Balzer Designs

FIVE years with the ScanNCut!

2018 marks my FIVE-YEAR anniversary with the ScanNCut.  Over time, people have asked me how I got started with the ScanNCut?

Through a series of happy accidents, back in 2013, I ended up at a focus group for a yet-to-be-released product called the ScanNCut. The folks at Brother pretty much pointed us at the machines and let us play. I was blown away. It was so easy to create cut files from my drawings!  I could create custom stencils with just a scan and some cutting!  I was also unhappy with some things and I stood up and said them. A lot of them. And then the most shocking thing happened, they called me and wanted to know more.  It's one of the things that I really appreciate about Brother -- as a company.  They are always interested in feedback and making their products better and more user friendly with every iteration.

Over the years, I've made cards...

Home Decor:

Creative Patchwork:

Silicone Stamps:

3-D Objects:

Stickers:

Stencils:

Decorations:

Cookie Stenciling:

Easter Eggs:

Candle "Holders":

Baby Gifts:

Scrapbook Pages:

T-Shirts:

Pencil Cases:

Foam Stamps:

Flowers (that's felt):

And even an umbrella:

Believe it or not, these are just a few of the hundreds of projects I've made with my ScanNCut over the years.  I hope that you've enjoyed learning about your ScanNCut as I've learned and explored with my own!  While it's true that I get paid to create videos and share posts about the ScanNCut, it is a machine that I love and use. I can hardly imagine my crafty life without my ScanNCut!  One of the reasons that I've been able to spend five years talking about my love for the ScanNCut is because that love is genuine and true.  I look forward to sharing more ScanNCut projects and ideas and techniques in the coming years too!

I will be on HSN tomorrow (11/6/18) with the ScanNCut DX and the PTouch Embellish at 7am and 6pm EST!

Thanks for stopping by!

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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/

ScanNCut for Artists

I had the great pleasure of teaching a two-day ScanNCut class focused on using the ScanNCut as a tool for making art tools.

It was a great group of people from all over the country -- Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Hampshire, Vermont, California, and Texas.

And we had so much fun making stamps, screens, stencils, masks, and more!

I even made screenprinted cookies for the students, using a screen I cut with my ScanNCut!

Don't worry, a tutorial for the screenprinted cookies is coming!

AND, I'm so pleased to share that I will be teaching two different in-person ScanNCut classes for Sewing Machines Plus in California in December.  I'll share a bit more of an in-depth look at those classes next week, but here are the links if you're curious: 

• One-Day Class
• Two-Day Class

Thanks for stopping by!

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P.S. I noticed that mats and blades for the DX are now up on Amazon.

• Scanning Mat
• Standard Mat
• Auto Blade -- blade only
• Thin Fabric Auto Blade Holder -- holder only

ScanNCut DX: Felt Cat Mask

Looking for a last minute Halloween costume? 

Put on some black clothes and this cat mask made from felt and you're ready to go!  Watch the video for the how to:

I used two different kinds of felt to make the mask: acrylic craft felt for the mask base and stiff felt for all of the decorative elements.  The one negative about cutting acrylic craft felt is that it really messes up your mat.  It takes a long time to clean all of that fuzz off of the mat and I hate cleaning.  The stiff felt, on the other hand, leaves behind almost no residue.  I do share my mat cleaning tips in the video, but if I were to do the project again, I would probably use stiff felt for the base so that I wouldn't have to take the time to clean the mat.

Some tips on cutting felt with the ScanNCut DX:

• Use a High Tack Fabric Support Sheet.
• Use a brayer to strongly adhere the felt to the mat.
• Use the metal spatula to help pull the felt pieces off of the mat.
• To get the most out of your mats, clean the felt fuzz off of the High Tack Fabric Support Sheet right away using an alcohol free, fragrance free baby wipe & the metal spatula.

This is a fun and easy project with great results!

I hope you give it a try!

Also, if you're not a costume person and you just want to decorate, there are some super cute new cut files for sale on CanvasWorkspace.

I used the treat box cut file (upper right in the image above and larger below)...

...but added my own flair with some glitter...

...and a few bats (one of the built-in cut files in the DX225):

You're supposed to put candy inside the box, but I thought the shadow was too cool to do that:

I love that it's so easy to add your own personal touch to any of the cut files you purchase -- choose your own colors, add elements, take away elements.  No one says that you have to create the item as intended.  Add your own flair!

Thanks for stopping by!

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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: http://www.brother-usa.com/support/

2 ScanNCut Projects: Bird Shadow Box & Logo Travel Mug

Today I have two awesome ScanNCut projects for you!

I am in looooooove with this first project. It makes me happy every time I see it in my studio:

And the best part is that is was super quick and easy to make.  Just grab all the junque you have sitting around your art space and add your ScanNCut and you've got art! Watch the video for the how-to:

So what do you think?  Ready to put a bird on it?!

Next up, a quick and easy vinyl project:

I travel a lot and I like my coffee. But I also keep mixing my travel coffee cup up with other people’s because they all look the same! I thought, “Why not personalize my cup with my business logo?!” It’s so easy to do when you have a ScanNCut and the results are beautiful and quite professional!

Here's the video:

Supplies:

• ScanNCut
• ScanNCut Standard Mat (well used or linted)
• ScanNCut Standard Blade
• Adhesive Backed Vinyl
• Ruler
• Coffee Cup
• Digital Logo
• Computer with internet connection
• Scissors (optional)
• Brother Hook Tool
• Vinyl Transfer Sheet
• Brother Brayer (optional)

And people are always asking me for written directions, so here they are:

If you already have your logo as a cutting file, send it over to your ScanNCut.

If you don’t, import it to CanvasWorkspace Online. You can then resize it as you wish and send it to your ScanNCut.

Measure the area for your logo on your coffee cup. Determine how large the logo should be.

Once you’ve retrieved your design in your ScanNCut machine resize it as necessary.

Load a mat with vinyl on it into the ScanNCut and use the background scan function to scan it in so that you can perfectly place your cut.  Place your cut so that it fits on your vinyl.  Be sure that your blade, pressure, and speed settings are correct. Do a Test Cut if necessary. Remember, you want to “kiss cut” the vinyl – i.e. only cut through the vinyl and adhesive and not through the backing material (like a sticker).  Cut your vinyl.

When you’re finished cutting, remove the mat from the machine and the vinyl from the mat. Trim the vinyl as necessary with scissors.  Weed the design using the Brother Hook Tool.

Use a vinyl transfer sheet to remove the vinyl design from the backing paper. Rub with your finger or the Brother Brayer.

Use the transfer sheet to place the vinyl design onto your coffee cup. Rub with your finger or the Brother Brayer.

Carefully remove the transfer sheet...

...and burnish the vinyl design with your fingers.

I love the way it looks!

Thanks for stopping by!

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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: http://www.brother-usa.com/support/

Back To School! ScanNCut Notebooks

It's so very easy to customize notebooks when you have a ScanNCut!  Watch the video for the how to:

And here are the notebooks from the video:

I love them and now I can't wait to make more!!!  

I will be on HSN demoing and selling the ScanNCut DX 125 (I'm using the 225 in the video) tomorrow (September 11) during the 8am, 6pm, and 10pm EST hours.  Watch online or on your TV! 

I will also be demoing a sewing/embroidery machine, the PTouch Embellish and a serger.  I will be on HSN at 12am, 8am, 9am, 12pm, 3pm, 6pm, 9pm, and 10pm.  I will also be doing a Facebook Live (on the HSN and Brother Facebook Pages) at 11:15am, so you can chat with me LIVE!

Thanks for stopping by!

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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: http://www.brother-usa.com/support/