Design Teams

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Dreamtime Design Craft Challenges

Welcome to our Dreamtime Design Craft Challenge for December!  We sure hope you enjoy this one.  Our theme is "Christmas ~ Use a New Technique".

When I first started to really think about something new I would like to do, I was at a loss.  So, I hopped on the internet and started checking out all kinds of crafts and techniques.  At first I thought maybe I would do a gingerbread house, as I had never done one.  But in the process of looking at designs and instructions to make one, I came across this technique!  It is designing with frosting!  Yes, Frosting!  Royal frosting made with meringue powder and powdered sugar.  The results were amazing!  When I saw this picture of a church made with it I was sold:


The first thing I did was print out the pattern for all of the pieces I planed to make; roof, steeple, cross, 2 sides, front & back, and trees.


Then I cut all the pieces out of paper and assembled them to make a model and be sure all the pieces fit and were of the right size ~ they were!



I got all the supplies I needed to make the church:

The recipe for the frosting
Disposable Plastic Decorating Bags
#3 Frosting Tip & Screw Tops To Hold The Tip To Bag
Cardboard Pieces
Wax Paper & Tape
Printed Pattern Pieces
LOTS OF PATIENCE!!!

First tape you pattern pieces to the cardboard for stability and cover with wax paper.  Be sure it is secured snugly.  Make your frosting and put it in the assembled decorating bag.  Start squeezing the bag to get a nice flow and cover every line of your pattern pieces.


I designed the stain glass windows from examples give in pictures:


After you have done your pieces make sure you let them dry for at least 24 hrs.  I then used a large, thin spatula to gently insert under the pieces to lift them off of the wax paper.  Work VERY slowly, don't rush it!  It is very, very delicate!  There will be breakage, but they can be done again.  It is time consuming but not difficult!

Now it is time to assemble the pieces.  Patience is your best friend, lol.  You "glue" all of the pieces together with more frosting and let dry.  I added tissue paper to the inside of my stained glass windows for some color.


I then made a base to sit the church on from foam board and covered it with aluminum foil.  I cut a hole in the middle to put a candle in so the church would glow from within!  I sprayed it all with fake snow.  Next I needed to put on the roof and the steeple.  Time to sit the church upright and begin.



 Oh so VERY gently I put it on the base.  I started to glue on the roof pieces.  One went on very well, the other would not quit slipping down.  I decided to tilt it to more of a flat angel so it wouldn't slip so much.  Then the WORST that could happen DID!


WAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!

Oh well, doodoo happens, lol!  I have to tell you I was a bit upset, only because I was so looking forward to the final result.  But you know, these are the things that can happen when you try a new technique!  Practice, practice and MORE practice, lol!  I learned a LOT on what to do and NOT to do.  The most important thing is DO NOT RUSH what you are doing, and you have to have the lightest angels touch when handling your pieces!  GO SLOW and GENTLY!  I will do it again, but will do it on a smaller scale.  Large pieces are VERY hard to work with as they are sooooooo delicate!

Here are a couple of the trees that were going to be placed around the church, they survived, LOL!  I would love to do a few little houses and the church and make it like a village.....  Some day!



To sum it all up, I will say I VERY much enjoyed the project even though it ended in catastrophe!  When doing a new technique it is a LEARNING experience, and I learned a lot!  So, goal completed!

HAPPY CRAFTING!!!


Sunday, November 24, 2013

Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenge #53 So Grateful

I apologize for this post being late.  But, you know how life goes along and all is well, and then it just explodes, lol!  Well, this past week that's what it it for me.  Thankfully I think all is under control again, but it sure messed up my crafting time!

On to our great current challenge at CC&CC!  What are YOU grateful for?  I'm sure there are many things in your life you are blessed with.  Now is your chance to express it in a card!

Our super sponsor is Stamp Fairy.  Such adorable images they have!  The one I am using is called Molly Throughout The Year - May, and she sure is a cutie!  I did a double gate fold card to show her off!




We sure would love to have you join us at CC&CC and see what you are thankful for!
Have a GREAT Thanksgiving!!!


Friday, November 8, 2013

Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenge #52 Monochromatic and Great News!

Can you believe we are into November already?!!  I swear, the older I get the faster time goes by.  So I guess I better get right down to business!

First I want to announce that CC&CC has THREE NEW DT MEMBERS!  We are so happy to welcome Cindy, Mikha and Samantha to our team.  Be sure to stop by and meet them!  And while you are there take a look at the great cards all of our DT have done for you.  Join in the fun and play along with us!

For our first challenge in November CC&CC is doing a monochromatic theme.  I like doing these, but sometimes they me think a bit harder.  Our lovely digi images were provided by our sponsor Robyn's Fetish, and the one I chose is called "Cornucopia" and is perfect for Thanksgiving.  Now usually when I look at an image like this one, I imagine it colored with lovely Autumn colors.  But for this challenge I couldn't do that.  So on went the thinking cap!  I decided on brown as my basic color.  Burlap and jute are really a hot item right now, and I just happened to have purchased some!  It looked perfect with the shades of brown.  I attached a burlap flower and added a gold turkey charm, then wove some dark brown ribbon through the burlap piece.  The image is printed directly on to the patterned paper and then run through my Cutlebug with a die for the shape.  The sentiment was a small stamp I had in my stash.


I am very pleased with the result, and want to do some more Thanksgiving cards with the burlap.  I really like the texture and the way it looks.

One of our DT members has been ill and could not complete her card.  So I used the digi assigned to her and made a second card with the image.  The digi is called "Welcome Fall Turkey".



Be sure to come over to CC&CC and show us your monochromatic creation, and maybe win some great digis of your choice from Roby's Fetish!  And while you are there grab our blinkie for on your sidebar!