Branding Irons: Traditional vs. Electric

Branding irons are a tool used to burn designs into wood or other materials. When it comes to branding irons, there are two main types: traditional branding irons and electric branding irons.

A traditional branding iron is typically heated with fire (i.e. on a stove top) or with a torch.

Anf an electrical branding iron which uses electricity to heat the iron to a consistent temperature.

Each type has its own set of pros and cons though, and the choice between the two will depend on your individual needs and preferences. I own an electric branding iron and have used it time and time again to both add the Wood Burn Corner logo to art pieces, and to brand other products.

Traditional Branding Irons:

Pros:

1. Cost-effective - Traditional branding irons are often less expensive than their electric counterparts.

2. Customizable - You can easily create custom branding irons with unique designs, initials, or logos to add a personal touch to your work.

3. Portable - They are usually small and easy to transport, making them ideal for artists and craftspeople who work in different locations.

4. No power required - They don't require electricity, making them ideal for use in remote locations or areas with limited power access. You just need a heat source. Many people heat them with a blow torch or their stove top.

Cons:

1. Limited precision - Traditional branding irons require more skill and practice to achieve precise, detailed designs. The temperature may not be the same consistently for every burn.

2. Time-consuming - They require heating over an open flame, which can be time-consuming and inconvenient.

3. Risk of burns - Traditional branding irons can be dangerous, as they require heating over an open flame and can cause burns if not handled properly.

Electric Branding Irons:

Pros:

1. Precise designs - They allow for precise and detailed designs, making them ideal for professionals who need high-quality results.

2. Consistent heat - They heat up quickly and maintain a consistent temperature. This makes it much faster and easier when needing to brand multiple products.

3. Time-saving - Electric branding irons require some heating time, but tend to be so quicker because they don’t require heating between each burn.

4. Safer - They don't require an open flame to heat up.

Cons:

1. Expensive - Electric branding irons are generally more expensive than traditional branding irons.

2. Limited customization - They may not allow for as much customization as traditional branding irons, as they often come with fixed designs or logos or sizes.

3. Power required - They require electricity to function, which can be limiting in remote locations or areas with limited power access.

4. Less portable - Electric branding irons are often larger and less portable than traditional branding irons.

In conclusion, both traditional and electric branding irons have their own set of pros and cons, and the choice between the two will depend on your individual needs and preferences.

Consider the level of precision you need, the amount of time you have, your budget, and your power access when making your choice between traditional and electric branding irons.

I have loved my electrical one, but can also see why having one I can heat up on my stovetop would be useful. Either way, it is certainly faster for branding branding than traditional pyrography. (See what I did there?)

Top 5 Wood Burning Books Ranked and Reviewed

Getting into pyrography can be a fun and rewarding experience, whether you're just starting out or looking to take your skills to the next level. There are some fantastic books out there that can help you along the way, offering tips, techniques, and plenty of project ideas.

In this review, we'll take a look at FIVE great reads that can guide you through your woodburning journey. From learning the basics to mastering realistic animal portraits, these books have got you covered.

Let's dive into what makes each of these resources invaluable for any pyrography enthusiast.

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Creative Woodburning: Projects, Patterns and Instruction to Get Crafty with Pyrography

“Creative Woodburning" by Bee Locke is a comprehensive guide suitable for both beginners and experienced pyrography artists. The book starts with a thorough introduction to the basics of woodburning, covering essential tools, materials, and safety practices, just to start. Locke delves into various techniques, from basic shading and texturing to more advanced methods like stippling and crosshatching, burning feather textures and more. The book includes a wide range of projects, each with detailed step-by-step instructions and patterns, ensuring there's something for everyone. Additionally, the inclusion of original designs and motifs provides ample inspiration for readers to develop their unique style.

One of the book's strengths is the organization of all the clear and detailed instructions, which make it accessible for beginners and easy to find. The troubleshooting section is particularly helpful, offering solutions for common mistakes. Overall, "Creative Woodburning" is a valuable resource for anyone interested in pyrography, providing a balanced mix of instruction, inspiration, and practical tips.

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"The Wood Burn Book: An Essential Guide to the Art of Pyrography" by Rachel Strauss

"The Wood Burn Book: An Essential Guide to the Art of Pyrography" by Rachel Strauss is an excellent resource for both novice and experienced pyrography artists. The book opens with a thorough introduction to the basics of woodburning, detailing essential tools, materials, and safety practices. Strauss covers a wide array of techniques, from simple line work and shading to intricate texturing and pattern creation. Each technique is explained with clear, step-by-step instructions and accompanied by high-quality photographs, making it easy for readers to understand and follow along.

What sets this book apart is the variety of projects it offers. Strauss includes a broad range of ideas, from decorative household items to personalized gifts, ensuring there's something for every skill level and interest. The book also features unique and original designs, providing plenty of inspiration for readers to develop their own creative projects. Additionally, Strauss's passion for pyrography shines through in her engaging writing style, making the book not only informative but also enjoyable to read.

Overall, "The Wood Burn Book" is a valuable and inspiring guide that offers a balanced mix of instruction, practical tips, and creative inspiration, making it a worthwhile addition to any pyrography artist's library.

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"Wood Burning Realistic Animals" by Minisa Robinson

"Wood Burning Realistic Animals" by Minisa Robinson is a specialized guide focused on creating lifelike animal portraits through the art of pyrography. This book is particularly valuable for artists who wish to enhance their skills in rendering detailed and realistic animal figures. Robinson begins with a thorough introduction to the basics of pyrography, including essential tools, materials, and safety tips, which makes the book accessible to beginners.

The core of the book lies in its detailed tutorials for creating realistic animal portraits. Robinson provides step-by-step instructions, accompanied by high-quality photographs and detailed line drawings, to guide readers through each stage of the process. She covers various techniques such as shading, texturing fur, and capturing the intricate details of animal features, all aimed at bringing a lifelike quality to the woodburned artwork.

One of the book's strengths is its focus on realism. Robinson shares her expertise in capturing the essence and character of different animals, offering tips on how to achieve precise details and depth. This makes the book an excellent resource for artists looking to challenge themselves and elevate their pyrography skills.

Overall, "Wood Burning Realistic Animals" by Minisa Robinson is an exceptional guide for pyrography artists interested in creating lifelike animal portraits. Its detailed tutorials and expert tips make it a valuable resource for advancing one's skills in realistic woodburning.

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"The Great Book of Wood Burning" by Lora S. Irish

"The Great Book of Wood Burning" by Lora S. Irish is an extensive and detailed guide for pyrography artists, whether they are beginners or more advanced practitioners. The book starts with a thorough introduction to the basics of wood burning, covering essential tools, materials, and safety practices, which is particularly beneficial for those new to the craft.

One of the book's major strengths lies in its exploration of various techniques. Irish meticulously explains everything from basic line work and shading to advanced texturing and layering methods. Each technique is presented with step-by-step instructions and detailed photographs, ensuring readers can easily follow along and practice effectively.

The book also stands out for its wide range of projects. It includes designs suitable for different skill levels, from simple patterns to more intricate artworks. Each project comes with clear instructions, patterns, and helpful tips, making it easy for readers to recreate the designs or use them as inspiration for their own creations.

Another highlight is the extensive collection of original designs and motifs, ranging from nature-inspired scenes to abstract patterns. This wealth of design options is excellent for sparking creativity and helping artists develop their own unique styles. The link is to an extended version which has even more designs, techniques and projects!

Overall, "The Great Book of Wood Burning" is a valuable and inspiring resource, offering a balanced mix of instruction, practical tips, and creative inspiration for anyone interested in pyrography.

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"WoodBurning Workshop" by Court O’Reilly

"Woodburning Workshop" by Court O’Reilly is a practical and comprehensive guide designed for pyrography enthusiasts of all skill levels. The book begins with an in-depth introduction to the basics of pyrography, covering essential tools, materials, and safety practices. This foundational knowledge is particularly beneficial for beginners, ensuring they have a solid understanding before progressing to more complex techniques.

O’Reilly excels in providing detailed, step-by-step instructions for a wide range of wood burning techniques, from basic line work and shading to advanced texturing and detailing methods. The book includes a variety of projects tailored to different skill levels, each accompanied by high-quality photographs and clear instructions.

Additionally, the wealth of original designs and motifs, ranging from nature scenes to abstract patterns, serves as a rich source of inspiration for artists looking to develop their unique styles. Overall, "Wood Burning Workshop" is a valuable resource that balances practical instruction with creative inspiration, making it a worthwhile addition to any pyrography artist's library.

