I found a bunch of cool cakes in Women's Day that I thought I'd share for future inspiration in party planning. :) http://www.womansday.com/article.asp?section_id=2&article_id=7310

Some of those are really neat. But damn they require alot of work. :lol:

I think Karly made this cake
http://www.womansday.com/assets/image/0531200516230686.jpg
I remember her posting one and she did a nice job of it. (Not this exact cake but she made one like it for something)

I hope it is ok that I post this but here is Karly's
http://images.kodakgallery.com/servlet/Images/photos1910/3/72/54/78/68/0/68785472310_0_BG.jpg?a=36

http://www.womansday.com/assets/image/2006/Q2/053120061605462880.jpg

This one is my favorite, although I couldn't even begin to fathom how to make it!

There are some cute cakes there, but I don't think I have the patience or skills to attempt them. :lol:

Here's one for Karri :lol:
http://www.womansday.com/assets/image/12112002121056.jpg

Some of those are too cute to cut! :lol:

Show that big mac to Bridget's friend who made the raw steak cake :lol:

There are some great cakes. I like this one:
http://www.womansday.com/assets/image/2005/0930200515003051.jpg

Jayne! I was going to mention that I'd made one of the Woman's Day cakes a few weeks ago. It was fun, time consuming, but fun! :)

Do you have a pic Karly? I love that fishtank cake!

I hope it is ok that I post this but here is Karly's
http://images.kodakgallery.com/servlet/Images/photos1910/3/72/54/78/68/0/68785472310_0_BG.jpg?a=36

This is my cake, Bridget! I made it for a cake competition at our church... (and I won first place, for what it's worth!! )

Am I the only one not seeing Karly's cake? :dunno:

You know what? I just realized that Jayne pulled that picture from my Ofoto account slideshow link. Here's my post from my journal with the link to see the pictures! Sorry! :duh:

Here are a few pictures of the cake bake off... Cake Pictures (http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=of0vl1i.8eclpge&Uy=-c3qbnc&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0)

Just click "view pictures without signing in."

ETA - we had a cake bake off at our church. Tyrus entered a Bunny rabbit cake, and I entered the fish bowl cake. The slideshow is preparation for the cakes and the finished product!

hmmm..I see the cake even from my lap top. Strange

does this work ...


http://images.kodakgallery.com/servlet/Images/photos1910/3/72/54/78/68/0/68785472310_0_BG.jpg?a=36

i LOVE these cakes ... i know i have made several along these lines for friends ... and now really wish i had pics ...

I can see all 3 pics of Karly's cake. :lol: You did a good job, btw!

http://www.womansday.com/assets/image/2006/Q2/053120061605462880.jpg

This one is my favorite, although I couldn't even begin to fathom how to make it!

it really doesn't look that hard ... 13 x 9 cake for the bottom ... and a small loaf pan cake [or even a twinkie] upside down for the tub ... i am thinking the blue/white squares are just *gum* ... and the pink things on the tub are mini-marshmallows ...

Karly - your cakes are beautiful!! Now here's my question, do you let people eat them? :lol:

Every year I go all out and make a themed cake for Hanna's bdays (I start in the day and get finished just before the party at 2) and when it comes time to have the cake, I can't cut the cakes. :shuffle: I have this thing about spending HOURS on something and then having it get "destroyed" in 10 seconds :lol: I don't know why?! :scan:

This year I'm making the water park one for Hanna's party ... I've got almost all the ingredients and I'm going to start as soon as possible getting the tiny stuff together and then freezing the pieces. I can't wait!! I'm also doing a Model-T car for my dad for the same party. I think that I won't sleep that night!

Do you mean this one Aimee?

http://www.womansday.com/assets/image/11182004171615.jpg

no, the one with the "slide" but I'm not making it the size they suggest ... too small :lol: I have about 50 people to feed and it has become our main attraction (beside the bday girl) :lol:

That is so Cool that you can do that Aimee. I would have a hard time cutting something so cool also!

Those cakes are fantastic! I wish I had the patience to make them!

omg, tony would LOVE the fishbowl one. i've made the bunny a few times, its a good one for kids to do.

Ever since Hanna's 1st bday, it's been my "thing" and sometimes it's much easier than you think.
I always start out with 13" round cake pans and I cut out shapes and make two layers. I've made:
4th: butterfly (boring)
3rd: watermelon (I LOVED that one! I cut the cakes in half and cut them at an angle so it looked like 1/4 of a watermelon and then cut triangle "slices" and placed them on the platter. I used chocolate chip bits to make the "seeds")
2nd:bumblebee (for the wings, I bought those round grease splatter screens from a dollar store and put black knee high stockings over each and shoved them under either side of the cake)
1st: ladybug (the wings were the top layer of the cake split so it looked like it was flying)

I'm excited about this years cake :lol:

Some of those cakes are sooo cute!!! I've thought about taking a decorating class, one day I will. I'm making a 3 tiered "Everybody's Birthday" cake for our family reunion on the 2nd of July, but it won't be like these. Although, it will have a picture of every single person in our family on it:) I'm anxious to see how it turns out!

I LOVE the fishbowl one, and wish I'd seen it a while back. Last year we needed a fishbowl cake for Brookelyns party and this is what I had made (a local lady). I liked it alot!!

The fishbowl cake was really not that difficult. The frosting part was easy and then the decorating was easy too - just time consuming. The site gave step by step directions, which I followed to a T, and it turned out great! I say go for it!

I made a ducky bathtub last year for the cake walk. I got the idea from a lady here - I can't remember her name, but I know she had a son named Trey. :scratch:

Tara, that used to be member here designed a ducky bathtub cake for her son Tyler's birthday....using marshmallows and blue jello. It was so cute.

I think Chris (Olcott) did one too :scratch:

Chris (Olcott) was her name!

Tara, that used to be member here designed a ducky bathtub cake for her son Tyler's birthday....using marshmallows and blue jello. It was so cute.I remember that - I think it was in Family Fun magazine.

These cakes are WAAAAAAAAAAAAY too cute! I think i'm going to make one for Nikita's birthday :) Any more cool ideas?

Here is my contribution to this thread:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6ce04b3127cce8e53da19170a00000016108AcOGbJq2bOK

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6ce04b3127cce8e53d815963700000016108AcOGbJq2bOK

OMG Lena! how freaking cool is that!? awesome job :aok:

Oh wow Lena! That looks fantastic!

Too cute! Great job, Lena! :clap:

that is awesome Lena! what was the occasion? ('cause its not everyday you have a burger cake :lol: )

that is awesome Lena! what was the occasion? ('cause its not everyday you have a burger cake :lol: )
:lol2: Okay, that made me actually laugh out loud.

Great job Lena! It looks just like the photo! :)

Thanks, guys! Karri, :lol:!

Well, we got together with Damon's famly to celebrate three birthdays-his sister's, his dad's, and our nephew's. They are all in October, and since his sister and her dh have 2 kids from his previous marriage and have to deal with vistation schedules and all that, we often celebrate holidays on days other than those actual holidays (like, next weekend is Thanksgiving number 1 LOL)...so anyhow, I wanted to make a cake for Destini-you know, the one with the lady in the bathtub-i think it's so cute! but figured that making a cake for everybody would be a bit much, so I picked that one since I figured everybody would like it. Funny thing was, a neighbor stopped by who used to own Piece of Cake bakery, and he said that if he still had the bakery, he'd hire me LOL...little did he know, it's SO easy to make heheeeeee

The only disclaimer I kept making to ppl was that I was NOT promoting McDonald's. A bit difficult to prove your case when the cake IS in a shape of a huge burger and is called BIG MACCAKE!

Awesome job Lena!

I made another silly cake! We had a party for Nikita and here's how it turned out:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6cc31b3127cce8fc9cda97d5400000015108AcOGbJq2bOK

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6cc31b3127cce8fc9d9b4fc7300000016108AcOGbJq2bOK

:aok: Great job!

cute!! was it fun? hard? are they hard to slice?

cute!! was it fun? hard? are they hard to slice?
Thanks, Karri! Fun? well, making it wasn't too fun, it took longer than I thought it would...but looking back, now I can make it in 2-3 hours, probably. This one was harder than the BigMacCake-like, stupid ladder didn't want to stick LOL
Looking back, I would tint icing red instead of using the red dye spray cans....

Not hard to slice at all, since it's pound cake with icing-and not that much icing (just enough to set crumbs, really). Even the graham crackers the cake was sitting on sliced easily.

Cute cakes, Lena! I wish I can bake AND decorate cakes. I love novelty cakes.

I want to bump this up 'cause Paige is asking for a Blues Clues cake and I think this is the one I want to make her

http://perfect-cake-ideas.com/documents/bluescluescake.html

but I'm making it for her actual bday at home with just us..not to serve at the party where people are going to criticize me :lol:

I'd like to see other cakes though..I believe Aimee has some contibutions she could make to this thread too :nod:

Lisa, here's a pic of the cake I did for a friend's daughter's 1st bday last month.

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa2/brkjHughes/Edenscake.jpg

I want to bump this up 'cause Paige is asking for a Blues Clues cake and I think this is the one I want to make her

http://perfect-cake-ideas.com/documents/bluescluescake.html

but I'm making it for her actual bday at home with just us..not to serve at the party where people are going to criticize me :lol:

I'd like to see other cakes though..I believe Aimee has some contibutions she could make to this thread too :nod:

:lol: You're funny. I don't have any of my cake pics here on this computer but here's my "album" on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=19599&l=f4d4a&id=786410183

I'm designing a new cake for Halloween ... can't wait!

I don't have a facebook account and can't look at the pictures :tantrum:
Becca, that's a cute cake! :)

:lol: You're funny. I don't have any of my cake pics here on this computer but here's my "album" on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=19599&l=f4d4a&id=786410183


:wow: Aimee, those are amazing!! I especially love the Cinderella castle. Just gorgeous!!!

Ok, I"m a spaz :loser: I was able to open the link

Aimee those cakes are freaking amazing! all of them! I can't wait to see your halloween one :)

Lisa, my SIL made Aaron's first birthday cake using that pan. But she made it a brown dog cake instead of Blue. :)
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4d834b3127cce9c45834e4e1800000016108AbtHDRizctD

Aimee, those cakes are great! Wonderful job!! Where do you take your cake decorating classes? It looks like Joann to me, but I could be wrong?

Did you take a Fondant class? I was looking at a Fondant book today and it looks like so much fun! I am making a cake similar to your topsy turvy one for the twins b-day this weekend!

Karri, make sure you post pics!!! I can't wait to see it! :drool:

this thread is so much fun! :bliss:

this thread is so much fun! :bliss:

:lol: I'm a cake freak :biggrin:

I've only taken three classes through Michael's Arts & Crafts store ... all three were back to back and the last one ended in June. By the end of the 3rd, I was exhausted & didn't have the energy to do another. I seriously needed a break!

It's funny, I get it into my head different ones that I want to conquer and I've pretty well done all that I wanted so far ... I need to find another challenge. I'm not fond of fondant at all (to eat) so I try to stay away from using it much. All of my flowers are done in fondant on the last 4 cakes I made and the details on the b&w one were fondant but otherwise everything else is buttercream. I have yet to make a cake from scratch though. For the halloween one, it will be from scratch and I'm a bit nervous :silly:

Here is a site that I love: http://www.cakecentral.com/

SO... how do you make your cakes if not from scratch :scratch: ? they all look great!

I, too, am not a huge fan of how fondant tastes, but it looks so good! I just found a recipe for marshmellow fondant and the lady swears it tastes good, so i *may* dabble into it sometime soon..... I'm HATING the Wilton Fondant I got at Joann Fabrics. Is it me who doesn't know how to work with it yet (which is true), or is it more hard and breaky and not as pliable as it is supposed to be? what do you think?

I've never used fondant before, but it's something I'd like to try. I think it would be great fun to take a class sometime! :nod:

Anyway, here are the most recent ones I made for our church competition:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7d910b3127cceb82567e17a9a00000026109KatGjlqg

Tyrus and Alexis also helped me for the Kids portion of the competition. Here's the one they helped with:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7d910b3127cceb82567d77aac00000026109KatGjlqg

Here are the cupcakes I made tonight:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7ce39b3127ccebe4cadfc177400000026108AcOGbJq2bOK

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7ce39b3127ccebe4cac53d67300000026108AcOGbJq2bOK

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7ce39b3127ccebe4ca23ed61900000026108AcOGbJq2bOK

:wow: Aimee those cakes are fantastic!! I would love to take a cake decorating class. I think it would be a lot of fun!

Aimee, do you mean "from scratch" as in "not from a box mix"? Or do you mean you buy pre-baked cakes whole? :scratch:

Karly, cute!

I use boxed cakes :blush:

the fondant is a tough thing to work with ... in our class the teacher told us that all of her students admitted that they gave the fondant to their husbands to "work" first :lol: Once you've warmed it a bit in your hands, it gets easier to work with and then you roll it out. Colouring it can be hard. Sometimes you need to give it just a little bit of colour, other times a lot (to get the black was a lot). You have to roll it out flat, smear the colour on it then roll it back up & work the colour through again with your hands. Always keep your fondant covered if you're not immediately working with it or it will dry out & break. I usually just put the pieces that I'm not using in a plastic zip lock bag until I need it again and the ones that I have worked with, I might cover it over with a damp warm tea towel.

I've heard about marshmallow fondant but never tried it (I don't think). Is the base marshmallows? Can you buy it ready made or ready to make or is it something that you have to make from scratch?

Those are great Karly!! :lol: I love the tomato! You always do great cakes!

Lena - did you make the roses yourself?! WOW! I haven't bothered since my class to make them ... making 60 for the 2-tiered did me in for a while :lol: Your icing is so white! Very elegant!

(from scratch = flour, eggs .. the old fashioned way) :blush:

Dh bought me a KitchenAid mixer when I started my first class and I must say, it's THE BEST THING IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD!! :bliss: So easy to make anything anymore!!

I use boxed cakes :blush: Gotcha!

I've heard about marshmallow fondant but never tried it (I don't think). Is the base marshmallows? Can you buy it ready made or ready to make or is it something that you have to make from scratch? I came across it on the net and it was a recipe that she posted for making it yourself...

Lena - did you make the roses yourself?! WOW! I haven't bothered since my class to make them ... making 60 for the 2-tiered did me in for a while :lol: Your icing is so white! Very elegant! Aimee, yes, the roses are made from colored marzipan (so they actually taste good, too, unlike fondant). The icing is buttercream. THe buttercream and cupcakes are all from scratch... .I'm a from scratch kind of a girl....i don't like boxed stuff. that's just me, though...


Dh bought me a KitchenAid mixer when I started my first class and I must say, it's THE BEST THING IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD!! :bliss: So easy to make anything anymore!! COMPLETELY agree!! Mine was a wedding gift and I LOVE it!

So what's marzipan?! I've never worked with it! Tell me more tell me more! :lol: Do you use a flower nail?

editing to say: I know what marzipan is but what are the other ingredients? We only made the roses out of buttercream/royal in class. Yours are so ... Perfect! :ok:

So what's marzipan?! I've never worked with it! Tell me more tell me more! :lol: Do you use a flower nail?

editing to say: I know what marzipan is but what are the other ingredients? We only made the roses out of buttercream/royal in class. Yours are so ... Perfect! :ok:
It's absolutely delish. Almonds. You can buy it already rolled out in Germany. That's what I use. Fondant in comparison is kinda bleh.

Your cakes are gorgeous. Too bad you have to eat them :lol:

Marzipan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marzipan

Aimee... marzipan... hmmm. hard to describe, but it's a sugar paste, but tastes great! I'm surprised nobody knows about it here, back home and in Europe it's very popular in candies, chocolates, baking..... I grew up with it and love it. Here, i found it in a local grocery store... it's not cheap. I did find 5 lb batches you can buy for $25 (which to me is pretty good price), but didn't have time to order this time around. I'd check your store and see if they have it...it's right by the almond paste and such in the baking aisle. It's very pliable and sticky and easy to work with.

I did not use the nail for the roses. I just rolled out little balls of colored marzipan (pink for the bud and red for the outer petals) and pressed it between pieces of celaphane and put the rose together by hand. It probably sounds confusing, I can scan the page from the cookbook I used if you like, or giveyou the name of the book and you can check it out at the library... you tell me. Once i got a hang of it, it wasn't bad....

Looks like Silke and I cross-posted.... sorry for repeat.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7ce39b3127ccebe4cac53d67300000026108AcOGbJq2bOK

Lena, those are stunning! :wow:

Holy Moly Lena!!! Those are gorgeous!!!!!

Ok ... I understand how you did it now ... I make roses with Hanna's playdough all the time :lol: How long did it take you to make them? They're a gorgeous colour!!

Yeah, I've seen marzipan in the small tubes in the stores but never had reason to buy it ... I'll definitely check it out now. Thanks!!

Aimee, I usually mix some powdered sugar into the marzipan so it's not so sticky. I can form it much easier then.

Silke -- does the marzipan get hard like the fondant would if left out? I think that I've found my next challenge! :lol:

I just finished making my first cake with marzipan and fondant. Took me ALL day! (well, between that and the cupcakes).. all i have to say is, this cake had better taste good... i'm about ready to fall over..

Thank you, Karly and Alyson...
unfortunately, the veiner didn't get here in time, so I couldn't put veins into the leaves, but oh well.

I just finished making my first cake with marzipan and fondant. Took me ALL day! (well, between that and the cupcakes).. all i have to say is, this cake had better taste good... i'm about ready to fall over..

where's a pic? :gimi:

Silke -- does the marzipan get hard like the fondant would if left out? I think that I've found my next challenge! :lol: If you leave it out for a long time, yes. I am stressing long time. I have never worked with fondant so I have no comparison.

where's a pic? :gimi: Aimee :lol: I still have to put some final decorations on it (the little fondant color dots) and then i'll take a pic :)

Ok, here is my first fondant/marzipan cake:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7ce38b3127ccebe74e2294fa400000026108AcOGbJq2bOK

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7ce38b3127ccebe74edd00fc200000026108AcOGbJq2bOK

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7ce38b3127ccebe74e2a14f2c00000026108AcOGbJq2bOK

As you can see, the bow is far from perfect, i just couldn't get it to work, and i was way too tired.... you can't be frustrated when baking, cakes don't like that :lol: i'm pretty happy with the result, being that it's my first attempt, I know it'll get better as time goes on.....

it should taste good (we'll find out tonight): it's Chocolate Butter Cake, Cookies'n'Cream Filling, Buttercream Icing (several layers of both), a layer of marzipan and then a layer of fondant.

Wow Lena! You did a great job! Makes it look so easy!!:)

The cakes you girls are doing look SO good, thusly making mine look SO amateur:( One day I'll get as good as you!! :) BTW...you're making me hungry:lol:

:woa: Lena that cake is beautiful! :aok:

thanks!

....and Becca... i've never made a fondant cake before, that's my first one! yours would probably look better!

Aimee, i wanted to add on the fondant vs. marzipan question. Marzipan is a more cakey texture and will stay moist longer than fondant will.

and thanks a lot for the cakecentral.com! Like i need another addictive site :tapfoot: !!! I can't stop looking at the cakes!!!

thanks!

....and Becca... i've never made a fondant cake before, that's my first one! yours would probably look better!
Aaww! You're so sweet...& slightly dellusional if you really believe that.

Aaww! You're so sweet...& slightly dellusional if you really believe that. :lol2: (and it has been noted in the past about me being delusional)

and thanks a lot for the cakecentral.com! Like i need another addictive site :tapfoot: !!! I can't stop looking at the cakes!!!

:lol: you're welcome :whistle: welcome to my addiction :awink:

Your cake turned out great!!! Great colours!!

Very impressive cakes!!!!!!!!
Those roses are great, Lena!

This is the only cake of mine I can find on SF right now....

