Holy cow! Where DID the summer go? Before you know it, it will be time to take out those Christmas cutters and start using them for (gulp) Christmas cookies!
Now, back to our challenge WINNER . . . The randomly chosen winner of the incredibly generous prize donated by our sponsor, BRP Box Shop, will be receiving a FABULOUS assortment of cookie boxes and packaging materials (estimated retail value: $55, plus FREE shipping), including:
- 4 3/8" x 4 3/8" x 1" Brown/Brown with Round Window Reverse Tuck Box
- 4 3/8" x 4 3/8" x 1" White/White with Round Window Reverse Tuck Box
- 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" Lantern Favor Box Brown/Brown with Window, Snap Lock Bottom
- 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" Lantern Favor Box White/White with Window, Snap Lock Bottom
- 4 5/16" x 2 1/4" x 1" White/White Double Favor Box with Window
- 4 5/16" x 2 1/4" x 1" Brown/Brown Double Favor Box with Window
- 7" x 4 1/2" x 1 1/4" White/White Two Piece Simplex Box Set with Window
- 9 1/2" x 6" x 1 1/4" White/White Two Piece Simplex Box Set with Window
- 7" x 4 1/2" x 1 1/4" Brown/Brown Two Piece Simplex Box Set with Window
- 9 1/2" x 6" x 1 1/4" Brown/Brown Two Piece Simplex Box Set with Window
- 10" x 7" x 1 1/4" White/White Two Piece Simplex Box Set with Window
- 10" x 7" x 1 1/4" Brown/Brown Two Piece Simplex Box Set with Window
- 14" x 10" x 1 1/4" White/White Two Piece Simplex Box Set with Window
- 14" x 10" x 1 1/4" Brown/Brown Two Piece Simplex Box Set with Window
- 3 7/8" x 4 7/8" White Grease Resistant Cookie Card (set of ten)
- 12" x 12" White Grease Resistant Cookie Card (set of ten)
And the winner is . . . Kelcy Workman! Congratulations, Kelcy! We love Kelcy's entry, Polynesian Animals, especially those beautifully painted backgrounds and intricately piped details.
A Wizard's Curios by virago
This set simply has it all. Virago masterfully uses each shape to the fullest extent possible, working with each shape as given, without forcing it. I just love this theme, and even learned a new vocabulary word (fetor - a strong, foul smell)! Finally, this set is impeccably executed - from shading to choice of details, to the cheeky labels.Hawaiian Time by Fernwood Cookie
Fernwood Cookie really captures the essence of the islands AND Challenge #11 in this set. That stocking is so deftly transformed into a lizard that I assume it must be some sort of chameleon. I also think the transformation of the present cutter to the tiki head is genius. This is one of those sets where the cookies work together so well.Circus by Ryoko ~Cookie Ave.
This entry is an incredibly well planned and executed set. We are especially blown away by that tree-turned-acrobats-on-a-cycle and the snowflake-turned-lion's-head. We are also impressed with the myriad uses of the mitten cutter. The set really comes together with the solid circle balls and the "circus" pennant.Celebrate Summer by Cukrowane Kruche
I loved seeing so many summer sets for this challenge, and this one by Cukrowane Kruche is exemplary. We are quite impressed with how she added details to fill out the entirety of each shape - such as the hands around the ice cream cone, and sand tools in the buckets. I am personally in love with that little sand castle, and the sparing, but brilliant, use of texture there.
Jungle Babies by Delorse
Cuteness overload. I love how the animals are adorably posed to accommodate each given shape. I also love the choice of colors and shading.Tornado by The Anxious Baker
This entry is a terrific spin (pun intended!) on the challenge. That flying cow is da bomb. To quote fellow challenge entrant, virago: "The painting and shading are spectacular! Love the lightning connected across multiple cookies! Your design and presentation have beautiful movement! Well done!!!" I would also point out that this entry is an array!Venice with Love by Mariela
Those adorable gondolas got me! I am particularly impressed with how Mariela was able to make them using two completely different Christmas cutters - a sleigh and a snowman. These cookie have me dreaming of returning to Venice!Neon Sign Cookies by magu
I am not sure if anyone has ever done this technique before, but we are wowed by the neon effect achieved in this entry by magu. The neon is a great unifying theme, and really masks the true (Christmas) identity of those cookie cutters.
Fish Extravaganza by Cookie Celebration
Cookie Connection member Joanie, in her comment on this set, encapsulates our feelings about this set perfectly: "OK, these cookies are fantastic!!! The jelly fish are amazing. When I first saw this picture, I just saw beautiful cookies. Then I read that it was for the challenge using Christmas cutters. I had no idea. There are times when I look at a cookie and immediately think, 'Oh, they used the xxx cutter . . . good idea,' but on yours, I had no clue. In fact, in my head I was trying to figure out what you used and couldn't. GREAT JOB. I love these."Under the Sea by Laegwen
There were so many beautiful sea-themed entries in this contest! It was truly painful to try to pick and choose which ones to spotlight, but this one by Laegwen is a stand-out. I invite you all to click on and view the detailed image of this photo, so you can appreciate the depth of the colors and the detail of the ocean-y backgrounds. No detail is overlooked. Simply gorgeous.
That's all for Practice Bakes Perfect Challenge #11. It's all about the journey, so thanks for coming along for the ride (hopefully there weren't too many "white knuckles" this time)! Stay tuned for the next challenge, which will post on or about August 31, 2015.
Christine Donnelly began her professional baking career at 16, when she was hired on the spot at her local bakery to work the counter and decorate cakes. After detours to college and law school, she worked as a trial lawyer in Chicago for many years, ultimately leaving that career to become a stay-at-home mother to her two children. In her “retirement,” she continued to bake at home, at last finding her preferred artistic medium in decorated cookies. In February 2013, Bakerloo Station was born with a presence on both Facebook and Instagram. Christine makes cookies to balance her left brain, to inspire and share creative ideas, and to feed those needs that only art can satisfy.
Photo credit: Christine Donnelly
Note: Practice Bakes Perfect is a bimonthly Cookie Connection blog feature written by Christine Donnelly that poses inspiration or challenges to get you to stretch as a cookie artist - for practice, for prizes, and for fun! Its content expresses the views of the author and not necessarily those of this site, its owners, its administrators, or its employees. Catch up on all of Christine's past Cookie Connection posts here.
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