What is the difference between Wood Burning and Pyrography?

Wood burning and pyrography are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but there is a slight difference between the two.

We prefer the term 'pyrography' but recognize that 'wood burning' is more commonly understood so we use both terms interchangeably across all our communication platforms—ranging from our website to verbal interactions and written materials—to ensure clarity and accessibility for all our audience.

Wood burning is the general term used to describe the process of using a heated tool to burn designs onto wood.

It is a subset of pyrography.

Wood burning is often associated with the traditional use of a heated tool (like a wood burning pen) to create art on wooden items. It typically implies a handcrafted approach and may be perceived as more craft-oriented.

This term is often used to describe the process of burning simple designs onto wood, such as lettering or basic shapes. It involves less precise designs and basic patterns.

Pyrography, on the other hand, is a more specialized form of wood burning with more diverse techniques and designs.

It is considered a form of art, and it requires more skill and precision than simple wood burning.

Pyrography typically involves using a specialized tool with temperature control, various tips, and techniques such as shading to create intricate designs.

Pyrography artists may also use stencils or transfer/graphite paper to create a design on the wood surface before burning it as well as hot metal brushes, combs or other objects to create texture.

While both wood burning and pyrography involve burning designs onto a burnable surface using a heated tool,

pyrography is a more intricate and specialized form of wood burning

that involves creating detailed artwork and designs using a variety of techniques and specialized tools.

How to ask the RIGHT questions to ChaptGPT to get the best results!

When ChatGPT first came out, I think it is safe to say that many of us were skeptical. I know I was. That’s because I didn’t understand its capabilities or even how to use it. My brother, being a tech junkie, showed me the light and once I dove in and asked it a few questions, I was hooked.

I couldn’t wait to ask it more and discover what it can do. It was helping me write screen plays in the voice of snoop dog, jokes for my nephews, bedtime stories for my daughter… I used it to meal plan, learn about which plants I should add to my shady garden and the list goes on. Now I use it more than I google search! If you haven’t tried it yet, I suggest you do!

Just remember though, ChatGPT can deliver quick and impressive results, but it's not human. It's important not to take everything it says at face value, especially when it comes to facts and statistics. Always double-check the information it provides and use your own judgment to fill in the gaps.

Here are a few tips straight from the source, and from experience, for asking ChatGPT the right questions to get the best answers:

1. Be clear and specific: When asking a question, be as clear and specific as possible.

2. Use appropriate language: ChatGPT is a language model, so it's important to use appropriate language when asking questions. Avoid using slang or overly complex language that may be difficult for the model to understand.

3. Provide context: For example, if you're asking a question about a specific topic, provide some background information to help ChatGPT understand the context of your question.

   One of my favourite ways to ensure that I am giving it all the context is to ask if it has any questions for me! This prompt is so good because I may be missing key information for it to fully understand what I want from it.

   More on this in the next section.

4. Ask follow-up questions: If you're not sure about an answer or need more information, ask follow-up questions to clarify your understanding. ChatGPT is designed to provide conversational responses, so feel free to ask as many questions as you need to get the information you're looking for.

   Again, you can also ask it to give you questions to help clarify what you want.

5. Break down complex questions: If you need to ask a complex question, break it down into smaller, more manageable parts.

6. Avoid ambiguity: Be specific in your question and avoid ambiguous language.

7. Be respectful: Remember that ChatGPT is an AI language model, and it's important to be respectful in your interactions. Avoid using offensive language or asking inappropriate questions, as this can undermine the quality of the responses you receive.

What are the ways in which you can give ChatGPT context?

There are several ways to provide context to ChatGPT when asking a question:

1. Background information: Provide some background information about the topic you're asking about.

2. Examples: It’s okay to give examples to illustrate your question or provide more information.

3. Related topics: If your question is related to another topic or concept, mention it in your question.

4. Keywords: Use relevant keywords in your question to provide more context. For example, if you're asking about a specific product or service, include the name of the product or service in your question.

   More on this below.

5. Tone: Use a clear and concise tone when asking your question.

6. Use specific qualifiers: Use qualifiers like "best," "worst," "most," "least," and "highest," to help specify the type of information you're looking for.

Does using multiple keywords in my question for ChatGPT help me get a better answer?

Using multiple keywords in your question can be helpful in some cases, as it can help ChatGPT to better understand the context of your question and provide you with a more accurate response.

However, it is important to use relevant keywords that are directly related to your question, rather than using irrelevant or extraneous keywords that may only serve to confuse ChatGPT.

Here are some tips for using keywords effectively:

1. Be specific: Use keywords that are specific to the topic you are asking about.

2. Use synonyms: Try using synonyms for your keywords to broaden your search and increase the chances of finding relevant information.

3. Don't overdo it: While using multiple keywords can be helpful, don't overdo it. Using too many keywords or irrelevant keywords can lead to inaccurate or irrelevant responses from ChatGPT.

4. Use natural language: When asking a question, use natural language that closely resembles how you would ask the question if you were speaking to a person.

Be Careful

Enjoy playing with this powerful tool but also be aware that ChatGPT is not connected to the internet and obviously, it’s not human. It can occasionally produce incorrect answers or not provide all the details... It has limited knowledge of world and events after a certain time (depending what version you have) and may also occasionally produce harmful instructions or biased content. You can get a good understanding of this when you ask it about topics you know really really well.

For example, I know pyrography really well. I tested ChatGPT and used it to ask questions all about wood burning. Since I am familiar with the art form, I could see that it was missing some information, or it was really close to getting the facts right, but they were slightly off… All the information it had was not everything about the topic.

A cool thing is that you can now ask it to create images! This also comes with some warning… here is an example of an image I tried creating for a blog post on wood grain:

To get to this awesome image, I had to try about 7 different prompts (I learned along the way…). Here are some bloopers that were funny and logically did not make sense:

You can even see the progression of the images as I learned the right way to ask it what I needed.

Along with using it for images, I like to use the app help me clarify my thoughts into words, correct my grammar or spelling, summarize my own words or give me a foundation to work with, rather than relying on it to create all my content.

For more information and support on ChatGPT visit OpenAI Help.

Oh and, do you know what else is cool? You can always ask it to give you the direct source of it’s answer - this is very helpful to know and have if you want to confirm the validity of it’s responses.

Along with that, the helpful tips in this blog post will get you the best results.

With ChatGPT, the world is your oyster - have fun!

Transforming a Dull Laundry Room into a Stylish Dog Washing Station

Home Project: Laundry Room

Welcome to my latest home improvement project journey! Today, I'm excited to share how I turned my uninspiring laundry room into a functional and chic dog washing station. With a little creativity and some DIY magic, I was able to breathe new life into this space and create a haven for both me and my furry friends.

Before:

Let's start with the before photos. My laundry room was, to put it bluntly, lackluster. The walls were painted a dull boring tan shade, the sink was outdated and too small to wash my pups in, the laundry machines were old and never got the clothes clean, the paint was chipping in places, and the countertops were a gross outdated tile. It was a space that kind of served its purpose but lacked personality and charm. It wasn’t a space I wanted to spend any time in, and we wanted to make it serve multiple uses: Laundry, Storage, and a Dog Washing Station without breaking the bank.

Products Used:

Before diving into the transformation process, let me introduce you to the MVPs (Most Valuable Products) that helped bring my vision to life: (Please Note: These include some Amazon Associate Links for the products we used. WBC receives a tiny portion of sales from Amazon)

1. Wallpaper: I chose a vibrant and eye-catching floral peel and stick wallpaper to add a pop of color and pattern to the walls. It instantly brightened up the space and set the tone for the entire room. Bonus: it is super easy to install yourself.

2. Sink: Say goodbye to the old, dingy sink and hello to the sleek and modern dog washing station. I opted for a deep stainless steel sink. It is not easy finding a sink that is both long and super deep. This one is 12” deep and 30” wide, and is perfect for my pups.

3. Wood Countertops: To add warmth and texture to the room, I installed custom faux wood countertops from IKEA. Not only are they beautiful to look at, but they also provide a durable surface for all my laundry and dog grooming needs.

4. Faucet: We wanted a simple faucet with the retractable nozzle for easy dog washing, but it was also important to have the handheld off button for easy pausing. This $79 faucet was on sale for $39 on Amazon, and is perfect!