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6ce00b3127cce8e0ed26455f800000026109AauXLNw5aO

If I had more time, I'd go on a hunt for marzipan. I am scared of the fondant. I've never used it, but I know I don't like the taste of it, so I am not going to use a lot of it. The cake I am doing tonight is 2 tiered and one tier will have stripes made w/ fondant, and the other wil have fondant polkadots. So the majority of the cake will be covered in buttercream.

Lena - I always 'beef up' a box of cake mix. However, if you have some tasty cake recipes, it would be wonderful if you wouldn't mind sharing them. I am always afraid to try out a cake recipe b/c I never know if it will be good or not.

Question for cake people -- my one tier is a butter white and the other tier is a butter chocolate. I'd like to put a filling in between the 2 layers of each cake, instead of just using the buttercream. But I've never done that before, so I don't know what people do or how to make a filling or what to use.....

Karri, i will definitely share recipes i have... the cake i made for tonight it chocolate.. the leftovers from the cut off top taste great, but i want to see how it will taste in a cake itself.

I used Cookies'n'Cream filling, it tasted awesome when i made it. Again, haven't had it on the cake yet, but i think it'll be good.... here is the recipe:

In the bowl of an electric mixer at high speed, whip until stiff:
2 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Gently fold in:
20 chocolate sandwich cookies, such as Oreos, crushed into medium pieces.

Yield: 6 cups.


You can pipe the outside of the layers in buttercream, creating a "wall", and fill with this filling, so it doesn't run over the edge.

hth...

...oh and that cake is great-looking, Karri!

You guys have me drooling over here! Gorgeous work!

awesome :aok: that sounds so good. i think i'll try that!!

Karri, it tasted REALLY good in the mixing bowl, so I'm hoping it'll be good in a cake, too.... glad to help!

Woa, Lena that sounds rich and yummy. I am gaining weight just from reading. :lol: I feel the need to bake now. :lol:

So, Lena, I want to see some Russian-baked goodies. :biggrin:

Silke...hmmm.... something to think about for the next cake... good idea!

I love that ladybug Karri!

The only fillings I've ever done is jam (strawberry/raspberry/blueberry/mixed) but you could also use pudding. I also make the dam first then flood the filling in. Good trick huh!

Lena, how do you crush up the cookies? In a large baggie with a rolling pin? I might just have to try that for my next cake!

Lisa, my SIL made Aaron's first birthday cake using that pan. But she made it a brown dog cake instead of Blue. :)
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4d834b3127cce9c45834e4e1800000016108AbtHDRizctD

How did I miss this post??
Lynn, that cake is sooo cute! I wonder if I can rent the cake pan from Bulk Barn?

Lena, that cookies and cream frosting sounds heavenly :drool:

Aimee, i just put them into a ziploc bag and crushed them to medium pieces by hand and then folded them into the mixer... if you let the mixer go for a few min at medium speed, it breaks them down to pretty much nothing. I think it tastes good either way, but i think next time, i'll try to have it a bit chunkier on the cookie side..

I'm such a total novice compared to you gals, but I thought that I'd share the last cake I made for Emma's birthday. :heee:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7d922b3127cce86de62ac921900000026109EaMWLZm1Q

I also made her a Belle doll cake for her 4th bday, but can't find a pic on Shutterfly.

ETA: Found it!
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6d920b3127cce8ada2410e55b00000016109EaMWLZm1Q

Oh my, all the cakes & cupcakes that have been posted in this thread put my baking to shame :lol:
Awesome job, ladies!! :aok:

I so wanted to do a castle. But the kids wouldn't cooperate w/ that theme :sigh:

Lena - I am wondering...you made/decorated the cake the night before - right? So how did you store it? I made the filling and ended up not using it b/c I couldn't refrigerate the cake b/c of the fondant, and I didn't want to leave it out b/c it was made w/ cream. I was afraid that would be scary.
I ended up just tossing some crushed oreos into the icing in the middle layer. Not nearly as tasty :lol:

Here is my cake. It isn't as pretty as I had hoped it would be. As for the color scheme....the top is Norah's -- Strawberry Shortcake, and the bottom is Elliott's -- Scooby Doo.
I think the fondant tastes kinda like dooky :lol: and apparently my kids did too. Norah ate a ball and spit it out. I even tried flavoring it w/ some almond extract.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7ce01b3127ccebe825eca4bac00000035109AauXLNw5aO

Karri...great fun cake!!!
Ok, I was scared of not refrigerating buttercream and that filling, too, so once I made the cake, i stuck it into the fridge. It stayed there until we had to leave, it took us almost 3 hours to get to ILs (traffic), so it warmed up by then (i personally like my cake out of the fridge and cold, but i'm weird like that). Fondant tasted fine from the fridge.

I really want to try a recipe for marshmallow fondant, supposedly, it tastes good. It's such a great decorating medium, it's a shame it doesn't taste better.

The cake turned out great, by the way, as far as taste goes! Everybody loved the buttercream and cupcakes, as well. Now just to have a good-tasting fondant....

oh fab... a cake thread...just what I need to help curb the sugar munchies!:lol:

Seriously though, the cakes are gorgeous! Well done! I need to go and hunt some pictures of ones I've done...

Karri - some vanilla essence helps a little with the taste of fondant. A little..but at least then it becomes vanilla-flavoured dookie!:lol:

You guys have done an awesome jobs. I have always wanted to use fondant & marzipan because of the amazing finish they give, but I can't like the taste of it and I think a cake needs to taste as good as it looks :dunno:

I love making cakes and doing something different everytime. I wish I had a more steady hand, but I am happy with what I have come up with so far. :lol:

Here are some that I have done, all with jusrt buttercream icing.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4d709b3127cce9c93840daecb00000016108AbN2Llq0aNH

tony's beloved football team jersey for his 30th
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4d709b3127cce9c9384d7ae1100000025138AbN2Llq0aNH

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5db31b3127cce91c4bb0bd70500000016108AbN2Llq0aNH

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4db05b3127cce9c9384435a4c00000016108AbN2Llq0aNH

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6d722b3127cce8c2b31169f0f00000016108AbN2Llq0aNH

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6d708b3127cce8d1c89ec8a8900000016108AbN2Llq0aNH

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7db24b3127cce83e8b98d08da00000015108AbN2Llq0aNH
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7d735b3127ccebbf272384b1400000026108AbN2Llq0aNH

Nice, Deb!!

Those cakes look great Karri and Deb.


I should post some of the ones I have done. :scratch: Now where are those pictures??

I really want to try that hamburger cake! I just can't think of an occasion that it would really suit. :lol:

Here are the birthday cakes that I have made for David. I can't find a good picture of his 1st cake. I just used buttercream frosting and the star technique. I can't find a picture of his 5th birthday cake. I made Lightening McQueen.

Nice, Melis!!!

Deb, are you referring to the one I made? It's super easy to make, too! I would guess you could suit it to any occasion, really.... even just a get-together with friends for a BBQ.....it is a hamburger cake, after all :hehe:

I'm wanting to make a Thomas the train cake for N's second bday.... looking up ideas...

I love seeing everyones cakes! They're great!! I think that the doll cake was my first about 9 years ago for my neice. :lol:

Have you looked at any of the Halloween cakes in the cakecentral.com site? :gimi: Some of them are awesome! I love the haunted houses!

I'm seriously thinking that my next challenge will be air-brushing ...

Lena: Yes I am referring to the one you made. I think it looks awesome and am dying to give it a try. You know, that is a good point, I can do it as dessert for the next BBQ we are having :aok:

Do you still have the method for it?

Deb, sure! Here you go (copied from Woman's Day, Silly Cakes):

Big MacCake

Serves: 18 to 20
Time: Varies with Skill


Click here for a larger view (http://www.womansday.com/recipes/5718/big-maccake-page2.html)
Our most asked-for recipe ever! There have been more than 6,000 requests for this recipe since we first published it. It's a lot easier to make than you might think

Ingredients:
3 boxes (16 oz each) poundcake mix
6 plain flat round cookies (each 3 1/2 to 4 in. in diameter)
2 cans (16 oz each) ready-to-spread vanilla frosting
Red and yellow food color
2 brown M&M's candies
2 large marshmallows
1/4 cup sugar
20 or more spearmint jelly-candy leaves
1 can (16 oz) ready-to-spread milk-chocolate frosting
1 can (16 oz) ready-to-spread chocolate-fudge frosting
1 box (2 1/2 oz) chocolate-snap cookies, coarsely crushed
About 30 pignoli (pine) nuts

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease two 8-in. layer-cake pans and one 2 1/2- to 3-qt metal or ovenproof glass mixing bowl with a rounded bottom.

2. Prepare 1 double batch cake batter as directed on package, using 2 packages cake mix. Then prepare 1 single batch. Fill each layer-cake pan 2/3 full. Scrape remaining batter into prepared bowl. Bake pans 30 to 35 minutes and bowl 55 to 60 minutes, or until a pick inserted in centers of cakes comes out clean. Cool on wire racks, 15 minutes for pans and 30 minutes for bowl. Invert cakes on racks and let cool completely.

3. Tomato slices: Place plain cookies on wire rack set over waxed paper. Put 1/2 cup vanilla frosting in a small saucepan. Stir over low heat until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and stir in red food color (and a bit of yellow if needed) until frosting is tomato-colored. Brush or spoon on top and sides of cookies. Let stand at least 30 minutes, until firm to the touch.

4. Mustard: Spoon another 1/2 cup vanilla frosting into a small bowl. Stir in yellow food color until mustard-colored. Cover to prevent drying.

5. Eyes: Use a dot of vanilla frosting to glue M&M's pupils on marshmallows.

6. Lettuce: Sprinkle sugar on work surface. Working with 1 at a time, place spearmint leaf on the sugar and roll with a rolling pin until flattened and edges are jagged.

7. Put remaining vanilla frosting in a medium bowl. Stir in milk-chocolate frosting and red and yellow food color, a little at a time, until frosting is the color of a hamburger bun.

8. To assemble: Place 1 cake layer on serving plate. Cover with bun-colored frosting. Arrange lettuce on top and around edges. Place remaining cake layer on waxed paper. Cover with chocolate-fudge frosting. Press crushed chocolate-snap cookies into frosting to simulate a hamburger patty. Using pancake turners, lift patty onto lettuce-lined bun. Spoon mustard about 1 in. from edge of top of burger, letting some run down sides. Top with tomato slices.

9. Trim hump (where cake has risen) off bowl cake. Place cake trimmed side down on waxed paper and frost with remaining bun-colored frosting. Lift onto tomato-topped burger. Glue eyes in position with frosting. Press pignoli nuts in place.

:aok: Thanks!!

I have not made a cake for the any of the boys since they turned 1. I just might have to try again seeing all these cool ideas! :aok:

I want to record my progress, so I'm posting pics of the roses cupcakes i made for a baby shower....i think they turned out a bit more delicate this time:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7ce07b3127ccebec2826399f300000026108AcOGbJq2bOK

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7ce07b3127ccebec285bed9b500000026108AcOGbJq2bOK

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7ce07b3127ccebec29a5d99c100000026108AcOGbJq2bOK

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7ce07b3127ccebec29cfb185400000026108AcOGbJq2bOK

Uhm.... are diaper cakes allowed in the Funky Cakes thread? :lol:
My first one ever...what do you think? Any suggestions?

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7ce07b3127ccebec2a81d18a800000025108AcOGbJq2bOK

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7ce07b3127ccebec2ab0c582000000026108AcOGbJq2bOK

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7ce07b3127ccebec2a9e4d9f900000026108AcOGbJq2bOK

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7ce07b3127ccebec2a387d99f00000026108AcOGbJq2bOK

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7ce07b3127ccebec2a02899a900000026108AcOGbJq2bOK

What a great job Lena!! Those roses look fabulous!!! The diaper cake is great!! I loved those!!

Great job!!! Love your roses.

I make diaper cakes all the time. Did you use cloth diapers or disposable? One thing I like to do that makes it easier is to roll the diapers and then hold them together with a small hair band. (those Gel one's they have at Walmart for babies that don't pull babies hair out or slide (they grip to themselves)) You can get like 250 of them for 1.88$. That way when you gather the diapers it is so easy to get them all together. You sure did pack yours full...LOVE IT!

Wow Lena! They look even more gorgeous than the ones last weekend!!:) The diaper cake is so cute too!! :)

Lena, those cupcakes are beautiful!! You are so talented. I would never have the patience to do something like that.


I had a blue wedding cake, that I of course didn't make. I don't like how the chocolate shells show up in this picture.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5dc00b3127cce90378dfc031000000026108AZtW7Jk5Ytf


We had a replica made for our reception in Colorado that I think turned out better and it was half the cost.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d736b3127cce9b98a8a73a0800000026108AZtW7Jk5Ytf

I had several people comment how 'funky' my cake was. I know they thought it was ugly but I didn't care. :hehe:

thanks, all! I'm finishing up a cake, too, but still need to put all the final decorations (fondant still drying) on it, so i'll have pics of it tonight or tomorrow..

I like those cakes, Becky!! At first I was going to be amazed at how beautiful you made it, then i read that you didn't :lol:

I'm baking a pumpkin cake for Halloween (two bundt cakes frosted orange, with a frosted ice cream cone for a stem). Hopefully it turns out...I'm not particularly known for my decorating skills :lol: I'll post a pic if it's not a disaster :)

Jayne, thanks for the suggestions... i read up about DC online and did use rubber bands to hold each individual diaper together.. as well as the first ring on each tier. Then, they weren't big enough for next, bigger, tiers. I just need to find bigger ones, thanks for walmart suggestion!! this was, as you can imagine, a very Saturday-is-coming-up-I-don't-have-time-tear-my-hair-out-I-still-have-cake-and-cupcakes-to-make effort...... :lol: along with watching Nikita, getting my business going again, and flying solo for 3 days since D was in Detroit. So i was a bit panicky :lol: But it's really all in preparation and just having (uhm..knowing about) things like rubber bands, etc.... then it's easy! thanks for the tip!


Cake!! It didn't turn out like the pic (of course) and i had a few panic moments when i was putting bows on the cake (and I made two rounds of bows, too! talk about time-consuming), as they were breaking-the fondant didn't have enough time to dry completely... overall, though, I think it turned out ok. I cut out little baby animals from these colors of fondant to put on the cake, but decided against it as I think it'll make it more busy and take away from the attempt at elegance, even if in babyshower colors.

Do you guys like the colors for a baby shower? would you have picked a different scheme? It's a boy, so it was a bit harder, than a girl's would have been. I was going to make blue, but my blue turned out the color of the bow and i didn't care for it at all as a base color of the cake.

ANY critiques are welcome! (but remember it's my second fondant cake and don't rip me too much... I"m fragile :lol: )

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7ce06b3127ccebeca14b900e400000026108AcOGbJq2bOK

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7ce06b3127ccebeca2b39c1d300000026108AcOGbJq2bOK

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7ce06b3127ccebeca287b003800000026108AcOGbJq2bOK

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7ce06b3127ccebeca2848813b00000026108AcOGbJq2bOK

Lena - that is adorable! I love the ribbon on top!

What a beautiful cake Lena! I don't know if I would have the heart to cut into it :lol:

thanks, Brandi and Lisa.... the new mommy (and my other girflfriends) liked it a lot, so i guess all that time making it was not for nothing :)

The cupcakes all tumbled to one end of the container as I was carrying things in, I had too much at one time, I guess, I thought that was the end of them.. luckily, the buttercream was still frozen enough from being in the fridge that no damage was done :phew:

ANY critiques are welcome! (but remember it's my second fondant cake and don't rip me too much... I"m fragile :lol: )
Shoot, then I guess I won't say anything :scan: :devil:
.
.
.
.
.
Just kidding!! :giggle:
That cake is awesome!!:ok: I'm glad to hear that the cupcakes were okay :phew:

Wow Lena if that wasn't your best effort on the baby shower cake then I :bowdown: to you. That cake is gorgeous and I think you did a fabulous job!

So glad to hear that the cupcakes were ok.

I think the cake is stunning! :wow:

Do you guys ever watch any of those cake decorating shows or challenges on tv?

The cake turned out awesome, Lena! Although you bringing up the fact you cut out baby shapes to put on the cake makes me wonder what that would have looked like :giggle: Either way you did a spectacular job, and the cupcakes were gorgeous too! :aok:

Eek! I just tried making marshmallow fondant last night- anyone ever tried it? I haven't actually got around to decorating with it yet...but just making it is SO MESSY! 30 seconds into it, I was thinking- what have I done?!? But it did turn out in the end, so we'll see tonight when I try to use it.

Thanks, guys! You are too kind!

...Deb... baby animals :lol: really, just mini cookie cutters of bear, giraffe, lion, etc...

Karly, i never watch those shows, typically..but i did see one Iron Chef and they were making entirely miraculously ridiculous cake statues... it was amazing!

Eleanor, how did marshmellow fondant taste? i'm really curious to see if it's better tasting than the regular fondant. I can't wait to see the cake pics!!

Haven't tasted it yet- that's tonight when I actually try to work with it :) It smelled more promising than the regular stuff...

Is it tonight yet?

:popcorn:

I love watching Ace of Cakes!

Well...the cake doesn't look all that great (I got a bit cocky after my relative success making Isabelle's layer cake look smooth, with buttercream...it's not easy to smoothly frost bundt cake...especially when the color of the cake is darker than the frosting). I'll still try to post a pic of it when I get it uploaded.

The verdict on the fondant...pretty good. Doesn't have the nice mouthfeel of buttercream, and might be a bit sweet in excessive amounts (I used used mine for leaf decorations, around the main cake), but DH (who's never tasted the real stuff) said "yum" when I made him try it, and we both were nibbling on left over bits... I still stand by my original statement that it's a bear to make though! :lol:

Can't wait to see pics, Eleanor! thanks for giving me hope that fondant can taste good-I really think it's a fabulous decorating medium!

How long can fondant keep good? several months, I think, right? I might try making the marshmellow one and then just plan 2-3 months ahead of time when i know the cake season is coming.....

The recipe I used said weeks. But you could still make it in advance. I used the recipe here http://whatscookingamerica.net/PegW/Fondant.htm

That's where i first saw the recipe for MF as well! thanks, Eleanor! Even if it's 4-5 weeks, that's not too bad, i guess....

Well, I know I'm not as good as some of you gals here (ahem...Lena...ahem!) but here are the cupcakes I made for Kenny's pre-school Halloween party (the orange ones) & the left-overs for us & the neighbors (the green ones)

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa2/brkjHughes/Halloween07008.jpg

the ones that are the same on the bottom left I made for Miss Dani & the snack mom of the day.

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa2/brkjHughes/Halloween07008.jpg


http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa2/brkjHughes/Halloween07015.jpg
the ones on the bottom right are for the neighbor kids who are always whining/crying:giggle:

Cute cupcakes!!!

Very cute cupcakes. :)

Here is the pumpkin cake I made for Christine's birthday party on the weekend:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7ce08b3127ccebeefc9bcf64b00000026109Aas2rNyzba

Eva, what is the stem?

Eva, what is the stem?

It's a flat bottom ice cream cone. :)

Genius! I think that's a great cake!

I like it, Eva...I like the lines you've put on with the icing- I just made indentations in mine, but I like how yours looks, better :) I used an ice cream cone too :)

Here's mine...it's messy, but the people at work liked it (and it tastes really good! :lick: )
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v141/ella6599/IMG_3132.jpg

I love the leaf you added Elenor. :) I think if I ever make it again I wil do it double layer like your's. I was going to originally do that but then went with a different recipe. My SIL said it only looked like half a pumpkin. :blush: It didn't stop her from eating it though. :lol:

Becca, those cupcakes are so cute!!

Eva, nice!!

Eleanor... i see MF at work :) :aok: how did everybody like the MF at work? Did you get any comments on it?

