A couple of lovely ladies (Bron and Nati) and I Admin a group on Flickr where we run a monthly cupcake challenge (just for fun). This month's challenge is a Pirate cupcake theme and we have had some AWESOME entries if you would like to check it out, here is the link

http://www.flickr.com/groups/[email protected]/discuss/72157621240748137/

Feel free to join the group and vote for your Favourite Pirate cupcake, maybe you could even stick around and challenge someone to a cake, cupcake or cookie throwdown or just look around and enjoy the creations made by the other group members.

It's been great for me, I have had the oppertunity to try different things that I have wanted to play with and had the excitement of waiting to see what the other person had come up with!

Thanks for the link...

But what I really wanted to comment on is your avatar... Your first oil painting? Wow that is beautiful !!!!!!

I am a painter too and my first was not near as good as that.. (But I was 12 when I first picked up a paint brush)

Just wanted to say ... Very Nice!

Thanks JaimeAnn!!! I had no idea what i was doing.....but I loved painting it!! =)

I Love painting... It is extremely calming for me... There is nothing like blending and working a good oil paint to take the edge off for me..

I love caking , but sometimes it makes me frustrated and edgy, Then I go for the Easel and a nice brush ! hahhahah

I think the cupcake challenge sounds really cool! I'll have to go and join the group!

Thanks for letting us know!

These are the cupcakes in this months challenge!

This months theme is SPACE! we had some awesome entries again,

here is the link to this months challenge if you want to take a look!
http://www.flickr.com/groups/bakeoff/discuss/72157622061721744/