tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87100596469808738532023-11-15T08:10:34.033-08:00Slice of Fun CakesCynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14017694991041686294noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710059646980873853.post-66514030968362941622011-07-09T15:39:00.001-07:002011-07-09T15:57:50.111-07:00T-Rex Volcano Cake *RAWR!*Dinosaur says, "RAWR!!"<br /><br />Made this T-Rex Volcano cake for a little boy turning 30 today! :-)<br />This is the first time I tried making a huge 3-D figure, and WOW what a learning curve! Holy Prehistoric Lizard, Batman!!!!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o3N4lLVhJlQ/ThjZBGEKw3I/AAAAAAAADTM/0t8WvTZYhMQ/s1600/RAWR3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 338px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o3N4lLVhJlQ/ThjZBGEKw3I/AAAAAAAADTM/0t8WvTZYhMQ/s400/RAWR3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627486347230626674" border="0" /></a>I think he turned out pretty darn cute, though....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TEBggqGLM3Q/ThjZAl1FF8I/AAAAAAAADTE/raSfrF1t0kM/s1600/RAWR2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TEBggqGLM3Q/ThjZAl1FF8I/AAAAAAAADTE/raSfrF1t0kM/s400/RAWR2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627486338577405890" border="0" /></a>The cake is a 14-inch round of Wilton white wedding cake and the icing on the cake was a new recipe of chocolate.... I've been searching for a new one, one that tastes better than the Wilton chocolate buttercream or the Hershey recipe on the back of the cocoa can. <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/chocolate-icing/detail.aspx">This one I found on All Recipes</a>, and it is a cooked icing -- melting butter, brown sugar, and all the other goodies together before adding the powdered sugar. Left thick, it's a ganache, or thin it out and it's pourable but quickly hardens. It's basically fudge and I will be using this one more!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xaJ9xJQXVPU/ThjZAYKXFSI/AAAAAAAADS8/vYShkVeYfUM/s1600/RAWR1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 312px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xaJ9xJQXVPU/ThjZAYKXFSI/AAAAAAAADS8/vYShkVeYfUM/s400/RAWR1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627486334908568866" border="0" /></a><br />The icing on the volcano is the Wilton buttercream chocolate, which is not my favorite for taste, which is why I used it on the Rice Krispie Treat volcano. After it dried a bit, I smoothed it with the back of the spoon and a Viva paper towel. *HOOT!*<br /><br />Mr. T-Rex was also made from RKT. In several pieces. And then sort of stuck together with bamboo skewers and a lot of cussing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n1Vdyrmt3tY/ThjZBPdakNI/AAAAAAAADTU/W3KS_AJvDQc/s1600/RAWR4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n1Vdyrmt3tY/ThjZBPdakNI/AAAAAAAADTU/W3KS_AJvDQc/s400/RAWR4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627486349752438994" border="0" /></a><br />OH NO!! he says DEATH TO THE HUMAN WHO PUT ME BACK IN THE COLD STORAGE BOX OF DARKNESS!!!!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9HxGPJYNDHI/ThjZBkRiBgI/AAAAAAAADTc/K_4ARHN6_gw/s1600/RAWR5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9HxGPJYNDHI/ThjZBkRiBgI/AAAAAAAADTc/K_4ARHN6_gw/s400/RAWR5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627486355339740674" border="0" /></a>But this gives you an idea of scale -- he was big. I was fighting gravity trying to get his parts made and then put together. Oh my gosh. I was stressin' last night and up until 3 a.m. because there wasn't a good stopping point until then. This morning I finished the grass, painted his eye, made the rocks, and patched a hole on his thigh. Oh, and made his arms.<br /><br />He's a cutie!!!Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14017694991041686294noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710059646980873853.post-36334508817364066412011-05-23T11:33:00.000-07:002011-05-23T11:40:28.008-07:00Spring Flower Garden Cake with ButterfliesI was cruising through my blogs this weekend and realized I hadn't added Emily Rose's birthday cake to my cake blog! OMG<br />But now that is fixed....<br /><br />Here it is, ready for the party -- she wanted a "Spring Flower Garden Cake with Butterflies" and that is what she got:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LRksHkTiKRg/TdqpOKk-qbI/AAAAAAAADCU/_zBb9jKxQr0/s1600/11%2Bready%2Bfor%2Bthe%2Bparty.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 354px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LRksHkTiKRg/TdqpOKk-qbI/AAAAAAAADCU/_zBb9jKxQr0/s400/11%2Bready%2Bfor%2Bthe%2Bparty.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609982346666092978" border="0" /></a>I made the rainbow in advance so it would have time to dry and harden... then I made the butterflies.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QDpYclMV2Nw/TdqpN-37U0I/AAAAAAAADCM/cKmyewr_HGs/s1600/08%2Bthe%2Btop.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 308px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QDpYclMV2Nw/TdqpN-37U0I/AAAAAAAADCM/cKmyewr_HGs/s400/08%2Bthe%2Btop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609982343524340546" border="0" /></a>The flowers came next...and then they were dusted with shimmery powder (that you can eat, don't worry!) to create a garden fairies would love to visit:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nfx11I22QjA/TdqpNayc3NI/AAAAAAAADCE/JzX_YH_DszQ/s1600/05%2Bshimmery%2Bflowers.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 310px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nfx11I22QjA/TdqpNayc3NI/AAAAAAAADCE/JzX_YH_DszQ/s400/05%2Bshimmery%2Bflowers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609982333837696210" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wwlVeWgmOvw/TdqpNBk6gcI/AAAAAAAADB8/BuSswvBLJ1s/s1600/09%2Bflowers.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 292px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wwlVeWgmOvw/TdqpNBk6gcI/AAAAAAAADB8/BuSswvBLJ1s/s400/09%2Bflowers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609982327070032322" border="0" /></a>The finished cake:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bj-S4VYVbGk/TdqpOQvUtYI/AAAAAAAADCc/ecGhBOQfEwk/s1600/04%2Bthe%2Bcake%2521.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 253px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bj-S4VYVbGk/TdqpOQvUtYI/AAAAAAAADCc/ecGhBOQfEwk/s400/04%2Bthe%2Bcake%2521.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609982348320093570" border="0" /></a>She loved it!<br />I can't believe my little baby is 8. *mommy sad face*Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14017694991041686294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710059646980873853.post-54253921255969413602011-02-18T22:26:00.000-08:002011-02-18T23:19:45.505-08:00Doggone Dog Bone Cake!!!Even stuffed animals need parties, so I didn't even blink when my friend Shannon asked me to make a cake in the shape of a dog bone for her son Brady's puppy...toy puppy, that is.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YBxvo_w2Od4/TV9i0xHI_WI/AAAAAAAACws/2zTye8Js-lk/s1600/Building%2Bthe%2Bbone.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 312px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575283522383969634" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YBxvo_w2Od4/TV9i0xHI_WI/AAAAAAAACws/2zTye8Js-lk/s400/Building%2Bthe%2Bbone.jpg" /></a>I baked three rectangles in my bread pans... and cut four huge circles out of two of the rectangles for the ends. I cut wedges out of the circles so the piece would fit together, and then those wedges were sliced in half and arranged on top of the ends with a layer of buttercream between. This let me build up the ends of the bone nice and round with icing:<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sIbcae63UEg/TV9i0g67kLI/AAAAAAAACwk/-Q6zAFQn4tI/s1600/Dirty%2BIce%2Blayer.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 282px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575283518037790898" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sIbcae63UEg/TV9i0g67kLI/AAAAAAAACwk/-Q6zAFQn4tI/s400/Dirty%2BIce%2Blayer.jpg" /></a> It was at this point I realized how incredibly easy it would be to make a booby cake. LOL </div><div>Next came marshmallow fondant on top so it would be nice and smooth:<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0Vju7PARGL0/TV9i0ec8CSI/AAAAAAAACwc/2q3ANPyzn4Q/s1600/Fondant%2Bin%2Bplace.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 265px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575283517375121698" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0Vju7PARGL0/TV9i0ec8CSI/AAAAAAAACwc/2q3ANPyzn4Q/s400/Fondant%2Bin%2Bplace.jpg" /></a> I added puppy prints and some writing with icing I had thinned WAY too much. (It was running out of the tip! GAH!) And since the blue icing was way too thin, I just used white around the bottom. Pretty!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4gjT-rCrxv0/TV9i0emLtkI/AAAAAAAACwU/3tZqPDWFoiw/s1600/Dog%2BBone%2BCake.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 261px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575283517413897794" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4gjT-rCrxv0/TV9i0emLtkI/AAAAAAAACwU/3tZqPDWFoiw/s400/Dog%2BBone%2BCake.jpg" /></a>Bow wow!!! </div></div></div>Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14017694991041686294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710059646980873853.post-29903588416523359582011-02-12T21:03:00.001-08:002011-02-12T21:09:07.577-08:00My Little Pony Carousel Cake<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4DDY025tSQ/TVdmiIluZZI/AAAAAAAACuw/XfyzQgYfyCQ/s1600/The%2BCake%2521.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 305px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573035800501577106" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4DDY025tSQ/TVdmiIluZZI/AAAAAAAACuw/XfyzQgYfyCQ/s400/The%2BCake%2521.