They liked it- people started snacking on the leaves before they cut into the cake! :lol:

Those pumpkin cakes are great! I'll have do make one next year for FIL & Will (the boys god-parent's little boy) b/c they were both born on Halloween:giggle:

They liked it- people started snacking on the leaves before they cut into the cake! :lol:
Good to know :aok: !! With regular F, people totally peel it off....

At the last minute on Saturday I made a cake but forgot to flour the cake pans (DOH!) so needless to say, it was a MESS trying to get out of the ball pans. Then I had company coming and was rushing to ice & decorate. Not what I planned at all , thus the knife in the head and the candle in the top :lol: but it did taste good!

Oh...that's very cute! I love the knife! :lol:

The knife in the head was a great touch! I love it!!! :aok:

Eleanor and Eva your pumpkins look great!

:lol: that knife looks like it belonged in there all its' life!

It does look like it was put on there on purpose :lol:

Great pumpkin cupcakes & cakes, ladies! :ok:

I love the knife. Very effective. :lol:

Very cute pumpkin! Love the knife!

this is a great thread! I'm definitely going to try a few!

Here are some of the cakes I've made:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/carmzav/l_e34d847ce93b2b9759a047484b4ddc53.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/carmzav/l_d9265afec84b383c957c6c69cf9a8653.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/carmzav/l_b565b8424f032b50ffd95bf3a3f99b37.jpg

This is one of my favorites, because I think the checkboard inside turned out so neat.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/carmzav/l_45900cd67d4ae08804f09bd8fc5e9cb1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/carmzav/l_484287b1dc7f41b917dc2c2ea2895cbe.jpg
Cinco de Mayo cupcakes

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/carmzav/l_999db87feea1c31538e6cda617f7bba7.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/carmzav/l_311c7e8c6143b969ce3e97c1a4fa8918.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/carmzav/l_69ea080808491eb56cd434d8bea3f2f8.jpg
(our neighborhood flooded, so I had to cancel his party and reschedule it a few weeks later, which is why the birthday hat is floating down a brook.) :lol:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/carmzav/l_13d4fa923dc367b089dbc1288bc83510.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/carmzav/l_8b1a209f3f8a8d2866402bcbe33c8b59.jpg
Easter cupcakes

Wow Carmen! awsome job! :lol: Love the bday hat floating down the river :lol:

I love those, Carmen!! Great attention to detail!! :love:

Very cool, everyone! I'm lovin' this thread! :nod:

So my dear nephew turned one yesterday, and my sister asked me if I'd make his cake. In situations like this you always say "yes" before you really know what you're getting yourself into. :giggle: Anyway, the theme was Mickey Mouse, so this is what I created:


http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7cc23b3127cceb14f1c7f224e00000026109KatGjlqg

What do you think? :lol: It was hard! I was worried the black would bleed into the peachy color and toward the end, the frosting was getting dry and started to wrinkle in the areas I wanted to come back and try to smooth out. No such luck!

People liked it though and of course Dom, my nephew, thought it was great. :heart:

Awesome Karly! You did a great job.

Great cakes Carmen!

Love Mickey Karly! I like the peach colour you used for his face.

Hanna's friend is having a bday party this coming Sunday and the mother jokingly/not so jokingly asked me if I knew anyone who could make the cake. The were at Hanna's last bday and saw the castle. I told her I'd think about it. I emailed her back on Saturday asking her if she still needed a cake and that I'd do it but no answer. hmmm

Awesome job guys!!

He's super cute, Karly! :aok:

Those are some great cakes girls! DH's bday is on Wednesday so I've got to think of something to do....perhaps something in regards to hunting?? Any suggestions??

Very cute, Karly!

Those are some great cakes girls! DH's bday is on Wednesday so I've got to think of something to do....perhaps something in regards to hunting?? Any suggestions??

I saw this awesome 3D deer head somewhere once ...
:hehe:

That turned out pretty well, Karly!

I saw this awesome 3D deer head somewhere once ...
:hehe:
He'd get such a kick out of that too...I'm thinking maybe just a flat cake with my best "drawing" of his truck?? I just don't have much "get up & go" today.

Well I didn't end up making a cake for the bday party for Hanna's friend. I offered and had an idea (Tinkerbell) but the mother thought that I would want money so she declined. I've been sick for a week with a cold so I wasn't going to try to set her straight and tell her that I was actually going to do it for free -- if I had been feeling healthier I would have :giggle:

The Thomas cake and cupcakes I made for Nikita's 2nd Birthday party :
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7cc34b3127cceb247841c511600000026108AcOGbJq2bOK

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7cc34b3127cceb246779f313800000026108AcOGbJq2bOK

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7cc34b3127cceb2478e1cd02300000026108AcOGbJq2bOK

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7cc34b3127cceb2478ad951d400000026108AcOGbJq2bOK

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7cc34b3127cceb247816f90cf00000026108AcOGbJq2bOK

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7cc34b3127cceb24796c8d0fb00000026108AcOGbJq2bOK

and dead Thomas :lol: a day and a half of work......all cut up:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7cc34b3127cceb247ae8d519200000026108AcOGbJq2bOK

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7cc34b3127cceb247ae8d519200000026108AcOGbJq2bOK
Poor Thomas, pulled apart to be taken to the scrap yard :bawl:

:giggle: Seriously girlie, that Thomas cake is unbelievable... awesome job!!! :ok:

I am bumping up this thread since I found this blog which has some cool cakes.:

http://bakerella.blogspot.com

Love these:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2010/2233369801_1275e69eaa.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3038/2456161812_cdde061ba4.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3213/2435868930_aef909a51b.jpg


From a different site but I want to make these for Emma's birthday party this year. She wants a princess theme.
http://www.krazykakes.ca/gallery/cupcakes/princesscupcakes.jpg

I haven't worked with fondant yet but I have 2 months to practice. Any tips with working with fondant. How hard is it?

Those are cute Eva! Bookmarking that site. Thanks. I've heard that fondant can be both easy and hard. I've always wanted to try it out, still need to one day!

Here is the cake from my baby shower a week and a half ago. It was made to match my invitations (which had 'rocket ships' on the, from some Basic Grey scrap paper). I loved it!
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8db24b3127ccea81b884eba8500000036102BYtmbhm2Y-

I just did a 3-tiered cake last week that I covered with fondant. I have taken a couple of fondant/gum paste classes and I really don't think it is hard to work with at all.. kinda like (yucky) edible playdoh :giggle:

Did you make that Alyson??! Is it fondant?

Did you make that Alyson??! Is it fondant?

I wish!! NO, I did not make it. A local lady made it. It is fondant and I don't remember what kind of fondant she said it was, but it actually tastes pretty decent. Although, we didn't eat the fondant from the whole piece of cake, just a couple of bites. The cake itself was red velvet with cream cheese frosting:).

Eva, those are nice!! i will check out the link,m what a nice idea with the mini cupcakes! hmmmm might have to try that sometime.

Alyson, cute cake!!!

Shanna, pics?

My camera was dead, so she took pics at the event, but she hasn't brought them yet. She showed them to me this morning - it really did turn out well, IMO :blush1:

I just finished making Aiden's "Formula One" cake for his birthday party tomorrow. It was a disaster from the word go, my oven is broken so the temp is all over the place and the outside of the cake was done and the top interior wasn't so I had to scoop out batter so it would finish cooking. It left me with a big whole, so when I started cutting up the car shape I had to pack it up with off cuts so it would work.

Aiden specifically asked for a yellow car with red wheels. I couldn't get the icing red, it just got pinker and pinker, I have made red before but couldn't remember how I did it. So I had to turn it into apricot cause I knew that he would freak if he had pink wheels.

I also couldn't find long thin red licorice, just short ones so I had to cut that up and use it for the outlining so it's all blocky. Anyway it looks nothing like the picture, but it's a car, so it will have to do! :lol:

Here it is:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8db36b3127ccea8c3aac6835100000016108AbN2Llq0aNH


http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8db36b3127ccea8c3aaf5025200000016108AbN2Llq0aNH

Deb, it looks great!! I think he's gonna love it! :nod: Girl, you're braver than me b/c there is no way I would even attempt to do anything like that, I just stick to what they have at the local grocery/cake places :scan:

Deb you did a great job!! I am sure he will love it!! How did you do that? David is always wanting me to make crazy cakes but I am never sure on how to accomplish them. Do you have a website that you get the "pattern" from? Do tell!! :biggrin:

Question: You said you had a hard time with making red. Did you use butter or margerine? I found that I get a true red when I use butter.:dunno: Just thought I'd throw that out there.

Deb, it's cute!!

Thanks!

Melissa: I used butter, I always use butter and just couldn't get red to happen. I have done the red before when I did a football jersey for Tony and I remember it being hard but eventually achieved it, but this time round it just wouldn't go red, the more dye I put in the pinker it got and the icing started to bleed so I needed to stop or else I was going to destroy the cake.

I have 2 kids birthday cake books. I let the kids go through them and tell me what they want then I just follow the instructions on how to get the shape. I then use my own creative licence while decorating it to add my own touch. I have made a ninja turtle with out instructions before and it was a very scary looking ninja turtle, it looked like he had just taken acid, so I try not to encourage cakes that aren't in the books anymore :giggle:

I have made a ninja turtle with out instructions before and it was a very scary looking ninja turtle, it looked like he had just taken acid, so I try not to encourage cakes that aren't in the books anymore :giggle: you just made me spill wine all over the rug :lol: thanks. I am sure the ninja looked ok :nod:

That's great Deb!!

(must have been a MUCH more comfortable baking/decorating experience this year compared to last!) :giggle:

I just made a 1st birthday cake for my friends son Nolan. I am not great with fondant, so this is not spectacular, but it's cute enough for a 1 year old.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a96/milliez/IMG_3607.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a96/milliez/IMG_3609.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a96/milliez/IMG_3610.jpg

~ Melissa

Wow, so you made those animals? Looks great!! I was on a cake kick this winter, but I'm over it:lol: I'm not patient enough for it!

Looks great, Melissa. :)

Yes, and it was not fun!! I suck at anything artistic, so this took extra long and I finally said "Good enough!". I enjoy doing cakes, but not with young kids running around. Everyone ends up frustrated when I do a cake.:blush:

~ Melissa

Looks great, Melissa. :)

Thanks Eva!!

~ Melissa

Thought I'd post my efforts:

http://images.photos.walmart.com/232323232%7Ffp43233%3Enu%3D3235%3E3%3B8%3E993%3EWS NRCG%3D32329%3B84%3A%3B636nu0mrj


http://images.photos.walmart.com/232323232%7Ffp43239%3Enu%3D3235%3E3%3B8%3E993%3EWS NRCG%3D3232%3C853%3A57%3B3nu0mrj


They were Wilton pans, so not freehand like most of yours. But, they did take me FOREVER. The Wilton pans are officially retired:lol:

nice, Kelley!!! I always go through the same thing-i start the cake, and half way through wish I never got the idea in my head in the first place and should have just paid somebody to do it :lol:

That is SO me, Lena:lol: About 11pm (and several more batches of frosting made than I origianlly planned) the night I was making the baseball cake I was seriously cursing myself!

Yeah, I get that way half way through the day-and-a-half that it takes me to make silly Thomas.... :lol:

Very nice Kelly! I think that the Wilton ones are harder to do because you have to cover the entire cake with the star tip and it hurts your hand and wrist. Ouch!

~ Melissa

Okay, I just finished his smash cake. I ran out of brown, so I was pretty much left with doing a tiger.

Smash cake:

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a96/milliez/IMG_3615.jpg

His cake again:

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a96/milliez/IMG_3618.jpg

And both cakes:

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a96/milliez/IMG_3619.jpg


~ Melissa

Wonderful cakes, Melissa!!!!!!!!!!

Those are adorable Melissa!!! Matt saw them and said 'wow!!!' ;)!!

OMG Melissa!! Did you make the animals with fondant?

A couple of weekends ago was my brother in laws 49th bday so I made a golf-ball-on-sod cake. It didn't travel the hour to their house very well :lol: but it did taste good!

Aimee, very nice! the grass looks so realistic!

Melissa, those cakes are adorable!! :love: Great job! :aok:

Kelly, nice cakes :ok: Love the baseball one, wanna make one for me for Ian's bday? :lol:

Aimee, cool cake! :aok: Did you use colored coconut for the grass? Looks great.

I made Isaiah a fire truck cake for his 3rd bithday, but it melted on the 45 minute drive to the party (it was june) and I never took a picture before it melted :( Since then Ive always bought store cakes for his birthday. Im thinking of doing one for Hannah's next birthday though, we'll see.

Wow, everyone's cakes look so awesome!

I hear ya on getting to the middle of a cake project and then wishing I'd never begun. :lol: It's always worth it in the end, though. :)

:lol: Lena, well it's the only cake I don't have a picture of, I wish I had taken one now, I do have a side pic of him cutting it but it doesn't show the full "acid" effect! :giggle:

Aimee! Most definately, cake decorating is much easier when you aren't 9 months pregnant, go figure :crazy:

Karly: Exactly, I always regret it mid creating but then am always proud when it's finished and the kids love it!

Here's the one I made for my sister's baby shower in December. I've done a nicer job on this one before, but I had a newborn and no sleep, so that's as good as it gets.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a96/milliez/IMG_2176.jpg?t=1212927089

~ Melissa

Aimee, cool cake! :aok: Did you use colored coconut for the grass? Looks great.


Mary -- it's actually a tip that you can use ... I LOVE it! :lol:

I'm going to make a monkey for Hanna's cake this month but I don't know what to make him out of. Any ideas? I made a frog out of white fondant and painted him last year for another cake ... do I use marshmallow fondant? marzipan? regular fondant?

Need ideas please!!

Melissa, I know im super late, but that Boy cake is gorgeous!!!

Aimee...,hmmmmm..... how big of a monkey will he be? I think fondant or marzipan would both be good. Will he get eaten, do you think? if so, I would probably go with the marshmallow fondant.... plus, will you use the fondant for anything else? Would you make the MF yourself? I think that marzipan is yummy, but it's not cheap, so if you are already going to be making a batch of MF, just go with that, i'd say!

Do you have any pics of what you are thinking of?

Also, OT, do you have a good recipe for MF? i think i want to try to make N's cake this December with that, regular F is eeky-tasting. If it's true from what I read that MF is easy to make, keeps wrapped for a couple of weeks, then if i can find a good recipe and play with it a month or two before, then come november-endish, I could jjust make it, put it away and then make the cake when the time comes and not have to pull my hair out that everything is taking so long :lol:
ok. Saga over.

The rocket cake for my baby shower was done with marshmellow fondant. It doesn't taste great, but certainly tastes better than regular fondant. I think I ate one or two little bites of it but threw the rest out.

Thanks Lena & Alyson!

I haven't made MMF before but I found this recipe last week: http://whatscookingamerica.net/PegW/Fondant.htm and yes, it seems time consuming but it's worth a try!

I think that the monkey will be about 4" high so I'll try to use the MMF for him and maybe the marzipan for some of the bananas just to try it.

Here (http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=Recipes&sort=recipename&sort_dir=ASC&op=search&chname=X&chingredients=X&searchtext=marshmallow+fondant&cat_id=-1) is a list of recipes for MF. I may try that for Kenny's cake next month. Last I knew he wanted a beaver dam cake.:giggle: Not sure where he got that idea from.:dunno:

~ Melissa

I used the recipe that you posted, Aimee. Turned out well, and people thought it actually tasted pretty good, too.

Well I've only made about 100 bananas so far and I ended up using the fondant in the box. I had a tube of marzipan but when I opened it up, it was really dry & brittle -- the expiry on the box was Feb 2008 so I threw it out ... and I haven't had a chance to make the marshmallow fondant yet but I want to ...

I did make a cake on the weekend for a party we were invited to. It was an annual summer party for the hosts and every year we end up having Hanna's bday on the same day/night so we can never go but this year, they gave out the invites in Feb to steal the date :lol:

I was going to make a pool cake because they have a pool and it fit with the summer party theme but I have been pressed for time every night so I went the total opposite and make an igloo cake with penguins. I made the penguins out of fondant and had such a great time! The cake is just angel food cake that I baked in a domed glass bowl, whipped cream for the "snow covering", tiny marshmallows iced together to make the doorway and then I sprinkled large sugar over top to add the shine and some coconut for flakes.

Gorgeous Aimee :)

I wish I had half the talent that all of you have..I can't even get a cake or cupcakes to rise flat!

THose tiny penguin's are adorable! Nice work!

that is a totally adorable little cake, Aimee!!! LOVE it!

The penguins are adorable! great job.

I am approaching birthday season in the next 5 weeks. On the 4th Sept is Jacob's 3rd birthday, 27th is Tony's 34th birthday, 29th is Riley's 5th birthday and the 2nd Oct is Lucas' 1st birthday. I need to start deciding what I am going to do.

I am interested in trying the fondant version as I always do buttercream icing, the only thing that is turning me off is the fact that fondant doesn't taste good. I like a cake that tastes as good as it looks.

Lena, I am going to do that Hamburger cake you posted for Tony's birthday, I have been dying to do it and I finally have an excuse to do it as we will be having a BBQ for his birthday and it will tie in well! :aok: Can't wait to see how it turns out.

Just a quick note on the Big MacCake, I was doing some research on the ingredients and method you posted Lena and I went to the womans day website and I entered in the name "big maccake" and it came up with a slight variation, I am going to stick with your version as I like the look of the mustard compared to the look of the cheese on this one, but I prefer the lettuce on this version, it's using green jolly ranchers rolled out flat, I think it looks very realistic. Here is a pic

http://www.womansday.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/wd2/recipes/big-mac-cake/206897-1-eng-US/big-mac-cake_slideshow_image.jpg

What amazing cakes!

My sister made 2 great cakes. One for my nephew's 3rd birthday and one for my newborn niece (her kids) for their party.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d932b3127ccec4ce3e9299f100000040O09AZtmrZy3bA9 vPhY/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d932b3127ccec4cff023b96b00000040O09AZtmrZy3bA9 vPhY/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/

What cute little penguins!!

Nadine those cakes look yummy!!!

Nadine, cute!

Hey Deb... you could do buttercream and just make fondant pieces for decoration, depending on what you make... that way, you have the best of both worlds! If you remember the "present" cake I made before, it was wrapped in fondant, but inside, i made yummy layers of choc cake with, if I remember right, oreos buttercream filling? So, if you want to actually wrap the whole thing in fondant for a different look, just make more layers with different buttercream fillings, so when ppl get a slice and dont' want fondant, they still get plenty of yumminess inside, kwim? OR try marzipan, if you plan to do just little figurines for decoration (like, say, the penguines in Aimee's cake)... obviously, marzipan tastes fantastic!

I'm always so stumped b/c NO ONE here has heard of marzipan! i grew up with in pastries and such, Silke and I have talked about it, it's known everywhere in Europe and Russia, but here, people always go like, "what is this??" and try it like it's who-knows-what. Anywhooooo, it's another WONDERFUL-tasting option, it's not cheap, I probably wouldn't wrap a cake in it, though you could... but for smaller decorations, perfect!

I like this hamburger cake!!! I think i will copy that recipe and do the lettuce from this one, this one def. looks more realistic! Once you make it, you will be laughing how easy it is, seriously! It will take a little time the first time, since you will be figuring out.... "oh, THIS is going to be a tomato? Oh!" and such, yourself, but in the end, SUPER easy! good luck! i can't wait to see how it turns out!

We are a month away from going to Russia, I have thoughts of a cake I would love to make for mom's bday, but I don't know if it will work out or not.. but once we get back, i only have 2 months before N's bday party, which is nothing, so i have to start getting my cake ideas in order....

