Paper Crafts

Studio Calico February 2012 Sneaks

It has been a long time since I posted kit club sneak peeks.  I was on a kit club design team (Serendipity Scrapbooks, My Kits & Pieces, Label Tulip, and then Kenner Road) continuously for more than three years.  And that was a wonderful thing because I love kit clubs.  I know that the big selling point of kit clubs is that everything is coordinated, but that's not the draw for me.  I love kit clubs for 3 major reasons:

  1. The community.  Most kit clubs have message boards and a community that chats about their crafty lives.
  2. The latest and the greatest.  I like getting a package full of the cool new products that everyone is talking about.
  3. I receive things that I wouldn't naturally buy for myself.  This is always a good thing.  It forces me to use my creativity to its fullest.  And I often surprise myself by liking things I didn't think I would!

I'm the February guest designer at Studio Calico and if you're not familiar with kit clubs, every month the design team shares a few sneak peeks of what they've been working on.  The sneak peeks allow the subscribers to get a look at the products they'll be finding in their boxes.  Anticipation is half of the pleasure, after all!

Today I'm going to share a few peeks at what I've been working on:

8DaysDetail2-sm

Working with a kit full of so many great patterned papers and embellishments has meant a bit of a change in my scrapbooking style.  I think you'll be surprised (pleasantly, I hope) by my layouts.  They're cleaner and less painty than usual.  More in the style of scrapbooking that I used to do.  It wasn't a conscious decision.  It just sort of happened and I fought it at first, but then I figured, it is what it is and let it go.

AnOldFashionedGuyDetail1-sm

I think it's dangerous to get into a creative rut and so I welcome the change.  I'm always seeking to explore new ideas and experiment with new techniques.  I like what I'm making very much, I'm just sort of surprised by it.  Of course, it's not like I've abandoned paint all together….

JoyfulMeDetail-sm

Nonetheless, some different kinds of ideas are brewing.  And that's a wonderful thing, don't you think?

Finally, I wanted to mention that Studio Calico will be hosting a live online chat with me on Saturday, January 28 at 6:30pm PST.  You don't have to be subscriber to the kit club, but you do have to register for a FREE user account in order to get to it.  During the chat you can ask me questions, share your thoughts, or just listen in.  It's a neat online chat room, everyone just types and talks.  It's a lot like the Ustream chat room, if you're familiar with that.

Thanks for stopping by!

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

Based outside of Boston, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer is a mixed-media artist who constructs vibrant compositions. Passionate about connecting with and inspiring other artists, she shares her expertise through in-person workshops, her online classroom www.balzerdesigns.com, and through monthly membership at www.MyArtPractice.com.

90 thoughts on “Studio Calico February 2012 Sneaks

  • Oh fabulous sneaks, Julie! I can’t wait to see the full reveal of your layouts!

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  • Oh fabulous sneaks, Julie! I can’t wait to see the full reveal of your layouts!

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  • Oh fabulous sneaks, Julie! I can’t wait to see the full reveal of your layouts!

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  • Oh fabulous sneaks, Julie! I can’t wait to see the full reveal of your layouts!

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  • Oh fabulous sneaks, Julie! I can’t wait to see the full reveal of your layouts!

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  • Congrats Julie. Your sneaks looks fab. Can’t wait to see them.

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  • Congrats Julie. Your sneaks looks fab. Can’t wait to see them.

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  • Congrats Julie. Your sneaks looks fab. Can’t wait to see them.

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  • Congrats Julie. Your sneaks looks fab. Can’t wait to see them.

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  • Congrats Julie. Your sneaks looks fab. Can’t wait to see them.

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  • This is so exciting! Can’t wait to see what you’ve got in store for us. You’re right, some of these are looking a little bit more like your ‘old’ style – but I love what you’re saying about constantly changing / evolving and challenging yourself with new things. Good not to get stuck in a rut. I’m so happy you’re Guesting with Studio Calico…. two of my favourite scrappy ‘personalities’ in the same place!! Wooo hooo!!

    Reply
  • This is so exciting! Can’t wait to see what you’ve got in store for us. You’re right, some of these are looking a little bit more like your ‘old’ style – but I love what you’re saying about constantly changing / evolving and challenging yourself with new things. Good not to get stuck in a rut. I’m so happy you’re Guesting with Studio Calico…. two of my favourite scrappy ‘personalities’ in the same place!! Wooo hooo!!

    Reply
  • This is so exciting! Can’t wait to see what you’ve got in store for us. You’re right, some of these are looking a little bit more like your ‘old’ style – but I love what you’re saying about constantly changing / evolving and challenging yourself with new things. Good not to get stuck in a rut. I’m so happy you’re Guesting with Studio Calico…. two of my favourite scrappy ‘personalities’ in the same place!! Wooo hooo!!

    Reply
  • This is so exciting! Can’t wait to see what you’ve got in store for us. You’re right, some of these are looking a little bit more like your ‘old’ style – but I love what you’re saying about constantly changing / evolving and challenging yourself with new things. Good not to get stuck in a rut. I’m so happy you’re Guesting with Studio Calico…. two of my favourite scrappy ‘personalities’ in the same place!! Wooo hooo!!

    Reply
  • This is so exciting! Can’t wait to see what you’ve got in store for us. You’re right, some of these are looking a little bit more like your ‘old’ style – but I love what you’re saying about constantly changing / evolving and challenging yourself with new things. Good not to get stuck in a rut. I’m so happy you’re Guesting with Studio Calico…. two of my favourite scrappy ‘personalities’ in the same place!! Wooo hooo!!