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Our daughter Mary Pearl turned 6 and what did she want? A My Little Pony Carousel cake, of course! She LOVES carousels, and she LOVES My Little Ponies...and so there you go. </div><div>:-) </div>The bottom is three layers of chocolate fudge cake, with ganache filling, and then decorated with marshmallow fondant. The top was constructed of Rice Krispie Treats then covered in ganache and marshmallow fondant decorations.<br /><br />Mary Pearl's favorite ponies got to ride on top after a quick trip to the horsey mane stylist, of course. I built it on my turntable so everyone could make the carousel twirl, but I should have thought of a way to add music. LOL<br /><div></div>Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14017694991041686294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710059646980873853.post-51249473377267039422010-12-23T20:42:00.000-08:002010-12-23T20:48:07.548-08:00HOLY CHOCOLATE CAKE, BATMAN!!<div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 354px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554104859191511970" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TRQk8Ulhi6I/AAAAAAAACSc/Q_lr1H_UKoY/s400/01%2BBatman%2BBegins.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 339px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554104852953946562" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TRQk79WX2cI/AAAAAAAACSU/4mYUU9jWmh8/s400/02%2Bcoming%2Balong.jpg" /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TRQlhLnAe2I/AAAAAAAACSk/9wKv7zc-l74/s1600/04%2BBatman%2BFinal.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 380px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554105492436974434" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TRQlhLnAe2I/AAAAAAAACSk/9wKv7zc-l74/s400/04%2BBatman%2BFinal.jpg" /></a> Brady, the Birthday Boy turning 6 on Christmas Eve, wanted a Batman cake!<br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#ff0000;"> </span><span style="color:#ff0000;"><span style="font-size:180%;">* * * BOOM! POW! BAM! * * *<br /></span></span></div></div>Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14017694991041686294noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710059646980873853.post-67679616296983313142010-11-21T18:00:00.000-08:002010-11-21T18:15:03.790-08:00A ROYAL (BLUE) WEDDING and a BAKUGAN CAKE!Gorgeous little cake for a wonderful couple who got married here in Astoria on the 13th:<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TOnPfantmAI/AAAAAAAACQg/JHnXLUFwnlY/s1600/Cake1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 347px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542188955084888066" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TOnPfantmAI/AAAAAAAACQg/JHnXLUFwnlY/s400/Cake1.jpg" /></a>The bottom tier is fudge chocolate with Kahlua creme mousse filling, and the top tier is a poppyseed cake with strawberry filling.<br />.<br />And this weekend was Nathan's birthday, and my son is big into Bakugan.... so what else could I make but a giant Bakugan ball cake?<br />.<br />Working on the dome:<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TOnPe6FWF2I/AAAAAAAACQY/H-TgaLFYVV0/s1600/01%2BBuilding%2Bthe%2Bdome.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 294px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542188946350806882" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TOnPe6FWF2I/AAAAAAAACQY/H-TgaLFYVV0/s400/01%2BBuilding%2Bthe%2Bdome.jpg" /></a> I filled in the spaces between the levels with excess pieces from trimming the top: <div> </div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TOnPePaeb0I/AAAAAAAACQQ/ZwppN2J-n-g/s1600/02%2BInside%2Bthe%2Bcake.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 367px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542188934896709442" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TOnPePaeb0I/AAAAAAAACQQ/ZwppN2J-n-g/s400/02%2BInside%2Bthe%2Bcake.jpg" /></a><br />When I finished this part, I couldn't believe how much it looked like a giant truffle! And there's the inspirational tiny Bakugan ball below... I don't really know what the point of them is, but Nathan likes them, so it's all good. :-)<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TOnPd9FvkzI/AAAAAAAACQI/eMGRv5Keu0I/s1600/05%2Bthe%2Bgiant%2Btruffle.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 305px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542188929977914162" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TOnPd9FvkzI/AAAAAAAACQI/eMGRv5Keu0I/s400/05%2Bthe%2Bgiant%2Btruffle.jpg" /></a> </div><div>I had *planned* on making a blue ball...but I was out of blue gel coloring. Unreal. So I went with red. I had to add so much red, the marshmallow fondant started crumbling on me. Nothing I did brought it back...frustrating! So I took the rest of my already-prepared fondant and tried yellow. Didn't have to use hardly any color, but same results -- totally dry and crumbling apart in my hands!! This had never happened before... so I thought, "Oh, I'll just make a new batch and go with that." Except ---- I was nearly out of powdered sugar. And it was 11 o'clock at night the night before the party. Eeeeegads.....</div><div> </div><div>I needed eight cups of powdered sugar, so I measured. I had four. So I went for it... made half a batch of yellow, and rolled it out and slapped it on the cake. But even going as quickly as I was, it still began drying and crumbling. It didn't make any sense AT ALL. I have used marshmallow fondant a million times before without these results! What was going on??? </div><div> </div><div>That's when I finally sat down to upload the cake photos to Facebook and realized how chilly it was. I checked the thermometer and discovered it was only 64 degrees in the house!!! OMG!!!</div><div>Holy frozen fondant, Batman!!!!</div><div> </div><div>But I got it... it's a Bouncing Baby Bakugan cake!!!</div><div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TOnPdtgZlTI/AAAAAAAACQA/-JzzGQslN7A/s1600/07%2Bupdated%2Bcake%2Bwith%2Blines.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 346px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542188925794751794" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TOnPdtgZlTI/AAAAAAAACQA/-JzzGQslN7A/s400/07%2Bupdated%2Bcake%2Bwith%2Blines.jpg" /></a>Peace and Cake,</div><div>Cynthia</div></div></div></div>Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14017694991041686294noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710059646980873853.post-3081337425859375012010-10-29T16:53:00.001-07:002012-10-01T00:10:01.416-07:00HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!I love how my super-adorable Jack-O-Lantern cake turned out! BOO!!!!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TMtfcfHwHoI/AAAAAAAACPc/Zy0GNLdVFfI/s1600/05+Jack-O-Lantern+Cake!!!.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533621510149774978" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TMtfcfHwHoI/AAAAAAAACPc/Zy0GNLdVFfI/s400/05+Jack-O-Lantern+Cake!!!.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 381px;" /></a> The layers... chocolate cake, buttercream icing.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TMtfcACrXSI/AAAAAAAACPU/kHDI9gdUAKc/s1600/01+The+layers.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533621501806992674" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TMtfcACrXSI/AAAAAAAACPU/kHDI9gdUAKc/s400/01+The+layers.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 286px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Stacking it up...I totally cheated and didn't insert a cardboard half-way down the cake. I'm sure they will be able to figure out how to not cut an 8-inch-high slice of cake. LOL</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TMtevjI3OjI/AAAAAAAACO8/JQiWwxj3kiM/s1600/02+stacked.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533620738134063666" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TMtevjI3OjI/AAAAAAAACO8/JQiWwxj3kiM/s400/02+stacked.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 315px;" /></a> </div>
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Anatomy of a Jack-O-Lantern:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TMtevXaeQ1I/AAAAAAAACO0/mgwWGRwC6BI/s1600/03+Anatomy+of+a+Pumpkin+Cake.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533620734986699602" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TMtevXaeQ1I/AAAAAAAACO0/mgwWGRwC6BI/s400/03+Anatomy+of+a+Pumpkin+Cake.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 365px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TMtevF8l-nI/AAAAAAAACOs/hWFiamLoF3M/s1600/04+The+back.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533620730297973362" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TMtevF8l-nI/AAAAAAAACOs/hWFiamLoF3M/s400/04+The+back.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 370px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TMteum7ZUhI/AAAAAAAACOk/kPsoOTPkEgE/s1600/06+J-O-L+Cake+shiny+with+flash.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533620721971450386" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TMteum7ZUhI/AAAAAAAACOk/kPsoOTPkEgE/s400/06+J-O-L+Cake+shiny+with+flash.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 392px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a> </div>
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The son wanted spiders, so I tucked some in at the last minute....<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TMteufyxAJI/AAAAAAAACOc/akGAuRKbNiY/s1600/08+close+up.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533620720056205458" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TMteufyxAJI/AAAAAAAACOc/akGAuRKbNiY/s400/08+close+up.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a> </div>
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Have a safe and happy Halloween!!!!!</div>