Lena - sure I know what marzipan is but ... I hate it LOL
I am the ONLY one in my family who hates it. We used to get bday cakes all decorated and I was the only one whose cake was decorated with chocolate figurines and not marzipan.

You HATE marzipan??? the almond-tasting, yummolicious marzipan?? well, we can't be friends then! just kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So be it then! Friendship over!!
ROFL
Yeah, I know I am the odd one out here. My parents thought they had brought home the wrong baby from the hospital when they found out I hated marzipan. I love how it looks and what figurines can created from it but other than that .... don't come close to me with it.
How can you compare it to delicious (Swiss of couse!) chocolate??

:lol2:
well, you can't really compare marzipan to swiss chocolate... they are in two separate worlds... two separate, delicious worlds...

Those are great cakes Nadine!

Deb, I would agree with Lena 100% on rethinking doing a cake with a lot of fondant. I read on a cake blog that cake bakers/decoraters just KNOW that everyone will peel the fondant layers off and go for what's inside so doing accents isn't as dissappointing in my opinion because I know that the cake will still maintain it's general look when it's been picked at .. does that make sense?! :lol:

took some preliminary pics of the bananas and the monkey tonight ... I still have to do the face ... he's all wet because I was trying to use water to smooth him down ...

Amazing, Aimee!
WOW - I wish I could make things like that. If only cakes could be made digitally ... LOL

Yeah I like the look of the new hamburger cake too, I am actually starting to think I might do the cheese thing and the onions, it looks awesome! I can't wait to see how it turns out. The only problem is that we don't have Air head bars or White spice drops :dunno: I do know what jolly ranchers are although I haven't seen them in a long while I will need to go look for them. Can someone explain what an orange air head bar is so I can see if I can find an equivelant here, if I can't then maybe I will have to recruit someone to ship it over to me.

I think you are both making a lot of sense of using fondant as a decorative thing for figurines etc instead of wrapping an entire cake in it. I will have to have a play with it :aok:

You can put me down as someone else who isn't a fan of marzipan. I have never really liked it that much, I think it's a bit bland. When I got my wedding cake I made sure that it was not going to be coated in marzipan like most wedding cakes I had eaten in the past were. I mean it's not horrid disgusting, it's definately edible but as I said I am not a fan so I always tend to maybe have one mouthfull of it and that is enough, I eat around the rest of it. In saying that though I have worked with it, making flowers etc when I did a cake making for crafts when I was in school and think it's great for that kind of thing.

Aimee: The monkey is just beyond cute! I love it. :clap:

Airhead bars are about 1.5" wide (approx.) and about 4" long and relatively thin (maybe 1/16") ... I had to use them for a cake two years ago and I was all "what the?!" until one morning I went into a corner store and found them in the confectionary area with all the other open candy-type stuff. I had to wrap the cake with it to make a wave so I needed a few -- easy to microwave on low then roll out with a rolling pin. I would say, since you've got to use it for the inside only and on the edges at that, try to have a look around in the candy aisle for the colour you need that is "gel-like" and experiment with that first if you can't find the airheads. I'd be more than happy to send you some though so just say the word :awink:

Wow Aimee, that monkey, and the bananas, are perfect!! SO cute! Can't wait to see his little face. I always have the hardest times with their faces, the eyes mostly. They always look either high, scared or just plain goofy.:dunno:

~ Melissa

Holy cow Aimee!! You are freakin' amazing!

Nadine :lol2:

Aimee, awesome!! is it MM or Marzipan? I would guess MM if you were using water to smooth him?

Airhead bars?? Is this what you are talking about?
http://www.oldtimeconfections.com/airhead%20theatre%20box.jpg

If so I can send them to you Deb!! We have them all over the place!!! David loves them!

That must be it. It says I need 4 x orange airhead bars. I am going to go look at the store to see if I can find anything that is the same, I haven't seen the before and I have worked in a confectionary store that sold everything so I am sure I would have heard of them if we had them, it's always possible that I missed it but I really think we don't have them here. If I can't find anything the same I would love to take you up on the offer to send them :aok:

Also what are white spice drops? what are the consistancy of them like?

Deb - do you have Starburst? Airheads are kind of like that - only longer and thinner. I don't think I've ever seen orange ones though...

http://aim.search.aol.com/search/redir?src=image&clickedItemURN=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sugarstand.com%2Fi mages%2Fsc%2Fsc0029e.jpg&moduleId=image_details.jsp.M&clickedItemDescription=Image Details

As for the spice drops, they are gum drops - like a jelly almost in the middle rolled in sugar...

http://images-partners-tbn.google.com/images?q=tbn:Bs9Wnhj7K2NiyM:www.jrmushroomsandspec ialties.com/images/GYSD.jpg

Lena - I know what marzipan is, and I like it! When I worked for a catering company, we used to make bouche de noelle every Christmas. We garnished them with marzipan holly leaves and berries. I used to like doing that b/c I'd eat the scraps!

You guys are amazing. I consider myself a decent cook, and I can definitely garnish things pretty professionally, but I have never been able to make a cake that looks anything like it is supposed to. I'm in awe of these cakes!

Deb - do you have Starburst?

Might be called Opal Fruits as well.

Also what are white spice drops? what are the consistancy of them like?

http://www.candydirect.com/candy.gifhttp://www.hickoryfarms.com/prod_images/18038_X.jpg

A gumdrop with a taste that is kind of spicy.The white ones taste like licorice/anise.

We have starbursts but they are small and round with juicy bits in the middle. Michele that picture helps, now I know what they look like I am almost certain there is something similar here.

As for the spice drops, thanks! we have those just different name :aok: YAY!

Here is my castle cake from Emma's party yesterday:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d906b3127ccec4e32d09835900000040O09Aas2rNyzbA9 vPgA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/

That is such a cute cake Eva!! I love the colour!!


Well, I made 300 bananas and it was JUST enough for the size of cake I made.
I put the whole cake together Friday night and it was ok but I didn't have a fridge to fit it in so I had to leave it in the basement where it was cooler and by morning, it had shifted a little.

I put a dowel through the center and what I shouldn't have done was added the monkey that time, he weighed everything over. All in all, it tasted good though! :lol:

:lol: I just posted on your FB wall about where the monkey cake pictures were.


Damn girl...You did it again! :bowdown: :secret: I know who to contact for cakes from now on:giggle:

:eek: 300 Bananas!!! That is impressive. What a beautiful cake. :)

HOLY MOLY!!! Aimee, that cake is too fun!! i love it!!!! how completely adorable!

Amazing job Aimee. That is such a cute and fun cake. Glad it was yummy too!!

~ Melissa

Great job, Eva!! :rahrah:

Aimee, You did fantastic, sorry it shifted though, but I think it still looked great! :aok:

Eva & Aimee those are awesome cakes! :aok:
:woa: 300 bananas!!!

Now this is some cake:


http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2008/startracks/080811/kim_kardashian400.jpg (http://www.people.com/people/gallery/0,,20215016_7,00.html)

Kim Kardashian has a serious Big Mac attack while pretending to take a bite out of a giant cake at a 40th birthday bash for the McDonald's burger Sunday

People.com (http://www.people.com/people/gallery/0,,20215016_6,00.html)

Okay, I need some help/suggestions. Kenny's 7th birthday is Tuesday and he wants a cake with a city and a van.:scratch: So, how can I do this?? I've seen some where they just make buildings(basically rectangles) with sugar cookies and then frost them and prop them up against the sides of a round cake and then stick a car in front. I want to do something more fun and original then that. Any ideas/pictures?????

Thanks!

Melissa

Aimee and Eva! Those cakes are amazing!
Eva - Can you send me an explanation on how you made it? Shoham's bday party is next week.

Ok, I need help.

It's coming up to me making that hamburger cake and I can't find anything similar to airheads here.

I am hoping someone is willing to go shopping for me and post me some items, I can deposit into a paypal account so you won't be out of pocket any money. I need 4 x orange airheads, green jolly ranchers (atleast 10 pieces) and I need to ask, with the spice drops do they have a clear jelly like appearance in the middle cause the ones we have do and I am not sure if that's the same thing, if not then I need a packet of the white spicedrops too (a minimimum of 10)

Anyone able to help me out?

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:g6I2glLXj_lpDM:http://www.georgehowe.com/store/Images/products/spicedrop-lge.jpg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.georgehowe.com/store/Images/products/spicedrop-lge.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.georgehowe.com/store/Products/Midget-Spice-Drops__07222.aspx&h=152&w=260&sz=13&hl=en&start=1&um=1&usg=__Qy3GKwJOrvnSCFmXWwI3ntIRJyw=&tbnid=g6I2glLXj_lpDM:&tbnh=65&tbnw=112&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dspice%2Bdrops%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rl s%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox%26rlz%3D1I7ADBF%26sa%3DN)
these are what spice drops look like.

Ok, I need help.

It's coming up to me making that hamburger cake and I can't find anything similar to airheads here.

I am hoping someone is willing to go shopping for me and post me some items, I can deposit into a paypal account so you won't be out of pocket any money. I need 4 x orange airheads, green jolly ranchers (atleast 10 pieces) and I need to ask, with the spice drops do they have a clear jelly like appearance in the middle cause the ones we have do and I am not sure if that's the same thing, if not then I need a packet of the white spicedrops too (a minimimum of 10)

Anyone able to help me out?

I'd be happy to Deb.. I'll charge you in Jaffas!! haha!! Oh.. and those other things, what were they?.. my husband loved them!

Alex wants a cake that looks like a rocket for his birthday this year. :) Now I get a chance to experiment with making an interesting cake!! :yippee: We looked at some pics last night, and he doesn't want a 3-D cake.....just one that's cut out to look like a rocket. I found some great pics online last night. :)

Shannon, we had a rocketship cake for my baby shower in May. It's 3D (and with fondant) but I thought it'd give you some ideas!:)
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8db24b3127ccec45e49ce9a3500000010O02BYtmbhm2Yg9 vPgQ/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/

YAY, thanks Alyson!

I think I will be fine with the spice drops, I am just going to need the 4 x Orange airheads and the green jolly ranchers (minimum of 10 pieces) I won't say no to anything else interesting you throw in there too :awink:

I will get some Jaffas sorted for you and was it the curly wurlys that your husband liked or was it the caramello Koalas?

OK Deb, sounds good! You don't need the white spice drops then? Matt like the curlywurlys.. yeah! Brookelyn liked the koalas though. When do you need them by? I can get them out this week for sure!! Yay.. I can't wait again! haha

Alyson, that cake looks perfect!! :aok: I'll show it to Alex to be sure.....

He wants it "metal colored", so now I need to figure out grey frosting...... :lol:

I did grey icing on a penguin, I used black colouring (in buttercream) with just a tiny splash of blue to give it that metallic look :aok:

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:g6I2glLXj_lpDM:http://www.georgehowe.com/store/Images/products/spicedrop-lge.jpg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.georgehowe.com/store/Images/products/spicedrop-lge.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.georgehowe.com/store/Products/Midget-Spice-Drops__07222.aspx&h=152&w=260&sz=13&hl=en&start=1&um=1&usg=__Qy3GKwJOrvnSCFmXWwI3ntIRJyw=&tbnid=g6I2glLXj_lpDM:&tbnh=65&tbnw=112&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dspice%2Bdrops%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rl s%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox%26rlz%3D1I7ADBF%26sa%3DN)
these are what spice drops look like.
:hijacked: In CANADA, those are GUMDROPS. Because they are gummy. Not spicy. :screwy: Americans. :lol:

We call them that too Bev. :nod:Some have spices as flavor instead of fruit.

Bev, I didn't know them as spice drops either until I started reading this thread. To me they've always been gumdrops.

Spice drops and gum drops are different but they look the same. Fruity ones are called gum drops, and are obviously fruit flavored - orange, lemon, cherry etc. Spice drops look the same but are flavored differently - cinnamon, licorice, mint, etc.

Well. I've received an education today. :) I can't imagine wanting to eat a spice drop. Gumdrops maybe. My Gramma made my sister and I a gumdrop cake for one of our birthdays. I can't imagine letting my kid eat that! :lol:

Spice drops are yumming!! I love the cinnamon and mint ones!! :lick:

Brookelyn's bday is tomorrow and I'm going to attempt this cake for her party Saturday!! Wish me luck!!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3135/2643580854_da1af68cf0.jpg?v=1215376383

Deb - thanks for the frosting tip! :aok:

Alyson - that cake looks awesome!! If you can pull that off, you'll be adored for a LONG time. :lol: It's pretty adventurous......

Alyson, that Hannah guitar is sooo cute! Good luck!

Alyson, so perfect for her rockin' party!!! :aok: Best of luck!!! :crossfing

Alyson, my mother made me a guitar cake when I was younger, she put lollypops as the tuning nuts, I will never forget it, it was one of my favourites she ever did for me!

I am PMing you to finalise our exchange :awink:

Good luck Alyson!! That cake is definitely rockin'.:dude:

Here is the cake I made for Shoham's party:
It is heart shaped with her name written in candies
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d720b3127ccec557816e9bf100000040O09AZtmrZy3bA9 vPhY/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/

Nadine, cute cake!!

Alyson, do you have the pic of how your guitar cake turned out?

Alyson is sending me the candies to be able to pull off this hamburger cake, unfortunately she said they don't make orange airheads anymore, she thinks I might be able to dye the white ones orange, if I can't, any other suggestions of what I can use to simulate cheese?

Couldn't you dye some fondant and roll it out maybe?

:doh: How stupid am I, all this talk about fondant and it doesn't even enter my mind that I could use that. I haven't worked with it before so it was the last thing on my mind :crazy: Thanks.

Deb, fondant is very easy to work with. The only hard part is initial warm up, just rolling it in your hands to get it more pliable. Also, another tip. to get it to not stick when you roll it out and such, just use a little bit of crisco ( at least i think that's what i used).

OK.. Here it is!!!







http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d726b3127ccec55a8555e83f00000040O02BYtmbhm2Yg9 vPgQ/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d726b3127ccec55ba95e495e00000040O02BYtmbhm2Yg9 vPgQ/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/
It was sweating a bit! That's what happens when it's 106 outside.. everything and everyone is sweaty!!

:woa: Alyson...That is awesome!!!!!!

Alyson!! :faint: You da man (as it were....)!! :dude:


:lol:


That cake is awesome!! Did Brookelyn freak when she saw it? :)

Fantastic job, Alyson!!!! How did Brookie react?

good job, Alyson! Did Brooklyn love it?

Fantastic job, Alyson!! :cheer: I beat Brooklyn totally loved it!! :nod:

It turned out excellent! Worth the trip to the ER :awink: :lol:

Awesome!!!

it's using green jolly ranchers rolled out flat, I think it looks very realistic. Here is a pic

http://www.womansday.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/wd2/recipes/big-mac-cake/206897-1-eng-US/big-mac-cake_slideshow_image.jpg

How do you roll out Jolly Ranchers? Ours are hard and brittle.

How do you roll out Jolly Ranchers? Ours are hard and brittle.

Deb.. I was wondering the same thing as I bought them for you!! haha!

Oh, thanks everyone!!! Brookelyn LOVED it! She thought it was the coolest thing ever and she said I'm a great 'cake maker'!! haha!

I had my first cake disaster Saturday :(

My brothers' bday was on the 9th and my SIL is tomorrow so I made a cake for them both to share this weekend when we went over for dinner.

Beforehand, I knew that I was going to make a chocolate and a vanilla and dh said "do something different. experient" I shouldn't have :handbags:

I cut each cake into triangles and then pieced them together to make a square cake again and then iced. We get in the car and start driving ... hitting bumps on the way. My heart went into my stomach. Dh asked if I wanted to stop and take a look but I said no.

When we got there I opened the box to see the breakdown ... I didn't cry!

Oh crap!! I'm sorry Aimee:patback:

oh no, Aimee. it still looks lovely! how did it go at the party?

Aimee, it still looks great!! ..and at least they're nice smooth slices instead of big breaks right?;)

I still think it looks like a great cake ( and it's a good idea :) ) however you should probably vote that road into the worst road contest (http://www.caasco.com/community/worst-roads/) :giggle:

Still looks better then anything I could do:aok:.

:hug99:

Thanks everyone :(

Thankfully it was only us & them (5 of us) there and my brother just kept saying "but it tastes SO good!!" :lol: I love him.

Okay, here is the 60th Anniversary cake that I made for my paternal grandparents. The 60th is the Diamond Anniversary.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a96/milliez/IMG_4323.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a96/milliez/IMG_4330.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a96/milliez/IMG_4316.jpg

Close-ups:

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a96/milliez/IMG_4339.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a96/milliez/IMG_4338.jpg


This was my first 3 tier cake and first fondant bow. I am pretty happy with how it turned out. The bottom layer is chocolate with chocolate cream cheese filling, second is butter pecan cake with Apple Cider Cream Cheese filling and top layer is carrot cake, also with Apple Cider Cream Cheese filling. The whole thing is covered in buttercream.

Now, let's hope that it doesn't collapse or anything between now and tomorrow. I have to transport it 25 minutes from here. Wish me luck.:crossfing:pray:

~ Melissa

WOW. That is really, really impressive!

:faint: Wow Melissa you did an amazing job!!! :bowdown:

Gorgeous!!!! You did an amazing job. :)

:woa: Melissa, that is STUNNING!

Holy crap, Melissa! You definitely could make a career out of this if you wanted to.

Holy cow! That's amazing!!!! I could never make anything like that!

Amanda

Wow!! That is amazing.. you really could do that for a living!!

Oh Aimee, that cake distaster is crushing! But what can you do but laugh!

Melissa: Great job :aok: What were the diamonds made out of? or where they just plastic?




Well I am attempting the hamburger cake in a few days, Alyson has sent me what I need and I am hoping it is as easy as Lena said it is. I just need to buy a glass bowl to bake the round shake in as I haven't done that type of shape before. I will post pics when I am done.

wow, Melissa! holy moly that cake is gorgeous!!! very, very impressive!

Thanks so much ladies!! I really appreciate your compliments.:hug99:

Melissa: Great job :aok: What were the diamonds made out of? or where they just plastic?


I bought them at a craft store. They are meant for decoration, like in a glass bowl, but they worked perfectly for the cake!

~ Melissa

Wow Melissa...that cake is gorgeous!!!

Now, let's hope that it doesn't collapse or anything between now and tomorrow. I have to transport it 25 minutes from here. Wish me luck.:crossfing:pray:

~ Melissa


BIG :pray: coming your way :awink:

It's gorgeous!!

Well I am attempting the hamburger cake in a few days, Alyson has sent me what I need and I am hoping it is as easy as Lena said it is. I just need to buy a glass bowl to bake the round shake in as I haven't done that type of shape before. I will post pics when I am done.

I don't know if the dimensions of the Wilton ball pan is big enough or not, but you could use that for the bun top/bottom: http://www.wilton.com/shapedpan/Sports-Ball-Pan-Set
Just a thought.

Serial poster here this morning ... sorry! :lol:

Isn't this cute for Halloween!!

http://www.wilton.com/idea/All-Wrapped-Up

or this

http://www.wilton.com/idea/Covering-Lots-of-Ground-Spider-Cake

Is the ready to use rolled fondant easier to use than making your own?

Good luck Deb on your hamburger cake!!! I am sure it will turn out fine!

That type of bowl is exactly what I need but seeming as I don't have my drivers licence I can't get out to go find it. I have a roundish casserole dish but it's got a flat top, I thought I might be able to round it off myself. I am going down to my local shops that is in walking distance later today to try and find something, if not I will use that.

