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.

Why Every Small Business Needs an Email List

Repeat after me: Email is KING!

If you haven't started your email list, you will now. Having an email list is so very important for business.

Why is having an EMAIL LIST so important?

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tiktok - they are all based on algorithms. If those companies decide to censor you, or delete your account, would your business survive? What if they change their algorithms and no longer show your work to your following? Email is your backup plan. It's your insurance.

It's also a list of your most loyal fans. (This is important)

Emails have a much higher success rate for reaching your people, then any social platform.

It's also YOURS. You own it.

You can build intimate relationships with the emails you write.

Your readers can refer back to it and search for anything you send them, whenever they like. (including coupons!) Can't do that on Tiktok...

They can stay up to date with your happenings.

Your audience can feel more connected to you and your brand.

Still not convinced?

What is the first thing you do in the morning? If you are like me, it is check your email. “Turns out 92% of adults in the US have an email address, and 61% of them check it DAILY!” (Quote from Alex Cattoni). That's huge!

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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Online Team Building Wood Burning Classes

Experiencing unique events, like a wood burning class, creates bonds, connections, encourages communication, and increases collaboration.

Effective team building means more engaged employees, which is good for company culture and boosting employee performance!

Wood Burn Corner brings unique virtual experiences to teams in their own home or office! Our classes are equal parts learning a new craft, relaxing mindful practice, fun, and team building. Contact us if you are interested in an in-person experience!

Wood burning is a versatile and relaxing art form, and the way we teach, attendees only need the ability to trace a line to be successful. We have a passion for this art form, and love bringing it to more people to experience.

We start the online class with an introduction to pyrography(wood burning) and the versatility of it. Think: canvas, leather, cutting boards, earrings, wooden spoons, wall art, and more. Then we dive into the tools of the trade, safety, and then get started creating our own wood burned art pieces. We walk attendees through the step-by-step process answering questions along the way.

These 1-1.5 hr online classes are a great option to bring your group together for a fun team building event.

There are two options when it comes to supplies. We can provide the kits with everything we will need for the class and will ship them to all attendees or we can provide a list of supplies if you would like to gather your own.

The kits come with:

• One wood burning tool

• 5 different varieties of wood (from coaster sized to wall art sized - Basswood, Birch, Sourwood, Aspen and Ambrosia Maple)

• Sand paper

• Sand eraser

• Graphite paper

• Embossing tool

• Tape

• Brass Brush

• Printed designs - These can be customized for your group.
  

We walk you through the whole process on the largest size wood slice, the Ambrosia Maple, using one of the designs included in the kit. People can also choose to draw their own designs or use their children’s art to transfer onto the wood. Those always turn out great.

By the end of the class, attendees will have a handmade, hand wood burned piece of art that they can be proud of and the knowledge and tools to make more in the future. I also like to send a follow-up email after the event with resources for continued education, wood suppliers, and any other relevant information to round it out.

Some of the COMPANIES WE’VE WORKED WITH

Contact us to learn more about booking a unique team building experience.

Rachel's January Reading List

One of my biggest goals for this year is to read more. I have ADHD and have always struggled with reading. I would read a page while my mind wandered and then have to re-read the page again. I found that this was especially true when I was reading material that I did not enjoy, or really that I was not in the mood to read.

Well, I don’t know how I started doing this, probably out of just not wanting to read what I was currently reading that moment, but I started picking up more than one book at a time. Like, 8-12 books at a time. This might sound ludicrous, but it allowed me to pick up the book that I am in the mood for, and therefore can actually focus on what it is I am reading. IT HAS CHANGED MY READING GAME!

The other thing I implemented at the beginning of the year was starting a daily tracker to track my habits. I wanted to create better habits, and focus on my goals for the year, but again, struggled with keeping up with a tracker. I wrote about it in this blog post, but basically I hacked the system by putting my tracker next to a habit I already have: brushing my teeth. Now, I don’t miss any days of tracking my habits, and this has been an incredible encourager as well as accountability for the things I want to focus on this year.

So, in doing these two things, my read book count for the month of January more than doubled the normal number of books I read in a year!

Here is what I read, in the order I finished them, and my take on them:

1. Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal - A delightful read. Surprising and fun. Some erotic stories, and some humor. I’d recommend this one.