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Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14017694991041686294noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710059646980873853.post-36966749951010301902010-10-13T15:39:00.000-07:002010-10-13T15:44:00.755-07:00'66 MUSTANGMy favorite car ever. Can I make one out of sugar? Oh boy....<br />The trick with sculpting out of fondant is there is no trick - it's just heavy and starts to crack if you handle it too much. So you have to work fast. This car didn't have to be huge, because this is only a 6-inch cake, but I think it turned out adorable!<br /><br />The front end...<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TLY1b7NQ9AI/AAAAAAAACOM/oTEJPV7t_sU/s1600/front+end.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527664346509931522" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TLY1b7NQ9AI/AAAAAAAACOM/oTEJPV7t_sU/s400/front+end.jpg" /></a> The rear -- I have always loved those Mustang lights. :-)<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TLY1bsCzFJI/AAAAAAAACOE/_0D0RYG5C7Y/s1600/back+end.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 289px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527664342439498898" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TLY1bsCzFJI/AAAAAAAACOE/_0D0RYG5C7Y/s400/back+end.jpg" /></a> This is a Happy Birthday to a Grandpa cake: chocolate cake, chocolate icing and marshmallow fondant covering and decorations.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TLY1bUQZXgI/AAAAAAAACN8/UTEB8BojOWU/s1600/The+car+from+the+front.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 371px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527664336054083074" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TLY1bUQZXgI/AAAAAAAACN8/UTEB8BojOWU/s400/The+car+from+the+front.jpg" /></a> </div></div>Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14017694991041686294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710059646980873853.post-24560052890180671102010-09-17T17:45:00.000-07:002010-09-17T18:02:50.706-07:00CHARCEY'S WEDDING CAKE<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TJQL5JD2UtI/AAAAAAAACGw/Ub6X-9HtaK8/s1600/rose+tier+cake.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 330px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518048519748211410" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TJQL5JD2UtI/AAAAAAAACGw/Ub6X-9HtaK8/s400/rose+tier+cake.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TJQL4bJ_R7I/AAAAAAAACGo/jaGwcAp9wUk/s1600/rose+tier+closeup.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 304px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518048507425933234" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TJQL4bJ_R7I/AAAAAAAACGo/jaGwcAp9wUk/s400/rose+tier+closeup.jpg" /></a> </div><div>The bride wanted simple, elegant, white, and roses. </div><div> </div><div></div><div>Chocolate cake (lovely to eat, but very hard to deal with in stacked cakes... I will have to re-think this in the future and/or discover new chocolate cake recipes to try), buttercream frosting, marshmallow fondant and marshmallow roses. </div><div> </div><div>Also, I noticed from this angle the flowers look a bit wonky, but their placement makes sense in person, I swear. :-) </div>Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14017694991041686294noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710059646980873853.post-7866109347213179792010-08-31T21:08:00.000-07:002010-08-31T21:48:53.817-07:00EMILY ROSE'S ROSE CAKEEmily's adoption day (#6!!) was August 10, and she wanted a heart-shaped, cherry cake with roses. And she got it...<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TH3VKAxuTRI/AAAAAAAACFU/2CPLMAx7HnY/s1600/Adoption+Day+Cake+detail.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 287px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511795886955318546" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TH3VKAxuTRI/AAAAAAAACFU/2CPLMAx7HnY/s400/Adoption+Day+Cake+detail.jpg" /></a>This is me learning a new, larger rose method, which I totally LOVE. No cookie cutters, just forming the fondant as I go. Awesome. And the roses can be as big as you want. SWEET!<br />.<br />The pinks are NOT showing up well in this photo... and I can't figure out why. They did look closer in color than this in real life! I swear!!!<br />But how cool are these giant roses? So cool...<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TH3VJpfnEiI/AAAAAAAACFM/iSyGeuZBZ_A/s1600/Heart+cake!.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 363px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511795880705331746" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TH3VJpfnEiI/AAAAAAAACFM/iSyGeuZBZ_A/s400/Heart+cake!.jpg" /></a> Our sweet baby...<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TH3VJZZ7hiI/AAAAAAAACFE/ME6cuPU_EXU/s1600/Happy+Adoption+Day+8-10-10.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511795876386539042" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TH3VJZZ7hiI/AAAAAAAACFE/ME6cuPU_EXU/s400/Happy+Adoption+Day+8-10-10.jpg" /></a></div></div>Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14017694991041686294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710059646980873853.post-76709745037441510702010-08-08T21:57:00.000-07:002010-08-08T22:09:23.254-07:00S'MORES = SUMMER and KUNG FU DIEGOOh my goodness.... the one thing that truly screams, "IT'S SUMMER!!!" are big, giant s'mores!!! So what else could you want for your birthday but a Giant S'Mores Cake if you are my husband who was born on August 3 and just happens to LOVE s'mores???<br />.<br />Ready?<br />Here I am shaping the marshmallow... never did this before.... slapped some icing on it and didn't really let it sit like I would have for a client, but it worked out just fine!<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TF-LOKTMZBI/AAAAAAAAB78/lONOnotI2CU/s1600/02+marshmallow+parts.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503270345069323282" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TF-LOKTMZBI/AAAAAAAAB78/lONOnotI2CU/s400/02+marshmallow+parts.jpg" /></a> See? The kids screamed when I got it put together. They wanted to have some that minute, but they were heading for bed. Boo!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TF-LN9jlW6I/AAAAAAAAB70/PtV_Naw4gDg/s1600/03+the+giant+smore.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 339px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503270341648407458" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TF-LN9jlW6I/AAAAAAAAB70/PtV_Naw4gDg/s400/03+the+giant+smore.jpg" /></a> <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TF-LNjX69KI/AAAAAAAAB7s/2Z5JLll1_yo/s1600/ready+to+eat.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 392px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503270334620169378" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TF-LNjX69KI/AAAAAAAAB7s/2Z5JLll1_yo/s400/ready+to+eat.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TF-LNTZ13lI/AAAAAAAAB7k/1Ghhl4vGYXE/s1600/tongues+at+the+ready.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 355px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503270330333257298" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TF-LNTZ13lI/AAAAAAAAB7k/1Ghhl4vGYXE/s400/tongues+at+the+ready.jpg" /></a> The two graham cracker layers and the chocolate layer are all chocolate cake. The graham cracker layers have light brown buttercream and real crushed graham crackers on them, while the chocolate bar layer has chocolate icing covered with a layer of melted chocolate chips. The marshmallow layer is yellow cake with white buttercream, covered in what else -- marshmallow fondant. :-) </div><div>.</div><div>KUNG FU DIEGO</div><div>.</div><div></div><div>Now here is a July cake for a littel buddy who was turning 7! He loves Diego, and this was James's first birthday in America (he just came home from China in January!) and so I did a Kung Fu Diego!! </div><div>.</div><div></div><div>But buttercream drives me cuckoo -- it always seems to be wanting to melt on me, and looks so shiny in photos. I need to work with it more, obviously! </div><div> </div><div></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TF-LMgdWpRI/AAAAAAAAB7c/tORynECBqhQ/s1600/Kung+Fu+Diego.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503270316657779986" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TF-LMgdWpRI/AAAAAAAAB7c/tORynECBqhQ/s400/Kung+Fu+Diego.jpg" /></a></div></div></div>Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14017694991041686294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710059646980873853.post-54922581856966680732010-06-07T00:44:00.000-07:002010-06-07T01:01:20.566-07:00BUZZ LIGHTYEARTO INFINITY AND BEYOND!!!!!!!!!<br />Buzz is the MAN!!!!<br />14" double-layer chocolate fudge cake with buttercream icing under bright blue marshmallow fondant. Buzz is 100% marshmallow fondant, too!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TAyka3AKnhI/AAAAAAAAB2I/kRm-m2-iEX8/s1600/13+done+top+view.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479935627951250962" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TAyka3AKnhI/AAAAAAAAB2I/kRm-m2-iEX8/s400/13+done+top+view.jpg" /></a> He cracks me up with his right leg looking longer than his left. It wasn't that much longer, I swear! haha<br />.<br />BUILDING BUZZ:<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TAykaRqHlRI/AAAAAAAAB2A/IImW1me_0AI/s1600/01+Buzz+body.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479935617926665490" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TAykaRqHlRI/AAAAAAAAB2A/IImW1me_0AI/s400/01+Buzz+body.jpg" /></a> It was at this point I realized how easily I could be making a Star Wars cake.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TAykQ5QcerI/AAAAAAAAB14/1mmdKbQIlLg/s1600/02+adding+green.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479935456757709490" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TAykQ5QcerI/AAAAAAAAB14/1mmdKbQIlLg/s400/02+adding+green.jpg" /></a></div><div>Building Buzz's head: </div><div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TAykQo0KraI/AAAAAAAAB1w/Bqa9MKdnTHM/s1600/03+Buzzs+head.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479935452344135074" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TAykQo0KraI/AAAAAAAAB1w/Bqa9MKdnTHM/s400/03+Buzzs+head.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TAykQK3QznI/AAAAAAAAB1o/y84DaPJ9xi0/s1600/04+Buzz+has+a+head.