5. Dog Grooming Loop: This is key for a successful wash in our house. These dog grooming loops make it super simple to keep your dog in the sink while they are getting clean. We secured it to the wall using an eye hook, and now we are ready to clean our dirty pups, without breaking our backs!

6. Washer/Dryer Combos: This has been an absolute game changer! Two large capacity washer/dryer combos from GE. I put the clothes in and come back to washed and dried clothes! No more needing to rewash or re-dry clothes. No more forgetting clothes in the washing machine. This has been a huge time saver. And, it has the amazing feature of automatically dispensing detergent and softener. Laundry has become considerably more tolerable with these machines.

Transformation Process:

Now, let's talk about the fun part – the transformation process! With the help of some handy tools and a lot of elbow grease, I was able to turn my laundry room into a space that I'm proud to show off.

1. Prep Work: The first step was to clear out the room and remove the old countertop and sink. Once the space was empty, I prepped the walls for wallpaper installation by filling in any cracks and sanding down rough surfaces. (Spackling Compound, Sanding Sponge)

2. Wallpaper Installation: With the walls prepped and ready to go, it was time to apply the wallpaper. This step required careful measurements and precise cutting to ensure a seamless finish. After a few hours of work, the wallpaper was up, and the transformation was already taking shape. (Razor Blade Pen)

3. Time to paint those drab lower cabinets. I wanted it to be a color in both the laundry machines themselves and in the wallpaper, and this dark grey is it! (I used a paint we already had on hand from my stairwell trim, it was the perfect color and helps tie the house together).

4. Sink, Faucet, and Countertop Installation: Next up was installing the new sink and countertops. This involved some plumbing work and carpentry skills, but with the help of my handy hubby, measuring multiple times, some liquid nails, and a bit of trial and error, we were able to get everything installed correctly. (Liquid Nails, Quick Clamps)

After:

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for – the after photos! Drumroll, please... Ta-da! The once-dull laundry room has been completely transformed into a stylish and functional dog washing station. The vibrant wallpaper adds personality to the space, while the sleek sink and wood countertops provide both beauty and practicality.

Final Thoughts:

In conclusion, I couldn't be happier with how my laundry room makeover turned out. By investing a little time and effort, I was able to create a space that not only serves a practical purpose but also brings a bit of joy to my not so joyful chores. Whether I'm doing laundry or giving my furry friends a bath, this room now feels a whole lot better.

Thank you for joining me on this journey, and I hope you feel inspired to tackle your own home improvement projects. Stay tuned for more adventures in DIY!

Burning is Art. Art is Therapy.

While many people enjoy pyrography as a hobby or artistic pursuit, it can also be a powerful tool for promoting relaxation and mental well-being.

“Burning is art. Art is therapy”

Rachel Struass

Here are some reasons pyrography can be used to support mental health:

Stress Relief:

One of the benefits of pyrography is its ability to promote stress relief. When engaging in this activity, individuals are often able to disconnect from the stressors in their daily lives and focus solely on their creative pursuits. It can provide a distraction from everyday life. When you're focused on the activity, you may be less likely to ruminate on negative thoughts. This can help reduce stress levels and promote a sense of calm.

Mindfulness:

Pyrography also encourages mindfulness, which is the practice of being present and fully engaged in the moment. When working on a pyrography project, individuals must focus their attention on the details of the design, which can help them remain mindful and present. Wood burning requires us to go slower than we are used to with other mediums. This slowed down pace can induce a state of "flow," which is characterized by complete absorption in the task at hand.

Improved Mood:

Studies have shown that engaging in creative activities can improve mood and promote a sense of well-being. Pyrography is no exception. By providing a creative outlet, this art form can help individuals feel a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, leading to improved mood.

Increased Self-Expression:

Pyrography allows individuals to express themselves in a unique and personal way. By choosing their own designs and colors, individuals can create pieces that are reflective of their personal style and preferences. Wood burning allowing you to express your emotions, thoughts, and ideas in a nonverbal way. This can help increase self-expression and boost confidence.

Sense of Community:

Here, at Wood Burn Corner we are all about community and sharing each others art with the world. Being part of Burn Club can provide a sense of belonging and social support, which can be beneficial for mental health. We support and healp each other through the ups and downs of learning a new skill and art form as well the trials and tribulations of owning a creative business. If you want to know how to get more involved in the community, click here!

Pyrography is an excellent activity for promoting relaxation, mindfulness, and mental well-being. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced artist, engaging in this activity can provide a range of mental health benefits, including stress relief, improved mood, and increased self-expression.

Now, pair up pyrography with radial symmetry and it becomes a whole new world of practicing mindfulness!

Radial Symmetry patterns, also commonly known as a Mandala, have been recognized by psychology as a therapeutic tool. Swiss psychologist Carl Jung said they’re like representations of our mind. He thought they made it easier for us to concentrate on, transform, and internalize subconscious thoughts. His belief was that we project our emotions and thoughts into the mandala designs.

“For me, a radial symmetry pattern, or a mandala inspired art piece, is the end result of a mindfulness journey.”

-Basia Chmielowic

These repetitive patterns are what I get at the end of a creative meditation, a zone out, a doodle session (whatever you want to call it!).

It is a form of meditation for me as the repetition of each pattern allows me not to think about the end result, but rather a focus on each small section at a time.

Repeating the same design helps me zone out and immerse myself in the moment.

Two ways to learn how to draw your own mandala designs:

1. Read:

Choose from two books full of mandala inspired patterns complete with written instructions on how to draw your own designs from scratch!

The Community Book of Templates offers designs by Basia and the community in a variety of themes as well as pyrography basics.

The Presence Bundle features Basia’s designs inspired by the art deco & art nouveau movements. No pyro information but links to resources to get you started.

These two items each include a radial symmetry guide and a set of their own unique designs to practice pyrography with. Either way, you will learn to create endless unique radial symmetry designs!

2. Watch:

A step-by-step video tutorial on DIY radial symmetry patterns and how to wood burn them:

CA$15.00

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Or the video tutorial on DIY radial symmetry patterns without the pyro part:

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Pyrography + Sustainability

In addition to being a form of artistic expression, pyrography can also be used to promote sustainability and environmental awareness.

Keep reading to see some of the ways on how pyrography can do that!

One: Sourcing sustainable materials

Sourcing your wood from companies who care about the environment ensures the wood is harvested with minimal environmental impact.

Here’s what to look out for:

1. Sustainability Practices of the Supplier:

Review the company's environmental policies. Look for transparency in how they manage the forests they harvest from, such as replanting efforts, reduced chemical usage, and preservation of wildlife habitats. Check if the supplier follows carbon-neutral operations, uses renewable energy, or has sustainability reports available to the public.

2. FSC Certification:

Look for wood that is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified. This certification ensures the wood comes from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social, and economic benefits. FSC-certified forests promote biodiversity and prevent deforestation.

3. PEFC Certification:

The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) is another global certification that guarantees sustainable forest management. PEFC-certified products ensure wood is sourced ethically and sustainably.

4. Avoiding Illegal Logging:

Ensure the company complies with regulations like the Lacey Act (in the U.S.) or the EU Timber Regulation to avoid wood that comes from illegal or harmful logging practices.

Here are some alternative options for wood sourcing:

Reclaimed or Salvaged Wood:

Sourcing reclaimed wood from old buildings, shipping pallets, or other recycled sources is an excellent sustainable option. This method reduces the need for new wood and minimizes waste. HOWEVER! It is really important to know what you are burning on as some woods can emit very harmful chemicals when heated, especially ones treated with chemicals. This is really hard to tell sometimes so this is not always the best option… For a list of woods not to burn, check out Common Wood Types To Avoid. Always follow the safety precautions set out by the manufacturer and check out our Safety Guide for best practices when it comes to buying anything.

Local Sourcing:

Buying from local suppliers reduces the carbon footprint associated with transporting wood over long distances. Supporting local woodworkers or sawmills can ensure more transparency about where the wood originates.

TWO: Promoting Environmental awareness through words and design

One way to use pyrography in a sustainable way is by creating designs that promote environmental awareness. For example, you could create a design of a forest with the message "Save the Trees" or a design of a sea turtle with the message "Protect Our Forests." These designs not only showcase the beauty of nature, but also help to raise awareness about the importance of conservation and protecting our planet.