2. Yearbook by Seth Rogen - I listened to this one, and I am glad I did. Hearing it in Seth’s voice was great. A mischievous kid with some funny stories.

3. Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle - I LOVE Glennon! I think she is a great thinker of our time. I love her sensitivity, and her honesty. This is an autobiography and touches on love, religion, cheating, self-growth, and being your authentic self.

4. One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus - This was a fantastic story, the author had me convinced it was a true story. Clearly well researched, and well written. The concept: 1,000 white women are to live and bear children with Indigenous people of America in exchange for horses to help colonize them. Such an interesting read.

5. Regretting You by Colleen Hoover - I read almost all Colleen Hoover books in a day. They are really hard to put down. This was told from a mother and from a daughter’s perspectives. It is steamy, there is tension, and as always with Colleen Hoover books, twists and turns. Great and quick read.

6. It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover - This Romantic book does come with a domestic violence trigger warning. So much passion, tension, love, and fear in this novel. Could not put it down.

7. Emotionally Absent Mother by Jasmin Lee Cori MS LPC - I listened to this book. This is about relationships, and attachment styles. I have been doing a lot of therapeutic work, and this was a hard one for me, but necessary. If you have a difficult relationship with your Mother, I recommend this read.

8. Heart Bones by Colleen Hoover - Another great one from Colleen Hoover. Couldn’t put it down. Trigger warning for drug abuse, and neglect. It involves falling in love, trust, and heartache. Full of twists and turns. You really feel for the main characters.

9. Mother Hunger by Kelly McDaniel - Another book recommended by my therapist. It was healing for me to read this. Helped me to understand myself more, and validated my feelings.

10. Art of War by Sun Tzu - A very quick listen. It really is a book about the art of war, and yet the lessons in it can be used for almost anything you encounter in regular life. I bought this one in physical book form after listening to it.

11. Idiot by Laura Cleary - I listened to this lighthearted book. Trigger warning for domestic violence and addiction. It was just ok. It is an autobiography of Laura, a comedian and Tiktok star. It had good reviews, but I am not sure I would recommend it and don’t plan on reading her other book.

12. 4 Hr Workweek by Timothy Ferriss - EVERY ENTREPRENEUR SHOULD READ THIS BOOK. So many pages dog eared, and I fully plan on reading it again.

13. Tools of Titans by Timothy Ferriss - I listened to this 24 hour long book. It is interviews from Titans in different fields. Very interesting and gave me some great ideas. If you like hearing interviews, this is a good one. Took some really valuable things away from this as well as many book recommendations.

14. The War of Art by Steven Pressfield - Self-help book for the creative. It will help you break through blocks, win inner creative battles, and get rid of resistance. The author encourages you to lean in and get a little scared. Follow your passions and create for the sake of creating.

15. Essentialism by Greg McKeown - I love this author. I listened to this one. It is about eliminating the unnecessary, and focusing on the essential parts of life and business. Choosing choice. Highly recommend it.

WANT TO KNOW WHAT I READ IN February? CHECK OUT Rachel's February Reading List

Donate to One Tree Planted 2021

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

This year (2021) we are proud to announce that 6,000 trees have been planted because of our little business.

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 is an organization that plants one tree for every dollar donated. They make 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?

5 Easy DIY Wood Burned Project Ideas

Want to make your own personalized DIY gifts for a loved one?? Pyrography is such a versatile hobby, below are 5 very easy projects you can make yourself and personalize in any way!

New to wood burning?

Check out our blog post: Start Here if you are NEW to Wood Burning

Here you will learn all about the tools you need, wood you should be using, safety you should be following and tips and tricks to help you make your own DIY wood slice project ideas come to life!

1. Wood Burned Spoons

Practical, useful gifts are always a good choice! Choose UNFINISHED wooden spoons, spatulas, or salad servers and create a simple design, or customize it with someone’s name or their favorite quote. You really can’t go wrong with this functional art piece. Remind your gift receiver to take special care of wood art in the kitchen! Check out this blog post to learn more about that: Finishing Your Wood Burned Art: How and Why to Finish Your Wood Burned Art

2. Fridge Magnets

These can make such a cute gift. Create a set to give, and customize them for each person. These are adorable, functional and pretty easy to execute!