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479935444304055922" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TAykQK3QznI/AAAAAAAAB1o/y84DaPJ9xi0/s400/04+Buzz+has+a+head.jpg" /></a> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TAykP1ltdeI/AAAAAAAAB1g/w7vuRHRV_-s/s1600/05+Buzz+is+done.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479935438593291746" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TAykP1ltdeI/AAAAAAAAB1g/w7vuRHRV_-s/s400/05+Buzz+is+done.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TAykPgCy_tI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/IFjLvEvg-ig/s1600/06+Buzz+side+view.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479935432809709266" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TAykPgCy_tI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/IFjLvEvg-ig/s400/06+Buzz+side+view.jpg" /></a> </div><div>On the cake:</div><div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TAyjrEk8UhI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/1lrnxikHIRY/s1600/08+Buzz+on+Cake01.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479934806961443346" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TAyjrEk8UhI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/1lrnxikHIRY/s400/08+Buzz+on+Cake01.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TAyjq2LzLdI/AAAAAAAAB1I/YsrgT5cK6Ac/s1600/09+done+close+up.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479934803097890258" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TAyjq2LzLdI/AAAAAAAAB1I/YsrgT5cK6Ac/s400/09+done+close+up.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TAyjqhWDnLI/AAAAAAAAB1A/7ebwQm1VykQ/s1600/10+done+detail.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479934797503765682" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TAyjqhWDnLI/AAAAAAAAB1A/7ebwQm1VykQ/s400/10+done+detail.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TAyjqFq-_vI/AAAAAAAAB04/MiFjeQ7jEgE/s1600/11+done+final+pic.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479934790075350770" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TAyjqFq-_vI/AAAAAAAAB04/MiFjeQ7jEgE/s400/11+done+final+pic.jpg" /></a> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TAyjp-NBy-I/AAAAAAAAB0w/7bGzwkzlWwU/s1600/12+done+side+view.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479934788070656994" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TAyjp-NBy-I/AAAAAAAAB0w/7bGzwkzlWwU/s400/12+done+side+view.jpg" /></a> No! That's NOT a toy laying on the cake!! haha<br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14017694991041686294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710059646980873853.post-4884842259902705302010-06-03T10:52:00.000-07:002010-08-25T00:17:25.599-07:00GRANDMA'S CAKEThis is how this cake looked before I left the house:<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TAfsHtX-uoI/AAAAAAAABzs/_shwxVnT7Yg/s1600/02.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478607088902912642" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TAfsHtX-uoI/AAAAAAAABzs/_shwxVnT7Yg/s400/02.jpg" /></a>This is how the poor thing looked fifteen minutes later after I drove it to the venue, ten minutes from my house:<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TAfsHcEUT-I/AAAAAAAABzk/zIYAMKmRDvk/s1600/05+SLIDING!+ARGH!!!.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478607084257038306" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TAfsHcEUT-I/AAAAAAAABzk/zIYAMKmRDvk/s400/05+SLIDING!+ARGH!!!.jpg" /></a> At the party with the giant "85" for 85 wonderful years for Aiti (Grandma):<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TAfsG9IxTtI/AAAAAAAABzc/CpDUKOw8_kY/s1600/04+at+the+party.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478607075954216658" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/TAfsG9IxTtI/AAAAAAAABzc/CpDUKOw8_kY/s400/04+at+the+party.jpg" /></a> I was so disappointed that the icing had slid. This has NEVER happened to me before and it literally took me about five days to get over this. But lessons learned -- I will from now on NEVER icing a cake the day of an event, and I will encourage everyone to go with FONDANT! I really hate buttercream right now -- makes me want to CRY!!!!!!!! <div></div></div></div>Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14017694991041686294noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710059646980873853.post-34155068550319347602010-05-23T17:54:00.001-07:002010-05-23T18:00:46.985-07:00RUSSELL GRADUATION CAKE<div>First Raven got married (in January... I did their cake!), and now she has graduated from college... right alongside her older brother Max!</div><div>.</div><div>This cake was up to me -- I knew I did NOT want to do a traditional graduation cake. No mortar boards, no diplomas, no cheesy writing. I wanted elegance and something very Russell-like. I was first inspired by the rich colors of their home... browns, jewel tones, golds and caramels, and texture. I tried chocolate marshmallow fondant for this cake, and I really liked not only the taste (***YUM!!!***), but the cocoa powder gave an almost antique-looking finish to the chocolate fondant, which I loved and will use again!</div><div>.</div><div>The braid and the sea star shapes are a nod to Seaside, Oregon, where the Russell family is from... a loose nautical theme for being so incredibly close to the ocean. The drapery (marshmallow fondant) was a nod to the graduation robes, and at the party I found out Raven's honors ropes she wore were red and green. *I rule!*</div><div>.</div><div>I posted two photos with different lighting, because this cake was extremely hard to get good photos of! Enjoy.</div><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S_nOfDhFgjI/AAAAAAAAByk/VlzyAGpTzy0/s1600/Russell+Graduation+Cake.2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474633854960894514" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S_nOfDhFgjI/AAAAAAAAByk/VlzyAGpTzy0/s400/Russell+Graduation+Cake.2.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S_nOe8feEUI/AAAAAAAAByc/yEuQU_7ThMA/s1600/Russell+Graduation+Cake.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474633853075067202" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S_nOe8feEUI/AAAAAAAAByc/yEuQU_7ThMA/s400/Russell+Graduation+Cake.jpg" /></a></div>Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14017694991041686294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710059646980873853.post-791105370071051342010-05-02T20:27:00.000-07:002010-05-02T20:34:30.709-07:00HELLO KITTY BIRTHDAY GIRL!!Here is the birthday girl with her Hello Kitty cake!! Happy 7th, Emily Rose!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S95DCXM8VsI/AAAAAAAABmk/lcANX8sQKx4/s1600/01+The+birthday+girl!!!.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466880705541461698" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S95DCXM8VsI/AAAAAAAABmk/lcANX8sQKx4/s400/01+The+birthday+girl!!!.jpg" /></a><br />And then here is the proof I have the coolest in-laws in the world....<br />MY BIRTHDAY/MOM'S DAY/JUST BECAUSE PRESENT:<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S95DBzr_48I/AAAAAAAABmc/r3p1gVQbcyE/s1600/29+I+got+a+present+too.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466880696008041410" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S95DBzr_48I/AAAAAAAABmc/r3p1gVQbcyE/s400/29+I+got+a+present+too.jpg" /></a> ***********AGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!***********</div><div>YESSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!! What an awesome present!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div>I can't wait to use it!!!!!!!!!!!!! </div><div>My hands will never get blisters again from mixing icing!!! </div><div> </div><div>He is beautiful. </div><div>I have named him Graham.</div><div>He is my mighty Grahaminator.</div><div> </div>Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14017694991041686294noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710059646980873853.post-2125808402084911372010-05-02T00:03:00.001-07:002010-05-02T00:10:03.301-07:00HELLO KITTY and CHOCOCAT!!Emily Rose is turning 7 -- May 2 is the day (it's just after midnight as I type this, so it's her birthday officially!!).... she wanted "a rainbow cake with Hello Kitty and Chococat holding hands, and flowers."<br /><br />And so here we go... the icing is ready:<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S90kPuAxXHI/AAAAAAAABmU/tmeDG6m5jQg/s1600/Icing.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466565375165553778" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S90kPuAxXHI/AAAAAAAABmU/tmeDG6m5jQg/s400/Icing.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I made pink magic wands out of fondant for the girls. We'll add ribbon to the sticks. Flowers and everything are made from fondant.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S90kPWaakxI/AAAAAAAABmM/ERVRa8XW4Bk/s1600/hello+Kitty+Cake+parts.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466565368830661394" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S90kPWaakxI/AAAAAAAABmM/ERVRa8XW4Bk/s400/hello+Kitty+Cake+parts.jpg" /></a> A army of flowers:<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S90kPAGnYFI/AAAAAAAABmE/HAqhAfOGlfc/s1600/Flower+Army.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466565362842034258" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S90kPAGnYFI/AAAAAAAABmE/HAqhAfOGlfc/s400/Flower+Army.jpg" /></a> The cake before:<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S90kO2LrKDI/AAAAAAAABl8/pXmiw1FZ9VE/s1600/Cake+before.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466565360178898994" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S90kO2LrKDI/AAAAAAAABl8/pXmiw1FZ9VE/s400/Cake+before.jpg" /></a><br />WOO!!! Sky and grass!!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S90kOVIv15I/AAAAAAAABl0/tqp8mLEc70A/s1600/04+sky+and+grass.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466565351308253074" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S90kOVIv15I/AAAAAAAABl0/tqp8mLEc70A/s400/04+sky+and+grass.jpg" /></a><br />Adding the rainbow:<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S90j-Hd0qKI/AAAAAAAABls/5M8CG6DqVuw/s1600/05+rainbow.