As for everything else, Alyson unfortunately was unable to find the right jolly ranchers for me to use for the lettuce, her first attempt was the boiled ones, then her second attempt was the gummy ones :crazy: I just adore her for her efforts but can't help but laugh at the fact that neither were the ones I needed. My kids are enjoying them though so thanks, Alyson :aok:

SOOOOO I went on a lolly search and I found some coloured fruit chew, the problem is, they were not in green, but they had blue and yellow, yesterday I microwaved them for 5 seconds and melded them together and now I have a big batch of green fruit chews, I have rolled them out and they work perfectly for the lettuce. The bonus out of this is there were orange ones, and seeming as Airheads don't make orange anymore, I microwaved the orange one for a few seconds and rolled it out and cut it into a square and it looks like a perfect square of cheese!! I am stoked!

Now my next dilemma, here I am thinking we had white gumdrops for the "onions" well I was wrong! :gah: I have all the other colours just not white ones, so I am thinking of using white jelly beans or white minties. I hope they work.

I am baking the cakes tomorrow and putting it together the next day so I will post pics when I finish.

Melissa, I haven't worked with the premade fondant, but my cousin has and she said that the marshmallow stuff is waaayy easier to make and work with;)!

Deb.. you're welcome and we're enjoying our candy!! Thanks!!! I also find it funny that as much as we communicated we didn't get the right jolly ranchers! I've NEVER seen or heard of the ones you needed. Good luck and I can't wait to see pictures. Oh and I'm glad that you found candy that is working for the cheese and lettuce!

Okay girls, we have onions! :rahrah: I bought white jelly beans and rolled them out in sugar and cut them into rings and it worked perfectly! :woot: I also bought a pyrex glass bowl that is almost a perfect round shape, it just has a slight flat bit at the base but that can be fixed when I ice it. I now have everything I need to make this cake!

Can't wait to see the masterpiece Deb!

Good luck, Deb! Sounds like things are falling right into place for you. Can't wait to see the pictures.

Can't wait to see the results Deb!!

Melissa - I was hoping someone was going to answer your question about fondant because I've never made my own ... I've just bought it premade & rolled it out.

How do you roll out Jolly Ranchers? Ours are hard and brittle.

Sorry I didn't see this post earlier, we have now established that the jolly ranchers we had and the jolly ranchers you have are completely different. Alyson and I have figured out that the jolly ranchers we had are like your starbursts.



Okay well in the end, after all that mission with the fruit chews to make the lettuce they didn't work anyway! :gah: After rolling them out they were too soft and you couldn't shape them in any kind of way, they would just collapse into a wad straight away. Even refrigerating them first didn't help cause the minute they went to room temp they sagged again. So I bit the bullet and went with marshmellow fondant. I had no idea what I was doing :lol: I followed the recipe Alyson posted but as there was nothing about what consistancy it was supposed to be I was lost cause it was still sticky and goopey when I had finished with it, I just kept adding powdered sugar till it became more solid so I could roll it, I hope that was right. Either way I made little bunches of "lettuce" with the fondant and it's all just setting now. I just need to bake the physical cake part and then put it all together. It's taken me about 2 1/2 hours to make all the parts of the cake, including crushing oreo and choc ripple cookies for the meat. (I decided to throw in a slightly lighter coloured cookie too to give the chargrilled effect)

Here is the tomatos, they are still drying on the rack.
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm287/DebCrawford/Cakes/party002.jpg?t=1222410254


Onions
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm287/DebCrawford/Cakes/party010.jpg?t=1222410305

The olive for the top of the bun
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm287/DebCrawford/Cakes/party008.jpg?t=1222410330


the cheese, I only did the edges of the cheese cause I am going to hang them over the visible part of the meat so the cake is easier to cut.

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm287/DebCrawford/Cakes/party012.jpg?t=1222410510


and the fondant lettuce
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm287/DebCrawford/Cakes/party014.jpg?t=1222410533





So, Lena. When you served up your cake, how did you do it considering it was so tall, did you seperate the whole thing or do wedges of the entire cake?

It looks like it's going to turn out great!!! I can't wait to see the finished product!!!

is that real cheese?? :lol:

Deb, it looks great! Sorry that I forgot to tell you about the consistantcy. You really just keep kneeding and kneeding (mixing and mixing, playing with it) until it's thick.. but adding more powdered sugar is ok too! I'm glad that it worked out for you. The lettuce looks great, despite your other tries! I can't wait to see the whole thing!

is that real cheese?? :lol:
I was thinking the same thing :lol:

I can't wait to see everything put together, Deb.

Deb, I"m trying to remember.... I think we did take the two "buns" apart and cut into it, since it was kind of monstrous, for a burger :lol:

That cheese looks EXACTLY like the real deal! :aok: I can't wait to see it all put together :)

I know, how perfect does the cheese look!!

I think I added too much sugar to the fondant cause the lettuce doesn't have a glossy look to it this morning, but oh well, it does the trick.

I F'd up the top of the bun last night, I thought 1 cake mix would be enough but the way it raised was not close to the bowl so the actual curve part was not big enough to use for the bun, I have to send Tony out this morning to go get me 2 more cake mixes so I can redo the bun, in the meantime I am putting the rest of the cake together.

Thanks for all your help, you guys are wonderful. I am excited to see it put together too, I hope it looks as good as I imagined it in my minds eye.

With real looking cheese like that I am sure it will! ;)

It's finished.

It's a little bit wonky but I am too scared to move any sections of it incase it destroys the rest of the cake so it will have to do :crazy:

Here it is:

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm287/DebCrawford/Cakes/party025.jpg?t=1222472467

Oh my freaking gawd Deb it looks sooo good!

Paige loves it too and asked me to make one.. :spit:

Fantastic Deb!!!

some questions for you (cause I never saw the original recipe/plan for this cake)

- How tall & wide is put all together??!?

- What is the flavour of the icing on the bun? Is it peanut butter? :lol:

LOVE it! Good job!! :hug99:

Holy cow Deb!!! That looks amazing!!!!! Great job, I'm so glad that it turned out so nice for you.

To make it shiny you could use some crisco (whatever you found that was equivalent to it) and just smooth it over it, that's what I did with the guitar.

You did a fantastic job, Deb!!

Fantastic Deb!!!

some questions for you (cause I never saw the original recipe/plan for this cake)

- How tall & wide is put all together??!?

- What is the flavour of the icing on the bun? Is it peanut butter? :lol:

LOVE it! Good job!! :hug99:


It's the width of a 20cm cake tin and about 25cm tall.

I used vanilla to flavour the buttercream icing and just used brown paste to colour it.



Thanks so much guys, Tony loves it so that is all that really matters. He wants to know how the hell we are going to cut it all up :lol:

Awesome job!

Great job, Deb! it really looks fantastic!!!! I think you will have to dismember it to cut it :lol:

To make the leaves shiny, even now, while they are on the cake, just take a small brush, dip it in water and brush the fondant. That way, it doesn't taste icky with Crisco on it.

AWESOME JOB DEB!!! Wow, you did a fantastic job. You are going to cry when you cut it up.:giggle: All that work!

~ Melissa

Wow, it looks great!!! Well done!

Wow Deb! Great! :aok:

Great job Deb!

That's a work of art, Deb!

Just posting a picture of Olivia's 1st birthday cake:

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a96/milliez/IMG_4545.jpg

~ Melissa

Dang girl...you are good!

Melissa can I hire you to make Alyssa and CHarlotte's cake :lol: Your cakes are awesome!

What a wonderful cake, Melissa!! Did you make your own fondant or go with store-bought?

What a wonderful cake, Melissa!! Did you make your own fondant or go with store-bought?

I went with store bought. I had an exhausting week and really was just too lazy!!

~ Melissa

Melissa can I hire you to make Alyssa and CHarlotte's cake :lol: Your cakes are awesome!

:giggle: Sure, what should be the delivery fee from Michigan to Ohio??:lol:

~ Melissa

Great job Melissa! That's adorable!

Great job on the cake!!!

:giggle: Sure, what should be the delivery fee from Michigan to Ohio??:lol:

~ Melissa

I could probably drive and pick it up cheaper then I could have it shipped :lol:

Nice, Melissa- very cute!!!! It looks like the one I did for the twins b-day last year, but different colors. Did the kids eat the fondant? Mine peeled all of it off and said it was disgusting :lol: They're already telling me this year that they don't want that fancy frosting :lol:

Here is Riley's cake for his party, it's a goofey. Slightly wonky but still fun, he loved it.

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm287/DebCrawford/Cakes/party2031.jpg?t=1223805574

Fun, Deb!

Deb, that is really cute! I like it! Great job.

lol thanks, it's not my best but it did the job.

Well one of the mum's at Riley's party who has been coming to my kids parties for the last few years asked me if I would make a cake for her daughter's birthday this weekend. She wants to pay me but I feel weird about it and plus I wouldn't even know what to charge :crazy:

Riley was the original invitee to the party but now she has invited my other kids too, so she will be paying for all of their meals, what do you think? do I just say to her I will do it for free due to the fact she is now adding my other children to the party or do I charge her something? I do feel weird about charging but on the other hand I am spending time and effort on it, I'm confused, what would you do?

I would charge her a little something. I dunno maybe $15-$20..depending how big and time consuming. What do cakes usually go for in your next of the woods?

Well I paid $70 for a caramel mudcake for my mother's 60th that was in the shape of a 60 that could feed 30 people. Other than that I have no idea, I don't buy cakes, I always make them :crazy:

I was planning on charging her for the ingredients, maybe I should just leave it up to her and if she gives me money then she gives me money. :dunno:

I say charge her. Maybe you can make a little side money this way. I would charge her $20-$30.

I'd charge her like $20 Deb.

At the very least, let her pay for the ingredients. And maybe have her babysit your kids while you make and decorate the cake (heck, depending on how complex the cake is, you could REALLY make out on that end!).

If she were a good friend of mine and I had the time, I'd probably ask for the amount that it cost me to make it and call it good. If she or others start asking more frequently, then I'd consider it a side job and start pricing accordingly. $50-$75 for a decorative cake to fee a crowd is probably in the ball park I'd aim for. It takes time (and imagination) to make something like that.

I like Kelley's idea of having her look after your boys while you make the cake...it is the LEAST she could do!

Hmm that's not a bad idea with the babysitting factor, I might just bring that up when she comes over this afternoon to pick the cake she wants. I hope I can meet her expectations, I am nervous now :errr:

:slap: You are an amazing cake maker. Far better then what I could ever do!!! You will be BEYOND her expectations!!!

You will be just fine Deb!!! Listen to you doubting yourself.:scratch:That's not the Deb I know!! ;)

:giggle: Thanks guys, but well it doesn't matter anymore :crazy: her daughter decided she wanted a dora cake so she is just going to buy one. It was very flattering to be ask in the first place though. :heee:

:neener:

Just wanted to post pictures of Layla's 3rd Birthday cake. It's Little Mermaid themed:

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a96/milliez/IMG_4715.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a96/milliez/IMG_4716.jpg

The cake is covered in fondant, and the flowers and "bubbles" or "rocks" are fondant as well. The shells are chocolate and the sand is crushed graham crackers. It was a lot of fun to make!!

~ Melissa

How did I miss that?!!? Melissa, that is adorable. Great job!!

Holy crap! I missed this too (admittedly I was in Vegas sick when it was posted) -- it's gorgeous!!!

How did I miss it, too???? So sorry, Melissa!!! It's beyond adorable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :love:

I'm in a panic mode b/c N's party is in 2 weeks and 2 days and i still have NO idea what to make for his cake!! Thomas would have really been perfect this year, because he is SO into the Thomas trains and movies now,but I already made it last year :( ANy suggestions?

Lena, what about a dump truck?

Melissa, that Ariel cake is AMAZING.

Lena, my cakes are pretty simple, but we had a lot of fun with Brendan's third birthday party. He's a giant train freak, so I bought train cup-cake pan from Williams-Sonoma. I decorated one with candy and icing and then for our party activity, I gave each kid a trian car and let them go at it with candy and icing and decorate their own little cake. The grown-ups ate what I decorated (and that's where we put the candles and sang Happy Birthday).

I'll have to look for pictures from his party.

Here's a pic from the Williams-Sonoma website.
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/wsimgs/rk/images/p2/products/200847/0031/img63t.jpg (http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/sku8239147/index.cfm?pkey=ccake%2Dpans%2Dcupcake%2Dpans&ckey=cake%2Dpans%2Dcupcake%2Dpans)

Here are my pictures:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8dc38b3127ccec332d235201600000010O09Aas2jZi3ag9 vPhA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8dc38b3127ccec3320e43200e00000010O09Aas2jZi3ag9 vPhA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/

Wow...those are big! Sorry!

Kelley, those are really cute!

The whole train idea is great!! How expensive were the pans if you don't mind me asking?

What a cute idea!

Those are awesome!

The website shows them for $36. They are a lot of fun to make. We have one. I love Williams Sonoma!!

Train Cake (http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/sku8239147/index.cfm?pkey=xsrd0m1%7C16%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7C%7C% 7C%7C%7Ctrain%20cake&cm%5Fsrc=SCH)

I have seen those train cake pans at Linen & Things. Now with them going out of business...they might be gone.

JC Penney (http://www.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.aspx?DeptID=58093&CatID=58093&Grptyp=PRD&ItemId=13277a1) has them on sale for $33.99 right now . nordicware

Ebay (http://cgi.ebay.ca/New-Nordicware-3D-CHOO-CHOO-TRAIN-CAKE-PAN-9-thomas-the_W0QQitemZ180276374415QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCookwa re_Bakeware?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116) - $22 buy it now plus shipping . nordicware

Ebay (http://cgi.ebay.ca/WILLIAMS-SONOMA-NORDIC-WARE-RAILWAY-CAKE-PAN_W0QQitemZ350125905684QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCookwa re_Bakeware?hash=item350125905684&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1215%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318) - $21.49 ....4 bids plus shipping....william sonoma

well, girls, i decided to make a Lightning McQueen cake for Nikita's birthday, so wish me lots of luck, I'm skeeeered. I found a couple of cute pics on cakecentral to use as reference. I'm also going to attempt the MMF.. oh boy. I'll make it tonight, so if it's a total disaster, I have time to run out and get store-made :hehe: ...plus, it's good to give it a couple of days to set before using it.

I know i still need to post pics of my mom's 64th bday cake.....

Lots of luck Lena! I can't wait to see it!

good luck with that, Lena. Looking forward to seeing the finished result!

I made the Marshmallow Fondant tonight, it turned out nice, I think. Of course, we will find out exactly how nice when I go to roll it out in a couple of days. The nice thing is, if it works out, I'll know to always just make it ahead of time, since it's supposed to keep for weeks in the fridge, and that will make things a lot easier! I'm really keeping my fingers crossed for it being better tasting than commercial stuff.

was it hard to make Lena?

Can't wait to see the finished product!

Aimee, not really... it WAS messy the first 5 min or so of kneading it together, but really, not bad at all! The marshmallows and water took about 2.5 min to melt, and then it's just kneading like crazy for about 10 min, and done! IF this turns out good and tastes good and is easy to roll out, I'm sticking with this fondant from now on. I could technically make it 2-3 weeks in advance and just stuck it in the fridge. MUCH cheaper than commercial fondant, too (just a 16 oz bag of marshmallows, 2 lbs of powdered sugar and some Crisco!)

Melissa, that makes 2 of us :lol:

I am shooting to make the cake on Thur and Fri, while N is at DC.

Lena, I think you'll be happy with the marshmallow fondant! Commercial fondant tastes like crud (as you know) and this actually doesn't taste bad. I wouldn't say that it's super yummy or anything, but it's not downright gross like the commercial junk.
I don't think it was hard to roll out. I've never used the commercial stuff, so I can't compare it to that.. but just remember that crisco is your friend;) ...and throw on a little powdered sugar too and it'll help to stop the sticking!
Good luck!

Well, Project Frankenstein is finished :lol: !!! Lightning McQueen and his checkered flag tested my patience, big time... I always seem to reach a boiling point with all my cakes, about a day and a half into it, and this one was no exception. At one point, I was ready to throw it out the window (but then i knew i'd have to start all over again, so this helped the sanity prevail :lol: ). And when I finished the checkered flag cake (LM will sit on top of this big cake that looks like a checkered flag, so I technically made two cakes), I told Damon that he would have to tell me how it tastes, because I do not want to see the cake nor taste it.. ever :lol: This was at around 8 pm, and I still had cupcakes to make and decorate. It didn't help that I'm 5 months pregnant and it's hard to be on your feet all day, my body was just done in by the end of each day..

We also had the funny incident of me walking into the kitchen as Nikita has climbed up to the table, discovered Lightning's wheels and is taking a bite out of one of those wheels :lol2: good thing it was just the black tire part, not the part with the lettering. He seemed to think it tasted good, since he was asking for more and was upset when Mommy said no.

Anyhooooooo.... the cakes turned out okay, even though not as great as I'd hoped. I know that Nikita will love it, and i hope they also taste good. I'll take pics tomorrow, before the party :)

oh, and MMF was good to work with.... if anything, it was a little TOO pliable and i kept having to re-roll it out to cover Lightning, because it would roll out too thin and break. Overall, it was good. Mixes great with colors. Once warmed in your hands, performs great even when it was left out the day before.

Oooh, can't wait to see it Lena!! :)

Pictures please!!;) It IS easy to work with and you're right, very pliable!

Pictures coming after tomorrow.. right now, Lightning is in my freezer and checkered flag is in the fridge :lol: TOmorrow, i'll be sure to shoot some pics of it all assembled.

I made David's cake tonight. It's Star Wars themed cake. It's a 9x13 cake with Annikin and Obi Wan fighting on the Mustafar system. I think it came out pretty good. I'll take pictures tomorrow..right now my camera is charging for the birthday party. ;)

Lena: Can't wait to see your cake!! I bet it's awesome!!

So you changed your mind from the Darth Vader Helmet! spewing, I was keen to see how that one turned out. :giggle:

Can't wait to see the pics for both cakes :aok:

where are all these pictures you girls keep promising?!?!!?
:awink:

:wait:Anytime girls

sorry, girls!! i did make the cake and do have pictures :blush: it's just that the whole getting ready for the party and the party itself really did me in, I'm so sick with a cold or whatever, i haven't even felt like uploading to Shutterfly, but i'll do that tonight (most likely, if my headache lets up) and will post... i still owe you pics from my Mom's 64th!

No worries Lena. I was just playing around :)

I'm not joking
:giggle:

Hope you feel better soon Lena :hug99:

Here is Lightning McQueen!:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc28b3127ccec587982aad2b00000040O38AcOGbJq2bOA e3nwc/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D3/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc28b3127ccec58797aa6c0400000040O08AcOGbJq2bOA e3nwc/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc28b3127ccec586843b0c4800000040O08AcOGbJq2bOA e3nwc/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc28b3127ccec58643444ccc00000040O08AcOGbJq2bOA e3nwc/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc28b3127ccec5862b15cd9900000040O08AcOGbJq2bOA e3nwc/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc28b3127ccec586ecb90cfe00000040O08AcOGbJq2bOA e3nwc/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc28b3127ccec58650ba8d9300000040O08AcOGbJq2bOA e3nwc/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc28b3127ccec587d5f2ed4d00000040O08AcOGbJq2bOA e3nwc/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Lena, awesome job!!! Wow, that cake looks fabulous!! :clap:

Wow Lena!! That is gorgeous!!!

I am embarrassed to show mine. It's no where as good as Lena's. :shuffle: I'll post it tonight anyway. :scan:

David insisted on the Mustafar scene. Who was I to argue?:giggle: I was really freaked out about using fondant for the first time and on his cake. I want to experiment a bit before making one for display. Maybe I'll play around with it for Christmas or something. Yea..I am a chicken. :lol:

Awesome Lena!!! Wow!!!

That is awesome, Lena!

I still picture Nikita as an 18 month old. :lol:

Sarah, no kidding!! I didn't realize he turned 3!! Holy Crap! Where does the time go?

Wow Lena.. you did a great job!!! It looks adorable!

