Cupcake fun...

I went on my second cup-cake decor course with Nicky....all about different icing techniques.

I've said it before and will say it again.....this is a great way to spend time with the girls, especially if you are looking to add a unique element to a kitchen tea, hen’s party or birthday party. Along with learning a creative new skill, you get to chat away with your friends and savour the fun over hot drinks, iced drinks and of course....very yummy cupcakes!

(photography by me!) 

My delectable delights....

Light vanilla cupcakes dresses with marshmallow frosting and simply decorated with a Lilly flower...

Decadent Caramel filled chocolate cupcakes, iced with chocolate butter icing, caramel and a dusting of flake....not for the light hearted but sinfully delicious! 

Sticky ginger cupcakes under zesty cream cheese frosting and garnished with a touch 

of golden ginger in syrup...

  

Fresh berries sit in the centre of the chocolate mousse swirl that decorates this weightless chocolate cupcake...

Mmmmmmmm.......a girls dream tea!

Sweet endings made sweeter...

 with a bunch of  flowers!

Natural and dewy with hints of colour

 Compliment striking auburn colouring and blue eyes with subtle tones of colour that enhance your natural colours.

I used a cool ice pink over the inner and outer corners of the eyes. This was gently blended in with, equally cool, metallic and matt sea-greens, to contour the eye and balance overall facial composition.

A touch of metallic aubergine was used on the upper outer corner of the eyes to add warmth and to enhance Tessa's natural contours.

 Dark grey was blended with black liner along the top and bottom outer lash-lines. Hints of green were also swept under the lower lash-line, tapering off towards the middle of the eye.

To finish, a warm  matt brown was lightly brushed over the brows to define their shape. Black eyeliner outlined the eyes softly along the outside of the lash-lines and inside the lower lash-line. This was followed by a lick of thick black mascara, framing the eyes perfectly.

The look is sealed with a kiss of a natural shade of vermilion on the lips, and a light dust of  cool matt pink over the apples of the cheek.

Tessa's finished look

* Please note: Blogged make-up steps do not describe full make-up application procedure*

Pricelist

Wedding Make-up

Bride (including trial).............................. R 450.00

Bridal Party................................................. R 230.00 each

Flower-girls (under 12 years old)........ R 30.00 each

Transport/Accommodation not included and varies according to venue
and petrol price at the time.

Formal Make-up (Matric dances, special occasions etc.)

Individuals.................................................... R 230.00

Groups of three or more.......................... R 200.00

I encourage all my clients to get a group of ladies together when having make-up done for any occasion, as it is the people with whom we share these times that enhance the memory of the moment.

Miscellaneous

Brow Shaping............................................. R 30.00

Brow Tint..................................................... R 30.00

Lash Tint...................................................... R 50.00

Lash and brow tint combo....................... R 60.00

Full Manicure.............................................. R 100.00

Full Pedicure............................................... R 120.00

Mini-Mani.................................................... R 85.00

Mini-Pedi..................................................... R 100.00

French paint..........................................add R 25.00 per treatment

Repaint.......................................................... R 50.00

Full manicure and pedicure include a luxurious massage with natural essential oils. A full pedicure also include an intense heal file exfoliation.

The mini-mani and pedi include a gentle exfoliating sugar and essential oil rub. All nail treatments except the repaint include meticulous nail clean, buff and shaping.

*Prices subject to change without notice*

Tessa's trial day!

 Tessa's unique colouring makes her a challenging client. However, after her trial she looked beautiful in subtle tones of pink and sea greens, which offset her auburn hair and blue eyes. The effect was a dewy natural look with eloquent whispers of colour.

My first butter-icing cupcake attempts...

This is what you can learn to do in a few hours with Nicky on one of her cupcake courses! 

My little works of edible art did get a little squashed on the way home and some of them are far less attractive than others. But, icing skills aside, it is such a fun activity to do with the girls and I would recommend it as an addition, or an alternative, to a kitchen tea/hen's party any day!!! You will be surprised how creative and dexterous u can be with a tube of butter icing!

Having said that, who needs a reason for deliciously decorated cupcakes?

 Go just for fun!

 I did make six....but my cat decided to try one for himself as a midnight snack!

Pretty, proffesional... but quick to make cards!

I had to write some thank-you letters for a few primary school teachers and their school principal, at the last minute.
Instead of just pulling out one of those horrid writing pads with pastel flowers and a peace dove, I decided to personalise the activity and make some simple, but bright and professional cards for each teacher.

I didn't have much time, so I opted for my latest craft trend which is cutting and pasting bright paper on other bright paper in pretty, yet basic designs. I personalised my (otherwise really bland) envelopes to match the cards.

 They looked super, and the best bit is they were SO quick to make. The only negative aspect of this speedy craft burst was the resulting sticky-glue-fingers!

What you need

A selection of bright paper and card
Paper glue stick
Scissors
Envelopes
Pens (black finliner, glitter pens, gel pens...whatever you fancy!)

A design in mind!

For the cards

Cut out a rectangle for the base of the card....in a size that neatly fits the chosen envelopes.

Cut out pieces of bright paper in a design u choose. I cut strips to make a boarder, a basic flower shape with a different colour circle for the center and three smaller rectangles on which to mount the flower.

Try to choose colours that compliment each other for maximum impact!

I chose pretty oranges, pinks and purples for the lady teachers, but opted for less a less feminine pallet for the gentleman school principal!

Stick down the cut-outs.... and Boom! Pretty cards!

For the envelopes

This is even easier.....just cut out two paper rectangles that compliment, or are of the same colour palet as the card. Mount the smaller rectangle on the larger one and glue it on the enevelope.

Write in your "To" and "From" on this...and Voila!

One letter set done and dusted!

African magic for Charity

"Intimate Moments With Nelson Mandela" was the phrase of the night, the unveiling of a private collection of photographic art featuring our blessed Madiba. Held at the Midlands Liberty Mall in Pietermaritzburg, late February 2011, this fund raising event was opened with an African inspired fashion show. It was a beautiful, well publicized event celebrating African influence, with the ramp coming alive with African beauties parading creative hair by Solé.

Proceeds went to the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund