Julie Fei-Fan Balzer (& great stamping idea)

 I really like Julie Fei-Fan Balzer's approach to creating.

You can get an idea of her style from the stencils she has made. In her blog post (https://blog.balzerdesigns.com/2025/08/13/big-news-ten-new-art-stencil-designs-with-joggles/) she touches on designing stencils and how to use stencils in your art.

This printmaker, painter, and collage artist has also found an interesting way to keep fingers cleaner when stamping: a magnetic ink pad handle. Learn about it in her video: https://blog.balzerdesigns.com/2022/03/22/magnetic-ink-pad-handle/

Working on series

I took a "Collage Joy Taster" in January and am now in a paid online class, Cat Rains "Collage Joy 2025" class... at my own pace. 

Challenges: Trying to make collages with straight edges on a scrapbook page instead of working on an ATC or postcard with set edges has a learning curve. My adhesion techniques are improving but are not yet where I want them to be. Using techniques to create a series rather than a one-off or two related pieces is still a stretch for me.

4" x 4" Collage series 

Module 3 & 4 - working with neutrals

   

Potential layout for neutrals with a dash of color. I think the purple does not pop enough. It felt like an intense color when it was a 3" x 3" piece but not once I cut it up and laid it out.

Module 5 (warmup?) - Layout drafts for Neutral & cool circles 

 

One-off pieces inspired by principles in the class

Neutral/brown 3" x 3" collage 

and green postcard that used molding paste on tissue paper, white border is for display only, was made between the two classes:

April2025 RAKs

Photos for April give-aways that I am running on swap-bot. I may add more later.

Two cancelled stamp giveaways, attached to bits of the envelopes still. Last call April 17.

1. RAK in swapbot.com's Handmade Postcard Club group (https://www.swap-bot.com/forums/topic/167739/1), RAK for cancelled mostly US flag stamps in red, white, and blue. If these do not get claimed in the group I will put in a general RAK.
   
   
   
   
2. RAK in a general swapbot.com forum (https://www.swap-bot.com/forums/topic/167740) Mostly cancelled religious Christmas US stamps:
   
   

Nudibranch

Tritoniopsis_elegans-nudibranch: loving the fractal appendages

A swap partner listed these as an interest so I wanted to use them as inspiration for her piece.

2024-01-05

 

2024-01-03 Dragon

 

2024-01-02

 Note borders around flowers (comparison to 2023-12-31)