Extra, Extra!!! Read all about it!

The fabulous Cake Masters magazine's latest and greatest publication is out and guess what?!  It is a special COOKIE EDITION!  How cool is that?  It is chock full of amazing features, interviews, pictures, recipes, even a tutorial by SweetAmbs!  The cookiers featured are Marielle of De Koekenbakkers, Julia Usher, Marian of Sweetopia, Joanna of The Biscuit Box, Melissa of The Baked Equation, Kim of Sugar Rush Custom Cookies, Tracy of Whisked Away Cookies, and Hannah of Made With Love by Me along with caker features of Peggy Does Cake and Couture Cakes by Rose.

INCREDIBLE RIGHT?!

Did I mention I'm in there too?  My kids were pretty impressed.

So, Rosie so sweetly sent me an extra copy to giveaway!  All you have to do is enter below through the handy dandy rafflecopter widget below.  There are several ways to enter and they are easy peasy.  Anyone can enter, all I ask is that you are human, like cookies, and live on planet earth... I'm kinda picky like that.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!
If you don't win and want to order your own copy of Cake Masters here is a link to get your very own shiny, glossy magazine.
http://www.cakemasters.co.uk/magazine/

Catch up, Catch up... Mustard, Mustard

It's no secret I've been neglecting you Blog and I'm here to say, "Sorry boo."  We're like good friends who used to talk all the time, but lost touch for a bit, but we're back together now and we can get right back on track where we left off.

...awkward silence...

Okay, so we have a leetle catching up to do, so here goes:

I taught my parents to cookie and my dad made this adorable sun bonnet cutter... out of a can!
(Can we say "GUEST BLOG POST" by my dad?!

For my sweet friend Lorraine of Lorraine's Cookies in memory of her mom.

Boer goat birthday cookies... man's best friend.

Made for my sweet friend Anita's of Sweet Hope Cookies to help with her efforts to raise money for the ALS foundation

Tale as old as time with a modern twist for Princes Beatrix's birthday.

What a great experience to meet so many of my amazing cookie friends in PA in April!  So much crazy, sleep-deprived fun!

Whew!  That was a little overwhelming, and I'm sure I missed some things, but that should give you an idea of what I've been up to.  And also Blog... you know you can always find me posting cookies on Facebook too.  Yeah, that link right HERE will take you there.  What?... Yeah, I know you're not "into" facebook, and we can't hash out all the details over there, but Blog: you know I like it when you comment over there and I just want to give you more options with connecting with me.

Oh, and you know what else I've been up to lately?  You won't believe it Blog, but I'm kind of hooked on Instagram!  It's seriously cool and you should try it out.  Yes Blog... of course my Instagram name is artymcgoo, you're so silly!  Let's be friends forever and never lose track of each other again.  okay?  hug it out? ... okay!

I can't wait to show you what I'm working on now and what is coming up!  pinky swear!

Let's Get Arty! Giveaway

A question I get asked a bit is, "Do you paint on anything besides cookies?"  and the answer is, "Not as often as I'd like."  I'm going to remedy that very soon with this awesome multi-media kit from DecoArt.  It comes with everything you need to make these whimsical works of art seen below.  I can't wait to play and get paint on my fingers!

Whether you are Picasso or you don't think you could manage a stick figure, this is the ideal project to flex those creative muscles.  So if you don't mind getting a little messy...  DecoArt sent me an extra kit to send to a winner.  We could even create our projects together via Skype!  Play date!

The kit comes with everything you'll need to create your own little masterpiece:

• Full sizes of DecoArt’s popular Gesso and a full 4-oz of the new Americana Decoupage that you’ll use again & again!

• Free sample of the many new 2012 Americana colors including Red Alert & Margarita!

• Lara’s Crafts 5×6″ Wooden Postcard Surface

• Americana Stencil

• Paper pack featuring some of Canvas Corp’s newest designs of paper

Watch this great video tutorial by mixed media artist Bethany Kartchner.  It shows step by step how to use the supplies and I love how quickly this creative project comes together, and yes... I love how she uses her fingers to spread the paint.  ha!



And to answer the question of "Do you ever paint on canvas?"  Here are some of my permanent, non-edible paintings:

So let's get painting!  If you would like to win DecoArt's all inclusive kit to make a fun multi-media piece of art just comment below and I will randomly pick a winner on Monday, April 8th.  Best of luck and happy painting!  Thank you DecoArt for always carrying the best art supplies and for this awesome giveaway!

The boring stuff:

• One comment per customer please.
• This box is a bit heavy, so I'm sorry, but this giveaway is only open to U.S. residents.

And the winner is.....  {drum roll}.....  and comment lucky #13.... which happens to belong to hoponheelsblog!  CONGRATULATIONS!  Can't wait to set up our crafty playdate!

Happy President's Day

My history-loving friend Anne of Flourbox Bakery had the ambitious goal of pulling together cookiers to make a complete cookie catalogue of the presidents of the United States!  I think this is the largest collaboration yet and purple mountain majesty! look at those cookies down there!  Isn't that amazing?!  It is a veritable quilt of cookie artistry and patriotism.  I love seeing all the different styles and incredible skills these women have.  I'm proud to be an American and I'm proud to be among these amazing cookiers!