Learn all the details on how to complete this project in this blog post: Make Mini Fridge Magnets

Give it a try!

3. Cutting Board

Another practical, useful and functional art gift! Wood burning is so versatile, and I love how everything can be customized. Turn a favorite photo of your loved one into functional art. Add their name to a cutting board, or their favorite food/plant/flower/animal/etc to a serving board. Make it special to them. Remind them to hand wash only and to use a food-grade safe cutting board oil and reapply as necessary (check out this blog post to learn more about that: Finishing Your Wood Burned Art: How and Why to Finish Your Wood Burned Art).

I like to use Walnut Hollow as they have their boards sanded ultra smooth and offer a good variety in terms of wood tyoe, shape and size!

4. Name Sign or Welcome Sign

New house? New marriage? New Baby? Create a family name sign! These are always well received. I like to keep my design simple so it can fit with other people’s decor. You could also add color, their house, or a special date if you have that information. Customize it to them!

5. Wood Burned Clock

This is such a gorgeous, unique and thoughtful gift. It adds a warmth to any space, and is not only beautiful, but quite helpful. To create this piece I used a drill, Clock Parts from Walnut Hollow and a slice of Basswood. I sized and printed the numbers in the font of my choosing to fit the canvas. I then transferred the design using graphite paper and an embossing tool, and then burned the numbers in. Then I used the drill to poke a hole in the center and added the clock parts. I used a Basswood Country Round, but you could also use a Circular Wood Canvas. I did not put a finish my clock, because I want to be able to darken it over time, as need be.

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Click here to learn how to transfer your child’s artwork onto wood and wood burn it for a lasting and personalized gift!

For more gift ideas and things to make next with your wood burning tool, check out this blog post with over 150 ideas of what to burn next!

And if you are just getting started in your pyrography journey, head here.

You can also find more project ideas and a full how-to in The Wood Burn Book or get yourself one of the Wood Burn Community Book of Template books full of traceable templates you can practice pyrography with!

Burn Blogs RSS

Interview With Miranda From Live Free Creative Co.

I am a huge believer in coaching, and what it can do for your business. Having an outsider look at your business, provide accountability, run ideas by, and work out different parts can be incredibly helpful, and the amount of goodness that I have gotten out of following, listening to, and getting coached by Miranda is kind of astounding and so is every word she has to say.

You can find Miranda @livefreemiranda + @livefreecreativeco

Visit her website: livefreecreative.co

Buy her book, More Than Enough

Listen to her Podcast

Take a listen to the interview with Miranda from Live Free Creative Co.:

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.

Last Minute Wood Burning Artists Gift Guide: Online Gifts for Pyros

Below is a collection of online gift options that are perfect for wood burning artists or creative people who are looking for a new hobby and like trying new things. These include gift ideas for experienced pyrographers who are selling their art to those who are just discovering pyrography.

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 and keep on learning!

Learn

The pyrography + Business summit

Learn from pyro experts with live wood burning masterclasses, panel discussions that dive into pyrography and panel discussions on business, plus interviews, community chats + challenges and more.

Learn more

Watch Professionals share their secrets while they burn!

Learn from pyro experts with 6 recorded wood burning masterclasses.

Learn more

Learn online from awesome teachers

Skillshare is an amazing learning platform with TONS of classes for creatives. Give the gift of learning! Such a fantastic place for small creative businesses to grow.

40% off yearly subscription

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Products

Make it personalized

Alaina of @sweetpeachburns can create a digital drawing of your pet! Send her an email at sweetpeachburns@gmail.com or send her a DM on Instagram.

Get A Pet Portrait

best earrings ever

My favorite earring designer, Chelsea of @cgdesigns_wear has a gift card available for last minute purchases. If you wanted to get me something, this would be it!

Get Gift Card

stay on task

Jess of @countrypinesshop put together this printable to help keep you on task in the new year!

Get Planner

Printables, yes please

These downloadable printables from Jessica of @brownpaperbunny are too good to pass up! And they are FREE!

Get Printables

Radial Symmetry Habit trackers

For tracking personal lifestyle habits, art goals and/or business goals!

Get Trackers

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Our Tempaltes and Online Books

Shop individual Templates

Choose from a growing list of unique and detailed templates!