By showcasing the natural world in their art, pyrographers can help to inspire others to appreciate and protect the environment. A mountain landscape, for example, could inspire someone to take a hike and experience the beauty of nature firsthand.

THREE: Promoting Environmental awareness through Events, auctions and donations

To promote environmental awareness through events, auctions, and donations, focus on creating eco-conscious experiences that engage and educate participants. Host pyro workshops that teach wood burning techniques paired with sustainability and green living.

Organize green auctions, featuring eco-friendly art or services, and partner with local businesses to offer environmentally responsible products.

Raise funds through donation-based events or crowdfunding campaigns for environmental causes, and encourage corporate partnerships for sustainable challenges. Ensure your events are eco-friendly by reducing waste, using digital or plantable invitations, and incorporating education booths or online content to spread awareness.

Parts of a sale can be donated to companies that support the environment. We love to donate a part of all our sales to One Tree Planted which plants tree’s around the world! To this date, we have donated over 15,000 tree’s. Our donations have planted trees in places like the Andes as well as 10,000 fruit trees in India, where not only will it help with air quality, but will also provide food and jobs for people of that region.

Four: Functional Sustainability

Pyrography can also be used to create functional items that promote sustainability. Here is a list of some items you may burn that are also functional:

• Kitchen utensils (spoons, spatulas, cutting boards, and serving trays…)

• Coasters

• Jewelry or trinket boxes

• Serving platters

• Wall hooks or hangers

• Coatracks

• Plant markers or garden stakes

• Phone or tablet stands

• Candle holders

• Picture frames

• Serving bowls

• Storage crates

• Bookmarks

By using sustainable materials and creating items that can be used again and again, pyrographers can help to reduce waste and promote eco-friendly practices.

Five: Keeping It Natural

A natural wood slice is a biodegradable material that can return to the earth without causing harm, especially when untreated. Wood art slices (or those with function, such as in the above paragraph) can be kept natural or use only natural stains or finishes (more on this down below).

I recently learned about the Cradle to Cradle philosophy which focuses on designing products that can be reused or naturally decomposed, promoting a closed-loop system where nothing is wasted.

For further reading, the original concept is explored in Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things by William McDonough and Michael Braungart, which outlines the framework in detail.

What can you do to make your wood slice sustainable?

Here are some alternatives to finishes and mediums often used with pyrography:

Finishing Options

Many pyrography artists opt for natural, non-toxic finishes like beeswax, linseed oil, or plant-based varnishes. These finishes not only protect the artwork but also reduce harmful chemical emissions and protect indoor air quality.

Hanging Options

A common solution to hanging wood slice art is to add a hanger on the back. This little metal piece can easily be added to majority of wood, however, it would have to be removed at the end of the lifecycle of that slice. A great option, if you have the tools, access to them, is to create a keyhole style hanger!

Alternative Stains

Natural stains are a great way to enhance pyrography projects while maintaining a commitment to sustainability. Unlike conventional wood stains, which often contain synthetic chemicals and solvents, natural stains are made from plant-based, food-safe ingredients. Here are a few popular options for creating and using natural stains in pyrography:

• Coffee or Tea Stains: Brewed coffee or tea can be used as a stain to give wood a rich, earthy tone. The colour intensity can be adjusted depending on the strength of the brew and the number of coats applied.

• Vinegar and Steel Wool: Soaking steel wool in vinegar creates a chemical reaction that can stain wood a weathered, aged look. The longer the steel wool sits in the vinegar, the darker the effect.

• Beet Juice or Other Vegetable Dyes: Natural vegetable dyes, like beet juice, spinach, or onion skins, can be used to create colourful wood stains. These are made by boiling the vegetable matter in water and applying the resulting liquid to the wood.

• Turmeric Stain: Turmeric powder can be mixed with water or alcohol to create a yellow stain. It's often used for giving wood a golden, warm tone.

• Walnut Stain: Boiling walnut hulls in water creates a rich, dark brown stain. Walnut stains have been used for centuries in traditional woodworking.

• Blackberry or Blueberry Juice: These fruits can be boiled down to create a stain that imparts a purple or reddish hue to the wood.

Natural Paints

Natural paints can be an excellent addition to pyrography projects, especially if you're looking for sustainable, eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic paints. Like natural stains, these paints are made from non-toxic, biodegradable ingredients, and they can add vibrant colours or subtle accents to wood-burned art without harming the environment. There are more and more options available, just make sure to read the fine print. Some companies like to use words like “natural” and “organic” or “earth” but they do not come chemical free. Another option is to go the DIY route. There are loads of tutorials on how to make your own paint.

Pyrography is a versatile and beautiful medium that can be used to promote sustainability and environmental awareness. Whether by using wood from sustainable companies, creating designs that promote conservation (or conversation), or making functional items that can be used again and again, pyrographers can help to reduce waste, protect our planet, and celebrate the natural world.

Thank you and happy burning!

Spring Burnt Week 2023

Burnt Challenges are a call to artists of all skill levels to create an original piece of pyrography artwork based on a specific word, or what we like to call, a prompt! Check out Some past challenges here.

This challenge is an excellent way for wood burning artists to grow their portfolio, try new things, push their craft, meet other pyrographers, hone their skills, gain followers, sell art, and have a ton of fun while they are at it!

Having a restriction, like following a specific prompt, can really bring out creativity in people. These prompts are known to get people inspired and trying new things. Things they perhaps wouldn’t have tried otherwise.

The challenges are living in the wood burning community on Instagram. Follow us there or join Burn Club+ to get your prompts in advance for the next Burnt Challenge and to suggest your own prompts.

Spring Burnt Week 2023

We are so excited to be teaming up with our sponsor, Walnut Hollow, to bring you this #SpringBurntWeek challenge that runs from May 22nd to May 26th, 2023!!

The prompts were suggested by the Burn Club+ Community. We got a whole list of really funny and unique but very random nouns + adjectives. To make it even more fun and to keep artists thinking outside of the box, we pulled one noun and one adjective randomly out of a hat and put the two together!

OUR FEATURED ARTISTS

TINY + PARTY by @ambers_afire

@ambers_afire created this stunning piece for the TINY PARTY prompt and we fell in love. It’s so whimsical and sweet. All of the little details, the mushroom clothing, the gradient background, are on point. Just zoom in on the ground! So much great dark texture. Beautifully done @ambers_afire! Everyone, please go give Amber a follow for more beautiful art in this unique style.

Imperfect + Path by @blindlove.woodburning

@blindlove.woodburning created this scene for the IMPERFECT PATH 🔥 Well done @blindlove.woodburning! The textures make that tree look so real along the iconic seattle skyline. Love that elephant butt and the tiny pops of color! Everyone, please go give Krista a follow for more beautiful art in this unique style.

WILD + SIGN @wild.earth.artwork

@wild.earth.artwork is the winner for todays prompt: WILD SIGN. It’s just fabulous! The soft colors of this #flower background down to the details and shading in the flowers and the hand ✌️Great work by @wild.earth.artwork

DRIPPY GARDEN by @bz_furfur

@bz_furfur created this beautiful piece for the prompt of DRIPPY GARDEN! The celebration of nature sprouting after the rain, the little fairies, the colors and that sparkle! Well done, @bz_furfur. Everyone please go follow this awesome artist. Let’s show them all the love!

PLAYFUL RIVULET @driftwood_aptos

@driftwood_aptos created this stunning piece for the prompt PLAYFUL RIVULET. The details, the textures, the magical vibe of the colors! What a fantastic interpretation of the prompt too! Everyone go give @driftwood_aptos a follow!

How Do I join in on the next challenge?

To participate in this 5 day wood burning challenge, post a photo of your prompt-inspired piece (on instagram) on the date listed using #SpringBurntWeek and mention both @woodburncorner + @walnuthollow.

That’s it! It’s that easy.

You can burn on any surface (it doesn’t have to be on wood) and you can interpret each prompt in absolutely any way you like - the more creative the better!

Learn about the next challenge first by joining Burn Club+. Then Burn Club hears about the challenge next and then we announce publicly.

Where Do you feature me and my artwork?

This challenge is a great way to get your name and artwork in front of more eyes! Both @walnuthollow (our Sponsor) + @woodburncorner select artists for each prompt to feature in:

• both Walnut Hollow + Wood Burn Corner Instagram posts + stories

• on this blog post once the challenge is over

• our Facebook page

• as well as on Pinterest

What CAN I win?

There are many prizes and a pre-challenge giveaway just for sharing about the challenge.

