Thursday 29 January 2015

So it was my little one's 5th birthday on Saturday - I've decided to give him a Pirate Party. I hired a hall and set about making the decorations, I also planned to bake the cake myself. A bit terrifying (the cake - I've never made one quite as big) - 24 kids and parents to eat on it.

Of cause I couldn't just stick with a tray bake - oh no ... it had to be a Pirate ship!

I first started with the ships for the tables - I bought 4 paper mache sailing ships and decorated it. I plan to attach the balloons to it.



I created a holder to keep the boat secure and covered it with some tissue paper - then added glass marbles to weight the bottom of the boat so the balloons don't lift the boat off the table.

Next I bought few paper mache treasure chests - just painted it and added jewels and a skewer to hold the balloons.




Finally the cake - I was so pleased it all turned out ok. I baked it in a roasting tray - I needed a big pan but didn't want to spend £12.00 on one cake tin. It turned out really well. I baked two 9" x 12" Madeira cakes then froze them. Its easier to cut the shape the cake if you do this.

I iced it with Buttercream icing and this is how it turned out.




I added the paper sails and there you have it. One pirate ship cake for my cheeky little monkey.

I sprayed some Oreo cookies with some gold spray and had instant "doubloons" to add to the main table - I also covered flavoured water with pirate labels I printed off the internet, to add to the main table again.





The party went down and storm and the cake was lovely and moist and everyone loved it.

Some party pics.






Right I'm off to pick the boys up from school.

Happy Crafting.
Fae x

Monday 19 January 2015

New Year and new crafting goals - I've decided to just do the crafty things I'm in the mood for and not be dictated to by the dreaded "must finish this!!!"

This invariably leads to the mojo packing it's bags and going on holiday. I'm left staring at half finished pages "that just don't work!"

Since adopting this new philosophy - things has been much calmer and I actually created various items.

I made more journals -


I worked on several pages and stopped when I got bored or just didn't know how to move the page along.








And last but not least - I practised drawing faces. Oh my word - who knew one could be so BAD at drawing. Since this blog is ALL about the warts ... here a a few of my (and I use this word in the most loosest of terms!) drawings.










There you have it - not very good, but the most surprising thing happened. It got better - the more I practised! I will upload the latest drawings soon - just for comparison.

Motto for the day - " If at first you don't succeed ... try try and try again" - (In my case it was rinse and repeat for almost a year!

Right I'm off to do something creative.

Stay crafty,
Fae xxx