Last year my friend Nathalie put together a wonderful free event called "Creative Jump Start." She asked lots of awesome artists to share a video detailing how they jump start their creativity. This is the video that I made:
Creative Jump Start: Playing with Your Products from Julie Balzer on Vimeo.
I made that video almost a year ago. Watching it again, I was inspired to make this tag:
It's acrylic paint, a ballpoint pen, India Ink, and a tiny bit of patterned paper. Just the things that were sitting on my desk.
If you're feeling blocked, try taking ten minutes and playing with the stuff left on your desk!
Thanks for stopping by!
—
P.S. If you listened to yesterday's podcast and just can't get enough of my voice, I was a guest on the Paperclipping Roundtable podcast yesterday. ;) The topic was product design and the other guests were Heidi Swapp and Jen Allyson Nugent. Find it here.
Isn’t it nice that you can inspire yourself with an older tut?
😉
Isn’t it nice that you can inspire yourself with an older tut?
😉
Isn’t it nice that you can inspire yourself with an older tut?
😉
Isn’t it nice that you can inspire yourself with an older tut?
😉
Isn’t it nice that you can inspire yourself with an older tut?
😉
Lovely mottled colors on your tag, and your “new” handwriting style is wicked awesome (are west coasters allowed to say “wicked”?) in that it grants feeling and energy to the piece. I haven’t tried to decipher it, but the urgency it conveys next to the facial calm (shock?) alludes to a compelling story.
Nat’s Creative Jump Start was such a fabulous collection of inspiring people and ideas! Loved watching your video again! 🙂
Lovely mottled colors on your tag, and your “new” handwriting style is wicked awesome (are west coasters allowed to say “wicked”?) in that it grants feeling and energy to the piece. I haven’t tried to decipher it, but the urgency it conveys next to the facial calm (shock?) alludes to a compelling story.
Nat’s Creative Jump Start was such a fabulous collection of inspiring people and ideas! Loved watching your video again! 🙂
Lovely mottled colors on your tag, and your “new” handwriting style is wicked awesome (are west coasters allowed to say “wicked”?) in that it grants feeling and energy to the piece. I haven’t tried to decipher it, but the urgency it conveys next to the facial calm (shock?) alludes to a compelling story.
Nat’s Creative Jump Start was such a fabulous collection of inspiring people and ideas! Loved watching your video again! 🙂
Lovely mottled colors on your tag, and your “new” handwriting style is wicked awesome (are west coasters allowed to say “wicked”?) in that it grants feeling and energy to the piece. I haven’t tried to decipher it, but the urgency it conveys next to the facial calm (shock?) alludes to a compelling story.
Nat’s Creative Jump Start was such a fabulous collection of inspiring people and ideas! Loved watching your video again! 🙂
Lovely mottled colors on your tag, and your “new” handwriting style is wicked awesome (are west coasters allowed to say “wicked”?) in that it grants feeling and energy to the piece. I haven’t tried to decipher it, but the urgency it conveys next to the facial calm (shock?) alludes to a compelling story.
Nat’s Creative Jump Start was such a fabulous collection of inspiring people and ideas! Loved watching your video again! 🙂
I’m wondering what that adhesive was that you used to attach the white flower and the tag. Also, what do you use to carve those stamps?
I’m wondering what that adhesive was that you used to attach the white flower and the tag. Also, what do you use to carve those stamps?
I’m wondering what that adhesive was that you used to attach the white flower and the tag. Also, what do you use to carve those stamps?
I’m wondering what that adhesive was that you used to attach the white flower and the tag. Also, what do you use to carve those stamps?
I’m wondering what that adhesive was that you used to attach the white flower and the tag. Also, what do you use to carve those stamps?
I used my ATG to adhere the flower. Â Links to the ATG and stamp carving materials can be found on my FAQ page:Â http://balzerdesigns.typepad.com/balzer_designs/about-me-julie-feifan-balzer.html
I used my ATG to adhere the flower. Â Links to the ATG and stamp carving materials can be found on my FAQ page:Â http://balzerdesigns.typepad.com/balzer_designs/about-me-julie-feifan-balzer.html
I used my ATG to adhere the flower. Â Links to the ATG and stamp carving materials can be found on my FAQ page:Â http://balzerdesigns.typepad.com/balzer_designs/about-me-julie-feifan-balzer.html
I used my ATG to adhere the flower. Â Links to the ATG and stamp carving materials can be found on my FAQ page:Â http://balzerdesigns.typepad.com/balzer_designs/about-me-julie-feifan-balzer.html
I used my ATG to adhere the flower. Â Links to the ATG and stamp carving materials can be found on my FAQ page:Â http://balzerdesigns.typepad.com/balzer_designs/about-me-julie-feifan-balzer.html
Julie, you always crack me up – WHILE you’re making such a brilliant point, by the way. The part about purposely messing up the tag because you’re starting to like it and that would then calm down your expectations…I SWARE…that is SO the opposite of me and SO what I need to do! Now, obviously at a certain point you did become somewhat invested in the tag because then you started going in a clear direction. But as for just allowing yourself to PLAY and DISCOVER – fabulous. I so need this! Thanks!