Wood Burn Corner gives away a daily prize! Each winner got to choose from the following:

• Digital Copy of Template Book (Volume 1)

• Digital Copy of Template Book (Volume 2)

• Digital Copy of Template Book (Radial Symmetry Edition)

• Access to The Sessions Recordings (Value $100)

• Complete Wood Burning and Business Toolkit (Value $749)

• Access to Pyrography and Business Summit Recordings (Value $240)

Walnut Hollow also gives away a daily prize; a mystery box of goodies from www.walnuthollow.com!

Can I still join in but not burn?

If you are not able to participate by making art, you can still show your fellow pyro pals some love by sharing, commenting, saving, and liking all the art! Spread the news about the event by posting about it in your stories, reels and posts.

We are always blown away at what your uniquely creative minds come up with.

Make sure to follow #SpringBurntWeek to see the all the artworks made during the challenge or Check out Some past challenges here.

Let’s join our voices together and raise the entire community up. Keep spreading the love and happy burning!

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Burn Club Craft Fair 2022

The Burn Club Craft Fair 2022 (located on Instagram from December 1st - 3rd) is an online shopping event just in time for the holidays and is FREE to participate in!

This is handmade pyrography art shopping made easy!

It was originally intended for artists to come together and get their work seen by new customers. Created during the Pandemic, the intention was to help Burn Clubbers since so many shows were canceled. It was a smashing success for these small businesses, so we continue to host more of these events!

Join Burn Club or Burn Club+ to get notified of the next Craft Fair ahead of time!

How To participate:

Selling during the event is easy! Post your pieces to with the #bccraftfair2022 using this format for ease of shopping and selling:

• Price

• Size

• Description

• Shipping (Radius [where you are willing to ship] + Cost)

• #bccraftfair2022

Instruct customers to browse the hashtag. To purchase a piece, all customers have to do is DM the artist. You, as the artist, can choose your preferred platform to receive payment (paypal, Etsy, website, Venmo, etc) and send your customer there to complete their purchase!

Helpful hint: Be sure to mark your item as “sold” in the post captions when the piece sells. This way you won’t be getting messages when it’s not longer available.

Tips for a successful sale:

• Go live with your sale, showcasing each item

• Share to stories + tag us @woodburncorner

• Tag supplier accounts for more exposure

• Make reels + remixes

• Utilize relevant hashtags and don’t forget #bccraftfair2022

• Start promoting the craft fair ahead of time, get people excited now

• Share and tag other artists' art for sale

I don’t have anything to sell but still want to get involved:

When we work together like this as a community, everyone wins. So, even if you don’t plan on putting pieces up for sale, please share about the Craft Fair.

These artists would also appreciate it if you could share pieces you love, or save, like, and comment on posts.

Let’s help these small businesses have a successful Holiday Season.

Join Burn Club or Burn Club+ to get notified of the next Craft Fair ahead of time!

Pyrography Gift Guide

Below is a collection of gift options that are perfect for wood burning artists. These include gift ideas for experienced pyrographers who are selling their art to those who are just discovering pyrography. The Holidays are here, and people in your life are looking for the perfect gift to get you. Send this list to people you love, or go ahead and treat yourself and your business to an awesome gift or two! Set yourself up for success this coming year.

WBC receives a very small portion of purchases made using Amazon links, but these are all supplies that we highly recommend.

Learn + Grow

The Pyro + Business summit Recordings 2022

39 classes with 35 presenters from all over the globe. Learn from pyro experts with the live wood burning masterclasses, pyro panel discussions, business panel discussions, interviews, community chats, challenges + so much more.

LEarn More

The wood burn sessions

Learn from 6 pyro experts with these recorded wood burning masterclasses.

Learn More

the crafters box

The Crafters Box is a small business run by female entrepreneurs that support handmade makers. It’s a service providing AMAZING, high-end, slow-craft kits with accompanying videos by experts to teach new & interesting crafts, like pyrography.

get crafting

Creative Woodburning School

Bee Locke creating a lesson by lesson Creative Woodburning School which will take all the guesswork out of pyrography for you.

check it out

Patterns For Tracing

High-quality art templates that inspire creativity and encourage artistic growth

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Books

The Wood Burn Book

A book I wish I had when I started wood burning. This book by Rachel of @woodburncorner is an essential guide for pyrographers.

Get the book

Community Book Of Templates

Pyrography design patterns showcasing 57 original templates from 34 wood burning artists from around the globe. Along with the woodburning instructions, the intention here is to help artists of all skill levels to hone their craft, try new styles, and make beautiful art through collaboration.

get the templates

Community Book of Templates, Volume Two

Similar to the first edition above, this template book has more unique designs as well as instructions on how to wood burn.

Take a look inside volume Two

Community Book of Templates, radial symmetry edition

Same idea as the first two editions above, this template book features radial symmetry patterns and includes step by step mandala making instructions as well as instructions on how to wood burn.

Learn more here

Creative Woodburning

One of Rachel’s favorite pyrography books out there. Bee Locke of @beesymmetry did a fantastic job creating this book.

Get Bee's Book

Woodburning realistic animals

This book by Minisa Robinson is fabulous if you are looking to hone your shading skills, and create realistic images.

Get Minisa's Book

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Tools + Supplies

Best tool for watercolor

These water pens will save you time when using water colors and are super portable. No need for a water cup with these pens.

Get water pens

best trick for resin

This is for Resin Finish lovers. I learned this trick from Aly of @alyoopsartistry, you put a layer of isolation coat first on your burned piece, and then pour your resin and it will keep the resin from soaking into the wood. Such a great trick!

Get isolation coat

best trick for transferring

Quite possibly Rachel’s greatest contribution to pyrography, the discovery of Tombow Sand Erasers to remove unwanted graphite marks left on wood.

Get these magic erasers

best wood

This Walnut Hollow Basswood Plank Value Pack is Rachel’s favorite wood to burn on.

Get Basswood here

fantastic alternative medium

You may have tried acrylic, water color, and colored pencils on wood, but have you trie gouache??? Check out these gorgeous metallic gouache paints from Arteza

get Gouache paints

stop propping your phone on weird surfaces

This is what I use to record videos, go LIVE, take photos, and teach classes. This gooseneck phone holder is a must have for recording your work.

Get Phone Holder

keep your space safe

Stay safe, and keep those around you safe with a Mini Smoke Extractor. This little machine works!

Get Smoke Extractor

Make it even safer

I use this guy in conjunction with my desktop smoke extractor to really keep my air clean.

Get an Air Purifier

comfort + safety

This is our favorite mask. It is comfortable, and protective. The link is to our favorite fit: the M2 style. It comes in many colors and many other strap combinations and fits.

Get RZ Mask here

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Merch

Burn Club Swag

Merch just for the pyrographers out there!

get burn club swag

Master of flames Pyro Shirt

Pyrography tshirt from Andreina of @reinamor_apw. From her original wood burning tools illustration.

Get Shirt here

pyro Clothing + Accessories

Merch just for the pyrographers out there! Several other options like: Pyro is Fire, Burn Babe, Burn Club, and more…

Get Pyro Clothing +

Burnin' Up tote

Perfect tote for wood burning or craft materials for on the go! Created by Andreina of @reinamor_apw.

Grab a tote

pyro bags for pyro pals

Grace of @piecelovemusic made this adorable pyro bag, perfect for all your loose nibs.

Get the bag

Send this list to your significant others, family members, or friends who are looking to get you the perfect gift. Or go ahead and treat yourself!

Happy Holidays + Happy Burning!

Winter Burnt Week 2023

Burnt Challenges are a call to artists of all skill levels to create an original piece of pyrography artwork based on a specific word, or what we like to call, a prompt! Check out Some past challenges here.

This challenge is an excellent way for wood burning artists to grow their portfolio, try new things, push their craft, meet other pyrographers, hone their skills, gain followers, sell art, and have a ton of fun while they are at it!

Having a restriction, like following a specific prompt, can really bring out creativity in people. These prompts are known to get people inspired and trying new things. Things they perhaps wouldn’t have tried otherwise.

The challenges are living in the wood burning community on Instagram. Follow us there or join Burn Club+ to get your prompts in advance for the next Burnt Challenge and to suggest your own prompts.

WINTER Burnt Week 2023

We are so excited to be teaming up with our sponsor, Walnut Hollow, to bring you this challenge that runs from February 20th to February 24th!!