All of the presidents were chosen randomly and I was given our 6th president:  President John Quincy Adams.  Not one of the most recognizable presidents, I only had a vague idea of what he looked like, so when his surly, Ebenezer Scroogish visage came up on a search my first thought was to go with what I was comfortable with and paint his scowl onto a cookie.  But my favorite thing about a collaboration is learning something new and trying out a new technique.  I'm usually drawn to realism so I decided to get a little uncomfortable and venture into the world of caricature.  

I stumbled across this brilliant artist Dan Barrett and his blog called Drawn to Distraction.  He did a series of graphic illustrations of the presidents and when I saw his John Quincy Adams, I hoped hoped HOPED I could translate the look onto a cookie canvas.  

I had so much fun with the dimension and the subtle shading of his face.  It wasn't until I got to pipe on those eyebrows at last, that I realized he looks just like Count Olaf from Lemony Snicket!  Well, I became very fond of John Q. during my cookying of him and learned quite a bit about him.  After reading about his life I think of him more like a grumpy looking grandpa, or the reformed Ebenezer.

I won't give you a history lesson and there will be no quiz at the end, but I will give you some interesting facts about him:

• He was the eldest son of the former President John Adams.
• He was one of America's greatest diplomats {in his pre-presidential years} formulating, among other things, what became the Monroe Doctrine}.
• He was anti-slavery and continued his fight against slavery in his post-presidential years.
• He was fluent in French, Dutch, and German.
• He was a Harvard graduate.
• Like his father he was aloof, stubborn, and independent in his convictions.
• He was the first president to be photographed.
• He proposed many ideas that were ahead of his time {a network of canals, public land conservation, astronomical observatories, the establishment of a uniform system of weights and measures}.
• He was one of 3 presidents who chose not to attend their successor's inauguration.  His father and Andrew Jackson were the others.
• He believed the Constitution should be used to protect Native Americans and opposed Andrew Jackson's Indian Removal Act.
• He was arguing on the floor of the House of Representatives when he suddenly collapsed, suffering a massive cerebral hemorrhage.
• He died two days later.  His last words: "This is the last of earth.  I am content."

I know I said I wouldn't give a history lesson and I kind of did.  From what I've learned it seems he was a man lead by his conscience, and while that didn't make him a popular president, it did make him a great one that worked diligently before, during, and after his presidency to move America in the right direction.  

I can't wait to see and read up on all the other presidents today.  I hope you are joining me on this presidential journey and will follow along and visit all these amazing cookie artists and their cookie interpretations of our Heads of State.  Thank you Anne, for inspiring such beautiful work and patriotism! 

1) George Washington by Sarah of Sweet Surrender Cookie Co.
2)  John Adams  by Nicole of Life’s a Batch

3)  Thomas Jefferson by Sarah of Songbird Sweets

4)  James Madison by  Georganne of LilaLoa
5)  James Monroe by Anne of Flour Box Bakery  
6)  John Quincy Adams by Liz of Arty McGoo,
7. Andrew Jackson by Tiffany of TheRedCooky 
8) Martin Van Buren by Jill of Jill FCS – Funky Cookie Studio
9)  William Henry Harrison by Christina of Sweet C’s Bake Shop
10)  John Tyler by Kim of The Cookie Puzzle
11) James Polk  by Debbie of D&T Designs
12) Zachery Taylor by Stephanie of Ellies Bites
13) Millard Fillmore by Melissa of Simply Sweets by Honeybee
14) Franklin Pierce by Kris of So Cute Cookies
15)  James Buchanan by Lene of Not Your Everyday Cookie
16) Abraham Lincoln by Debbie of Sweet Creations by Debbie

17) Andrew Johnson by Liz of CookiesToGo 

18) Ulysses S. Grant  by Rebekah of Love at First Bite

 19) Rutherford B. Hayes  by Heather of Twins Plus One Goodies
20) James A. Garfield by Teresa of Sugar T's Cookies
21)  Chester Arthur by Alyse of B.E. Sweet Treats
22) Grover Cleveland  by Kimberly of Barefoot N Baking
23)  Benjamin Harrison by Laurie of Cookie Bliss
24) Grover Cleveland  by Kimberly of Barefoot N Baking
25)  William McKinley by Susan of Sweet Williams Cookies
26)  Theodore Roosevelt by Heather of SugarNosh Treats

27) William Howard Taft by Sarah of Sarah’s Sweet Shoppe 

28)  Woodrow Wilson by Cheryl of The Sugared Apron
29)  Warren G. Harding  by Shannon of Artfully Delicious Cookies 
30) Calvin Coolidge by Stephanie of Ice My Biscuit
31)   Herbert Hover by Fumie of A+Kake sweets

32) Franklin D. Roosevelt by Christine of Chris’ Creative Confections

33)  Harry S Truman by Kim of Sugar Rush Custom Cookies
34)  Dwight Eisenhower  by Monica of Cookie Cowgirl
35)   John F. Kennedy by CeCe of The Tactical Bakery
36) Lyndon B. Johnson by Jennifer of One Kookie Cookie
37)  Richard Nixon by Jackie of iBakery