Shop Templates Here

Give the Gift of Creativity

A Gift Card lets them choose their favorite templates and designs to spark inspiration for their next project.

Grab a Gift Card

Community Book Of Templates

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

Learn more about the book

Community Book of Templates: Volume TWO

The same vibe as the first edition with a whole new set of templates, artists and fun!

Learn more about the book

Community Vook of Templates: Third volume

Same same but all circular radial symmetry patterns AND instructions on how to draw your own mandala’s!

Learn more about the Book

Presence

All Art Deco inspired circular radial symmetry patterns AND instructions on how to draw your own mandala’s!

Check out the book here

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From Artist to Author Book Publishing Summit

A first-of-its-kind virtual book publishing summit just for artists

This is a unique event that is for those who have ever dreamed of writing and publishing their own book!

Learn how to create your own best-selling book as we spend 5 days with 30+ of the top published artists and industry experts in the field.

Meet the Speakers

I will be among those interviewed! Here is the lineup of the amazing artists and authors who will be sharing their experience in writing their own books:

Ali Kriegsman - @alikriegs

Sarah Simon - @themintgardener

Alli Koch - @allikdesign

Miranda Anderson - @livefreemiranda

Cori George - @heyletsmakestuff

Andrea Pippins - @andreapippins

Josh Ryan - @imakethangs

Jen and Amy Hood - @hoodzpahdesign

Morgan MacDonald - @paperravenbooksteam

Liz Kohler Brown - @lizkohlerbrown

Katerina Popova - @katerinaspopova

Jeanetta Gonzales - @nettdesigns

Jessica Hische - @jessicahische

Melissa Iwai - @melissaiwai1

Melanie LeBarge - @melanie.labarge

Caroline Corrigan - @carolinecorrigan

Jessica Mack - @brownpaperbunny

Curtis Canham - @curtiscanham

Samantha Nielsen - @sj_nielsen

Olivia Herrick - @olivaherrickdesign

Erin McManness - @paperraven.co

Sarah Sax - @sarahsaxart

Katie Vaz - @katiemarievaz

Becky Simpson - @beckymsimps

Alyce Zawacki - @attorneyforcreatives

Lisa Congdon - @lisacongdon

Kate Woodrow - @presentperfectlit

Brooke Robinson - @goodtype

Lindsay Wilkes-Edrington - @bluestarpress

Brenna Licalzi - @bluestarpress

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TIER ONE

CliffsNotes

$97

Access to the
3 Featured Sessions

You’ll get live access (plus recordings) of the three featured sessions by Jessica Hische, Lisa Congdon, and The Hood Sisters

Great if you just wanna dip your toes in…

TIER TWO

Bookworm

$247

Live Access to the
Full Summit

You’ll get live access to the entire 5 day summit, plus recordings of the three featured sessions by Jessica Hische, Lisa Congdon, and The Hood Sisters

Great option if you can make it live!

TIER THREE

Unabridged

$297

Live Access to the Full Summit + Replay Vault

You’ll get live access to the entire 5 day summit plus 1 year of access to recordings of every session in our replay vault.

Best for serious learning & long-term success!

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Comparison Is The Thief of Joy - Theodore Roosevelt

Social Media makes it really easy to fall into the comparison game. It is a dangerous game to play, because there will always be someone who you think is doing better than you, prettier, making more money, etc. Don’t compare your real life to their highlight reel!

Remember, that social media is not real life.

Whenever you are feeling that comparison pull, focus on YOUR goals, and try not to get roped into what everyone else is doing. If you allow yourself to compare to others, you will end up chasing their dreams instead of your own.

In order to take care of your business, and your art, you must first take care of yourself. You won't be able to do anything to the best of your ability if you are not physically or mentally well. Even though we don't always put it first, our well-being is quite important.

Just like the airlines tell you, put your oxygen mask on first. This is because you can't help anyone else, if you don't take care fo yourself first.

If you are anything like me, this is difficult, but it is necessary to work at my best.

• Pay attention to your body

• Pay attention to your mind

• Utilize safety equipment

• Practice good ergonomics

• Stretch and strengthen your body

• Mind your social media consumption

• Eat well

• Drink water

• Take breaks

• Be kind to yourself

YOU are precious.

It is important to take care of YOU.