The prompts were suggested by the Burn Club community members. We got a whole list of really funny and unique but very random nouns + adjectives. To make it even more fun and to keep artists thinking outside of the box, we pulled one noun and one adjective randomly out of a hat and put the two together!

OUR FEATURED ARTISTS

DREARY + PEAKS by @taciejensen

@taciejensen created this beautiful piece for the DREARY PEAKS prompt. You can almost feel the fog and gloom through the photo. You can tell this character is on a very important journey... So much texture and the way the color was added really makes this piece quite dreary, giving off many feels. The message Tacie writes is very empowering and brings me right out of the fog with hope and inspiration:

“When life looks bleak, hold your head up because you came this far. You have the strength and determination, you’ve got this!”

Beautifully done @taciejensen! Everyone, please go give @taciejensen a follow for more beautiful art in this unique style.

SOFT + CREATURE by @burnedblossoms

@burnedblossoms created this original design for the prompt of SOFT CREATURE! This burn is absolutely beautiful with its textures, shapes, composition, and shading, and those white outlines and that circular lined background!!!! Do yourself a favor and zoom in on all those details. The softness is in the cute little creature and also the encompassing flowers which look like are making the goats day! Go give @burnedblossoms a follow to see this little cuteness as well as all of her other stunning pyrography work!

HARSH + VESSEL by @wild.earth.artwork

Talk about harsh vessel! This little bird found its home in the bright neon lights in a busy city. I love @wild.earth.artwork’s out of the box thinking on this one. Her use of color here is spectacular. You can feel the warmth of these lights! I also love how the image is zoomed in. We don’t need the full neon sign to see the whole picture here. It’s fabulous! Great work by @wild.earth.artwork.

GLISTENING + PEAKS by @allie_and_nyx_crafts

@allie_and_nyx_crafts created this beautiful piece for the prompt: GLISTENING EVERGREEN! The lines and illustration style of the rocky area paired with the realistic glistening evergreens on it makes them really pop out and even look superimposed! The colors and gradients are stunning and the burn is just so clean and crisp! Well done, @allie_and_nyx_crafts. Everyone please go follow this awesome artist. Let’s show them all the love! 

EXPERIMENTAL + WONDERLAND by @xedesarte

@xedesarte created this stunning piece for the prompt EXPERIMENTAL WONDERLAND. The details, the textures, the magical vibe of the stars that look like they are actually aglow! It is a dream turned into art with some very special and personal meaning and it is just so so beautiful! Everyone go give @xedesarte a follow!

Make sure to follow the #winterburntweek hashtag and check out our stories as well as @walnuthollow for some of our favorite posts and features!

How to join in on the challenge NExt time

Learn about the next challenge by joining the Burn Club!

To participate in this everyday wood burning challenge, post a photo of your prompt-inspired piece (on instagram) on the date listed using #WinterBurntWeek and mention both @woodburncorner + @walnuthollow.

That’s it! It’s that easy.

Where CAN you and your artwork get featured?

Both @walnuthollow (our Sponsor) + @woodburncorner select artists for each prompt to feature in:

• both Walnut Hollow + Wood Burn Corner Instagram posts + stories

• on this blog post once the challenge is over

• our Facebook page

• as well as on Pinterest

What CAN YOU win?

There are many prizes and a pre-challenge giveaway just for sharing about the challenge.

Wood Burn Corner gives away a daily prize! Each winner got to choose from the following:

• Digital Copy of Template Book (Volume 1)

• Digital Copy of Template Book (Volume 2)

• Digital Copy of Template Book (Radial Symmetry Edition)

• Access to The Sessions Recordings (Value $100)

• Complete Wood Burning and Business Toolkit (Value $749)

• Access to Pyrography and Business Summit Recordings (Value $240)

Walnut Hollow also gives away a daily prize; a mystery box of goodies from www.walnuthollow.com!

Can I still join in but not burn?

If you are not able to participate by making art, you can still show your fellow pyro pals some love by sharing, commenting, saving, and liking all the art! Spread the news about the event by posting about it in your stories, reels and posts.

We are always blown away at what your uniquely creative minds come up with.

Make sure to follow #WINTERBurntWeek to see the all the artworks made during the challenge or Check out Some past challenges here.

Let’s join our voices together and raise the entire community up. Keep spreading the love and happy burning!

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Donate to One Tree Planted - 2022

One thing that is really important to us, here at Wood Burn Corner, is giving back!

Each year we give back to our community in as many ways as possible. We donate our time, products, money, and also love sharing information for free with our community.

This year (2022) we are super proud to announce that 10,000 trees have been planted because of our little business.

@onetreeplanted is such an incredible organization that takes $1 and plants 1 tree with it, which means, because of you all, Wood Burn Corner planted 10,000 trees this year. TEN THOUSAND! (That’s like a mini forest! )

We got word that our specific donation is being used to plant 10,000 fruit trees in India, where not only will it help with air quality, but will also provide food and jobs for people of that region.

Thanks to all your support and purchases, we were able to give our largest donation to date to the non-profit organization, One Tree Planted!

One Tree Planted makes it easier for both individuals and businesses to give back to the environment, create a healthier climate, protect biodiversity, and help reforestation efforts.

Here is how it works:

Trees play such an integral role in our World, and we want to be part of the solution.

Did you know?

Every 1.2 seconds, man destroys an area of forest as big as a football field. This is why we feel the need to give back to the trees that make it so we can create our art and why we choose to use wood from sustainable sources.

Click here for some more interesting facts about trees and the impact of deforestation around the world.

WANT TO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT?

Fall Burnt Week 2022

Burnt Challenges are a call to artists of all skill levels to create an original piece of pyrography artwork based on a specific word, or what we like to call, a prompt! Check out Some past challenges here

This challenge is an excellent way for wood burning artists to grow their portfolio, try new things, push their craft, meet other pyrographers, hone their skills, gain followers, sell art, and have a ton of fun while they are at it!

Having a restriction, like following a specific prompt, can really bring out creativity in people. These prompts are known to get people inspired and trying new things. Things they perhaps wouldn’t have tried otherwise.

The challenges are living in the wood burning community on Instagram. Follow us there or join Burn Club+ to get your prompts in advance for the next Burnt Challenge and to suggest your own prompts. We are changing things up this time around, and are excited for you to see what’s new!

Fall Burnt Week 2022

We are so excited to be teaming up with our sponsor, Walnut Hollow, to bring you this new and upgraded challenge that ran from October 24th to the 28th!!

We had more prizes than ever and tried out a fun new way to choose prompts!

The prompts were suggested by the Burn Club+ Community. We got a whole list of really funny and unique but very random nouns + adjectives. To make it even more fun and to keep artists thinking outside of the box, we pulled one noun and one adjective randomly out of a hat!

Below are the featured artists for each prompt:

@brittnibeeart created this adorable little critter and we fell in love.

It’s so whimsical and sweet. All of the little details on the wings, in the fur, on the trees, it’s cute little headband, and those little candy corns it’s crunching on.

So much texture and the way the color was added really makes this piece quite enchanting.

Beautifully done! Please go give @brittnibeeart a follow for more beautiful art in this unique style.

@maggienicoleart created this perfect little piece. We love the fine little details of these germies. The burn is so clean and crisp!

Our favorite part, though, is the glowing aspect. It is so subtle, you may miss it. Do you see it? The germs are little various forms of lightbulbs! 💡 It’s such a cool idea and it is perfectly executed.

Looks just like the bacteria and viruses we’ve seen under microscopes.

Well done, @maggienicoleart. Please go follow this awesome artist.

@calico.callie.ink created this original design, and so much more. For the entire week she has been building on an incredible story that you have to go and read for yourself!

This burn is absolutely beautiful with its textures, and shapes, and shading, and colors, and her storytelling is phenomenal.

Zoom in on all of the beautifully moody details of this piece and then go back to her first post for the week and read the whole story so far.

This piece is brilliant and so creative, we are beyond excited to get to share it with you all. Give @calico.callie.ink a follow!

@theroderickshop called this piece “Ballet of Pines” and we are just obsessed with those elves.

The movement in these dancers, the grain in their skin, and the fact that they use PINECONES as their tutus.

He wrote, “Tonight for one night only the Forest Elves will allow the humans to enter their enchanted wood for the annual performance of the Ballet of Pines - a dance honoring The Royal Conifer at the center of their wood. I was quite touched to be asked to design this year's poster.” It is just incredible that two words, VIBRANT and PINECONES, can bring out this level of creativity.