Julie, you always crack me up – WHILE you’re making such a brilliant point, by the way. The part about purposely messing up the tag because you’re starting to like it and that would then calm down your expectations…I SWARE…that is SO the opposite of me and SO what I need to do! Now, obviously at a certain point you did become somewhat invested in the tag because then you started going in a clear direction. But as for just allowing yourself to PLAY and DISCOVER – fabulous. I so need this! Thanks!
Julie, you always crack me up – WHILE you’re making such a brilliant point, by the way. The part about purposely messing up the tag because you’re starting to like it and that would then calm down your expectations…I SWARE…that is SO the opposite of me and SO what I need to do! Now, obviously at a certain point you did become somewhat invested in the tag because then you started going in a clear direction. But as for just allowing yourself to PLAY and DISCOVER – fabulous. I so need this! Thanks!
Julie, you always crack me up – WHILE you’re making such a brilliant point, by the way. The part about purposely messing up the tag because you’re starting to like it and that would then calm down your expectations…I SWARE…that is SO the opposite of me and SO what I need to do! Now, obviously at a certain point you did become somewhat invested in the tag because then you started going in a clear direction. But as for just allowing yourself to PLAY and DISCOVER – fabulous. I so need this! Thanks!
Julie, you always crack me up – WHILE you’re making such a brilliant point, by the way. The part about purposely messing up the tag because you’re starting to like it and that would then calm down your expectations…I SWARE…that is SO the opposite of me and SO what I need to do! Now, obviously at a certain point you did become somewhat invested in the tag because then you started going in a clear direction. But as for just allowing yourself to PLAY and DISCOVER – fabulous. I so need this! Thanks!
Awesome video Julie…I just LOVE creative play.
Awesome video Julie…I just LOVE creative play.
Awesome video Julie…I just LOVE creative play.
Awesome video Julie…I just LOVE creative play.
Awesome video Julie…I just LOVE creative play.
I loved that video and man that tag that you just made is just AWESOME!!! I think it says “for Nat” on the back and I will pick it up in a couple days at your place 😉 Thanks for posting this again- I loved seeing it!
I loved that video and man that tag that you just made is just AWESOME!!! I think it says “for Nat” on the back and I will pick it up in a couple days at your place 😉 Thanks for posting this again- I loved seeing it!
I loved that video and man that tag that you just made is just AWESOME!!! I think it says “for Nat” on the back and I will pick it up in a couple days at your place 😉 Thanks for posting this again- I loved seeing it!
I loved that video and man that tag that you just made is just AWESOME!!! I think it says “for Nat” on the back and I will pick it up in a couple days at your place 😉 Thanks for posting this again- I loved seeing it!
I loved that video and man that tag that you just made is just AWESOME!!! I think it says “for Nat” on the back and I will pick it up in a couple days at your place 😉 Thanks for posting this again- I loved seeing it!
Julie, i’m so impressed by how your faces have evolved! BIG round of applause for you!!!
Julie, i’m so impressed by how your faces have evolved! BIG round of applause for you!!!
Julie, i’m so impressed by how your faces have evolved! BIG round of applause for you!!!
Julie, i’m so impressed by how your faces have evolved! BIG round of applause for you!!!
Julie, i’m so impressed by how your faces have evolved! BIG round of applause for you!!!
I loved that Jumpstart and hope there will be another one next year!! The video you shared with us was so INSPIRING AND HELPFUL FOR ME AND IT STILL IS!!! Thanks so much for showing us how to JUST HAVE FUN!! WOW WOW WOW is that tag AWESOME!! I never tire of seeing your faces!!
I loved that Jumpstart and hope there will be another one next year!! The video you shared with us was so INSPIRING AND HELPFUL FOR ME AND IT STILL IS!!! Thanks so much for showing us how to JUST HAVE FUN!! WOW WOW WOW is that tag AWESOME!! I never tire of seeing your faces!!
