These are beautiful custom cookies. And you don't have to have almost any frosting skills in order to make them! Yay! It's easy when you have a ScanNCut. Check out the video for the instructions:
I tested this process by making cookies with my logo and discovered that screenprinting directly onto iced cookies didn't work for me:
I was ready to scrap the process until I decided to roll out some fondant and see if it was the surface I was printing on rather than my technique. And it was!
I used both store bought (pink) fondant and homemade marshmallow (white) fondant:
It seemed to work equally well on the two types of fondant. Though, I did find that I personally preferred the brighter printing on a white background. But, I think they both look great!
Here's a quick visual guide to the process:
And if you don't want to print on cookies, remember you can screenprint on almost anything!
Thanks for stopping by! Let me know if you have ScanNCut questions!
---
P.S. I am a paid spokesperson for the Brother ScanNCut. It is a machine that I love and use. All projects and opinions are my own.
If you're new to Art Journal Every Day, there is a short introduction here. All of the previous posts can be found archived here. Remember, it's just ten minutes of nourishing your creative self every day! No need to finish anything or even like it. If you've done some art journaling this week, use the hashtag #artjournaleveryday so that we can all take a peek. Even if you're not on social media, you can see everything (from twitter, pinterest, instagram, and facebook) that uses that hashtag here.
I've got more pages from my Gelli Journal to show you today! My Gelli Journal is a journal that I prep by printing directly in it from a gelatin plate. Then I take the journal on the road with me to sketch and doodle in airplanes, on trains, in hotel rooms, etc. It's a great travel project and I have to confess to sitting in one too many hotel rooms Netflix bingeing while I play in my Gelli Journal!
You can probably tell, I sketched this first figure from a lingerie ad in a magazine:
I did this tree sometime around Halloween. It's appropriate for the holiday, right?
One of my favorite sayings and something I believe to be true. The question is why everyone doesn't feel that way?
And finally, flowers, flowers, flowers! I will never tire of flowers -- drawn or real.
As you can see, I draw faces, do lettering, doodle flowers, and have a good time in my Gelli Journal. It really can be anything that you want. It's super flexible. My online class about the process begins tomorrow!
Here's what to expect from class:
There are more than 30 HD instructional videos.
What you see in these photos and video is just a tiny taste of what awaits in the classroom!
The online classroom is packed with written tips and take aways.
You can leave comments and questions and interact with other students, just as you would on a blog.
The first half of the class is all about gelatin printing directly into a sketchbook -- how to make sure you get the crack, how to fix problems that occur, how to create layers of color and pattern, how to keep pages from sticking together, etc.
Whether you're an experienced gelatin printer or you've never ever tried it before, this class is for you. Experienced printers will proceed through the gelatin printing section quickly and less experienced or brand new printers will take their time going lesson-by-lesson.
The second half of the class is all about creating pictures in your printed journal.
You do not have to know how to draw. I share methods for creating pictures by stamping and stenciling -- there's even a video on creating a stencil from a photograph!
If you want to try drawing, I share how to combine simple shapes to create wonderful pictures.
I share my tips on embellishing your pictures with gel pens, paint markers, and more.
I focus in on correcting "mistakes" (aka happy accidents) and getting the results that you want.
Take as much time as you want or need to complete the course. Once you purchase "Gelli Journals," you have lifetime access.
PLEASE NOTE: The first four videos of this class have some auto-focus issues and so they go in and out of focus, as you can see in this YouTube video. If the bouncing bothers you, do not sign up for class. No refunds will be given.
Class begins December 1, 2018 (tomorrow).
$200 Early Bird Pricing (Nov 1, 2018 - Nov 30, 2018) $125 - today is the last day!! To get a $75 discount, use this code: EarlyGelli
Hello, friends! Here's a little bit about life right now:
What are you listening to?
Literally -- at this very moment of writing this blog post -- I've got my Pandora classical music station blasting. I find that I can't listen to music with words when I'm writing. It creates a conflict in my brain and I stop being able to think.
What are you wearing?
This coat.
And I'm looking really smug in the photo because I moved the buttons all by myself instead of taking it to a tailor. Me and my sewing machine are definitely becoming better and better friends!
What have you bought?
Technically, I didn't buy it. Steve bought it for me. But I am love with this big wool shawl that he bought me when we were in Ireland!
What are you reading?
I finally finished The Sleepwalker's Guide to Dancing. I've been reading it for MONTHS. It's a really good book, but it contains a lot of tragedy and I kept having to put it down because it was upsetting me -- especially towards the end. When I finally finished the book, I was in a public waiting room. And I cried. It was awkward. Good writing can really move you.
Who are you stalking...er, admiring from afar?
Lately I've really been into Sarah Golden. Here's a peek at some of her work:
There's a kind of effortless-ness about her work that I like so much. It's quirky and colorful and I even find the flat-ness of her work deeply appealing.