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466565072760645794" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S90j-Hd0qKI/AAAAAAAABls/5M8CG6DqVuw/s400/05+rainbow.jpg" /></a> </div><div>Adding the best friends:<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S90j9uHz98I/AAAAAAAABlk/5z5Hrz0agc4/s1600/06+best+friends.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466565065957439426" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S90j9uHz98I/AAAAAAAABlk/5z5Hrz0agc4/s400/06+best+friends.jpg" /></a><br />A close-up of the kitties:</div><div><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S90j9ap3UoI/AAAAAAAABlc/6cwMLsUVJ4E/s1600/06.5+best+friends+with+flowers.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466565060731556482" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S90j9ap3UoI/AAAAAAAABlc/6cwMLsUVJ4E/s400/06.5+best+friends+with+flowers.jpg" /></a> </div><div>A side view... really digging the colors here!!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S90j9OJJg6I/AAAAAAAABlU/u2VjrXNA6PM/s1600/08+side+view.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466565057373111202" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S90j9OJJg6I/AAAAAAAABlU/u2VjrXNA6PM/s400/08+side+view.jpg" /></a> *hello!*<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S90j8nMocuI/AAAAAAAABlM/Sf59WfdGLNg/s1600/10+ladybug.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466565046918738658" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S90j8nMocuI/AAAAAAAABlM/Sf59WfdGLNg/s400/10+ladybug.jpg" /></a> I can't wait for her to see the cake in the morning!!!!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14017694991041686294noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710059646980873853.post-49914288048679375422010-03-13T17:28:00.000-08:002010-03-13T19:10:29.116-08:00JACK IN THE GARDENI made this for a little girl named Beth who turned 2 today... Enjoy!<br />.<br />Here is Jack, the tuxedo kitty Beth loves to chase though the house. He is made entirely of fondant, with a toothpick to help hold his head steady. LOL<br />His eyes are yellow fondant, but then I painted on his cat's eyes. *meow*<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5w_kOuK7WI/AAAAAAAABBo/n9fo5EhEwCI/s1600-h/IMG_8214.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448299540871048546" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5w_kOuK7WI/AAAAAAAABBo/n9fo5EhEwCI/s400/IMG_8214.jpg" /></a><br />Roses for the garden -- the dark ones are actually a lavender color, but I am having issues with my camera and the color lavender right now.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5w_jvZlcLI/AAAAAAAABBg/yQmB3jM5gb0/s1600-h/02+the+roses.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448299532463206578" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5w_jvZlcLI/AAAAAAAABBg/yQmB3jM5gb0/s400/02+the+roses.jpg" /></a> <div>Here is Beth...not quite done yet. Still needs a sleeve, arms, a head, feet...</div><div></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5w_i0_I4VI/AAAAAAAABBY/gdc_Tk7NOMk/s1600-h/03+Bath+half+done.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448299516783026514" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5w_i0_I4VI/AAAAAAAABBY/gdc_Tk7NOMk/s400/03+Bath+half+done.jpg" /></a> </div><div>Inside the cake...Hershey's chocolate cake with pink frosting.</div><div><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5w_isrY0_I/AAAAAAAABBQ/Sjov1hI5oLk/s1600-h/04+inside+the+cake.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448299514552701938" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5w_isrY0_I/AAAAAAAABBQ/Sjov1hI5oLk/s400/04+inside+the+cake.jpg" /></a>Fondant frilly leaves waiting to go on the cake:<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5w_iDAh1VI/AAAAAAAABBI/RssggxHBtdU/s1600-h/05+the+leaves.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448299503367083346" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5w_iDAh1VI/AAAAAAAABBI/RssggxHBtdU/s400/05+the+leaves.jpg" /></a></div><div>When my son saw these this morning he said, "Mom! Did you buy these?" Nope -- all made from fondant except their little antenna.</div><div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5w99Qk_AVI/AAAAAAAABBA/W9XWaf5aHjE/s1600-h/06+ladybugs.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448297771842863442" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5w99Qk_AVI/AAAAAAAABBA/W9XWaf5aHjE/s400/06+ladybugs.jpg" /></a></div><div>Getting ready to install the garden... call the landscaping crew! </div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448297771237010978" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5w99OUibiI/AAAAAAAABA4/f4vsbt45zDI/s400/08+Beth+and+Jack+almost+ready.jpg" /><br /><div>I added some grass around the base of the fence:</div><div> </div><div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5w98kgBkNI/AAAAAAAABAw/FGI6cQNaXMQ/s1600-h/09+with+the+roses.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448297760010899666" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5w98kgBkNI/AAAAAAAABAw/FGI6cQNaXMQ/s400/09+with+the+roses.jpg" /></a><br />A top view:</div><div><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5w98YB1qUI/AAAAAAAABAo/qZraO2DFSTQ/s1600-h/10+top+view.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448297756663064898" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5w98YB1qUI/AAAAAAAABAo/qZraO2DFSTQ/s400/10+top+view.jpg" /></a></div><div></div><div>All done!! <div></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5w98FcWL8I/AAAAAAAABAg/kgeSDOh-yLU/s1600-h/11+all+done.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448297751673974722" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5w98FcWL8I/AAAAAAAABAg/kgeSDOh-yLU/s400/11+all+done.jpg" /></a>More views:<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5w8LrRtShI/AAAAAAAABAY/ktZYdSEdcw8/s1600-h/12+Jack+in+the+Garden+final.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448295820504680978" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5w8LrRtShI/AAAAAAAABAY/ktZYdSEdcw8/s400/12+Jack+in+the+Garden+final.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5w8LSAqzYI/AAAAAAAABAQ/k6ryMv8tPaI/s1600-h/13+side+view+1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448295813722328450" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5w8LSAqzYI/AAAAAAAABAQ/k6ryMv8tPaI/s400/13+side+view+1.jpg" /></a> <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5w8LCPLqkI/AAAAAAAABAI/4ONQ1ZJ69CI/s1600-h/14+side+view+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448295809488235074" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5w8LCPLqkI/AAAAAAAABAI/4ONQ1ZJ69CI/s400/14+side+view+2.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5w8KiwzfAI/AAAAAAAABAA/xOmAPPvFrz8/s1600-h/15+side+view+3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448295801039322114" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5w8KiwzfAI/AAAAAAAABAA/xOmAPPvFrz8/s400/15+side+view+3.jpg" /></a> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5w8KZW3L4I/AAAAAAAAA_4/b8RsDhZ9M5o/s1600-h/16+side+view+4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448295798514593666" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5w8KZW3L4I/AAAAAAAAA_4/b8RsDhZ9M5o/s400/16+side+view+4.jpg" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p>Some things to do differently next time: the characters were SUPER HEAVY and so next time I would use fondant-covered cardboard to create a platform for them. I would also put the roses and leaves on at the same time. And for the next fun garden cake, I will make bees and stick them up on the end of skewers so they are flying through the air! buzzzzzzzzzz</p><p>This entire cake was made using marshmallow fondant... SO GOOD! I figured out the secret --add shortening and you retain that elasticity the Wilton fondant has, but at a fraction of the price. So: 16 oz. mini marshmallows, 2 pounds of powdered sugar, three tablespoons of water, 1 tablespoon of clear vanilla, and half a cup of Crisco -- melt everything (except the powdered sugar) in the microwave for about 2 minutes, then stir in the powdered sugar. I am doing it by hand and still getting it done. Oh, and coat everything in Crisco before you start -- the mixing bowl, the stirring spoon, the table... haha</p><p>So for 3 pounds of marshmallow fondant, you spend less than $4 and time vs. $20 for 5 pounds of Wilton fondant that half of the people surveyed don't like the taste of. Hmmm......</p><p>Another month and I'm ordering my Kitchen Aid mixer!! My hands are killing me!! haha</p>Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14017694991041686294noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710059646980873853.post-88058029460148053042010-03-09T23:47:00.000-08:002010-03-09T23:51:18.314-08:00IT FINALLY HAPPENEDReason #8,572 I need a Kitchen Aid mixer... tonight while making marshmallow fondant by hand with a wooden spoon, I got a blister. Seriously.<br /><br />Onward and upward... LOL<br /><br />This weekend -- Beth is turning 2 and no 2-year-old's party would be complete without a gorgeous Garden Cake. She loves our cat Jack, a black-and-white tuxedo guy, and he and Beth will be on the cake together. Jack is done, so I'm working on a Sugary-Sweet Beth!!<br /><br />Bake on!!!<br />CynthiaCynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14017694991041686294noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710059646980873853.post-29737071246052674642010-03-05T16:50:00.000-08:002010-03-05T17:01:32.267-08:00RIVER OF ROSESMaking the roses - tinted fondant mixed with Gum-Tex. This is my rose-making world: the pan full of rice covered in foil and plastic so I have somewhere to stick the works-in-progress, more cut and ready to transform into roses, and the all-important cookie cutter.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5GouCFiR9I/AAAAAAAAA4w/qvzYHJ7VEzA/s1600-h/Making+roses.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445318933255178194" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5GouCFiR9I/AAAAAAAAA4w/qvzYHJ7VEzA/s400/Making+roses.jpg" /></a><br />I love making these! Each one is so different!