MENTAL HEALTH suggestions for small businesses:

1. Take social media breaks.

2. Remind yourself that this is YOUR business, and you can take days off if you want to. You are the boss.

3. Do not follow people who make you feel bad no matter the reason. Your mental health is more important than that follow.

4. Follow people who inspire, uplift, and motivate you.

5. Connect with people! Use social media, for social connection. It will change the game for you. Use DM's more than you scroll.

6. Comparison is the thief of joy. Remember to keep your head in your lane. You can look to the right and left of you for inspiration and to cheer on your fellow maker/small business, but really you should be looking in front of you to see where you are going, and behind you to remind yourself of how far you have come.

7. Get involved in the community. Make friends. Talk shop. It really helps.

8. And please, seek professional help if you need it! There is no shame in seeking mental health assistance. I see a therapist weekly, and take daily medication. There is no shame in taking care of you, and you will run a better business if you put yourself first!
   
   Take care of your body and your mind, whatever that means to you. It's worth it. How do you take care of yourself?

Interview with Shelly Kim of Letters by Shells

This interview with Shelly Kim of @lettersbyshells is a discovery of how Shelly became a successful artist and the ups and downs of her artistic journey. We talk how Shelly started making money with her artwork and she turned her passion into money!

Follow Shelly @lettersbyshells + @learnletteringtoday

Visit her Website: lettersbyshells.com

Shop Lettering Workbooks

Buy Shelly’s Book: Digital Hand Lettering and Modern Calligraphy

Listen in on how Shelly created a successful community through social media, how important it is to have peers in the same field and so much more on switching your hobby into your full time business.

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.

Burnt October 2021

Burnt October 2021 was amazing! Held on Instagram, #burntoctober is an every-other-day art challenge for wood burning artists of all stages. It was created for artists to push their craft, expand their portfolios with new art, gain followers, try new things, meet fellow pyrographers, sell art, and have a lot of fun. Scroll to the bottom to see the featured artists!

This is a sponsored challenge and post from our friends at Walnut Hollow, the amazing makers of excellent wood surfaces and wood burning products like the wood and burner in this photo of the amazing prompts we have for you next month. These prompts were all requests from Burn Club+ members, and I personally can not wait to see what artists create with them.

It is a full month of creativity, and a ton of fun. I really hope you join in!

You do not have to participate in the entire month to join, but we hope you do. You also do not need to be a professional pyrographer to join in the fun. If you have a burner, I hope you give it a try.

How it works: Every-other-day post your piece of art that was created for that particular prompt. Be sure to use the #burntoctober hashtag and mention @woodburncorner and our sponsor @walnuthollow in your post. We will both be featuring artists who participate ALL MONTH LONG on our respective Instagram accounts in both stories and posts.

the challenge begins October 1, 2021

I am so pleased to have Walnut Hollow(@walnuthollow) once again sponsor this Burnt October challenge on Instagram for so many reasons. My favorite wood, and the tool that I suggest all pyrographers should own, are made by this company. (Basswood and Versatool - Both shown in the prompt image above). Walnut Hollow is incredible to work with, and it is clear they really care about their customers and community. Go check them out and all of their other offerings at walnuthollow.com.

If you would like to see what I specifically recommend on their website, head to the Wood Burn Corner section on walnuthollow.com.

DID I MENTION….. if you want a shot at winning a G I V E A W A Y box full of goodies from Walnut Hollow and a signed copy of my book, The Wood Burn Book, be sure to share this the official prompts image (above) on Instagram (or share our post) using #burntoctober and mentioning both your host @woodburncorner and our sponsor @walnuthollow before October 1st. And you will have another chance to win more goodies at the end of the month.

Cant wait to see what you aLL create.

happy burning!

Check out past Burnt Month Challenges here

Check out the Burnt October Sponsor’s Website, walnuthollow.com here

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Featured Artists for Burnt October 2021

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Sanding Your Wood: Before and After You Burn + Prepping Wood Surfaces for Pyrography

Sanding, like it or hate it, is a part of being a wood burning artist. Sanding your wood before and after you burn can make your entire piece and your burn lines crisper.

A smooth wood surface will help you create a smoother, better burn. It is worth the time it takes to make it smooth, trust us.