38)   Gerald Ford by Georgeanne of LilaLoa

39)  Jimmy Carter by Jennifer of One Kookie Cookie
40)  Ronald Reagan by Melissa of The Baked Equation
41) George Bush Sr. by Penny of Lucky Penny Cookies
42)  Bill Clinton by Laurie of Cookie Bliss

43)  George W. Bush by Sarah of Sarah’s Sweet Shoppe

44)  Barack Obama by Teresa of Sugar T's Cookies, 

Mixing it Up! Episode 2

When I first posted episode 1 of Mixing it Up! I envisioned a regular series of episodes where I would meet a great cookier and make cookies with them, get to know them, and travel the world!  As you can tell from my track record, this great dream hasn't happened... yet, but I'm happy to say episode 2 is now ready for your viewing enjoyment.

This episode is a little different because there is no cookie-making {GASP!} but my sister and I had a lot of fun making it and I hope you have fun watching it.  Even though it was made with Valentine's Day in mind, these treats would be appreciated any time of year... in fact I could go for one right now!
If you have not seen the past episode featuring the always adorable Cristin of Cristin's Cookies you can check it out here.

I hope you have a fantastic Valentine's Day and enjoy this Mixing it Up! episode.

Scribble Rose Video Tutorial

While I was at Cookie Con {YES!  I'm talking about Cookie Con again} I showed how to do a couple of painting techniques that progressively got a little more difficult starting with antiquing and using the texture of the flood to add dimension.  Then I moved on to painting scribble roses and I thought I'd share here what I taught and how I do it.

It is literally scribbling concentric circles that gradually get bigger and messier as you go around, add a couple of green scribbles for leaves and BAM! they look like roses.  As you can see below it is my go-to technique when I want something to look pretty, girly, antique, and I'm in the mood to scribble... which is always.

Concentric scribble circles:  check!

Scribbly green leaves:  check!

..... ummm

I get it.  I'm a visual learner too.  You gotta see it in action.  I put together this quick video I took with my iPhone for my lovely friend who wanted some rose help.  I found that scribbling my roses and talking at the same time proved to be too difficult for me, so I don't say a word and let my brushes do the talking.  I put my brother singing and playing guitar as the soundtrack instead.  

Video stats:

• I used a regular detail 5/0 liner brush for the first step and an extra long liner brush for the second step.  
• Start with the lightest color {light pink} and then do the same thing with a darker color {maroon}.
• For the color: this is Wilton brand food coloring and the liquid in the cup is water.
• Start with a tight circle and then basically spiral out of control.
• Leave some white, it will serve as highlighting on your petals.  
• Don't be scared.  It might take some practice, but don't stress.  Just scribble!

You can find more about my brother and his original Graffiti Jamboree music HERE!  

Now... get in touch with your inner-preschooler and get scribbling!

I HEART Valentine's Day!

Something about Valentine's Day just makes me feel giddy.  I love seeing all the heart shape bowls, the cupid stickers, the red doilies...  It reminds me of being in elementary school and cutting out hearts and pictures of flowers from my mom's seed catalogues and pasting them to red construction paper to create valentines for all my classmates.  The red foil heart stickers were my favorite and I always made sure I made a special {and extra big} Valentine for my teacher dripping with glitter and edged with a paper doily.  How elegant!

I made a set of cookies with my past valentine-making experience in mind.  I asked myself: What would my dream stash of valentine-making supplies look like?  What little bits and treasures would I love to have in a big glass jar that I could pick through to create with?  

With those questions in my mind and romantic love songs playing on my Pandora I got to work. play. 

I tried out a couple of new things with this set.  Extending the color to the sides of my cookies brought  a different dimension to the cookie; and a whole new side to play with and add a little detail.

You may notice some extra shiny red cookies and that effect was accomplished by using my friend Nadia's {of My Little Bakery's} egg wash technique.   That was very fun to play with and gave such a different look.

I used a couple of molds for the cameo, frame, little flower, and the lock and key.  Molds are such a fun, easy way to add gorgeous and intricate doodads.  {Doodads is the technical term}.  There are so many fabulous food-grade silicon molds on etsy.  I simply melt some candy disks with a touch of shortening and paint them into the mold {this helps prevent any bubbles in those teeny tiny crevices}. I put them in the freezer for 30 seconds and pop them right out.  easy and gorgeous.  I painted the frame and the lock and key with luster dust.  Voila!  I love it when something that creates such impact is effortless.  

The scrabble tiles and typewriter keys are just about to scale so that gives you an idea of the size of these scrappy bits.  

 What a hodge-podge of vintage bits and scraps.  Go ahead... call me a romantic.

 So, now I'm in the mood to pull out my glue sticks and glitter and make the biggest doily covered monstrosity imaginable!  Maybe since I did these so early I will have time to play around some more with Valentine's Day creations.  Hope you have a fabulously shiny, lacy, glittery, romantical day!