Wow Lena!! You are an amazing cake-lady. :queen: That car looks like a model car with frosting on it! And is that a huge plate of brownies on the table as well? :lick:

I thought the car was a model car until I saw the zoomed in picture of it :woa: you did an amazing job! :bowdown:

:woa: Great job Lena!!

And is that a huge plate of brownies on the table as well? :lick:

I had to go back and look at the pics again -- is your pg brain craving crack brownies now? :lol:

Shannon, yes it is :) It's not crack brownies, it's the ones Karri posted :)

thanks for the cake love, guys!

I had to go back and look at the pics again -- is your pg brain craving crack brownies now? :lol:

My appetite is returning after a long absence! :heee:

Here are the pictures from David's birthday party.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc33b3127ccec58cc6a6293000000040O08AYt2jJw3ctA e3nww/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc33b3127ccec58d04a7091c00000040O08AYt2jJw3ctA e3nww/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/



http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc33b3127ccec58db3c5c88d00000040O08AYt2jJw3ctA e3nww/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/



http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc33b3127ccec58cb3ac699800000040O08AYt2jJw3ctA e3nww/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


:heee: It's not the best..but he loved it.

Looks pretty darn good to me Melissa! Better then I could do :)

Great job, Melissa!!!

Great Melissa!!
(did they all have red tongues after eating the icing? :lol: )

Nice cake Melissa. You did a good job!!!

Great Melissa!!
(did they all have red tongues after eating the icing? :lol: ):lol: I don't know. They ate the cake and ran off to play more games.

Great job Melissa :aok: Paige would be soooo jealous!

Thanks for the compliments. :blush:

Well I am excited, I found a website in Australia that supplies American food products!! The prices are pretty reasonable too, I wish I knew this when I was looking for those chewy jolly ranchers with the hamburger cake I made cause they sell them! :crazy:

Anywho, I was able to buy a 3lb can of crisco as I haven't been able to find a good equivilent here in Australia.

I have been asked to make a "The littlest petshop" cake for a friend's daughter's birthday party and I am going to attempt the fondant thing and I feel so much better knowing that I will have proper crisco to use for it now!!

Does anyone know a good petshop cake I can copy?

i know very little about LPS ... just googled now and found these ...

i like the grass on this one
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1068/700537653_b8da4ed6cf.jpg

this one has more of the fondant
http://sweetcakesbyrebecca.com/images/littlest_pet_shop_cake.jpg

another fondant
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_n9wRgR-Ul3g/SKvLiJ2dL3I/AAAAAAAAAW4/yf0Q9GdD3X8/s400/Littlest+Pet+Shop.jpg

one last one
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3208/2788645245_4a76082e75_o.jpg

make sure you post pics when you are done Deb

Deb.. that is too funny!! Now if only I could find an American store to supply me with jaffas;)! haha

Those cakes are cute. The LPS animals are so small you could easily do like in those cakes and do a cute background on the cake and then put them on the cake itself! That'll be a fun cake to make. Good luck with the fondant, I love it!

Cool, Deb!! Good luck with the LPS cake! i'm sure it'll turn out great!

Good luck! My daughter would love an LPS cake. I can't wait to see how yours turns out.

Thanks.

I am liking a few different features of the cakes I have looked at so I am thinking of just putting them all together and doing:

The same grass & picket fence from this cake:
http://www.coolest-birthday-cakes.com/images/coolest-littlest-petshop-cake-8-40973.jpg

(Lynn, I like the grass on the one you posted too but it looks like a lot of work :crazy: )

and then on the cake I like the idea of the picnic rug and balloons with the figurines on it picnicing:
http://coolest-birthday-cakes.shippony.com/images/characters/pet-shop-toys/childrens_cakes_02.jpg

and on the picnic rug maybe putting a minature birthday cake on it like this first pic that Lynn posted. Then I thought I could do a little flower garden that will be in the shape of a 6...

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1068/700537653_b8da4ed6cf.jpg

It looks beautiful in my mind, lets see if I can pull it off :lol:

Oh I can't wait to see pics! I am positive you can pull this off! You are very talented!


OT: I made a butterfly cake for Kielah's 1st birthday this past weekend. I did it freehand. I'll post some pictures later. I don't think it turned out to bad considering it was my first freehand shaped cake. You decide.;)

(Lynn, I like the grass on the one you posted too but it looks like a lot of work :crazy: )

it's way easy ... you just need the "grass tip" for your icing ...

looking at everyones cakes makes me feel bad about anikas cake this year haha but gives me inspiration for both of there cakes next year!

Here is a picture of the cake I made for Kielah's 1st birthday. It's supposed to be a butterfly. The cake started crumbling while I was frosting it. If anyone has any tips for that I would greatly appreciate it!!

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9da34b3127ccec68adb6d39f200000040O08AYt2jJw3ctA e3nww/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

It's a homemade chocolate cake (recipe on back of Hershey chocolate) and buttercream frosting. Purple circles are made out of fondant(my first attempt playing with fondant). Eyes are jelly beans, mouth is cherry twizzler and antena is black licorice.

Melissa, cute!! i posted some tips for frosting made easy in your journal :)

Thanks Lena!

it's way easy ... you just need the "grass tip" for your icing ...


well now that changes everything :giggle: I am going to a cake decorating shop for supplies on Monday, I will check it out, thanks :aok:


looking forward to seeing the pics, Melissa

looking forward to seeing the pics, Melissa

:scratch: I posted them...:giggle: It's just the one picture.

that's weird, I see it now but it wasn't there yesterday when I posted :crazy:

Cute, I bet she loved it!

She just wanted to sink her teeth into like her other cake. :giggle: Check out my journal for more of Kielah's bday.

Will do :aok:


Well I went to the cake decorating store and OMG :drool: I ended up spending $160 in there, I went bolistic :lol: I was like a kid in a candy store and I wanted to buy everything! I got some great stuff though so I am all set to do not only the "my littlest petshop" cake but to do all the things I want to do for Aiden's birthday party.

I also got the grass tip :rahrah: it has about 10 little holes on it so I can do a bunch of 10 pieces of grass at a time, so it doesn't seem as daunting as doing it one at a time like when I first saw that cake :giggle:

I also bought every colour I could find in colouring paste, letter cutters, more icing bags, #2, 3 & 4 tips, royal icing powder, some decorations and a flower cutter puncher (it's minature as I want to do a flowerbed in the shape of a 6)


Okay so what I need to do is:

Aiden's Birthday Party 9th May:

Lollypop Cookies - I am baking sugar cookies in the shape of gingerbread men with a stick in them so they look like lollypops then I am decorating them with royal icing to look like little football players (team jersey colours). I am puting one each in the favour boxes.

Football cookies - In the shape of a football decorated in royal icing to look like a football

Jersey Cake - His cake will be the team jersey.


Yasmin's birthday Party 16th May:

My little Petshop cake.


Wish me luck!

Oh and just a quick question, how many days in advance can I do the figurines, flowers etc in marshmellow fondant and how do I store it before I put it on the cake?

Good luck! I can't wait to see the finished product! As for your marshmellow fondant question, I don't know anything about fondant.:dunno: Sorry.

Deb, it's SO easy to spend money at a cake decorating shop, isn't it? it's like freaking Christmas morning with all the tools available! I totally understand a huge bill :lol: trust me, i've been there. Every year that I make N's cake, i end up buying "necessities" (which really are for cake decorating) and the cake ends up costing a small fortune..

As far as fondant, it's pretty long-lasting. If memory serves me right, you can make fondant up to 2 weeks before the party and I would probably push the figurines a week out (just to be on the same side). Just make sure that after you make the fondant and are storing it, put it in a tight ball, put a generous amount of Crisco on it and wrap it in a Cling wrap -type stuff-i would do 3-4 layers just to make sure it doesn't dry out.

I made flowers out of reg fondant days before the event and they sat loosely covered and were completely fine. No personal experience with making marshmallow fondant figurines ahead of time, but i think same principle applies, probably just wrap them to prevent drying out.

What i would do, just to be on the safe side, is make enough MMF to have extra left over; make the figurings a week out and check them a couple of days before. If they are fine, great! if for some reason they go nuts on you, you still have MMF to make more. Though that's just my paranoia speaking, i'm SURE they will be fine even if you made them like 10 days ahead.... i would just be annoyed if i miscalculated and the figurines dried out and i'm scrambling at the last minute to come up with new ones.

hth....

Aiden's Birthday Party 9th May:



Camille's party is May 9th, too!

Did you post a pic of the LPS cake you're going to do Deb?
The grass tip is awesome!!

Lena: Thanks for the tips, it helps. I feel better knowing I won't have to be up for 48hrs before the party doing this cake :crazy: I am doing a practice run today of the cookie lollies, I haven't decorated a cookie before so I want to practice before I do it.

Kristen: Oh how fun, what theme are you doing Camille's party in? Are you doing the cake for her?

Aimee: I am not doing any one particular cake, I am copying different features from different cakes I have seen. I am excited to give the grass tip a go.

I am going to be doing the picket fence from this cake:
http://www.coolest-birthday-cakes.com/images/coolest-littlest-petshop-cake-8-40973.jpg


The grass, the cake the figurines are sitting around and the figurines from this cake (the figurines are actual LPS toys I won't be making them)
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1068/700537653_b8da4ed6cf.jpg


and the picnic blanket & balloons from this cake
http://coolest-birthday-cakes.shippony.com/images/characters/pet-shop-toys/childrens_cakes_02.jpg


So the idea is to have a rectangular cake with green fondant covering the whole thing, then I will do the grass on top, the picket fence around the sides, on the left I will do the picnic blanket with the cake sitting in the middle of it with the figurines and balloons around it. On the right I am doing a garden bed in the shape of a number 6. Then hanging off the picket fence in the front a banner will be hanging with "happy birthday yasmin" on it.

I hope it turns out the way I see it in my minds eye.

Those are cute Deb. Your idea sounds great! I'd use the actual figures too if I were you!

Wow Deb your idea sounds perfect in my minds eye. I hope it meets your expectations!

I have been having fun with the lollypop cookies. I am trying to practice my steady hand for the detailing. I have mastered the art of the actual flooding with the royal icing but the lines can be a lot straighter, I will be doing the real ones Thursday, I am hoping I can be as steady as possible by then but if not I won't be overly fussed, even the crooked ones look pretty cute :giggle:

I am finding it easier to use this little nozzle bottle and putting the appropriate tip on it to do the flooding and detailing as I have never been able to master the art of the icing bag, I can't ever hold it in a way I can feel steady enough. With this bottle I am able to use it like I am writing with a thick pen. I had to buy it from an American online store though, I wasn't able to find it here.
http://www.shopbakersnook.com/core/getthumb?user=2637&site=3505&w=500&h=500&file=uploaded/images/sux4%2F81-302.jpg

Deb, i'm sure the cookies will turn out great!
That bottle is a nice idea, where did you find it? what is it called? I may have to give it a try.. i'm not a huge fan of bags, either, they seem to go nuts on me after a little while, too...

Deb, aren't those bottles great!? I love using them and like you said, it makes it like writing with a large pen! Can't wait to see your cookies!

Another who is waiting to hear what those bottles are called! They look cool!

:nod: Alyson. I love it!

Lena: I got it from shopbakersnook.com (http://www.shopbakersnook.com/m5_view_item.html?m5:item=154) they are called squeezeit mold painter 2oz

You get 2 in a pack for $3.99 I bought 6 of them so I can have different colours all set up and you also get a screw cap lid so if you don't use all the icing you can screw it up to store it :aok:

I have a question about marshmallow fondant.

I have pretty much made everything for this my littlest petshop cake but I need to stick fondant lettering onto a fondant banner. It's going to sit vertically on the cake so I need the lettering to stick properly or else it's going to fall off but it's delicate so I can't press too hard to make sure it stick. How do I get it to stay stuck on? some royal icing under the letters?

I need to know by tomorrow. Thanks.

Deb.. I've just always brushed a bit of water (not too much) and it sticks fine.. but I'm sure you could use icing as well.

:justahug: Thanks! I was worried it would be too slippery with water but if I just put a little that should work.

Everything is coming together just great. So far it's turning out just as I imagined. I even found a fondant print that makes it looked like grained wood. So I used it for the picket fence to give it the rustic grain look.

Can't wait to see it!!

I'm doing a baby shower cake for Saturday -- I found the idea on CakeCentral.com and can't wait to try to recreate -- it's a flat cake with a pic of a clothesline w/baby clothes hanging off it.
Doesn't help that I'm getting a cold though ... I hope that I'm feeling a bit better by Friday when I'm going to work on it :(

I'm doing a baby shower cake for Saturday -- I found the idea on CakeCentral.com and can't wait to try to recreate -- it's a flat cake with a pic of a clothesline w/baby clothes hanging off it.
Doesn't help that I'm getting a cold though ... I hope that I'm feeling a bit better by Friday when I'm going to work on it :(

I did one like that for my sister's baby shower. It turned out cute! I hope you are feeling better.:hug99:

~ Melissa

Well my cake making spree is over. It was fun but I am glad it's over with for the moment, I have neglected so many other things to get this done :giggle:

Aiden's birthday cake was his favourite footy team jersey, in hindesight I wish I had done it in fondant so it could have been more perfect but I still liked it. I had trouble doing the lines for the V because the red kept bleeding into the white and going pink so I got sick of fixing it and just dealt with it the way it was :lol:
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm287/DebCrawford/100_2747.jpg?t=1242377837


Here are the cookies I served at the party and the cookie that went into the favour box as well as the favour boxes

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm287/DebCrawford/100_2777.jpg?t=1242377939

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm287/DebCrawford/100_2780.jpg?t=1242377964

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm287/DebCrawford/100_2779.jpg?t=1242377988



and now my latest one, the My littlest pet shop cake for my friends daughter's birthday tomorrow.

I am pleased with how it turned out, my back aches a little and my arm hurts from doing the grass, yes that grass tip helped but seirously it took forever to cover the top and all I can say is...ouch :lol: I even grained the picket fencing which was a little time consuming but worth it! Here it is.

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm287/DebCrawford/Cakes/100_2790.jpg?t=1242378130

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm287/DebCrawford/Cakes/100_2791.jpg?t=1242378152

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm287/DebCrawford/Cakes/100_2793.jpg?t=1242378177

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm287/DebCrawford/Cakes/100_2794.jpg?t=1242378205

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm287/DebCrawford/Cakes/100_2795.jpg?t=1242378227

:bowdown: You freaking rock Deb!! Great job!! Yasmin is giong to love that cake!!! I forgot. What did you make the 6 out of? It looks like it has a bunch of flowers on it.

You did an awesome job, Deb! The picket fence looks great!

That is soooo awesome..I hope everyone is careful when eating it..could your diamond be in there????

I love the 6 on top..it looks cool and the time it had to take..wow..great job!

I'm still not sure how you've gone through a kitchen renovation, and the making of two awesome cakes and survived!! You did a really great job. The party favors for Aiden's birthday looked great!! You are going to collapse this weekend.

Wouldn't that be crazy if your diamond was in the Littlest Pet Shop cake??!

~ Melissa

thanks guys!

The whole thing is marshmallow fondant the only thing you can't eat is the animals and the balloons.

Melissa: The 6 is literally just a big fat roll of fondant shaped into a 6 then I stuck little fondant flowers all over it. That was the most time consuming cause I put little yellow pollen in the middle of each flower, I had to make so many of them I lost count, I would estimate probably 200 flowers all up.

:lol: if my diamond was in that then that would be one expensive cake!! I hope it isn't, someone can break a tooth on it! then I would have to sell the diamond to pay for their dental work :lol:

Holy crap Deb!! That is a lot of work!! It turned out really good!!

Deb, wow! The cookies look super cute, i'm sure they were a huge hit!! And the Littlest Peshop cake- :wow: amazing, girl! The whole thing looks VERY nice, the flowers on the 6 are a nice touch (yeah, i know, a freaking time consuming nice touch :lol: ), the fence looks great with the woodgrain on it! I'm sure your guests are going to be drooling over the cake, literally!

Good job, mama!!

Wow!! Great job Deb!! Everything looks wonderful!

Amazing work, Deb! Those flowers are such a gorgeous touch!

Once I upload pictures, I'll post what I made for C&L's seventh last weekend -- a space shuttle/moon for Connor and a butterfly for Lilly. I copied them from the Betty Crocker cake ideas website, which provides video instructions for tons of cakes. It's pretty cool, if you all haven't seen it before.

Holy crap Deb!! Awesome work on ALL of it!!

This is the cake I just finished for a friends baby shower ... I hate that the lines aren't straight but heck, I'm sick so I'm over it already :lol:

(don't know why it's so small ?? here's a link to the facebook image)
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6727013&l=598f545676&id=786410183

Aimee, That is ADORABLE!! I love it!

Deb, The Pet Shop cake turned out awesome!!! When is the party? Did the birthday girl LOVE it?

Very nice Aimee!

Very cute, Aimee!

Aimee it turned out excellent, well done! :aok: I love the little outfits hanging on the line, that is adorable.


Alysia, the birthday girl loved it, the party was today. Everyone else was really impressed and kept asking me how much I charge for my cakes, I just didn't know how to answer :crazy:


If you were to charge for a cake, what would you charge?

That's so sweet, Aimee!

Deb, I think you need to figure out the cost of your materials/ingredients and figure out the number of hours it takes you to put something together and go from there. $10 an hour doesn't seen unreasonable to me. :dunno: Of course I never know how long a cake will take until after I've finished it. :lol:

That is SO cute!! You did an amazing job for a well woman, but for being sick, WOW!!

~ Melissa

Deb, that is a good question about how much to charge for a cake. I'm really curious myself, as people have asked me that after each time I make Nikita's cakes, and I never know what to say... they seem to be SO time consuming (mine take me like a day and a half!) and cost a LOT, between ingredients and all the gels and specialty bakery stuff I end up buying..... - thus, my headbanging by the middle of the first day and rhetorical questions-"why am I doing this again????" every single time :lol:

but i AM curious to see what people think is reasonable...

Also, another question along the same lines I'd like people's opinions on... if you make a cake for a friend, would you feel funny asking them to at least just pay for ingredients? A friend of mine asked me to make a cake for her son this past winter... it never came to fruition, but I think i will do it next year for her, but I don't know if it's kind of funky to ask her to pay for ingredients? should I just do the whole thing as a bday present? but then, I would feel funny not giving an actual present to a 4 year old (our boys are 2 months apart)... so, help!

I would compare costs of cakes in a bakery at the grocery store first. They tend to have their "regular" cake that has the roses on it and that's about it and then they have the airbrushed ones and go from there up in $ because of the detail you're adding. I would have to guess that a cake like the one you made Deb should be sold for around $40-50. (and that doesn't even include the cost of the LPS items you bought which are $ still beyond your time.

How was working with the marshmallow fondant? I want to try that soon!

Oh Lena, I would absolutely ask for atleast ingredients!!! That petshop cake was done for a friend and I got her to buy the marshmallow bags and icing sugar I needed and she made the cake part which I won't do again cause the cake part taste crappy and people thought I made it and I was so embarrassed! Either way if I don't want to charge a friend I am not shy to ask them to atleast buy me the ingredients.

As for the utensils to make it I wouldn't consider that part of the cost for the cake because that is the kind of stuff you get to keep and won't have to buy next time. As for the gels etc they last a long time so you can kind of spread out the cost for that.

I did a little research and the cake I did would have sold for about $80 in the shops, I personally wouldn't want to sell it for any less considering the time it took, if I didn't do the detailed flowers the cake would have taken half the time so I would have been ok with about $50 I guess. I just don't know how to transition to the "asking for money" part cause it's always awkward with friends to ask for money but the only way to really start a business is through your friends :crazy: it's a catch 22!

I think $80 for that cake is a good price. I don't have any suggestions on how to price the cakes.