Just so cool. Please go give this amazing artist, @theroderickshop a follow!

@unamanu_design created this adorable collection and we just love the direction they took this.

Trendy apples throughout history. What a cool concept! Here is what they wrote:
“1250 b.C. A golden apple has become very fashion, many Goddesses desired her (3)
1300 William Tell's apple
1400 Snow White's apple… seriously the most dangerous. There were many fashion victims !
1666 A very serious apple that explained the law of gravity to Newton
1920 J.J.Fitzgerald was the first to refer to NY as the big apple.
1964 A green apple became famous thanks to Magritte
1977 3 guys used a colored apple to make their computer famous”

I love when these prompts are also educational. Great burn(s) @unamanu_design - Everyone please go give @unamanu_design a follow!

We would like to give a HUGE THANKS to the co-sponsor/co-host @walnuthollow for making this such an awesome week full of amazing art! I could not do this without you all. Thank you for being such an amazingly supportive company for our community, and for making such great products for us all to make our art on and with! Thank you @walnuthollow!!!

AND

A HUGE THANK YOU. To every single one of you that participated and supported this challenge and these artists! This community rocks.

Make sure to follow the #fallburntweek hashtag and check out our stories and @walnuthollow for some of our favorite posts from yesterdays wild prompt!

Where Else did you and your artwork can get featured?

Both @walnuthollow (our Sponsor) + @woodburncorner select artists for each prompt to feature in:

• both Walnut Hollow + Wood Burn Corner Instagram posts + stories

• on this blog post once the challenge is over

• our Facebook page

• as well as on Pinterest

What did people win

There are many prizes and a pre-challenge giveaway for sharing about the challenge.

Wood Burn Corner gave away a daily prize! Each winner got to choose from the following:

• Digital Copy of Template Book (Volume 1)

• Digital Copy of Template Book (Volume 2)

• Signed copy of The Wood Burn Book

• Complete Wood Burning and Business Toolkit (Value $749)

• Access to Pyrography and Business Summit Recordings (Value $240)

Walnut Hollow gave each daily winner a $100 gift card to spend on their website: www.walnuthollow.com as well as a Walnut Hollow t-shirt and stickers!

How to join in on the challenge NExt time

Learn about the next challenge first by joining Burn Club+. Then Burn Club hears about the challenge next and then we announce publicly onto our instagram feed.

To participate in this everyday wood burning challenge, post a photo of your prompt-inspired piece (on instagram) on the date listed using #FallBurntWeek and mention both @woodburncorner + our sponsor @walnuthollow.

That’s it! It’s that easy.

Can I still join in but not burn?

If you are not able to participate by making art, you can still show your fellow pyro pals some love by sharing, commenting, saving, and liking all the art! Spread the news about the event by posting about it in your stories, reels and posts.

We are always blown away at what your uniquely creative minds come up with.

Make sure to follow #FallBurntWeek to see the all the artworks made during the challenge or Check out Some past challenges here.

Let’s join our voices together and raise the entire community up. Keep spreading the love and happy burning!

---

The Pyrography + Business Summit

the ONE and only Pyrography + Business Summit!

There were 39 live classes with 35 well known presenters from all over the globe. We learned so much from pyro experts with the live wood burning masterclasses, panel discussions that dive into pyrography and panel discussions on business, plus interviews, community chats + challenges.

Everything pyrography + business.

If you weren’t able to join us live, you can always watch the recordings at your own pace!

30+ Pyrography and Business CLASSES:

PYROGRAPHY

Introduction to Wood Burning

Safety + Transfer Techniques

Pyrography Books Discussion

Wood Burning Tools

Tools of the Trade

Wood + Other Surfaces

Adding Color

Finishes

8 Masterclasses on Pyrography Techniques

Burn-Alongs with Expert Pyrographers

Panel Discussion on Pyrography

Interviews

BUSINESS

Goal Setting + Finding Focus

Business Books Discussion

Making Money as an Artist

Selling Online + In-person

Teaching Classes

Email Marketing

Websites + E-commerce

Pricing Your Art

Photography and Videography

Social Media + Pinterest

Live Coaching Sessions

Business Panel Discussion

Interviews

Also, Check out #pyrosummit on insta to see what people have taken away from this awesome event!

This Summit is basically one huge collaboration, and we are all so pumped to have completed it in 2022!

Rachel's February Reading List

February was a shorter month, and work on the Pyrography + Business Summit picked up, so I didn’t get quite as many books read as I would have liked. What I did read, I mostly enjoyed, and I am excited to share them with you.

All books are linked directly to Amazon for easy purchasing. I receive a tiny portion of Amazon’s profits if you choose to purchase one, but this in no way effects my reviews. I will always be honest with my thoughts on products, books, services, etc.

1. Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook by Gary Vaynerchuk - I really like Gary as a no-nonsense speaker on business. He is a bit abrasive, but in a good, motivating way. This book talks about give, give, giving before you ask of your customers/clients. The jabs being the value you provide and the right hooks being the ask. Effot is important for telling your unique story in a noisy world.

2. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng - I liked this book, ok. It is a NY Times Bestseller, but I have read better as of late. The characters were well developed, there is an artist in the story, and a couple twists and turns. There is a push and pull with the storyline, and it is clear that there is no black and white or wrong and right when it comes to some things, and there are plenty of those in this book. Well written.

3. The Power of Persuasion by John Myers - Lots of persuasive tactics. At one point he lists off over a hundred different ways to convince people to do something. It is also helpful in being able to spot persuasion when it is being used on you.

4. How to Stop Time by Matt Haig - “It only takes a moment to live.” This was a very cool book. Gets you thinking about the long and short of history and how it repeats itself. Really enjoyed the concept and the name drops throughout. I loved how the author played with time, locations and memories. “Sometimes you can just look around and be happy right where you are.”

5. Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover - Another great story from Coleen Hoover. Heartache, death, forgiveness, and connection, this book has it all and you will fly through it. You will feel for the main character who is stuck in an impossible situation. “Regret keeps you stuck on pause.” Makes you think about mistakes that you have made in life, and how one small act can change everything. “Are you going to live in the sadness or die in it?”

6. On The Shortness of Life by Seneca - This was recommended by several Titans in their fields out of the book Tools of Titans by Timothy Ferris. It is a really really old book written by a Roman philosopher. It is said her wrote it to his father-in-law, a mortal essay. It has since been translated and transcribed over time. “Life is long if you know how to use it.”

7. Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon - Our Keynote Speaker for the upcoming Pyrography + Business Summit! This is a NY Times bestselling book with over 1 million copies sold in English alone. Such a great read that I think every artist out there should get their hands on. “Do good work and share it with people.”

8. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens - This was a STUNNING book! So incredibly well written, and made you feel like you were there, in Kya’s beautiful world. It is a story of perseverance through extreme neglect, trauma, and solitude. A beautifully sad story that definitely made me weep. Trigger warning for SA.

9. Talk Triggers by Jay Baer and Daniel Lemin - This book was all about ways to get the most powerful and efficient marketing tool, word-of-mouth, to trigger. The types of talk triggers that can be utilized for business, and how to get it working for yours. It was good and I got a couple good points out of it, but I think it is best for larger corporations rather than small creative businesses.

10. Show Your Work by Austin Kleon - Another book that EVERY ARTIST NEEDS TO READ! Do good work, and the rest will come. This author, Austin Kleon, is so great at getting right to the point in both his writing and illustrations. For a visual learner, like myself, this is really helpful. Can’t recommend his trilogy enough, and so excited to hear him speak in May at our Summit!

Want to know what I read in January? Check out Rachel's January Reading List

Burnt March 2022

Burnt Challenges are a call to all artists to create a piece of artwork using pyrography based on a specific word or what we like to call, a prompt!

This challenge is for wood burning artists of all stages and is an excellent way to grow your portfolio, try new things, push your craft, meet other pyrographers, hone your skills, gain followers, sell art, and have a ton of fun while you are at it!

Having a restriction, like following a specific prompt, can really bring out creativity in people. These prompts are known to get people inspired and trying new things. Things they perhaps wouldn’t have thought of that are out of their norm.

The challenges are living in the wood burning community on Instagram. Follow us there or join Burn Club+ to get your prompts in advance next Burnt Month.

Both Walnut Hollow (our Sponsor) + @woodburncorner select artists for each prompt to feature in both instagram posts and stories, as well as on Pinterest. We have chosen some participants and they have won some awesome pyrography goodies!!

