Binding My 2014 Fake Journal

To finish my Fake Journal for 2014, I made a

simple cover from brown craft paper over

cardboard, some hand made paper, 

and some paper with sponged paint texture.

The hand made paper was gifted to me

by Elizabeth of Altered Book Lover blog.

I added a couple of additional pages to 

my Fake Journal...a 'title page' and

 a dedication page. These drawings have

 little to do with the theme of this

 Fake Journal, but are pencil drawings that I

did years ago and never finished.  So, why not?

Finished size is approximately 

9" high by 13" wide.

I bound the book using The Cinch, which is a 

machine that punches holes and also

crimps a coil binding into the punched holes.

The Cinch was a gift from my daughter, and I

do like being able to bind my own books!

I've used it for scrapbooks and art books.

It's pretty easy to use. I just have to 

get out the instructions each time to make

sure I don't make a mistake, and always

punch a practice page to make sure

 the holes are centered and lining up properly.

I used a half length of coil

(they come in 12-inch lengths) so wire cutters

were needed to cut the coil in two pieces.

  I centered the coil on the width of the page.

 This is a one-inch diameter coil.

Now the challenge will be to find a spot to

display and store a sketchbook this size,

since it is larger than most of my other journals.

Looking forward to next year's

Fake Journal...what or who

should I be next time?!

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Fake Journal 2014 Wrap-Up

Click on the image above to read about my 

goals and process for my Fake Journal 2014.

I did mostly pen drawings with 

watercolor washes. Most of my other

journals are mixed media collage,

so it was a fun change to just

draw what I saw, or draw an idea.

I didn't anticipate how difficult it would be

to NOT explain!  Generally I feel it is

important, and necessary, to explain my

blog posts so that they are clear to

the reader. It certainly was a challenge 

not to do that. I had to resist my

 automatic urge to explain, but at the

same time it was fun to dream up 

themes that a decorator would be

asked to create, yet still not

"give it away."

By the time I had covered many of

the holidays, I thought surely that 

my character's career would be 

obvious.  To my surprise, it wasn't,

at least to several readers who commented.

I enjoyed the project, and was most 

pleased with the 'still lifes' that I drew.

Hope you've enjoyed the

Counterfeit Journal pages as

much as I have, and maybe you

will consider doing a Fake Journal

for yourself next April!

CAKE DESIGNS: Fake Journal 2014 Reveal - Part 2

As a cake designer and event planner, I had these motifs in mind for a somewhat traditional tiered wedding cake.  The designs could be piped in white onto a white or pastel cake.  I think they would be stunning in black on a white cake!

An Earth Day design that could also be a great themed party for a child's Birthday!  Reading The Lorax by Dr. Seuss could be part of the entertainment. This could be an edible transfer for a sheet cake.  Wouldn't it be fun to make edible truffula trees by using cotton candy for the top of the tree and striped straws for the 'trunk?'  

Dr. Seuss books are also used often in the schools' "Right to Read" week.  I am not sure if it is a national promotion, but the schools in our area go 'all out' with themed decorations and activities in the elementary schools to promote reading and make it fun.  It generates a lot of excitement with the children.

I had children's birthday cakes in mind with these cute designs. There is a Hello Kitty shaped cake pan available, and probably themed party supplies too. Several cute little monsters could be combined on one cake.

For an Eagle Scout Court of Honor reception.  This could be an edible transfer on a sheet cake, or a talented decorator could pipe the icing in black on white.

My son actually had an edible transfer on his Eagle Scout cake. It was an eagle in flight that I had painted in watercolor.  If you request an edible transfer, be sure to ask the maximum dimensions that will fit on the transfer!  The tips of the wings were 'cut off' on the transfer on my son's cake because my illustration had been just a bit too big. So I took a toothpick and 'drew' with chocolate icing to extend the 'cut off' wings on the cake!

I love Beatrix Potter stories and art work!  This could be used for a Spring Celebration, Easter, a child's birthday cake, or Right to Read Week.

The X-box controller was designed as the top of a sheet cake for a boy or man's birthday cake.  I am sure the controller could be sculpted and decorated in 3-dimension, or an edible transfer could be made.  A simple dot icing border is included.

Happy Easter cake idea...or could possibly be adapted for a First Communion or Baptism, as the daffodil could represent  'New Life.'

Another table setting idea, for a wedding or bridal shower. I like drawing these...