Deb, I definitely would not charge for the supplies that I would keep (bags, bottles, tools), but more so for time and labor, like you were saying. I doubt I would ever do it as an actual business, just takes too freaking long to make one cake (though i'm sure if i did it on a regular basis, the learning curve, as well as the time, would go way down). But... when we went to the scrapbooking retreat last year, the lady who owned the Paperdoll house loved my rose cupcakes and though she would have clients who would be happy to pay for them, so she was asking me if I would be willing to take on some orders. We never talked about it again (i never emailed her), but if i did it for orders, it would be something like that, and only every once in a while. I would feel funky charging friends, I still have to feel completely ok to charge for ingredients (even though i know it's totally fine).

Aimee, i used MMF for Nikita's cake this past December and it was very good to work with. I only did it for one cake, but based on that experience, I like it better than commercial, it's more pliable (almost too pliable, I had to re-roll it out a couple of times and keep it thicker to prevent tearing while being transferred onto the cake). It definitely tastes better :nod: Easy to make, and should keep for a couple of weeks, so I will definitely try it again.

Thanks Lena ... I think that I'm going to try it for this weekend ... maybe. I've got a "golf" cake to make for my BIL -- sadly, the one I made last year I should have made this year as it's his 50th :( Oh well ... I'll come up with something.

So I hate it when people don't appreciate cakes :lol: I took that baby cake to the shower and there was no freakin' enthusiasm! I'm a cake freak so of course I thinking differently from the average person but man! I was kind of pissed off that a freakin' room full of women weren't more excited about the cake. I thought that it was cute! :rolleyes:
(they did give me a $25 gift certificate for doing it - which I told them I didn't want anything because they really don't have the $$ and I did it as a favour but still ...)
... wallowing in self-pity over here ....

Is the marshmallow fondant recipe posted anywhere in here? I went back a couple of pages and got tired of looking :lol:

Sorry I didn't see your MMF question earlier!

I loved using the MMF I didn't have any problems with tearing actually, and all I had to do after storing was knead it again and it softened up perfectly.

I didn't use the MMF recipe from here, I got it off another aussie friend. I used:

500 grams of marshmallows
2 tablespoons of water
1 kilogram of icing mixture
1 tablespoon of glucose
splash of vanilla extract for flavouring

I microwaved the marshmallows and water until they were puffed up and soft then mixed them with a crisco covered wooden spoon, it looks a little soupy after doing this. I then added the glucose and vanilla and mixed it again, then I poured it over the icing sugar in a huge bowl. I then mixed with the wooden spoon till it was too hard to do anymore then I dumped it on a crisco covered bench and kneaded it for about 7 minutes till it was ready to roll with out breaking apart :aok:

Easy Peasy!

To store it I just put a bit of crisco on the ball of MMF and wrapped it in a few layers of glad wrap and put it in an airtight container.

When I coloured it, for the green that covered the whole cake I coloured the soupy marshmallow green then put in the icing mixture as I wanted the entire lot green but for all the other colours I used I made the MMF white and then just kneaded the colour into individual balls cause I needed so many different colours. That quantity really lasted the whole cake, I still have a tennis ball size of it left.

Oh, and I am sorry you didn't get any cake love from the baby shower people, how rude :snob: Atleast you got your fix from us :giggle:

I agree with Deb. How rude. :snob: You know that we will always appreciate your beautiful cakes!

Wow, Deb, what a cute cake.

Mine are usually pretty simple. Kyle's diet limits us. Kyle's birthday cake

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v477/idefix4/DSC_0043-1.jpg

cute, Silke!!

That is a cool cake, Silke!

Here are the cakes from Connor and Lilly's birthday a couple of weeks ago:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9db04b3127ccec7678660dc4700000040O09Aas2jZi3ag9 vPhA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9db04b3127ccec7660c1e7d0000000120O39Aas2jZi3ag9 vPhA/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D3/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

We have some eclectic birthday themes with these two. :lol:

Cute Silke & Kelley!!

I love seeing everyone's cakes!

Very cute Silke. I love doing Star Wars themed cakes!

I love that butterfly cake! Did you use a pan? Love the spaceshuttle one as well.

Both my cakes followed the directions (with video!) at the Betty Crocker website: http://www.bettycrocker.com/Recipes/Recipe.aspx?recipeId=6427

The butterfly was a round layer cake, believe it or not. It was very easy. The space shuttle was midly more challenging because one peice kept sinking into the rest of the cake. But it was good enough. :)

Great work, Kelly. :)


Has anyone made a a toad stool cake like these one:

http://coolest-birthday-cakes.shippony.com/images/theme/garden/mushroom/homemade-cake-recipe-02.jpg
http://coolest-birthday-cakes.shippony.com/images/theme/garden/mushroom/homemade-cake-recipe-07.jpg

Just wondering how hard it is to pull off and not topple over. :lol: Also if anyone has other ideas or fairy themed cake please post. :) I have just over a month to practice.

Silke: Very creative. :aok:

Kelley: That butterfly is so adorable :love1: and I love the spaceshuttle you did a great job!

Eva: I haven't made that one but it's the cake that is on the cover of one of my kids birthday cake books so if you need a step by step instruction for it I can give it to you, that is if you don't already have it :heee:

Kelley: I am very impressed with how well your butterfly cake turned out. The one that I made for my niece is from a 2 layer cake as well but my cake crumbled as I frosted it. :sigh:

Eve that is a cute cake.

Silke and Kelley, :aok: ! nice job!

Melissa.... i think i posted this before in your journal before, but the easiest trick to keep the cake from crumbling is to 1) freeze it first, 2) put a thin layer of buttercream/frosting on it and freeze it again and voila-frosting it will be the easiest thing EVER! it really works and takes all the headache out of it.

Eva, i haven't tried that type of a cake, either.. but I agree with Deb, if you just follow the instructions, it should not be difficult..

Yes Lena, you told me. I am just jealous that Kelley's cake is so much prettier than mine. :shuffle:

I read Lena's advise about freezing it before cutting and freezing after a think layer of frosting (for the first time ever) and it totally worked. That Betty Crocker website really gave some good examples. The video made it all very easy.

And your cake looked awesome anyway. Trust me, no child of mine would worry about a few crumbs in the icing!

:blush: Thanks Kelley.

That cake is adorable Eva! I would think that a dense cake would be required -- I'd love to see the instructions too.

quote=Lyoshka;1249787]but i AM curious to see what people think is reasonable...

Also, another question along the same lines I'd like people's opinions on... if you make a cake for a friend, would you feel funny asking them to at least just pay for ingredients? A friend of mine asked me to make a cake for her son this past winter... it never came to fruition, but I think i will do it next year for her, but I don't know if it's kind of funky to ask her to pay for ingredients? should I just do the whole thing as a bday present? but then, I would feel funny not giving an actual present to a 4 year old (our boys are 2 months apart)... so, help![/quote]
Lena.. I think it's definitely OK to ask for money to buy ingredients! I can't imagine asking a friend to bake a cake and NOT at least paying for the ingredients!!:)

Deb... around here the cake you made (w/fondant) would go for AT LEAST $100!! There is NO way you'd be able to find it for less (well, from one lady, but you'd also see why once you got the cake! lol)! When I've bought Brookelyn's bday cakes (which I haven't done the past couple of years) I've not paid less than $65 and none of them were with fondant.
That is why I learned to use fondant!! lol


So I hate it when people don't appreciate cakes :lol: I took that baby cake to the shower and there was no freakin' enthusiasm! I'm a cake freak so of course I thinking differently from the average person but man! I was kind of pissed off that a freakin' room full of women weren't more excited about the cake. I thought that it was cute! :rolleyes:
(they did give me a $25 gift certificate for doing it - which I told them I didn't want anything because they really don't have the $$ and I did it as a favour but still ...)
... wallowing in self-pity over here ....
That sucks! Aimee, the cake was adorable!! I LOVE it. It reminds me of a gift bag I got at my baby shower for Brookelyn. Very sweet.

Eva: I haven't made that one but it's the cake that is on the cover of one of my kids birthday cake books so if you need a step by step instruction for it I can give it to you, that is if you don't already have it :heee:

I found this recipe:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-1161476/Recipe-Pixie-toadstool-birthday-cake.html

If your's is any different, I would love the instructions. :)

The decorations are a bit different but the description on how to assemble the cake is the same :aok: The other difference is mine says to use butter cake not sponge, I have to say that I would use the butter cake cause it's more of a solid cake, sponge is too light and I would worry it would crack under the pressure.

It looks really easy though and I am sure it's going to look fantastic when you are done.

this is what the one I have looks like:

http://i22.ebayimg.com/01/i/001/30/5b/d7e7_1.JPG

Thanks, Deb. :) With luck, my library has the book you have so I just requested it. I looked on amazon first and it takes one to 2 months to ship so I was lucky the library has a copy. :)

Oh that's great :aok: It's one of my favourite cake books.

Can't wait to see it!

Eva, is it time to do the cake yet? just wondering how it's coming along. :heee:

This weekend I made a rainbow cake for Emma's birthday. It wasn't much to look at from the outside, but the cool part was when you cut into it. I colored the cake batter in rainbow colors!

I based the process on this website, though I just used boxed cake mix and store bought frosting: http://www.omnomicon.com/rainbowcake

Here's my batter, ready to go in the pan:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9d809b3127ccec72d92afb61300000040O09EaMWLZm1B7e fCQ/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Just prior to cooking:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9d809b3127ccec72ce5e8d6bb00000040O09EaMWLZm1B7e fCQ/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9d809b3127ccec72c50cb176a00000040O09EaMWLZm1B7e fCQ/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Alas, I forgot to take a pic of the cake when it came out of the oven, but it looked exactly like the pics on the original website.

I drew a rainbow over the white frosting, but it was a little sloppy. I was having trouble with the icing tubes I was using, plus my tip didn't fit the tube, so I was just trying to hold it on while drawing each color. PITA.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9d809b3127ccec72df4d6b65900000040O09EaMWLZm1B7e fCQ/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

And even more of a bummer was that I didn't take a pic of the inside! But once again, it looked exactly like the website's photos.

Super easy, and it wowed a bunch of 7 and 8 year old girls. :)

Very cool Steph!! I want a rainbow cake for my birthday!!! :lol:

Steph that is very, very cool :aok: I am going to have to try that one! how fun!!!

Wow, that is a cool cake Steph :aok: I'm going to give that a try!

I want a rainbow cake for my birthday in a couple weeks. I am going to have to make one for myself. :lol:

We are mums, Melissa. That's normally the only way we can get what we want :lol:

I remember back when Dave and I were dating..he would bake my birthday cakes. :lol:

Tony buys my cake, does that count? :lol:

Cute cake Steph! How do you keep the colours separate?!

Aimee, I just divided the batter up into six batches, and tinted each batch a different color. Then I poured each one into the pan, just pouring each color right in the center of the one below it. (Put a little more of the bottom color and keep reducing the amt. of each color that you pour in- then do the reverse in the other pan. So, I poured 2/3 of the red batter in the first pan b/c it was on the bottom, and 1/3 of the red batter in the other pan since it was the last color I poured in.)

Miraculously, the colors stay put when it bakes. :dunno:

Tony buys my cake, does that count? :lol:
Absolutely!! That's what Dave does now. :lol:

http://media.canadianfamily.ca/images/TreasureCake.jpg

http://www.canadianfamily.ca/articles/recipe/pirates-treasure-chest-cake/

Check out that cake!!!

http://media.canadianfamily.ca/images/TreasureCake.jpg

http://www.canadianfamily.ca/articles/recipe/pirates-treasure-chest-cake/

Check out that cake!!!

cool cake. :)


So I decided again the toadstool cake since (a) We didn't end up having a fairy party and (b) we had the party at Michael's and i didn't want to worry about transporting it. I thought cupcakes would be easier to transport and the party supplies I bought had flowers so I made these:

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs184.snc1/6128_107973957826_575312826_2590810_5463248_n.jpg

Stef, I love Emma's cake!! Seems it's quite a hit here with all the 30+ year olds :lol:

Eva, the cupcakes turned out nice!!

I :love: the rainbow cake you posted Gulp wow fantastic idea!!!!!!!!!!

Eva, you did great! :aok: The cupcakes are super cute!


So, I am in planning mode for Jacob's 4th Birthday party. It's Scooby Doo themed and I have decided that I am going to make the Mystery Machine as the cake

http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/big-lorry-blog/Mystery%20Machine3.jpg


I hope I am not too ambitious but I am going to give it a good go!

I have bought some bone shaped cookie cutters so I can make scooby snaks and I am trying to figure a good favour idea, I am thinking of making the box look like a box of scooby snacks but that's not final as I am yet to find a decent box to pull it off.

Deb that is going to be an awesome cake!!! Good luck! I am sure you can do it!

Those are cute cupcakes Eva!! What did you use for the petals?

Good luck Deb!!

Hanna's 8th bday is on the 22nd and her party will be on the 25th. I've got a cake & cupcake ideas but I've some "problems" right now healthwise that I need to get answered and I'm stressing about how I feel and the timeline that is creeping upon me :( No fun.

Cute cupcakes Eva!!

Deb.. you can totally do that!! Can't wait to see it.

Aimee.. I hope you get your health issues figured out and that everything is fine.

I need some help with ideas... Brookelyn wants a sweet shoppe party. I'm going to start a thread for ideas, but thought I'd ask for cake ideas in here. I've considered doing a lollipop shaped cake or a 2 tier cake and stick huge lollipops into the top of it and polka dots on the actual cake... none of those sound that great to me though. Any ideas??

Those are cute cupcakes Eva!! What did you use for the petals?


Thanks. :) They are marshmallows.

Alyson, in that Women's weekly book that Deb posted when I was looking for a toadstool cake, there is a lollipop cake. It is very similar to this one I found online:

http://www.akidskitchen.com/images/lollipop%20cake.jpg

OK that is huge. :blush:

haha.. yeah, that pic is a bit big!! Thanks Eva! I know I could do that cake! :)

Sorry I haven't been back in here.

Alyson, how about you do something along the lines of a giant cupcake as the cake and then maybe scatter lollypops and sweets at the base.

These aren't the prettiest cakes but I am sure you could pretty them up with better colour choices

http://media.cakecentral.com/modules/coppermine/albums/userpics/684064/normal_IMG_2884.JPG

http://media.cakecentral.com/modules/coppermine/albums/userpics/701849/normal_Audreys_cake_159.jpg

http://media.cakecentral.com/modules/coppermine/albums/userpics/641311/normal_june8_004.JPG



Maybe you can even make the sweets and lollypops out of fondant so you can control the colour of them.

Is that the kind of direction you want to go or are you thinking of something different?

Saturday was Hanna's 8th bday party and also a friends 3rd bday so I made two cakes.

Ben's was round & white with circles all over it -- it was humid and the damn thing was melting!!

Hanna's was around and a popcorn box.

The third pic is of the pinata (ben is hitting it). That sucker would not break! :lol:

They look great Aimee!

Is that the kind of direction you want to go or are you thinking of something different?

I love the first one especially, so cute! But.. yeah, I'm going in a different direction. I decided that I needed to either do a 'sweet shoppe' party like a bake shop.. or candy shop and not combine the two. So we're going for the 'candy shop/sweet shoppe' aspect! So.. lollipops, candies, etc. Therefore, I'm still looking for cake ideas!!!:)

Aimee great job on both cakes :aok: You did an awesome job, sorry it started melting though, it sucks seeing all your hard work melt away! :blue:

That pinata rocks!!! how long did it take to break?

Alyson: how about something like this? but maybe instead of what they have on the counter stick a row of lollypops in the front and pretty up the colours :crazy:

http://media.cakecentral.com/modules/coppermine/albums/userpics/43861/jazzs_cake.jpg

I love how colourful this one is
http://media.cakecentral.com/modules/coppermine/albums/userpics/485783/normal_candyland.jpg

ok seeing as you girls all seem to be legends anyone have a picture or instruction for a hard hat ?construction hat cake :)

there is one in my woman's weekly cake book, Rach. I got it from my local newsagency but there are heaps on ebay. Maybe even try your library.

http://i22.ebayimg.com/01/i/001/30/5b/d7e7_1.JPG



the basic instructions are to use a 7 cup pudding steamer to get that round shape for the hat. Cook your cake in that (use 2 packet mixes).

Once baked and cooled on wire rack, use a serrated knife to level the cake top. Place cake on the board cut side down. It then says to use fondant cut into the shape of a visor and place it up against the cake direct on the cake board. Then cover the entire thing in buttercream icing, including the visor part. Once done and smoothed over then use a different colour fondant rolled into a long rope and run it around the edges of the cake directly on the cakeboard to outline the hat. the one in the book has the kids name on the front of the hat on a plaque made out of fondant.

I hope that made some sort of sense. I recommend getting the book, it's all detailed on there what to do. Looks extremely easy :aok:

see I have that book but can't find it :lol: thats why I asked :lol:

:lol: funny. Well hope that helped.

Deb - the pinata had multiple layers of paper-mache and then I got the idea of using the spray foam (that you fill cracks in your house with). Used two big cans of that so needless to say, that sucker was not going to break by conventional means :lol: I have no idea how many times the guys cut it open with their exacto knives .... the kids were getting tired!

Spray foam that fills cracks in houses?? :lol2: OMG you are hilarious!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can just see the men there with their foot up on it and hacking at it with a saw! that's so funny. You are a riot. I hope you got photos of that!

Oh my- has anyone looked at this site www.whimsicalbakehouse.com (http://www.whimsicalbakehouse.com) or any of their books?!

Oh my- has anyone looked at this site www.whimsicalbakehouse.com (http://www.whimsicalbakehouse.com) or any of their books?!

I LOVE that site! Lena recommended it to me for the buttercream recipe (which was FAB BTW). Adorable, yummy stuff ha?

:nod:
El, I got the book from the library multiple times (seem to forget to buy it lol) and have used many, many recepes from there... for cakes, cupcakes, buttercream, fillings. It's an EXCELLENT resource, whether you use the book or the site. I will definitely be buying the book soon, definitely a quality baking investment.

I just got one of the books from the library- the recipes look yummy (glad they're as good as they sound). And Isabelle is waffling between many of the cakes that she wants me to do for her party (some of which are sadly beyond my ability, I think!)

hey DEB guess what I found today :woo: thank you its just what I was looking for :)

I made this for J's 4th birthday.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9d908b3127ccec7ee10c4c23300000040O38IZtXLRm3aA9 vPhY/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D3/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

J with his cake:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9d908b3127ccec7effac5e20b00000040O08IZtXLRm3aA9 vPhY/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

cute Sarah!

Very cute, Sarah!

Alyson or Lena- which buttercream? I'm doing a practice bake of the Chocolate Butter Cake with Cookies and Cream frosting and the House buttercream- I looked at Kaye's buttercream too, but didn't want to use that many eggs!

Eleanor, I used both and they both came out great. I would say go with whichever. I want to say I used the HOuse recipe more? i can't recall, I probably made the buttercream 6 or 7 times, there is a LOT (the Kitchenaid mixer bowl is full), but it freezes beautifully for up to 2 weeks (then just put it back in the mixer and mix on high for a few min). So, if you have any need for more down the road, you'll be set.

A little late, but here are Cole and Imogen's birthday cakes...we were more than a little limited in terms of being able to get ingredients (and then dependant on my fontant skills. erm) and fighting 98% humidity and 35 degree weather....but the munchkins seemed delighted, and that pleased me no end...we had blue mouths for the next week! (Especially when Immy discovered the cake was being kept in the wine chiller...and she could just help herself!!!)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2601/3693855678_99fd84c337.jpg


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2627/3693047953_c2c0749c08.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2569/3693853452_6fed9a2d33.jpg

I LOVE your little octopusessesese!! (octopi? octi?) :giggle: They're adorable!