There are some things you can do to make the job a little easier on yourself. See the steps below to getting the perfect surface to burn on:

Prepare the workspace

Place the wood slice on a flat and stable surface that won't move during sanding. You may want to clamp it down to keep it steady.

SAFETY FIRST!

Make sure you are in a well ventilated space, have an air purifier if sharing the space and you are wearing proper safety equipment. Something to protect your eyes and your lungs. Do it every time. The last thing you want is for your art to cause you harm. Protect yourself!

My favourite mask to use for everything I do with pyrography is RZ Mask. The M2 model is my favourite because it fits with my top pun or pony tail but they have so many to choose from and in so many different colors... They all have activated carbon filters which are replaceable and the mesh mask shell and valves are washable and reusable. They are comfortable, breathable and are 99% efficient against particulates down to 0.1 microns in size.

Choose the right sandpaper

The type of sandpaper you use will depend on how rough the surface of the wood slice is. Start with a coarse grit sandpaper (60-80 grit) and gradually move to a finer grit (120-150 grit) for a smoother finish.

I love THIS bundle from amazon. It comes with a variety if you want to try it out on the wood you have. Some woods need more TLC and others come already very smooth.

Understanding Grit:

In the US grit is determined based on a scale. When shopping for sandpaper, you’ll see numbers such as 80-grit, 100-grit, or 200-grit. Keep in mind:

• The higher the number, the smaller the grains and the finer the sandpaper grit.

• The lower numbers indicate larger grains and overall coarser sandpaper

Generally you want to start out with a lower grit (coarser sandpaper). This helps to get rid of any larger scuffs, scratch marks, bumps and/or irregularities. Then you will want to increase the grit and finish off with a finer, more gentle sandpaper to get that ultra smooth finish.

Always sand with the grain of the wood, not against

Sand your pieces before you do any wood burning to ensure clean and crisp lines. A smooth surface will be much easier to burn on, and will create a better result.

Begin sanding the wood slice using the coarse grit sandpaper. Work in the direction of the grain and use a back-and-forth motion. Sand any rough spots until they are smooth.

Once you've sanded the rough spots with the coarse sandpaper, switch to a finer grit sandpaper. Continue sanding until the surface is smooth and free of any scratches.

Finish with the finest grit for the ultimate smoothness

For an extra-smooth finish, use the finest grit sandpaper (220 grit) to sand the surface once more at the end. This will remove any remaining scratches and leave the surface with a smooth texture.

Clean the surface

Wipe off any dust and debris from the wood slice with a clean microfiber cloth (an old dry toothbrush helps to get into the cracks if the cloth cannot). You can also use an air compressor to get rid of any dust. Be careful to not get too close to the bark on a live edge wood slice. The strong air may remove delicate bark pieces and can come off. If you don’t have access to an air compressor, use a brush to sweep of the dust or, better yet, use a bristle attachment on a vacuum to safely capture the dust.

Sanding Tools

Please note these are Amazon Affiliate links. We only share items that we have used and love!

In the video below, I used:

RZ Mask: RZ Mask rocks! My first mask was the M2 but i also like the M1 as it has the ear straps which fit nicely. They have loads of different styles and sizes to choose from!

Dewalt Oribit Sander

Course Sandpaper: 80-100 grit and Fine Grit Sandpaper: 240 grit (here is a good variety pack!)

Sanding after you wood burn a piece

Sanding a piece after you burn removes any tracing lines as well as “overburn.” (Overburn, as you can see here on the left) is when you have a browning coloration right next to your burn line on the surface). Sanding your piece after you burn it gives your piece crisper and finer lines.

Use a 200-grit or 220-grit sandpaper (the finer the better) and remember to be super gentle when sanding at this stage, especially if you don’t burn very deep.

If you have any shading or surface burn lines, they may come off, so really; go light and slow here.

Watch how I sand my wood slices before I burn on them!

more Fun tips and tricks

Sanding sponge versus sanding block:

Since sponges form to your hand, a block sand paper will allow you to put in less effort and ensures you are sanding flat and not creating any divots. Try wrapping a sandpaper sheet to a scrap wood if you don’t have a pre-made sanding block (use a tube or pvc pipe instead of a block for contoured wood pieces)

Sanding power tools:

These come in handy! Especially if you prefer to sand your pieces in “batch work” style, meaning you sand a whole bunch all at once. I recommend this, because it is a time saver. You only have to get dirty once, you only have to pull out the tools once, and clean up the mess once. Then you have a stack of ready to go canvases. It’s awesome.

