I'm excited to be able to finally reveal some craft news I have been keeping quiet about, I am now part of my first ever blogger network, and it's all to do with craft! Baker Ross have a catalogue and website jam packed with all kinds of craft goodies, but are seeking to prove it's not just children that can have creative fun with their products. I am happy to have been accepted as part of their Adult Bloggers Network, and will be experimenting, creating, and sharing my makes on here.
A box of products arrived the other week (and cheered me up when ill) and I've just finished my first making project. I am a bit of a woodland folk fan, so when I saw the ceramic tea light holders in my box, they almost jumped out into my hands. I was sent a box of four cute owls, along with 2 outline pens in black, and a pack of 5 colour pens - my pack had yellow, orange, bright green, light pink and light blue.
With my first owl I just picked up a colour at random and started colouring, although as I got into it I did start to think a bit more about the different things I could do to make the owls stand out. I added wing details to one, made another a lady owl, and did what I have called a 'pop art' version. I wasn't expecting to do more then just colour in, but craft can always surprise you. Another plus point was being able to easily layer the colours, and detail over colour with black - which I hadn't been able to do in pottery painting workshop.
It was a bit tricky to keep a steady hand when I was outlining and changing colours with the owls being 3D but I think I did a pretty good job of keeping neat. I think my trouble came when heat setting the colour. The only instructions were on the pens which said to place the owls in the oven at 160c for 90 minutes. Our oven gets hotter than some, so I took them out before the end - and the blue looked a bit duller, and there were a few patchy bits I noticed on 2 owls. I'm not sure if they were a bit over cooked, or despite being dry to the touch hadn't been left long enough, maybe I'd over painted, even though it looked smooth.
If I did something like this again, I would want more guidance on colour setting/finishing the ceramics, the pen's mentioned colour setting, the box of owls did not, and I'm also curious as to how long the porcelain pens last - in value for money terms.
It's not quite the same as pottery painting and seeing the colours and glaze bring the piece to life, but it's nice to know that similar painting can be done at home, and these cute little owls would make good gifts, or once I find some battery operated tea lights, maybe they'll be new atmosphere lighting at Christmas (I could even make one a little Santa hat).
*Baker Ross kindly sent these products for review as part of their adult blogger project, but all reviews are my own. Check out the full Baker Ross product range on their website.
A box of products arrived the other week (and cheered me up when ill) and I've just finished my first making project. I am a bit of a woodland folk fan, so when I saw the ceramic tea light holders in my box, they almost jumped out into my hands. I was sent a box of four cute owls, along with 2 outline pens in black, and a pack of 5 colour pens - my pack had yellow, orange, bright green, light pink and light blue.
With my first owl I just picked up a colour at random and started colouring, although as I got into it I did start to think a bit more about the different things I could do to make the owls stand out. I added wing details to one, made another a lady owl, and did what I have called a 'pop art' version. I wasn't expecting to do more then just colour in, but craft can always surprise you. Another plus point was being able to easily layer the colours, and detail over colour with black - which I hadn't been able to do in pottery painting workshop.
It was a bit tricky to keep a steady hand when I was outlining and changing colours with the owls being 3D but I think I did a pretty good job of keeping neat. I think my trouble came when heat setting the colour. The only instructions were on the pens which said to place the owls in the oven at 160c for 90 minutes. Our oven gets hotter than some, so I took them out before the end - and the blue looked a bit duller, and there were a few patchy bits I noticed on 2 owls. I'm not sure if they were a bit over cooked, or despite being dry to the touch hadn't been left long enough, maybe I'd over painted, even though it looked smooth.
If I did something like this again, I would want more guidance on colour setting/finishing the ceramics, the pen's mentioned colour setting, the box of owls did not, and I'm also curious as to how long the porcelain pens last - in value for money terms.
It's not quite the same as pottery painting and seeing the colours and glaze bring the piece to life, but it's nice to know that similar painting can be done at home, and these cute little owls would make good gifts, or once I find some battery operated tea lights, maybe they'll be new atmosphere lighting at Christmas (I could even make one a little Santa hat).
*Baker Ross kindly sent these products for review as part of their adult blogger project, but all reviews are my own. Check out the full Baker Ross product range on their website.
These are so cute! I have a slight obsession with owls...
ReplyDeleteI nominated you for the Liebster award: http://princessofpretty.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/liebster-award.html
I look forward to reading your answers!
Lauren xx
http://princessofpretty.blogspot.co.uk