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5Gotulfs8I/AAAAAAAAA4o/lLhrjdGELgc/s1600-h/Fondant+Roses.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445318928020517826" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5Gotulfs8I/AAAAAAAAA4o/lLhrjdGELgc/s400/Fondant+Roses.jpg" /></a>This is the final cake I made for my Wilton class... the fondant is handmade marshmallow fondant and tastes great!! I love how this turned out, even though I had no plan and just sort of put it together in class. LOL<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5Gm9gITIXI/AAAAAAAAA4g/l10WK5wuTNM/s1600-h/16+River+of+Roses1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445316999994614130" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5Gm9gITIXI/AAAAAAAAA4g/l10WK5wuTNM/s400/16+River+of+Roses1.jpg" /></a> </div>Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14017694991041686294noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710059646980873853.post-60994122122809516862010-03-05T16:37:00.000-08:002010-03-05T16:49:16.682-08:00SPACE ALIEN CAKE!My first black fondant cake...so exciting. :-)<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5Gkx5tkhuI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/MeOnB4oDncI/s1600-h/1+black+fondant.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445314601680144098" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5Gkx5tkhuI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/MeOnB4oDncI/s400/1+black+fondant.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5GkxvhQ-YI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/LV8KoI8D2zU/s1600-h/2+black+cake.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 367px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445314598944176514" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5GkxvhQ-YI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/LV8KoI8D2zU/s400/2+black+cake.jpg" /></a> Adding a moon....<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5GkxTuf2yI/AAAAAAAAA4I/vl3qqHiRHLc/s1600-h/3+the+moon.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 367px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445314591483484962" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5GkxTuf2yI/AAAAAAAAA4I/vl3qqHiRHLc/s400/3+the+moon.jpg" /></a><br />I added an Earth and then a sort-of red Saturn-type planet.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5GkwyiDgQI/AAAAAAAAA4A/gERGcyN-tLc/s1600-h/4+moon,+earth,+saturnlike.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 367px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445314582572925186" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5GkwyiDgQI/AAAAAAAAA4A/gERGcyN-tLc/s400/4+moon,+earth,+saturnlike.jpg" /></a></div><div> </div><div>Adding space doo-hickies (yes, that is the technical term).<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5GkUx-B1zI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/y8JiMg629uo/s1600-h/5+adding+bits.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 367px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445314101385484082" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5GkUx-B1zI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/y8JiMg629uo/s400/5+adding+bits.jpg" /></a>The stars have been waiting for a few days now.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5GkUiB2IuI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/hZUBJd5S6Oc/s1600-h/6+stars+ready+to+go.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445314097106526946" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5GkUiB2IuI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/hZUBJd5S6Oc/s400/6+stars+ready+to+go.jpg" /></a>Here is Murphy the Martian! How cute is he? I added balls the same color for the bottom border. Alien eggs, maybe? *haha* </div><div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5GkUf0Wx2I/AAAAAAAAA3I/R5fnSo1g2lI/s1600-h/7+getting+there.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445314096513075042" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5GkUf0Wx2I/AAAAAAAAA3I/R5fnSo1g2lI/s400/7+getting+there.jpg" /></a></div><div> </div><div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5GkTyKndfI/AAAAAAAAA3A/G1Mskwg0oks/s1600-h/8+side+view.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445314084258412018" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5GkTyKndfI/AAAAAAAAA3A/G1Mskwg0oks/s400/8+side+view.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5GkTmUg5fI/AAAAAAAAA24/a-5fGtciGpw/s1600-h/9+back+view.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445314081078699506" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5GkTmUg5fI/AAAAAAAAA24/a-5fGtciGpw/s400/9+back+view.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5GkG-cwzyI/AAAAAAAAA2w/quwJCNN8OEw/s1600-h/10+other+side+view.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445313864217448226" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5GkG-cwzyI/AAAAAAAAA2w/quwJCNN8OEw/s400/10+other+side+view.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5GkGctzndI/AAAAAAAAA2o/z2h3-fydiio/s1600-h/11+the+stars+and+writing.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445313855162129874" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5GkGctzndI/AAAAAAAAA2o/z2h3-fydiio/s400/11+the+stars+and+writing.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5GkFwfPjII/AAAAAAAAA2g/m6gqp3ZHwGA/s1600-h/13+all+done.better+pic.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445313843289885826" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5GkFwfPjII/AAAAAAAAA2g/m6gqp3ZHwGA/s400/13+all+done.better+pic.jpg" /></a></div><div>Murphy... so cute.... </div><div><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5GkFYOwjtI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/jSJxEwFhQjc/s1600-h/14+close+up+alien.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445313836778294994" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5GkFYOwjtI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/jSJxEwFhQjc/s400/14+close+up+alien.jpg" /></a>I love how 3-D this one turned out! *sweet* </div><div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5GkD5loBcI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/ZrUW8hTwnok/s1600-h/15+close+up+side+view.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445313811372836290" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S5GkD5loBcI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/ZrUW8hTwnok/s400/15+close+up+side+view.jpg" /></a></div><div>This cake is for a little boy turning 4!!</div><div>All decorations are made from ready-made Wilton fondant. </div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14017694991041686294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710059646980873853.post-87016049462333906492010-02-20T00:48:00.001-08:002010-02-20T00:50:10.843-08:00LAVENDER PRESENT CAKE!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S3-h8fEaSOI/AAAAAAAAA2I/ltBLBWKowlA/s1600-h/The+Present+Cake.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440244935391070434" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S3-h8fEaSOI/AAAAAAAAA2I/ltBLBWKowlA/s400/The+Present+Cake.jpg" /></a> I did this pretty little cake for my second Wilton Cake Class -- Course 3. I love it!! All the decorations are made from fondant and the kids left it alone for a few hours before the ribbons started getting eaten... so, good job, guys! LOL<br /><div></div>Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14017694991041686294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710059646980873853.post-47957598866301486262010-02-14T12:31:00.000-08:002010-02-14T12:37:05.377-08:00ORANGE DINOSAUR INVASION!!My daughter Mary Pearl turned 5 on February 10th and wanted an orange dinosaur cake for her birthday.... *RAWR*<br />.<br />Sugar cookies... orange color-flow icing with purple fun accents... these were totally fun to do and I will be practicing more with this!<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S3hd7CHrdqI/AAAAAAAAAxY/-RTcA6uSfaM/s1600-h/1+dinosaur+cookies.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438199818812618402" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S3hd7CHrdqI/AAAAAAAAAxY/-RTcA6uSfaM/s400/1+dinosaur+cookies.jpg" /></a><br />Getting ready to make the cake!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S3hd62NjOkI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/V5WjyAo-M2M/s1600-h/2+icing+times.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438199815616019010" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S3hd62NjOkI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/V5WjyAo-M2M/s400/2+icing+times.jpg" /></a> Rocks and fern fronds made out of fondant!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S3hd6hjuqGI/AAAAAAAAAxI/ImYJSbK3bgw/s1600-h/4+rocks+and+ferns.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438199810071898210" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S3hd6hjuqGI/AAAAAAAAAxI/ImYJSbK3bgw/s400/4+rocks+and+ferns.jpg" /></a><br />Outlining the dinosaur. Next time I will use an icing one shade darker than the main color to outline. Live and learn. LOL<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S3hd6M1kPsI/AAAAAAAAAxA/hruIBZtlm_o/s1600-h/3+dinocake+coming.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438199804509568706" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S3hd6M1kPsI/AAAAAAAAAxA/hruIBZtlm_o/s400/3+dinocake+coming.jpg" /></a><br />All done!!! I love this pan -- thank you, Heather, for cleaning house and passing it to us!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S3hd59lz_AI/AAAAAAAAAw4/5Ml3o_eEDno/s1600-h/dino+in+morning+light.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 298px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438199800416959490" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S3hd59lz_AI/AAAAAAAAAw4/5Ml3o_eEDno/s400/dino+in+morning+light.jpg" /></a> </div></div></div></div>Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14017694991041686294noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710059646980873853.post-5637798894753121412010-02-06T17:07:00.000-08:002010-02-06T17:08:49.246-08:00COMING IN FEBRUARY:Mary Pearl is turning 5 and wants an orange dinosaur cake... and our little friend Karl is turning 4 and he is all boy! So I will be working up an all-boy cake for that kiddo. I can't wait!Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14017694991041686294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710059646980873853.post-47694686314146439632010-02-06T16:25:00.000-08:002010-02-06T16:57:00.360-08:00THE SUPERHERO INVASION!Also in January I had the fun of doing two cakes for two brothers, Leo and Logan. They wanted superhero cakes, and so here we go!<br />.<br />The filling for the Superman cake:<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S24M98VriGI/AAAAAAAAAuI/BEFcawTThOQ/s1600-h/01+The+filling.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435296058591381602" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S24M98VriGI/AAAAAAAAAuI/BEFcawTThOQ/s320/01+The+filling.jpg" /></a>I thought it would be fun to have Superman colors coming out when the cake was cut. *WOOP*<br />.<br />The fondant is ready to go.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S24M9uM2a0I/AAAAAAAAAuA/dRf3YU4HyY8/s1600-h/02+the+fondant.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435296054796249922" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S24M9uM2a0I/AAAAAAAAAuA/dRf3YU4HyY8/s320/02+the+fondant.jpg" /></a> Here is the first layer of Superman's shield:<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S24M9QBDfYI/AAAAAAAAAt4/R1_nTP-BQoU/s1600-h/03+The+shield.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435296046693711234" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S24M9QBDfYI/AAAAAAAAAt4/R1_nTP-BQoU/s320/03+The+shield.jpg" /></a> And the second layer laid in place:</div><div><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S24M9A0sDoI/AAAAAAAAAtw/8UcmKVCluJM/s1600-h/04+The+S.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435296042615312002" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S24M9A0sDoI/AAAAAAAAAtw/8UcmKVCluJM/s320/04+The+S.jpg" /></a> I found his symbol online, printed it out the size I wanted and used it as a stencil. Sweet!</div><div>.</div><div>Adding some rockin' Go-Superman Stars:<br /></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S24Lr_N3ssI/AAAAAAAAAto/OEYaHD7C7WE/s1600-h/05+The+stars.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435294650614657730" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S24Lr_N3ssI/AAAAAAAAAto/OEYaHD7C7WE/s320/05+The+stars.jpg" /></a>Adding fun bubbles of color around the bottom:</div><div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S24LrtcEqaI/AAAAAAAAAtg/G_i0mSX_ZQY/s1600-h/06+The+bubbles.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435294645842389410" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S24LrtcEqaI/AAAAAAAAAtg/G_i0mSX_ZQY/s320/06+The+bubbles.jpg" /></a> Everything is in place:</div><div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S24LrCDyZ_I/AAAAAAAAAtY/6kw7sLNRq_8/s1600-h/07+Candles+and+Writing.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435294634197805042" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S24LrCDyZ_I/AAAAAAAAAtY/6kw7sLNRq_8/s320/07+Candles+and+Writing.jpg" /></a> I bummed myself out with this cake only because I forgot to leave room for writing! I was so used to making cakes for my own children, and I never write on their cakes, I forgot to leave enough space for my words! *haha* But it worked out this time... Next time I definitely won't forget! That's the great thing about mistakes. :-)<br />.</div><div>Logan got a Spider-Man cake: </div><div> </div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S24LqvFkDpI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/LSMxp5RYvtY/s1600-h/20+Spider-Man.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435294629104979602" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S24LqvFkDpI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/LSMxp5RYvtY/s320/20+Spider-Man.jpg" /></a></div><div>Now... when you have a leftover 6-inch white cake, and leftover red, yellow and blue fondant, AND leftover icing... what do you get?<br /></div><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S24LqWg5kgI/AAAAAAAAAtI/BevWSVgSrFo/s1600-h/30+Mosaic+Bubble+Cake.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435294622508749314" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S24LqWg5kgI/AAAAAAAAAtI/BevWSVgSrFo/s320/30+Mosaic+Bubble+Cake.jpg" /></a> A Deflated Soccer Ball Bubble Cake?</div><div>A Killer Klowns from Outer Space Cake? </div><div>A Melting Rainbow Star Trek Alien Amoeba Cake?<br /><br />It was seriously good. The kids were stealing the sugar bubbles all day. LOL<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div>Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14017694991041686294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710059646980873853.post-57852121915469248252010-02-06T14:55:00.000-08:002010-02-07T00:03:58.746-08:00RUSSELL-BROWN WEDDING CAKEI was asked to do my first wedding cake by my sweet friends, Raven Russell and Ian Brown. The wedding was on January 16, 2010, at the <a href="http://www.liberty-theater.org/">Liberty Theater</a> in downtown Astoria. The reception was on the 3rd floor of the Elks building in the most <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jodymiller/4104424779/">beautiful ballroom</a> I have ever seen. It was truly a magical day uniting two of my favorite people and I am so glad I was able to be a part of it!!<br />.<br />Okay -- THIS IS NOT MY CAKE! This is the INSPIRATIONAL PHOTO Raven found -- she loved the snow groom and bride on top, and wanted them for her cake, too. I said they were probably made from fondant, so that was my first order of business.<br />.<br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435273737026939122" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S234qqCAKPI/AAAAAAAAAtA/piZ0So1CBC4/s320/snowmen+cake+toppers.jpg" /><br />The rest of their cake plan was for three layers, coordinating ribbon around each layer in silver, black and red; and snowflakes.<br />.<br />But first things first, the snow bride and groom.<br />I had planned to make them out of clay so Raven and Ian could dust them forever. I bought black and orange <a href="http://www.sculpey.com/">Sculpey</a> clay (which I then fell in love with... coolest stuff EVER!) and my first job was to make the eyes, buttons, and the top hat for the little groom. Then came the tiny carrot noses. Sculpey clay bakes to a hard finish which is why I did these first.<br />.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435271383309470146" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S232hpwBycI/AAAAAAAAAs4/NFMc3s9nGvo/s320/01+Snowpeople+parts.jpg" />I had another product, an air-drying porcelain clay, that I was planning on using for the bodies. Not good. It sucked!! Not only did it have a stiff texture, but when it started drying it not only turned GRAY but it began cracking. REALLY NOT GOOD! I gave up and made their bodies out of fondant, which should dry to a nice hardness and they will still be able to keep them for years to come. The snow people are shown below, but first -- onto the snowflakes!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S232hCQ7mCI/AAAAAAAAAsw/ZJPGuv3Tq6w/s1600-h/03+snowflakes+again.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435271372710058018" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S232hCQ7mCI/AAAAAAAAAsw/ZJPGuv3Tq6w/s320/03+snowflakes+again.jpg" /></a>I drew snowflake designs onto paper, placed wax paper over the design and piped each design out with royal icing. After one pan of snowflakes, I started getting the hang of it, and realized I needed to be smoothing them down as I went in order to get the smooth finish I wanted to see:<br /><br /></p><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S232gzROZ-I/AAAAAAAAAso/ooQnBEUDo8o/s1600-h/04+snowflake+3+inches.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435271368684759010" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S232gzROZ-I/AAAAAAAAAso/ooQnBEUDo8o/s320/04+snowflake+3+inches.jpg" /></a> (2 inches across)</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S232QhrYlOI/AAAAAAAAAsg/qgwJ6IGt5Vw/s1600-h/05+snowflake+2+inches.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435271089084732642" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S232QhrYlOI/AAAAAAAAAsg/qgwJ6IGt5Vw/s320/05+snowflake+2+inches.jpg" /></a>(under 2 inches) </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S232QQSJAJI/AAAAAAAAAsY/viVJGK0A0_w/s1600-h/06+big+snowflake.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435271084415451282" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S232QQSJAJI/AAAAAAAAAsY/viVJGK0A0_w/s320/06+big+snowflake.jpg" /></a> (about 3-4 inches)<br />.</div><div align="left">The large snowflakes took nearly an hour each to do, but I did get much faster the more I did. I would pipe sections at a time, smoothing down with water as I went. The royal icing wanted to dry a little too quickly for me, but overall -- GORGEOUS! And very delicate. I used the recipe from <a href="http://www.wilton.com/">Wilton</a> that uses powdered meringue instead of egg whites, which means the snowflakes were very edible. And trust me, they were delicious!</div><div align="left">.</div><div align="left">Strawberries from Sauvie Island, Portland, Oregon, for the filling: </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S232P1lscfI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/o-8F4HkAt8Y/s1600-h/07+strawberries+for+filling.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435271077249708530" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S232P1lscfI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/o-8F4HkAt8Y/s320/07+strawberries+for+filling.jpg" /></a> The 14-inch round bottom layer:<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S232PoIHXeI/AAAAAAAAAsI/YjYflcUp3cs/s1600-h/08+14+inch+chocolate+layer.