The Wood Burn Community Book of Templates

This book is a dream realized: a pyrography book of templates created by our community for the community.

This book of templates is a beautiful collection of designs for artists at all stages from our incredibly talented and diverse community.

The Wood Burn Community Book of Templates features pyrography design patterns created by the community for the community. It showcases 57 original templates from 34 wood burning artists from around the globe, with the intention of helping artists of all skill levels past, present, and future to hone their craft, try new styles, and make beautiful art through collaboration. This collection of designs include mandalas, florals, animals, nature pieces, frames, and more.

Check out #thewoodburncommunitybook on instagram to view completed projects!

Every one-of-a-kind piece of art you create from these community templates is a collaboration! Each design can be interpreted in an infinite number of ways.

The artists featured in the template book are below. Please click the links and give them a follow!

@woodburncorner

@RiverValleyPyro

@OdinaWoodArt

@prettyful.creations

@sweetpeachburns

@kraftinwithkate

@BlindLove.WoodBurning

@Rankie_Doodles

@knotsandembers

@squeakys_cauldron

@daniellesabroad

@finelinepyro

@The.Wandering.Pyro

@StingReaStudios

@BurnedByBri

@itsdavidandrenee

@Mysticwoodburns

@mosstangle

@mapleandfernco

@ArtByMahealani

@onecreativebee

@birchplease_creations

@Csharpcreations

@jaytref

@ThimbleWhim

@brandyroels

@ShinautDesignsLLC

@ReSaArtHouse

@Pyropaintpatterns

@SheMakes.Art

@iissalissa

@BurnedByRenee

@Calisanja

@bonidutch

Rachel Strauss, author of The Wood Burn Book, founder of Burn Club and Wood Burn Corner, also includes a basic wood burning quickstart guide, and provides you with a list of essential materials needed for pyrography. She offers information on getting involved in the community, before presenting you with a feast of artwork, each begging to become your next creation!

Want more patterns?

Check out all the TEMPLATE books or VISIT the templates store full of individual patterns for sale

Looking for Rachel’s first book; The Wood Burn Book?

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10 Pyrography Book Recommendations

There are so many pyrography books out there and it can be difficult to choose which to own. Well, lucky for you, I have gone through almost all of them (seriously, I own over 20 pyrography books!) and have picked out my top ten favorite pyrography books.

When I set out to write my book, The Wood Burn Book, I knew I wanted something that was different. My style of pyrography didn’t feel like the rest of the books out there. I wanted something that fit my style. Something that felt fresh, clean, modern, and jam packed full of the best information. I wanted something that involved our awesome community. I wanted to showcase the versatility of pyrography and the infinite number of ways you can use it. I wanted to give the reader all the information they need to create beautiful pieces of art from wood and burner to literal finish, and I am beyond proud of the finished product. The Wood Burn Book truly is an essential guide to pyrography, and I hope you pick yourself up a copy.

You should also check out The Wood Burn Community Book of Templates Series. This gem includes over 50 designs from 34 different pyrographers for you to practice your pyro skills with patterns you will actually enjoy burning!

While The Wood Burn Book is my favorite pyrography book, I also have many others that I think are fabulous for people wanting to learn this craft. Introducing my list of Top Ten Pyrography Books. *These are Amazon Affiliate links, and they will take you directly to Amazon where you can purchase them

Top 10 Pyrography Books:

1. The Wood Burn Book - Rachel Strauss

2. Drawing with Fire - Aney Carver

3. Yearn to Burn - Simon Easton

4. Art and Craft of Pyrography - Lora S. Irish

5. Woodburning Realistic Animals - Minisa Robinson

6. Pyrography Workbook a Complete Guide - Sue Walters

7. Learn to Burn a Step by Step Guide - Simon Easton

8. Creative Woodburning - Bee Locke

9. WoodBurning Projects and Patterns For Beginners - Minisa Robinson

10. Big Book of Pyrography - Pyrography Magazine

If I could only choose 3, I would go with: The Wood Burn Book - Rachel Strauss, Creative Woodburning - Bee Locke and Woodburning Realistic Animals - Minisa Robinson but you really can’t go wrong with any of the books listed above.