Very cute, Jo!!

The cakes Isabelle wants to consider for her birthday (the first, I can do, the second...maybe...the third....is so seriously out of my league!)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v141/ella6599/dotscake.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v141/ella6599/alicecake.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v141/ella6599/flowercake.jpg

Sarah, that is so adorable, I just love the shot of him playing with it! :aok:

Jo: Love it! Great job!


Eleanor, I think if you had the time to fiddle, all 3 are totally doable! :aok:

Hey- troubleshooting question.

When I baked the cake yesterday, it called for greasing and flouring (did that, although, it may have been a bit uneven- there were a few places the flour just wouldn't stick), bake till a tester comes out clean (did that, both layers), and cool for 15-20 minutes (did that, although the thicker layer ended up cooling only 15, and was still a bit warm when I tried to take it out- but I had to leave to pick up the girls). The thinner layer had a couple of patches that stuck to the pan- those local areas looked a little undercooked, but the rest of the layer was fine. With the thicker layer, almost a quarter of the cake stuck to the bottom of the pan...it was REALLY hard to get out.

So...do you think it was the greasing and flouring, the cook time, or the cooling time (or a combination of all 3)?

So...do you think it was the greasing and flouring, the cook time, or the cooling time (or a combination of all 3)?
I have no idea.. that's strange! Have you ever used wax paper in the pan to keep it from sticking? I always grease the pan and then put down wax paper, that way the cake flops right out!:)

I've used parchment before (never the wax paper- wasn't sure if it would melt?) but was out of parchment yesterday.

I am a baking paper (wax paper) person when I bake, I used to grease and flour but hated how it could leave a residue of flour on the cake. Did you use butter or grease spray? I know that sometimes that can be the difference, you really need a good layer of grease to hold the flour in place so it does it's job. I say, do the baking paper from now on that way you are 100% guaranteed it will always work :aok:

I can't help you Eleanor, sorry.

If I'm making chocolate cake, I use cocoa powder instead of flour so it is brown residue on the cake not white.

I'm really *ahem* freakish about the whole process. I use shortening and cover the whole pan with a light layer, then tap flour all around, then cut out parchment and line the bottom & edges then shortening & flour all over again. It's a lot of work but it guarantees me that the cake will come out whole.

I also end up leaving the cake in a little longer than the recipe/box suggests.

I finished Jacob's birthday cake today, he wanted to have it straight away and couldn't understand why I wouldn't let him. I kept explaining that although his birthday was today his party isn't till tomorrow. :crazy: Yeah right, try using that reasoning with a 4 year old! :lol:

I am not overly happy with it, I see a gazillion flaws in it and I got so over it and my back was killing me so I just gave up. Tony thinks it looks great and I am way too harsh on myself but well, that's just the way I am, I expect it to look how I saw it in my minds eye and it just doesn't. BUT in saying that, Jacob LOVES it and that's all that matters :aok:

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm287/DebCrawford/Cakes/IMG_1713.jpg

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm287/DebCrawford/Cakes/IMG_1712.jpg?t=1252072581

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm287/DebCrawford/Cakes/IMG_1716.jpg?t=1252072610

It's great, Deb! I love it! very festive!! what are the little cookie things?
Hey, you could give people scooby snacks as treats lol!!

They are mini cupcakes. :heee:

I have given a packet of scooby snacks in each favour box :lol:

Deb..Once again you amaze me with your talent! That cake is amazing!! What flavour is the cake?

It's layered, vanilla & chocolate.

And thanks so much for the compliment.

HOLY CRAP DEB!!! LOVE IT!! the colours are amazing!! How did you do the cut out letters?!?!

That cake is amazing, Deb! Every cake I see of yours goes to another level!

:jawdrop: that is incredible!

:bowdown: Deb you are amazing!! You have an amazing talent!! I absolutely love the cake!

thanks guys, :blush:

Aimee: I did them with a knife :lol: I copied a cutout picture of it.

Wow Deb!! That is awesome. I think you did an excellent job. Lots of hard work. Now I'm embarrassed to post a pic of Brookelyn's that I just made for her party! haha.. ;)
Adorable though really.
I cannot believe you did the letters with a knife?! Dude.. you're awesome!! haha!!!

A knife?!?! Holy crap!!

I wouldn't be able to eat it. Good job, Deb (Riley is jealous, she loves Scooby)

Aimee: sorry just realised I responded to your question but put it in reply to Kelley :crazy: What was that? :lol:

Well it's wasn't like a steak knife or anything it was one of those plastic scalpel cake knives so it's not that special :lol:

Shel, it was really difficult to cut that baby up, I guess that's the hard part of cake decorating, seeing it get demolished.

Alyson: You are funny, honestly, your cakes are gorgeous so thanks for the compliment but I am sure yours is amazing :heart:

I finished a cake for my brothers 50th bday. I didn't want to do all doom & gloom so I went the other way and went for young & fun (sort of) :giggle:
Pics are here right now:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=303681&id=786410183&l=f080931a24

Wednesday a friend is getting married & I'm making a cake for that too ... kinda of stressed because it's going to be seen by people I don't know ... eek! (not worried about how it will taste though :lol: )

You did a great job, Aimee . Very creative use of the candles and the dinosaur is brilliant!

Aimee, great cake!! :aok:

ANybody have any good ideas for a Ninja Turtle cake? the only ones I found on CakeCentral were kind of scary looking. Nikita wants TMNT for his 4th bday, so now i'm wondering how the heck I'm going to pull the cake off lol

David wants me to do a Bakugan cake. I have a thread if someone has any ideas.

http://www.onceuponalife.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43370

Alyson...... cake please......:giggle:

Alyson...... cake please......:giggle:
:) Ok Deb...
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9d730b3127ccef842c010a5f900000040O02BYtmbhm2Yg9 vPgQ/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


And a pic of the cake I made the week before, for my friends little boys 1st birthday. It was really hot out and it started to melt (the frosting inside I think) so the fondant started slouching... ugh.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9d730b3127ccef8425ab7a51300000040O02BYtmbhm2Yg9 vPgQ/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Very cute!!

Oh I love the candy cake! Super cute!

Deb, your Mystery Machine turned out awesome!!

Aimee, did your brother like the cake? I think it was cute!

I wish I was crafty enough to do this!

Aimee, did your brother like the cake? I think it was cute!

He did (and if he didn't, well, tough!) :lol:

I did my first wedding cake on Wednesday - pics are on the last page of this link
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=19599&id=786410183&l=cb9202a89e (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=19599&id=786410183&l=cb9202a89e)

I had a problem with melting icing as well ... need to take a lesson and learn more stuff I think!

Alyson, I love the cakes!!

Great cakes Alyson!

Aimee - The wedding cake is gorgeous! Great Job!!

OMG!! Aimee that cake is gorgeous!!! Great Job!!

Alyson, that candy shoppe cake is absolutely freaking adorable! great job :aok: I also really love the surf cake, what a great idea!! the little thongs are an adorable touch :heart:

Aimee: The wedding cake is wonderful, great job!

ALyson, fantastic!!! I LOOOVE your candy cake!! And I love the colors of the Surf cake!! Cute flip flops :aok: !!

Aimee, wow! great job!

I think maybe I should take a cake decorating class, it would be great to learn to do some neat things :) Did you like the classes you took, Aimee?

I liked what I learned in the classes (they were the Wilton ones through Michael's) and at the time, they taught me some "tricks" thatI didn't know about.

Thanks everyone!

Aimee, you've made some gorgeous cakes!

I am about to embark on a Optimus prime cake for riley. :errr: Wish me luck!

Good luck! I am sure you will do just fine!!

Good luck, Deb! that's quite an undertaking! can't wait to see how it turns out!

Ok, well I have finished it. I got too scared to make the entire cake of him so I did him breaking out of a building :crazy:

here it is:

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm287/DebCrawford/Cakes/IMG_2950.jpg

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm287/DebCrawford/Cakes/IMG_2953.jpg

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm287/DebCrawford/Cakes/IMG_2956.jpg

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm287/DebCrawford/Cakes/IMG_2958.jpg

Love it Deb!!

Has anyone done a Thomas the Train cake yet? I need some thoughts. A friend of my brothers has asked if I'd make one for his sons bday in December. It would be for 20 people & I don't know what the charge would be. Help!

Deb, pretty cool!!!

Aimee, I did a Thomas cake for N's second birthday, would you like me to post the pics and method?

I'd like to see it again Lena please. I spoke to this guy and he said that another person gave them a quote of $250 and it would basically be Thomas the Train in 3D but they said that if I charged between $100-150, then they would be totally happy with it on his side. I don't know if I can do it?!?!!?

You TOTALLY can. I'll post pics tonight if I get a chance, and while it seemed complicated the first time (like every cake seems to me), I know that now, I can whip it up in a day and have it be flawless... i'll see if i can find step by step instructions..

You can do it Aimee!!! :cheer:

Thanks guys. Overnight one of the ears drooped a bit and it's now dried that way, oh well, not much I can do, if I try and move it then it will snap so I am going against all my instincts to try and fix it and just let it be. :crazy:

His party is in 3 hours, he can't wait.

The cake is awesome Deb!! You can always pretend like it was done on purpose. When he came crashing through the buildng the force of it bent his ear. :giggle:

What a cool cake, Deb. :up: Great job!

Christine's birthday is coming up so I need cake ideas. I am thinking either "My Little Pony" or just a general pony theme.

Ok, Aimee.. (sorry for the delay, busy weekend!).. Here is the Thomas I made for Nikita's 2nd birthday:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b7cc34b3127ccec28a08ecf0e100000010O08AcOGbJq2bOA e3nwc/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b7cc34b3127ccec28ac0b4f0dd00000010O08AcOGbJq2bOA e3nwc/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b7cc34b3127ccec28a3cc571e200000010O08AcOGbJq2bOA e3nwc/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

...and the inevitable result :lol:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b7cc34b3127ccec28a764df07f00000010O08AcOGbJq2bOA e3nwc/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Here is the face (store-bought fondant) on a stick, made a few days prior:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b7cc34b3127ccec28b2406d05100000010O08AcOGbJq2bOA e3nwc/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

It was a bit daunting the first time, but I know i could make it look 50 times better this time around...
off to look for a method for you..

I found it, I found it!!! THIS (http://thomasthetankenginecake.blogspot.com/) is the actual tutorial I used 2 years ago. I do have the actual plastic Thomas case she pictures, so I used it as a guide, as well. hth!

Thanks for posting all that Lena! I saw that Tutorial the other night and I'm pretty sure that I can make the face ... not so sure about the body!! I also saw that Wilton has a Choo Choo Train mould that I could get as a possible option ... don't know what to do.
I like making cakes but I've never made one for money before or made one for someone other than family/friends. I get stressed when I make them but I relax a bit knowing that no one has any expectations. Being paid for one totally throws my stomach in a lurch.
I have to tell the guy something & soon ... AUGH!

Aimee, it really is not difficult, I promise. You make gorgeous cake. I'm happy to share a couple of tricks on icing for this cake(which you probably already know), if you want... This was my second cake like this, and now i look at it and see so many problems I would not have now.. and even then, it was not that bad to make! To make things easier for you, you can always bake a cake and practice carving out the pieces like you need to shape the body... then, when you actually are on the clock for this guy, it'll be easy. The tutorial is really pretty good.. and the face was easy! Do that first, as fondant will keep for a couple of weeks easy, wrapped up.

anyway, if you want some tidbits, let me know, but i KNOW you can make this cake with your eyes closed (well, maybe keep them open a little bit :lol: )!!!

Think you'd like to come on over & I'll split the money :lol:

How many people did your cake feed? They need something for 20 and to me, that looks like it would be enough.

Yes, it will definitely feed 20. It was pretty big... i think we had 20-25? i can't remember that far...
How far of a drive is Toronto from Chicago? lol

I know how you feel, Aimee. I have been asked to make a cake for money and I am totally shitting myself over it. I know I can make cakes but when you do it for money all of a sudden it has to be perfect because there is money involved, OH THE PRESSURE!!

In saying that, you are talented hon, I am sure you will do just great!

Deb - are you going to do it for money?
(that sounded bad didn't it :giggle: but then again, I saw your vaca pics :awink: )
:lol:

Lena - did you use the cookies & cream filling for the Thomas cake? I'm wondering what to use.

:lol:

Yes, I am going to accept the job, she is a friend of a friend, it's her son's 21st birthday on Halloween, she wants a halloween themed 21st cake. I am actually going away that weekend so I have told her as long as she accepts that I have to have the cake ready the day before then I will do it. So, as long as she accepts that then I will do it for money :brow: I am not going to charge a massive amount, as I don't want to put pressure on myself. I am thinking about $60 even though I know I could charge double.

Do you know what you're going to make yet?

Aimee... i think so? I can't remember for sure, but I have been using that for 2-3 years now as at least one layer of filling (sometimes, I'll make 2-3 different kinds to make it more yummy), it's really very good!!! It's from "The Whimsical Bakehouse" by Kaye Hansen.

Well I have officially accepted the job, I am freaking out that I am doing a cake for money..... all the thoughts are running through my mind... what if it sucks? what if they don't like it? what if I can't pull it off? what if? what if? what if? :lol:

Did ya think "What if I do a great job and they LOVE it??" :lol:

Yeah... what if they love it so much that the other parents at the party ask where they got it? What if one of them pays you to do a cake? What if the parents at that party ask about who did it? What if one of them pays you to do a cake? I think it could be quite a nice way to make a little extra cash. :)

do you have to deliver it? my stress is "what if it falls apart during transporting"!!!! augh!

Good for you!! I have to reply & accept the one that I was asked to do -- it's not until Dec 6th so I've got a bit of time.

Deb, you will do just fine and they'll love it!!!!

Aimee, I SO hear you!!! that is almost my biggest fear!! The ILs live 1.5 hours away, and every time i take a cake or cupcake roses there, I'm freaking out the whole ride there (with kids AND a dog, so you can picture my state) that the baked stuff will arrive as one colorful thing of MUSH.

ugh! 1.5 hours!! I once took a round golf ball which sat on top of a square "piece of sod" and hour & a bit to my sisters and talk about stress!! and it was in the summer so it melted.
i think that i need to buy myself a refrigerator truck if I do more than one :lol:

Refrigerator truck and no pets and kids sounds like a way to go!

My mom made our wedding cake in my tiny little apartment in Appleton, WI- and drove it to Schaumburg, IL- stressing all the way. It got there beautifully...only to be wrecked by the catering staff when they put it in their fridge :(

My mom made our wedding cake in my tiny little apartment in Appleton, WI- and drove it to Schaumburg, IL- stressing all the way. It got there beautifully...only to be wrecked by the catering staff when they put it in their fridge :(

Sorry to interrupt-- Eleanor, did you get married in Schaumburg? That is where Rudi grew up. :)

All the cakes I have seen on here have been beautiful and beyond impressive so you guys can all do it!

Sorry to interrupt-- Eleanor, did you get married in Schaumburg? That is where Rudi grew up. :)


Yep- DH grew up in Hoffman Estates :)

I am not very crafty.. but do you think I could pull this off?
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=62464

Super cute, Alysia and it looks fairy easy to me. I like cakes that you use things like (cookies, candy, etc) to decorate.

5 days to Christine's party and I am still undecided what to do about the cake. How sad is that. :blush:

Super cute, Alysia and it looks fairy easy to me. I like cakes that you use things like (cookies, candy, etc) to decorate.

5 days to Christine's party and I am still undecided what to do about the cake. How sad is that. :blush:

:aok: Cool. I was thinking that would make it a teeny bit easier for a novice like myself. :heee: I have never used fondant or anything and they have some really cute cakes like the one I posted made with fondant and gum paste but I think I should stick with candy.

Do you think Nilla Wafers would be ok for the faces? The cake uses Reese's Peanut Butter cups and icing but the peanut butter cups are not allowed in our house. :)

What theme are you doing for Christine's birthday? I can't believe she is almost 3! We are going to my niece's 3rd birthday party on Saturday. :heee:

Nilia Wafers would work. When I made the monkey cupcakes for Emma's 4th (I think) birthday I used nilla wafers for the ears and mouth/nose area and just use done of those gels to do the mouth and nose.

No real theme since it is a simple party with just family and few friends but I will probably do something with My little pony for the cake since she loves the her pony's. It is crazy how fast the time goes by. :(

Alysia, you can totally do the cake! and I think the nilla wafers would work fine for the faces :aok: !

Alysia, you can totally do the cake! and I think the nilla wafers would work fine for the faces :aok: !

:nod: !!

Layla's 4th Birthday Cake:

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a96/milliez/IMG_6542.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a96/milliez/IMG_6543.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a96/milliez/IMG_6541.jpg

~ Melissa

Melissa, that's great! And happy 4th birthday, Layla!

Thanks Marcy!!

~ Melissa

Melissa, what a great cake!! so festive! nice job!

That is adorable Melissa!!
(i've got to get myself into fondant!!)

Hey cake girls! I'm making some mini cupcakes for Amelia's class on Friday in honor of Halloween & her birthday. I want to do little pumpkins & plan to go pretty basic. Any suggestions on how to make tiny pumpkin faces?

Pam I don't have any suggestions for you. Sorry. :(

Melissa what an amazing job!!! I bet she loved it!!

Melissa, you did great! Soooo pretty! :heart:


Pam: I would just ice the top orange and then make some black fondant and cut the shapes out of that and stick it on :aok: If you have a steady hand then to make it quicker you can buy the black gel in a tube and draw them on.



Well I just completed my first "PAID FOR" cake, I ended up charging $80, it took me about 4 hours to do. What do you guys think? The customers son is turning 21 on Halloween.

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm287/DebCrawford/Cakes/halloweenbirthdaycake.jpg?t=1256809165

It looks great, Deb! Congratulations!

That looks awesome!!! Great job!!

That looks awesome!! Great job

Great job everyone. I wish I had these talents!

It's great, Deb!! Nicely done. The finish on the main body of the cake is nice and smooth! It's buttercream, right? Did you use a warm wet spatula to smooth it down?

Aimee, did you ever say yes to the Thomas cake guy? I hope so, cause you can totally make a cool Thomas!

Thanks guys!

Yes it's buttercream, I dipped my icing knife/spatula thingy into warm water to smooth is over :nod:

Deb- your top of the casket even looks like a wood grain! Awesome job!!

Lena - yes, I said that I'd do it. They need it Dec 5th so I'm going to make the face either this weekend or next ... I was going to do a trial run on the body but thought that that would be a little too much :lol:

Nice job, Melissa and Deb!

Those are both great!

My SIL made a six-layer rainbow cake for my niece's 3rd birthday last week!! (Instead of having it more of a tie dye version each color had it's own layer!) It was really cute. The outside just had fondant balls in different colors and 3's made out of fondant. I should have taken a picture.

Hopefully I will be sucessful with the pajama party cake. :lol: SIL always does something over the top and makes my attempts look awful! :heee:

Mellissa that is soo cute! Great job!

Deb.. awesome! Love that the buttercream even looks similar to wood grain! ahah

Thanks guys!

It was a big success, I got a text from my customer and she said that everyone loved it, even the restaurant commented that it was the best cake they have ever served up. I blushed at that compliment. I am sure it wasn't the best, but being it was different it stood out.

Happy days! Now I will have the guts to charge more next time hehehe. Now I need to figure out how to dig up customers.

has anyone used pouring fondant to coat a cake? Just want to know how it turned out for them compared to covering it with rolled out fondant.

I have never even heard of it.. Sounds like an interesting idea!! Must google it-maybe I can use it with Nikita's Wall-E cake (which scares the crap out of me right now).

Deb, I haven't but a friend of mine uses poured fondant on cookies quite often. She says it's pretty easy to do and they always look beautiful!

It sounds like it would be easier than rolled fondant, which would be just great :aok:!