Well, hello there! I was BLOWN AWAY by how many of you were up to the test and participated in Practice Bakes Perfect Challenge #9! Who knew there were so many different ways of piping lettering on cookies? Apparently, you all did, because the depth and breath of submissions and techniques were astounding. And the fact that several of you submitted multiple entries using several different lettering techniques is a testament to how many of you really took this challenge to heart. Well done, you.
I am very excited to get to our spotlighted entries, but first let's talk about the randomly selected winner of our fabulous prize, graciously donated by Artfully Designed Creations: a $50 Artfully Designed Creations gift certificate to buy whatever cookie stencils your little heart desires! Drum roll, please . . . And the winner is . . . Teri Pringle Wood!
Not only was Teri the winner of our randomly drawn prize, but Teri also had one of our panel of judges' very favorite entries: House Rules. We loved the overall design of this cookie and how well she integrated the words into that design. We were also mightily impressed with those perfect freehand letters.
Now, on to our other ten spotlighted entries (in no particular order) . . .
The lettering in this fabulous 3-D creation was so masterfully executed that, initially, nether Julia nor I believed it was piped. Even those tiny labels are piped! And those letters on the bunting? Also piped. This was a case where each of the chosen fonts was also just so perfect for its purpose. Well done!
Not only do these book covers look like the real deal, but we really liked that Wendy was able to accomplish this lettering feat with nothing but her piping bag and a scribe tool. (Well, those, and perhaps, one very keen eye and steady hand!)
As one of our judges said: "I loved the variety and sheer enthusiasm for the challenge that comes across in these four cookies. Using different techniques to transfer the lettering, literally in the case of the royal icing transfers, is by itself quite a challenge!" I, for one, will definitely try using transfers next time I have a cookie involving more substantial lettering.
The words "clever design" kept coming up over and over again with respect to this set of cookies. What kid wouldn't LOVE to get this box of cookies (and the trip to Disney!)? We were very impressed with Monica's flawless execution - just look at how seamlessly the lettering flows from one cookie to the next.
This was another rather clever take on this challenge, perfectly executed, from A to Z.
I could not get over how intricate the piping is on this set of cookies. I am not sure how she did it, or how small a tip she needed to use to achieve this level of detail, but the result is amazing.
It is hard enough to pipe letters in your own language, let alone a completely foreign one that uses entirely different characters. And while I am no expert in Farsi, I think the lettering (not to mention the color choices) is impeccable and beautiful.
This set is proof that you do not need a fancy device like a Kopykake or a digital projector to produce beautiful lettering (or an airbrush to do a background of sky and clouds). These letters were done by transferring the letters onto parchment paper and then onto the cookies with just a scribe tool. Mintlemonade was kind enough to show us a picture of these cookies in process here.
As if lettering weren't challenging enough, how about trying your hand at some 3-D lettering?! Kim did just that with "explosive" results. I also really like the added dimension and shading effect she achieved by piping letter upon letter with different colors.
And last but not least . . . This set was not only one of my favorite Easter sets of the season, but it also contained some of the loveliest lettering. It is just brilliant how the lettering and artwork on the "Spring" plaque are so interwoven. I can hardly fathom the planning that went into piping that one cookie and its many layers.
Well, that's a wrap on my first challenge! Thank you all for participating, and for taking so many more "healthy risks" than I ever imagined. I hope you will join me for the next Practice Bakes Perfect challenge - how to handpaint cookies blindfolded. Just kidding. But stay tuned!
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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