We are blown away at what your uniquely creative mind came up with using these prompts. Below are the featured artists or make sure to check out #burntmarch to enjoy all the beautiful art - it’s like a fee art gallery!! (scroll down a bit to “Most recent” to see the newest works!)

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Check out even more past challenges here!

How to support the artists:

If you are wood burning and participated or not, feel free to comment on the posts you enjoy and let the artists know know how stellar their work is! You can also save, share and re-post to help them get even more exposure!

Make sure to check out the hashtag on insta: #burntmarch - the free art gallery. Follow your favorites! Keep sharing and spreading the love.

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Creative Retreat Live 2022

Peggy Dean is hosting this year's Creative Retreat LIVE beginning February 24th, with over 75 artists and creatives sharing their skills, knowledge and pro tips! I will be talking all about COMMUNITY, and the value that comes with embracing it!

With over 75 FREE art lessons from 75 different artists, there is something here for you!

I am so proud to be amongst all these amazing artists each teaching their skill and sharing their knowledge of their passion.

I get the honor of teaching all about community and how embracing it will change the game forever!

My live session will be on at 12:00p PST on Tuesday, March 1st!

What are you waiting for?

Do your friends a favor, and share this page with them.

EVERYONE IS INVITED!

See you at camp!

Interview With Tom Ross

Tom Ross of and shares so much valuable information specifically for creatives and their businesses and how important building a community is for the business to thrive. He talks about how to get REAL followers and find your targeted audience, how to build a community around your business and how to make your business grow!

Just listen in on all the great advice he gives and start implementing these actions today!

You can find Tom @tomrossmedia + @designcuts

Visit his website: tomross.co

Sign up for his coaching

Listen to his Podcast

Take a listen to the interview with Tom from Tom Toss Media:

This interview was created for Burn Club+ in 2020, and was just now released to the public.

Grow with the community and get first access to interviews, exclusive tutorials and lessons by joining Burn Club+, a place where you can ask questions, and get the full answers, a place of fun and learning.

Passive Income Ideas for Artists

what is passive income?

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) says passive income can come from two sources: rental property or a business in which one does not actively participate, such as being paid book royalties or stock dividends. It's income that takes little or no effort to bring in. There are many different ways to accomplish this and I’m going to give you some great options if you are an artist/creative.

Make money while you sleep!

This doesn’t mean you won’t have to do any work for it at all.

Initially you will need to spend some time getting it set up and often it helps to invest some time into marketing it once in a while. It just means you put in most of the work upfront (with some possible maintenance and refreshing in the future) and then let it make you money.

Top three easy passive income ideas for artists

1. Prints

   Scan or photograph your work and post it as a digital product somewhere like your website. Ensure you have stellar photos and high quality scans. To learn more about how, check out the blog post: Digitizing Your Wood Slice for Extra Revenue.

   For a really hands-off approach, another platform like Artsy, Saatchi, Artpal, Society 6, Etsy, Singulart, VISUAL. They do the printing and shipping for you. Often, their audience can find you through the platform itself.

   The larger your audience, outside of the platform, the better your prints will do. It will help to talk about them on social media or on your website if you are getting traffic there.

   This is a great supplement to your art sales, and provides your audience with a more affordable option for becoming a collector of yours.

   Consider selling your art as an NFT if you understand that world!

2. Teach Online

   Make an online course. Record it once and upload it online.

   There are many options here. You can upload it to your website (directly on your site or via platforms like teachery) and sell it yourself. This way is not as hands-off, because you will need to market it and talk about it for people to know it exists and thus purchase it.

   The second option is to upload it to a third party platform that includes an audience like skilllshare, domestika, etc. They do the marketing for you and already have a client-base. You can (and should) boost the exposure and market it yourself on your site and socials. These platforms do not require you to have anything else, but a good high quality and informative video.

   A third option is YouTube. You need to meet some criteria and be active on the platform to start making money, so if you are already rocking it on YouTube, perhaps this is the place you want your lessons to live.

   Any of these options can bring in more clientele and provide you with more steady passive income.

3. Affiliate links

   Affiliate marketing is selling another businesses products or services to earn a commission on their sales that used your link.

   Link to all the supplies you use, all the tools you own, and materials you love! Make friends with the companies that you know and love and get links directly from them or use affiliate links through amazon.

   You still have to put in the effort to talk about it, but once it is setup in the right places, it should do the work for you to give you steady passive income.

   REMEMBER to only share links to things that make sense for your business, that you like/use, and/or that your audience will like. You want to be creating that win/win/win situation for your audience, the company you are sending your audience to, and yourself. Don’t share items/businesses that you don’t believe in or don’t make sense for your brand!

You can also check out the 5 Revenue Streams for your Wood Burning Business blog post for some opportunities to make your hobby into a thriving business!

Goal Setting and Creating Habits with Radial Symmetry Trackers

There's never a wrong time to set new habits and goals. Life constantly evolves, offering endless opportunities for growth and improvement. Whether it's personal, professional, or health-related, every moment is ripe for change and self-betterment. Embracing this mindset allows us to continuously evolve and adapt, making the most of each day as a fresh start towards achieving our aspirations.

A daily habit tracker gives you small wins to look forward to every day!

If you enjoy making to-do (and ta-da) lists, then you will enjoy tracking your daily habits, and you will find that you accomplish way more in a day. If you are anything like me, you may be thinking, that is great, but I will stop using it in a week/2 weeks/2 months. I have a solution for you! Put this list next to a habit you already have in place. Something you do daily without fail. For me, that is brushing my teeth at night before bed. I will do this no matter how tired I am. Putting my tracker next to my toothbrush has not only given me something to do during the two minutes I am brushing, but it also ensures that I do it DAILY without fail, too! Try this hack, and I think you will find that you stick to your tracker, and therefore your larger goals.

We love to use our own trackers we made.

track three habits a day:

3 Habits Individual (31 Day) Tracker

CA$2.00

Add to cart

3 Habits Monthly Tracker for the Year (leap year included)

CA$5.00

Add to cart

Track Seven Habits a day

7 Habits Individual (31 Day) Tracker

CA$2.00

Add to cart

7 Habits Monthly Tracker for the Year (leap year included)

CA$5.00

Add to cart

Or track a single habit for a year!

Daily Habit Tracker for The Year (leap year included)

CA$4.00

Add to cart

Need some guidance on finding focus and creating the goals you need? Check out: Focus Five - The 5 Things That Describe Your Business

WHY TRACK?

Daily trackers make goals more attainable and less intimidating. Rather than looking at a large goal and how long it will take, a habit tracker allows you to break it down into daily wins.

The beauty of a tracker is that you get to track what YOU want to track. You get to personalize it to your individual goals. Whether that be personal and/or business.

You can use these trackers for personal items like:

• exercise

• water intake

• mood

• stretching

• meditation

• journaling

• gratitude

• creating art

• alcohol intake

• reading

• medications/vitamins

• and so much more

You can also use them for your business goals.

You can track longer term goals and/or small daily actions that add up to your larger picture goals for yourself and your business. Track things like:

• crossing off at least three things from your to do list

• stopped working at 5pm and/or started by 8am

• no personal social media during business hours

• took a walk at break time

• writing a blog

• posting on a social media platform

• pinning on pinterest

• checking in on asana (or your daily to do list)

• spent 5 minutes plugging away at a long term project (i.e. organizing canva documents or your google photos or a course you are creating)

• spent less than 15min on social media (check your IOS device for a breakdown)

• promoting/marketing yourself

• whatever it is YOU want to work on for your business to reach your goals

Being able to see each day filled out with a simple pattern or color gives you a sense of accomplishment and a positive feeling. It gives you motivation to keep filling each day up and complete the month. It keeps you on track for your goals and the best part is that you decide what those goals are.

We’ve created printable, mandala style habit trackers! These can be used in a couple ways. The first way is simply coloring each section in with color(s). The other way is doodling in each section with little creatures, nature pattern or whatever you are into!

Once your habit is done (or at the end of the day, when you are brushing your teeth and getting ready for bed) you can make a quick doodle, like a heart or just some simple lines. If you are feeling fancy, add some detailed patterns. When your month is complete, you will have a pretty mandala that makes you proud!

We have individual trackers with 31 spaces or you can get the whole year where each tracker is numbered and has it’s corresponding spaces!

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