[Challenge] "Miniature Sweets for My Sweet"

"Sweets for My Sweet"
Philippine Polymer Clay Guild Miniature Food Challenge

The latest challenge of the Philippine Polymer Clay Guild was "Food for your Eyes" where they asked us to make miniature models of our favorite food.  I immediately knew that I wanted to make a dessert spread.  I made a croquermbouche drizzled with chocolate, Orange chiffon fondant cake and assorted cupcakes.

Whenever I make my crafts, I keep the computer one while I watch different TV series or movies. The latest series that I watched is MasterChef USA where in Episode 4 they were challenged to make Croquembouche which is a French dessert made of choux pastry, creamy filling and topped with threads of caramel.  I love profiteroles or cream puffs and this is the mother of it all.

The next is Orange Chiffon fondant cake and vanilla buttercream decorated with purple flowers.  Yum!

Finally, I made an assortment of cupcakes:  Purple yam, Vanilla and Caramel cupcakes.  Decadent!

So, who's ready to party?!

♥ michelle ♥ 

[Challenge] Phil. Polymer Clay Guild "Merry Month of May 2014: Polymer Clay Flowers"

The challenge of the Philippine Polymer Clay Guild for the month of May was ti create something new using polymer clay flowers.  I've been making a lot of floral themed pieces, mostly daisies or simple flowers with 5 petals and I didn't know what to do for this challenge.  Then one day, while I was cleaning my craft room, I found a tutorial about "Orchid Pin or Pendant" that I bought from Ms. Penni Jo Couch during the 2013 Lone Star retreat.  The tutorial was simple, well written and well illustrated. 

Polymer Clay "Rhoda Orchid" Napkin Ring

This is my "Rhoda Orchid."  I named it after my mom who loves and grows orchids back in the Philippines.  There are several varieties of orchids but the color combination that I used in making this one are probably non-existent.  It's more of like a fantasy orchid, if you could call it that.  

Polymer Clay "Rhoda Orchid" Napkin Ring

This project made use of Premo sculpey clay.  I also used Ranger alcohol inks in Sunshine Yellow and Butterscotch to add color to and specks on the white petal.  I like how it turned out - very rustic. I'm planning to make "real life" orchids in white like Cattleyas and green Cymbidium.  They will make pretty sets of napkin rings just like this one for weddings or intimate dainty parties.  Stay tuned for that.

Oh, did I mention that it is National Clay Week?  Yes it is!  

See you soon!

♥ michelle

[Challenge] A Whimsical Eggciting Birthday!

Today is an "Eggciting Day" for me and the blog because it's my birthday!   Wooohooo.  Thank you for all 

your love and kind greetings.  Early this morning, we were able to catch the first of the Four Blood Moons - NASA says that seeing four complete lunar eclipses in a row is very rare and we will have one every 6 months until October 2015.  We have never seen one so we stayed up late for it and it was amazing! We just stood in awe at how great and might God is - He who created the heavens and the earth.

This project is part of the Philippine Polymer Clay Guild's "Something Whimsical Challenge" and Martha Stewarts "marthasgoodeggs" intsagram post.  The first challenge for me was to figure how to remove the contents of the egg while keeping the shell intact.  So, I did some research and ewwww... it was totally gross!  Let me be graphic here:  make 2 holes on both ends of the egg, burst the egg and mix it up with a needle tool and finally blowing the contents out.  Now don't tell me I didn't warn you.  Anyway, after cleaning and drying the eggshell for 24 hours, I got to work on it.

Friends, meet "Mini-Me."  Oh, isn't she cute?  She's having a wonderful time strolling with her yellow birthday balloon, enjoying the sight of bluebonnets and other wildflowers.

This is made from 100% Premo sculpey polymer clay using the applique technique which is a very tedious and meticulous process that takes a lot of patience, gentle hands and the ability to hold your breath for a long time.  The latter helps to concentrate in order to be precise in putting the components in place.  Whew!

May your days be blessed!