    Reply
  • I think Studio Calico is very lucky to have you as a guest designer! You in a rut, Not going to happen!!!

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  • I think Studio Calico is very lucky to have you as a guest designer! You in a rut, Not going to happen!!!

    Reply
  • I think Studio Calico is very lucky to have you as a guest designer! You in a rut, Not going to happen!!!

    Reply
  • I think Studio Calico is very lucky to have you as a guest designer! You in a rut, Not going to happen!!!

    Reply
  • I think Studio Calico is very lucky to have you as a guest designer! You in a rut, Not going to happen!!!

    Reply
  • Can’t wait to see what you did with that kit Julie – I’m sure it will give my mojo a jump start. Looking forward to seeing your projects!

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  • Can’t wait to see what you did with that kit Julie – I’m sure it will give my mojo a jump start. Looking forward to seeing your projects!

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  • Can’t wait to see what you did with that kit Julie – I’m sure it will give my mojo a jump start. Looking forward to seeing your projects!

    Reply
  • Can’t wait to see what you did with that kit Julie – I’m sure it will give my mojo a jump start. Looking forward to seeing your projects!

    Reply
  • Can’t wait to see what you did with that kit Julie – I’m sure it will give my mojo a jump start. Looking forward to seeing your projects!

    Reply
  • Just put your chat on my calendar and linked through to set up my Studio Calico account. Love the sneaks! Can’t wait to see them en todo!

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  • Just put your chat on my calendar and linked through to set up my Studio Calico account. Love the sneaks! Can’t wait to see them en todo!

    Reply
  • Just put your chat on my calendar and linked through to set up my Studio Calico account. Love the sneaks! Can’t wait to see them en todo!

    Reply
  • Just put your chat on my calendar and linked through to set up my Studio Calico account. Love the sneaks! Can’t wait to see them en todo!

    Reply
  • Just put your chat on my calendar and linked through to set up my Studio Calico account. Love the sneaks! Can’t wait to see them en todo!

    Reply
  • The white peacock feathers against the charcoal are so appealing!!! I also totally love the alphabet without the inside loops – has a real art feel to it. Your work is beautiful!

    Reply
  • The white peacock feathers against the charcoal are so appealing!!! I also totally love the alphabet without the inside loops – has a real art feel to it. Your work is beautiful!

    Reply
  • The white peacock feathers against the charcoal are so appealing!!! I also totally love the alphabet without the inside loops – has a real art feel to it. Your work is beautiful!

    Reply
  • The white peacock feathers against the charcoal are so appealing!!! I also totally love the alphabet without the inside loops – has a real art feel to it. Your work is beautiful!

    Reply
  • The white peacock feathers against the charcoal are so appealing!!! I also totally love the alphabet without the inside loops – has a real art feel to it. Your work is beautiful!

    Reply
  • i cannot wait to see the big pictures. they look amazing.

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  • i cannot wait to see the big pictures. they look amazing.

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  • i cannot wait to see the big pictures. they look amazing.

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  • i cannot wait to see the big pictures. they look amazing.

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  • i cannot wait to see the big pictures. they look amazing.

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  • this all looks truly fabulous Julie! So glad to see you as the Guest DT at Studio Calico. I just played with paint today myself and posted on my blog if you care to peek. I have a LOT of learning to do!

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  • this all looks truly fabulous Julie! So glad to see you as the Guest DT at Studio Calico. I just played with paint today myself and posted on my blog if you care to peek. I have a LOT of learning to do!

    Reply
  • this all looks truly fabulous Julie! So glad to see you as the Guest DT at Studio Calico. I just played with paint today myself and posted on my blog if you care to peek. I have a LOT of learning to do!

    Reply
  • this all looks truly fabulous Julie! So glad to see you as the Guest DT at Studio Calico. I just played with paint today myself and posted on my blog if you care to peek. I have a LOT of learning to do!

    Reply
  • this all looks truly fabulous Julie! So glad to see you as the Guest DT at Studio Calico. I just played with paint today myself and posted on my blog if you care to peek. I have a LOT of learning to do!

    Reply
  • I am SO excited to see your gallery Julie!

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  • I am SO excited to see your gallery Julie!

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  • I am SO excited to see your gallery Julie!

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  • I am SO excited to see your gallery Julie!

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  • I am SO excited to see your gallery Julie!

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  • “let go” I seem to be saying that a lot myself…from what I see, looks wonderful…can’t wait to see it all!

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  • “let go” I seem to be saying that a lot myself…from what I see, looks wonderful…can’t wait to see it all!

    Reply
  • “let go” I seem to be saying that a lot myself…from what I see, looks wonderful…can’t wait to see it all!

    Reply
  • “let go” I seem to be saying that a lot myself…from what I see, looks wonderful…can’t wait to see it all!

    Reply
  • “let go” I seem to be saying that a lot myself…from what I see, looks wonderful…can’t wait to see it all!

    Reply
  • So excited that you’re guesting this month, Julie! I’m always a fan of your work 🙂

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  • So excited that you’re guesting this month, Julie! I’m always a fan of your work 🙂

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  • So excited that you’re guesting this month, Julie! I’m always a fan of your work 🙂

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  • So excited that you’re guesting this month, Julie! I’m always a fan of your work 🙂

    Reply
  • So excited that you’re guesting this month, Julie! I’m always a fan of your work 🙂

    Reply

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