I loved that Jumpstart and hope there will be another one next year!! The video you shared with us was so INSPIRING AND HELPFUL FOR ME AND IT STILL IS!!! Thanks so much for showing us how to JUST HAVE FUN!! WOW WOW WOW is that tag AWESOME!! I never tire of seeing your faces!!
I loved that Jumpstart and hope there will be another one next year!! The video you shared with us was so INSPIRING AND HELPFUL FOR ME AND IT STILL IS!!! Thanks so much for showing us how to JUST HAVE FUN!! WOW WOW WOW is that tag AWESOME!! I never tire of seeing your faces!!
I loved that Jumpstart and hope there will be another one next year!! The video you shared with us was so INSPIRING AND HELPFUL FOR ME AND IT STILL IS!!! Thanks so much for showing us how to JUST HAVE FUN!! WOW WOW WOW is that tag AWESOME!! I never tire of seeing your faces!!
It’s Thanksgiving and I’m giving thanks that you are so wonderfully frank as well as uber creative!! It makes me feel like we’re twins separated at birth as I have exactly the same anst! Then I realize that it’s truly human nature. I thank God that you are so inspirational and talented as it helps me to feel better about my own issues with (and impediments to) being creative and expressing myself. I really appreciate and enjoy all your creative works of art – you do so much for the world!
It’s Thanksgiving and I’m giving thanks that you are so wonderfully frank as well as uber creative!! It makes me feel like we’re twins separated at birth as I have exactly the same anst! Then I realize that it’s truly human nature. I thank God that you are so inspirational and talented as it helps me to feel better about my own issues with (and impediments to) being creative and expressing myself. I really appreciate and enjoy all your creative works of art – you do so much for the world!
It’s Thanksgiving and I’m giving thanks that you are so wonderfully frank as well as uber creative!! It makes me feel like we’re twins separated at birth as I have exactly the same anst! Then I realize that it’s truly human nature. I thank God that you are so inspirational and talented as it helps me to feel better about my own issues with (and impediments to) being creative and expressing myself. I really appreciate and enjoy all your creative works of art – you do so much for the world!
It’s Thanksgiving and I’m giving thanks that you are so wonderfully frank as well as uber creative!! It makes me feel like we’re twins separated at birth as I have exactly the same anst! Then I realize that it’s truly human nature. I thank God that you are so inspirational and talented as it helps me to feel better about my own issues with (and impediments to) being creative and expressing myself. I really appreciate and enjoy all your creative works of art – you do so much for the world!
It’s Thanksgiving and I’m giving thanks that you are so wonderfully frank as well as uber creative!! It makes me feel like we’re twins separated at birth as I have exactly the same anst! Then I realize that it’s truly human nature. I thank God that you are so inspirational and talented as it helps me to feel better about my own issues with (and impediments to) being creative and expressing myself. I really appreciate and enjoy all your creative works of art – you do so much for the world!
You are so entertaining — and inspiring! I’ve been sitting here for over an hour watching tutorial after tutorial. Now I have to get up and go try some new things. I found your blog by reading the back of my 6×6 template package from the Crafter’s Workshop, which was one of your designs, and I’m so glad that I did!
You are so entertaining — and inspiring! I’ve been sitting here for over an hour watching tutorial after tutorial. Now I have to get up and go try some new things. I found your blog by reading the back of my 6×6 template package from the Crafter’s Workshop, which was one of your designs, and I’m so glad that I did!
You are so entertaining — and inspiring! I’ve been sitting here for over an hour watching tutorial after tutorial. Now I have to get up and go try some new things. I found your blog by reading the back of my 6×6 template package from the Crafter’s Workshop, which was one of your designs, and I’m so glad that I did!
You are so entertaining — and inspiring! I’ve been sitting here for over an hour watching tutorial after tutorial. Now I have to get up and go try some new things. I found your blog by reading the back of my 6×6 template package from the Crafter’s Workshop, which was one of your designs, and I’m so glad that I did!
You are so entertaining — and inspiring! I’ve been sitting here for over an hour watching tutorial after tutorial. Now I have to get up and go try some new things. I found your blog by reading the back of my 6×6 template package from the Crafter’s Workshop, which was one of your designs, and I’m so glad that I did!
Hi, I just found your site and I loved it so much I took your button for my blog so I can come back 🙂
Hi, I just found your site and I loved it so much I took your button for my blog so I can come back 🙂
Hi, I just found your site and I loved it so much I took your button for my blog so I can come back 🙂
Hi, I just found your site and I loved it so much I took your button for my blog so I can come back 🙂
Hi, I just found your site and I loved it so much I took your button for my blog so I can come back 🙂