of your Background Scan questions and sharing the four ways that I use Background Scan in this video: As a recap, Background Scan is useful when: You want to use small scraps of material. You want to perfectly place a cut file. You want to cut multiple colors of the same material at the same time. You want to cut out certain design areas on a material. I use Background Scan almost every... Read more →

Chicken T-Shirt

Andrea Clement taught a wonderful unit in the Carve December Class all about designing animals with folk-style doodles inside of them. You may recall that I carved this chicken stamp... ...and this squirrel stamp... ...based on her lesson. Well, I got sooooo super obsessed with designing these folk style animals and I decided they didn't have to "just" be stamps. So, I made a t-shirt: And here's my little guy doing his very best model poses: Standing still was more of a priority for me than for him. But he did pause briefly: I know I'm biased, but what a... Read more →

Valentine's Day Ideas From The Archives

I wanted to share a round-up of just a few of the fun Valentine's Day DIY projects I've shared over the years. You can find the links to all the project tutorials below: Stamped & Masked Valentine's Day Cards Pop-Up Valentine's Day Card Valentine's Day Flipping Photo Cubes Gelli Masked Heart Prints Valentine's Day Explosion Card Heart Boxes And finally, a post from the archive and a challenge to you! In putting together this post, I came across a post from 2014, which I had totally forgotten about: In the original post, I set out a challenge for myself: Using... Read more →