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435271073635982818" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S232PoIHXeI/AAAAAAAAAsI/YjYflcUp3cs/s320/08+14+inch+chocolate+layer.jpg" /></a> This was my first time making a cake this large. It was pretty daunting, but I just worked one step at a time and tried not to freak out about anything. LOL This is the best chocolate cake in the world, and it's so easy anyone could do it. It is even the one Martha Stewart likes the best! (Shhh.... it's on the back of the <a href="http://www.hersheys.com/recipes/recipes/detail.asp?id=184&page=1&per=25&CategoryPage=true&classics=1&ICID=KH1001&category_id=13&rectypecat=Cakes">Hershey's unsweetened cocoa can</a>!)<br />.<br />For any cake over 10 inches in diameter, you are supposed to use one of those little cups in the center to help the cake bake evenly. It was my first time to use one of those, too. All kinds of firsts here!! I baked two chocolate layers and then put them together, because first I tried to bake a three-inch layer that I would then tort (separate) and fill, but that cake not only didn't bake well, there was no physical way to cut and separate it and not have a giant mess on my hands.<br />.<br />So -- note to self: for large diameter pans, bake one layer at a time!<br />.<br />The top layer... a white cake. Delicious!!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S232PSkE0fI/AAAAAAAAAsA/ouwz5YpQKe4/s1600-h/09+6+inch+layer.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435271067847676402" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S232PSkE0fI/AAAAAAAAAsA/ouwz5YpQKe4/s320/09+6+inch+layer.jpg" /></a> With icing:<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S230o5DV29I/AAAAAAAAArQ/_rqDiCLzOOM/s1600-h/10+6+inch+with+icing.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435269308652837842" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S230o5DV29I/AAAAAAAAArQ/_rqDiCLzOOM/s320/10+6+inch+with+icing.jpg" /></a>The fondant is ready for rolling:</div><div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S230obIa5yI/AAAAAAAAArI/a6EP8lDIOcs/s1600-h/11+fondant+ready+to+roll.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435269300621076258" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S230obIa5yI/AAAAAAAAArI/a6EP8lDIOcs/s320/11+fondant+ready+to+roll.jpg" /></a> This was my first time for covering a cake with fondant, and I was so impressed with the ready-made fondant from Wilton, I have no words. Roll it out, pop it on, trim. The only place where I deviated from any of the instructions I read was I found it easier to cut the excess fondant off from around the cake using kitchen scissors instead of a knife. </div><div>.</div><div>All done! </div><div></div><div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S230n_2D4qI/AAAAAAAAArA/ogXH5PuwcPE/s1600-h/12+6+inch+with+fondant.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435269293296312994" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S230n_2D4qI/AAAAAAAAArA/ogXH5PuwcPE/s320/12+6+inch+with+fondant.jpg" /></a> Since I knew this cake would have ribbon on every level, I knew I was getting a pass this time on having the bottom of the fondant perfectly flat, so that was a little break for me. By the time I did another cake two weeks after the wedding that was covered in fondant, I had it down and the sides were smooth and perfect. *WOOP*</div><div>.</div><div>May I have the pleasure of introducing Mr. and Mrs. Snow Groom and Bride!!!</div><div></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435269284465580322" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S230ne8pmSI/AAAAAAAAAq4/XNOZ7BukNYw/s320/13+the+top+is+done.jpg" />The groom looks like he's falling backwards here, but that was fixed as the days moved forward. He just needed to be squished back into shape. LOL<br />.</div><div>The bottom layer of the cake getting iced!</div><div></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S230nNgAgbI/AAAAAAAAAqw/VA63TOV-Vqg/s1600-h/14+the+bottom+layer+14+inch.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435269279782044082" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S230nNgAgbI/AAAAAAAAAqw/VA63TOV-Vqg/s320/14+the+bottom+layer+14+inch.jpg" /></a>The fondant ready to go!! </div><div></div><div><div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S230Jdvg6qI/AAAAAAAAAqo/1cMPs-7qO20/s1600-h/15+fondant+on+14+inch.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435268768745974434" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S230Jdvg6qI/AAAAAAAAAqo/1cMPs-7qO20/s320/15+fondant+on+14+inch.jpg" /></a> I was so worried about covering a cake this large, but it just went on perfectly. Amazing.</div><div>You can see my little hills and valleys around the bottom, though. No worries! It didn't matter!</div><div>See? -----></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S230JFjeIxI/AAAAAAAAAqg/2S79A5dLBgI/s1600-h/16+putting+on+the+ribbon.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435268762253009682" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S230JFjeIxI/AAAAAAAAAqg/2S79A5dLBgI/s320/16+putting+on+the+ribbon.jpg" /></a> </div><div>Making more icing.... </div><div><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S230I9-jTmI/AAAAAAAAAqY/xgQZ2aQjRbs/s1600-h/17+making+more+icing.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435268760219111010" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S230I9-jTmI/AAAAAAAAAqY/xgQZ2aQjRbs/s320/17+making+more+icing.jpg" /></a>Then the middle layer was ready for some attention. </div><div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S230IWDuBwI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/XTIZnMvbJe8/s1600-h/18+middle+layer+10+inch.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435268749503366914" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S230IWDuBwI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/XTIZnMvbJe8/s320/18+middle+layer+10+inch.jpg" /></a> The top and middle tiers were both white cake, with the 6-inch having a lemon filling and the middle 10-inch tier with the strawberry filling. Both fillings were made from scratch and both were seriously delicious. </div><div>.</div><div>Adding the fondant to the middle layer -- look how it drapes!! I love fondant!!!<br /></div><div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S230INeehkI/AAAAAAAAAqI/1FBq36Nr9nI/s1600-h/19+fondant+on+middle.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435268747199678018" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S230INeehkI/AAAAAAAAAqI/1FBq36Nr9nI/s320/19+fondant+on+middle.jpg" /></a> </div><div>All done (even the snowflakes!) and having a trial-run in the kitchen:</div><div></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S23z0bWLfsI/AAAAAAAAAqA/vdTX5OfGa2M/s1600-h/20+all+done+in+the+kitchen.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435268407325589186" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S23z0bWLfsI/AAAAAAAAAqA/vdTX5OfGa2M/s320/20+all+done+in+the+kitchen.jpg" /></a> This is the only time during the wedding cake process where I lost my cool with my children. They chose to run through the kitchen about five minutes after I took this photo. </div><div>.</div><div>Now the reason I chose to use this stand from Wilton is that I have never attempted a stacked cake, plus I was worried about transporting the cake to Astoria over our rather bumpy, windy road. Of course I watch all of the cake shows and I watch them carry the big, giant cakes up and down stairs, in and out of vans, through New York City traffic and all that, but I didn't want to risk destroying the cake because this was Raven and Ian's only wedding! So I chose to go this route, and each cake was decorated on its own plate, transported in its own box and then I put them together at the Elks ballroom. My biggest wish is that they had optional separator columns that were shorter. I didn't need this much space between the layers.<br />.</div><div>I went ahead and added the snowflakes the day before, hoping and praying they would make it to the reception hall. They were SO DELICATE, I can't even tell you, but they looked so beautiful. I packed all of the extra snowflakes in a box with batting and they all made it to the reception hall, too. </div><div>.</div><div>The other element Raven and Ian wanted on their cake were tiny silver balls, just a few, around the snowflakes, but instead of using the elusive disco balls popular with Christmas cookies the world over, I chose to dot on royal icing and paint it with a silver decorative powder. It's edible, of course, and you mix it with a tiny dot of clear vanilla extract and paint away.</div><div>.</div><div>I truly amazed myself, because the cake was done the Friday afternoon before the Saturday wedding. I had it packed and in the truck before dinner. I couldn't believe I wasn't up until midnight sweating over last-minute details. *go me!*</div><div>.</div><div>At the reception hall:<br /></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S23zz5lQbOI/AAAAAAAAAp4/_5xMwIyWDhg/s1600-h/21+cake+table+at+reception.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435268398262021346" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S23zz5lQbOI/AAAAAAAAAp4/_5xMwIyWDhg/s320/21+cake+table+at+reception.jpg" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S23zzaonK8I/AAAAAAAAApw/7TGh2dg6C9g/s1600-h/22+happy+cake.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435268389954595778" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S23zzaonK8I/AAAAAAAAApw/7TGh2dg6C9g/s320/22+happy+cake.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S23zzMeptJI/AAAAAAAAApo/59mUvPVJyQo/s1600-h/23+hanging+out.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435268386154722450" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S23zzMeptJI/AAAAAAAAApo/59mUvPVJyQo/s320/23+hanging+out.jpg" /></a>And was it ever worth it!!!! </div><div><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S23zyknEPmI/AAAAAAAAApg/VAYFXQTcLr4/s1600-h/24+the+happy+couple.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435268375452597858" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DfUduhMcndQ/S23zyknEPmI/AAAAAAAAApg/VAYFXQTcLr4/s320/24+the+happy+couple.jpg" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14017694991041686294noreply@blogger.com0