♥ michelle

[Challenge] P3 February 2014 Challenge: "Pen and Paper Go Together"

I like pop-up notepads especially the bold and bright ones so when the Philippine Polymer Clay Guild announced  their Challenge for February 2014:  "Sweet Pairings," I got excited.  I made a pop-up notepad holder and also covered a pen with polymer clay using the wood grain technique.   I have seen this technique several times in books and as demonstrated by one of the Houston polymer clay guild members, Bob.  I tried to make 2 different kinds of woodgrain:  one using gold mica pc and the other was gold mixed with pearl and translucent.  The stitching around the box and the blue flowers completed the piece.

Polymer Clay Wood Grain
Pen and Pop-up Notepad Holder

I have seen this technique several times in books and as demonstrated by one of the Houston polymer clay guild members, Bob.  I tried to make 2 different kinds of woodgrain:  one using premo sculpey gold mica pc and the other was gold mixed with pearl and translucent.  The stitching around the box and the blue flowers completed the piece.

Head over to the Philippine Polymer Clay's Facebook to check out the other projects and LIKE us while you're there.  

Have a blessed day!
♥  michelle

[Flashback] June and July 2013: Service, Sports and Recreation

Part of the group from our church

We are looking back on June and July today.  Wow.. time flies, huh?!

The month June brought us another opportunity for service through "L♥ving Houston."  

Our church was among those who volunteered and we were assigned to clean Olivewood Cemetery which was the first black cemetery in Houston. 

There no burials there anymore, the last was in the 1960's.  It is poorly maintained and seems to be neglected.  The area was huge with only 1 caretaker and limited equipment and resources.  He was a nice man and he felt so blessed to have people come and trim and clean up whatever we can.

July was the start of Mr. C's volleyball tournament.  Saturday after Saturday, we rallied and cheered their team.  It was their first tournament and they won 1st runner-up.  They did really well in competing with other teams who were very good as well.  

It was this time that I learned how to cook (and not to cook) Rice congee or Arroz caldo.  LOL.  We used 12 cups of rice and a lot of water / broth which still ended up sticky.  It was a blessing though because I was able to "re-do" the soup the next day that served more people after the church service.  

It was also in July that Mr. C volunteered to be a teacher in our Vacation Bible School.  Oh, he had fun with the children.

My craft room was busy this month.  The Philippine Polymer Clay Guild had our challenge on Mosaic where I made a "Hope frame."  I also joined the Challenge of Color for BrandiGirlBlog (green rectangle pendant).  There were other challenges this month  such as the Bead Hoarders Blog Hop and Studio Sublime's Focus on Life.

See those round pendants?  Oh yes, I got a bit obsessed with fabric.  LOL.  

Have a wonderful day!  Thanks for visiting Cabby Craft.

♥  michelle  ♥

[Challenge] P3 September 2013 Challenge: "Under the Sea"

I am a member of the Philippine Polymer Clay Guild where we have Challenges every now and then.  Last September 2013, our challenge was:  "UNDER THE SEA."  The challenge was to create a project inspired by the sea and participants were given a choice on using 100% polymer clay or mixed media.

Philippine Polymer Clay Guild

 This was what I made:

"Pearly Shells"

This pearly shell from the ocean focal piece measures 3 inches.  I made use of the silk-screened background of sea shells that I did during the Lone Star Retreat(c/o Ms. Karen Wood).  I added sculptured corals, Mr. Crabby, barnacles, bubbles and a treasure chest filled with gold and pearls. What lies under the sea is a mystery and to echo Ariel, it's a whole new world.  

This focal piece was made from 100% Premo Sculpey clay.

See you soon!

♥  michelle  ♥

[P3 Guild] Mosaic Challenge 2013

The Philippine Polymer Clay Guild recent;y concluded their Mosaic Challenge.  You can read about it HERE.

My entry was #12 - I made a 4x6" frame with the phrase:  "Hope Springs Eternal" by A. Pope.

It was my first time to make a complicated mosaic.  I started by drawing the design on a graph paper and placing it under the 4x6" glass that came with the frame.  The mosaic tiles were assembled and baked on the glass.

I used the Rocky Path technique to make the bottom layer, to make it appear organic.

The orange and yellow flowers were made from polymer canes.  These were layered accordingly.

I like the finished product - it looks like a backdrop of a cascading water fountain.

Thank you for visiting the Guild's page and this blog.

Have a wonderful day!

♥  michelle  ♥.