11 Runner Ups:

1. Pyrography Basics - Lora S. Irish

2. The Little Book of Pyrography - Lora S. Irish

3. Woodburning Realistic People - Jo Schwartz

4. Pyrography Patterns - Sue Walters

5. Woodburning Project and Pattern Treasury - Deborah Pompano

6. Landscape Pyrography Techniques and Projects - Lora S. Irish

7. Solid-Point Pyrogpraphy - Lisa Shackleton

8. Pyrography - 18 Step-by-step Projects to Make - Bob Neill

9. Great Book of Woodburning - Lora S. Irish

10. The Wood Burning Community Book of Templates - Rachel Strauss and Basia Chmielowiec

If you buy any books from these awesome authors, make sure to leave them a review, and happy burning!

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WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WOOD BURNING AND IMPROVE PYROGRAPHY SKILLS?

Grow with the community: Join Burn Club, a place where you can ask questions, and get the full answers, a place of fun and learning (just scroll to the bottom)

Interview with Peggy Dean of The Pigeon Letters

This interview with Peggy Dean of @thepigeonletters covers so many different topics. Peggy Dean is a powerhouse, and I am so excited for you to learn from her. If you aren't in her membership service, The Flock, following her on social, own any of her books, or learn from her dozens and dozens of classes on Skillshare, you are missing out! This is a woman who believes in the power of community and information sharing, and she doesn't hold anything back in this interview. I hope you enjoy.

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.

The Wood Burn Box: A Starter Kit for Beginners

Wouldn’t it be nice to just get a package containing everything you need to dive into the art of pyrography??

With this box, there is no wondering if this is the right pyrography pen. No waffling over what types of wood you should buy. No need to do google search deep dives into wood burning necessities.

The Wood Burn Box is THE complete starter kit.

I have taken all the guess work out of starting this fun hobby with this box. Wood burning is such a relaxing and calming hobby, but finding the right tools can be difficult.

You get to dive right in with this Starter Kit, right when you open the box.

This is so much more than just a Starter Wood Burning Kit, it is also a wood sample pack (5 varieties of wood) and instructional guide.

Over the past 10 years of practicing pyrography, I have found the best tools, woods, suppliers, and techniques so you don’t have to go through all the pain, time, money and frustration that goes into guessing. Not only do you get set up with the right tools, and instruction with this kit, but you also get the information you need to obtain more supplies.

This is the box I wish existed when I started wood burning.

What’s included?

• Instructions

• Original WBC designs for practice

• Walnut Hollow Versa Tool wood burner tool

• 5 different types of my favorite wood to burn

• Embossing tools

• Tombow sand eraser

• Graphite paper

• Washi tape

• Sanding block

• Brass brush

**At this time the box is out of stock**

In order to help guide you on the tools and materials you need, we have created a DIY box which provides all the links and RESOURCES to make your own pyrography kit.

So what Else can I make with this BOX?

The starter kit comes with designs you can use to practice. Once you’ve gotten your feet wet, make sure to check out The Burn Blog which has project ideas such as

• adorable Mini Fridge Magnets

• Custom Canvas Backpack

• Poppy Wall Art Project with free patterns and designs

• FREE tutorials and online classes to make your own wood slice art pieces

• tons of inspiration

and much more so stay tuned as new project ideas and pyrography information are being added regularly!

Customer Reviews

The Crafters Box - Crafting Done Right

The Crafters Box is an amazing small business run by female entrepreneurs that support handmade makers. It is a service where they provide AMAZING, high-end, slow-craft kits with accompanying videos by experts to teach the new and interesting crafts, like pyrography.

I was tapped to do an introduction to a wood burning class, and you can find it and the add-on wood items here. The quality of materials The Crafters Box uses is so good. Everything is well thought out, and their attention to detail shows.

There are also so many incredible crafts to try. I, myself have tried my hand at spoon carving, geometric painting, color-blocked landscapes, quilling, and a couple others…

Use this link, and check out all the amazing classes The Crafter’s Box has to offer.

These kits and classes are crafting done right! I know you will enjoy them as much as I have been enjoying them.

Check out all that The Crafter’s Box has to offer here.