Wedding 'design board' with color and texture ideas: burlap, lace, Burgundy rose, aqua mason jar, vintage key...

A huge hint as to my character's design needs: Basic butter cream icing motifs for decorating...Many master bakers use fondant as a way to sculpt elaborate decorations for cakes, but I love the taste and texture of the traditional frosting! Cupcake towers are extremely popular at the moment, and are being used instead of the traditional wedding cake.  Brides can pretty much do whatever they like in terms of reception food~ cake, pastries, cupcakes, fruit, even pie!

The dead give-away.  Cake decorators are asked to design for pretty much anything.  This is drawn from a photo in my old Betty Crocker cookbook, with recipe included. These would be lovely at a bridal or baby shower.

I tried to make petit fours once.  'Tried' being the operative word.  I was young and foolish. It was for someone's shower. What a huge amount of work!  I don't think I could be a cake decorator in real life. All those hours, just for someone to destroy your creation.  But, some folks love to do it. My Aunt Helen made cakes for everyone she knew, and they were always beautiful.

Remember the Barbie doll cakes where the doll stood up in the center, and the cake was the skirt? I had one of those that my Aunt Helen made.  She made circus cakes, wedding cakes with real fountains in them, gorgeous Christmas cookies that were too pretty to eat.  She brought a lot of joy to people and I miss her.

Stay tuned for my Fake Journal 2014 Wrap-Up...

Dedicated to my aunt, Helen (Bishop) Pinyerd

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CAKE DESIGNS: Fake Journal 2014 ~ Reveal, Part 1

If you figured out that my character designs cakes and plans special events, you got it!  Obviously...this design could be for April Fool's Day, but could also be adapted for a Las Vegas night by changing the lettering, adding some actual playing cards, and poker chips.

I admit it. This was supposed to throw you off a bit...but it's a fun way to play with color and plan color combinations. Interior designers do it all the time by making a design board.

This could be a design for several types of the top of a sheet cake.  Spring cake or even a Groom's cake- by adding some animals for a 'hunting' theme... I added the border design, as most cakes have some type of border around the base of the cake.

As I've never actually decorated cakes, I don't know all of the techniques that can be used, but I do know that there are edible transfers that can be made to put on the cake top. The customer chooses or supplies the art work, and it is like a color copy applied to the cake top. Also, I know that really talented designers can actually 'paint' with food coloring on a cake, or use an air nozzle to 'spray paint' designs.

St. Patrick's Day or Easter. Designs could be piped on with frosting, or a stencil created and used to spray on the motif, which would be much faster.

Next, I showed the white azalea, which I think could be created 3-dimensionally in icing, and could be used for a wedding, birthday, Easter, or shower.

The white still-life was done with bridal shower or tea party table settings in mind.  If you are a wedding planner or designer, the table settings and decorations are a key component for the event, and I had Shabby Chic in mind here.

A design for a tea party or bridal shower. Tea cup ornamentation could also be used on cakes.

I had in mind a girl's Sweet Sixteen Birthday party for this design, probably done with an edible transfer.  I know that some master bakers are able to create actual small sculptures from modeling chocolate or fondant, which would be perfect for the perfume, nail polish, jewelry and sunglasses.

Not a cake, but a wedding centerpiece idea. Some of you who have been following my blogs may have recognized the Shabby Chic style that my daughter used for her wedding.

This could be another edible transfer - especially the optional  wording - but I can envision an actual crown (plastic) with feathers and glittery curlicues stuck in it, along with a mask, sitting on top of a sheet cake.  Edible glitter or confetti on top of the cake could finish it off.  Fleur de lis designs are traditional for Mardi Gras, so those could be used around the sides of the cake, if desired.

Dia de los Muertos cake - there are actual cake pans that will bake up a skull-shaped cake!  So this could be piped on a flat sheet cake or as the colorful designs on a skull-shaped cake!  The borders are options that could be included on the sides of a sheet cake.

There are another 11 pages in my 2014 Fake Journal, so I will post a Part 2... check back!

Explanations provided!

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Fake Journal 2014 - A Big Hint About My Character

Betty Crocker recipe

circa 1973?

Stay tuned for the Wrap Up,

after a month of NO explanations~

Motifs ~ Fake Journal 2014

so many motifs...so little time.

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Collage Texture - Fake Journal 2014

Planning colors and textures...

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Vintage Bottles - Fake Journal 2014