40th Birthday Cake

I got a request for an elegant 40th Birthday cake in Chocolate and White. So, here's what I came up with. The bottom layer is chocolate cake with chocolate filling, the top is White cake with raspberry filling. I got feedback after saying it was the best tasting cake they had ever eaten :)

The numbers on top are chocolate, held up by a chocolate coated craft stick! I used my new cake pattern presses to imprint the scrolls on the frosting, and then piped along those lines and added my own embellishments.

Front ViewSide View

Back View

Cutest Aprons EVER

Not my project, but a good friend of mine makes the cutest aprons ever. If you want one, let me know- I'll give you her contact info!

Pathetic Cake

I am in charge of making birthday cakes (individual size) for each of the young women (age 12-18) in our church group. I have been so unmotivated for the last few, no new ideas, nothing cutesy coming to mind... anyway, it's starting to show. This is the pathetic cake I turned out yesterday- actually this is another brownie cake, frosted with cream cheese frosting. Tasted great, just looked dumb. At least the little 13 yr old girl liked it :) Gotta get some new inspiration! Cake making is so fun, but making a little 4-inch cake two or 3 times a month is just not enough to make me want to get out all my fun supplies! I'll do better on the next one!

First Wedding Cake

Here are pictures of the a wedding cake I made for my Sister in Law. Her colors were lime green, chocolate brown, light pink, and white. Her flowers were roses, calla lilies, stephanotis, baby's breath, and various other lilies. Bear in mind that this was an outdoor reception in August and it was 103 degrees. That's why the frosting was sweating a bit. I used a fan blowing on the cake to minimize this, but it was unavoidable.
The bride had two receptions, so I made five layers of cake in all, so she could cut two layers at the first and still have a nice looking cake for the second. They ended up serving most of the cake- over 250 guests.
Here was the cake at the second reception- they only cut and served one layer at the first reception so we ended up with 4 layers displayed at the second.

The key limes are real, but all of the flowers I made using gum paste. I added details to the flowers with non-toxic chalk. Chocolate curls and shavings topped it off. Close ups of the flowers on top:



What do you think? Not bad for a first attempt- I had never used gum paste before in my life. It took me about 2 months of "spare time" to make all the flowers and 3 days to make all of the cake, fillings, and frosting. I was so happy when it turned out looking alright and tasted great!

Projects in the Works

Well, I was going to post more photos of projects that I have recently completed, but my laptop won't connect to the main computer that has all the pictures on it... so, instead I'll tell you about the projects I have going right now.

1) Relandscaping our yard. We just got our garden in last weekend (finally) and now it is time to re-do the rest of the yard. My husband and I are working on a rock pathway that goes from the backyard deck around the house to the driveway. We have about 20 feet left to do. Getting close! I also want to build a planter by the front of the house for a rose bush, and I need to redo the flower beds with summertime plants now that the spring bulbs are all fading.

2) Pillows- We just purchased a new bedframe and so of course I feel the need to redo our bedroom decor. I am making pillows in the new colors- chocolate brown and aqua- by embroidering flowers on silk. I only have 3 flowers left to do and then I can sew these pillows. I got the pillowforms at IKEA (20" square) for only $2.99 a piece! I will definitely show pictures of the finished products!

3) Picnic Table- My good friend has a picnic table that she has wanted to refinish for a few years now. I told her I would help her with it this week, so we'll be sanding off the old flaking red paint and refinishing it in her color of choice. I love the difference a little bit of elbow grease and paint can make!

4) Name Letters- A friend of mine just had a baby boy, and so I am making custom name letters for his nursery. Just need to finish sanding the edges and varnishing, then I can send this project off!

5) Fabric Flowers- Uh Oh. I just saw a CUTE idea for making fabric flowers with button centers and now I HAVE to make a bunch! I am preparing to go to a big 4th of July fair with my company, AngelHeadbands, and I'm thinking that these fabric flower hair clips would be a favorite! I'll show off the finished products when I make them!

This is by no means a complete list, but these are just the projects I'm hoping to complete this week! Wish me luck!

Mini Brownie Cake

This is a mini brownie cake I made for a friend of mine. Four layers of yummy chocolate brownie with caramel sauce in between and caramel and chocolate drizzled over the top. Topped off of course with a maraschino cherry. My friend loved it because she doesn't really like cake, but falls for brownies every time. I didn't know that when I was making the birthday brownie for her- I just didn't feel like making a cake! Perfect!

April 26, 2009

Easter Gifts

I know we're way beyond Easter already this year, but here are a couple of photos of gifts I made for my kids for the holiday. The first are kid size aprons- my kids love to help me cook. They are made out of a hot pad and dishtowel and put together with ribbon straps to tie. The kids love them and they were super easy to make.
I also decided that my baby girl needed a purse of her own because she LOVES carrying mine around and emptying it out. I sewed it without a pattern, just figured out how I wanted it to be and then made it. I used soft flannel fabric so it is completely washable (a must for kids!) She adores it! She loves putting her play keys and phone in the purse and carrying it around. I'm working on making a bunch more of these to put on www.AngelHeadbands.com. I figure if they are a hit with my little girl, they're sure to be a hit with others as well.