So, there you have it! That's the scoop on life around here at the moment. If you'd like more behind-the-scenes real life fun, you can always check out my vlog. I post a new vlog to my YouTube channel every Wednesday! This is the most recent vlog:
It's after Thanksgiving! That means it's almost time for #CarveDecember!
WHAT: Every day in December we carve a stamp and post it online.
WHO: Everyone is welcome to join. New stamp carvers will develop their skills quickly and experienced stamp carvers will sharpen those skills. Everyone will connect with new friends!
NEW: You've asked and so I've answered. Here is a list of 31 prompts which you are welcome to use to help shape your daily carving. If you're not a prompt person, don't feel obligated to use the list.
HOW: Post a photo of the stamp you've carved to your instagram account. Use the hashtag #CarveDecember so that everyone in the group can find what you've done. In my experience, the #CarveDecember crew is warm and generous.
Here's a quick list of things you can do to have a great #CarveDecember experience:
Gather Your Supplies
When working on a daily project, I find it easiest if I have all the supplies I need right at hand so I can sit down and get to work. Even if you don't have a dedicated art space, you can quite easily fit a stamp carving kit into a shoebox or a tote bag. I take my stamp carving supplies all over the world with me -- just remember to pack your blades in your checked luggage. Even if you're traveling during December, you *can* carve a stamp every single day! All you need is your kit and a table.
Here's what's in my carving kit (links to brands I use):
I like to make a plan. But I also like to remember that it's okay to deviate from the plan. The plan should be helpful, and not feel like it's strangling or constricting you.
Some things to plan:
Pick a time of day to carve. For example, I do best if I get it out of the way first thing in the morning. Other people have told me that they like to do it as an after dinner activity or a lunch break activity.
Make a list of stamps you'd like to create. For example, I'm longing for some new number stamps. There are also some simple border stamps I'd like to create for my art journal. And I need to create a stamp or two for this year's holiday cards. What's on your list of "stamps I'd like to own?" Write them down so you have some ideas for what to carve. Nothing is worse than sitting down to create and not having any ideas. This is also where the prompts can help you. Use the list to generate ideas.
Gather inspiration. Start a Pinterest Board dedicated to #CarveDecember. (You can see mine here.) Or go analog and start collecting images from magazines, taking photos, or even starting with some sketches. There's nothing wrong with copying as long as you site the source of your inspiration.
Plan ahead for the hard days. December is a busy month. But some days are busier than others. When I know that I have a crazy day coming towards me, I grab my list of quick and easy stamps. Generally speaking, these are stamps that are small -- about an inch -- and simple -- stripes, dots, etc. They still look great, but I can get them done from carve to print in less than 15 minutes. For example:
You can also visit YouTube for tons of FREE video tutorials on stamp carving!
I really hope you'll join us for #CarveDecember! It's fun and easy and you end the month with an amazing collection of unique hand carved stamps, whether you carved every day or just a few days!
Are you planning to join in this year? Let me know!
REMEMBER: You do NOT have to carve every single day to participate. Even if you just get in 1 or 2 stamps, you are most welcome!
My goal with this project is not to put anybody through a painful bootcamp. Rather, I want to show people how easy and fun and quick stamp carving really is!
For the past few weeks, Steve and I have been taking a wheel throwing class at the Mosesian Center for the Arts.
It has been a wonderful and terrible experience. This is our teacher, Maeve: And this is the pottery studio:
We got super lucky and no other students signed up. So, Steve and I have had a private class all to ourselves!
I am the worst potter.
Not that it's a competition, but I'm clearly in last place. I've been impressed with Steve -- who is not an artist and has never done wheel throwing before. He has taken to throwing, like a duck to water.
I, on the other hand, am flopping around endlessly. I mean, look at these beasts:
I actually think it's good for me. As a teacher, it's good for me to remember what it's like to really struggle and how it feels to be embarrassed by what you're creating.
While there's no doubt that I struggle with throwing round pots with vertical walls (though, I am getting better), I loooooove the decorating portion of making pottery (big surprise). It's amazing what whittling away at a leather hard piece can do:
I love that I can fix all the problems I create for myself in the finishing stages. Adding decoration definitely makes the misshapen nature of my vessels less obvious.
I've also been experimenting with how underglazes and glazes combine -- the rules of color mixing apply here as well. We have a great resource in class, which is these tiles that show how the different underglazes and glazes combine.
The purple is the underglaze. The light blue is the glaze. And the cobalt blue is how they combine. Pretty cool!
Our last class is tomorrow and I haven't finished a single piece yet! I'm going to have work fast tomorrow and get everything into the kiln. I'll be sure to show you the results in a few weeks!
And despite my grumblings about being terrible at it, I really am enjoying it so much!
Please note that some links on this blog contain affiliate links and I receive a small percentage of those sales. Rest assured, I never recommend a product that I don't believe in. :)
