Sunday, July 20, 2008

Edward's Fire Engine

This was for Edward's 1st b'day, so he got a "smash" cake of his own to eat. Cameron worked on the smash cake, Mom worked on the big one. Chocolate cake, vanilla buttercream, royal icing ladders, donut wheels, "Dots"-siren lights.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Erika's B'day


Cameron made this entire cake from beginning to end! Erika requested strawberry cake with vanilla buttercream icing. Cupcakes are the same. Decorated with multi-colored dragees.

Suzanne's B'day

Sweet Suzanne Y. got a choc cake/choc buttercream cake from her hubby and family for her birthday! Verse says, "...her worth is far above jewels" Proverbs 31. I think we could all agree that fits Suzanne! Necklace is fondant with multi-colored dragees. Thank you, David.

Charlie's 4th birthday...and beyond!


This cake was for our special little heart patient, Charlie. He had to spend his b'day at Texas Children's, but was recovering beautifully from major heart reconstruction. He's home now and God has been so faithful through his surgery and recovery. His favorite superhero (for the time being) is Buzz Lightyear. So... what a great time to try a Frozen Buttercream Transfer. It worked! I borrowed next-door neighbor Zane's coloring book to trace the picture in icing. (Thank heaven for little neighbors!) Cake is mandarin orange and vanilla buttercream.

Maddie's B'day


I needed an opportunity to try this royal icing tiara and Maddie's b'day provided it for me! She loves all things "princess", so this is what we came up with. Mandarin orange cake/vanilla buttercream impressed with diamond pattern. Also, multi-colored dragees. Tiara dusted with yellow and pink pearl dust.

Sears Going Away

The Sears are missed already. White cake/ vanilla buttercream icing. Heart - scroll-stamped fondant dusted with silver pearl dust.

Baby Shower for Kiera Brielle

White almond cake with Almond Swiss Meringue Buttercream icing. Baby carriage and baby are royal icing dusted with pearl dust. Baby blanket is fondant with scrollwork stamping. All other accents are fondant with pink pearl dust. Thank you, Valerie.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Gideon's Wilderness Cake

We had so much fun with this one! I think because the whole family got involved. I couldn't pick just one pic because there was so much going on on this cake! Cameron gets kudos once again for the awesome log cabin (made of pretzels and royal icing w/ a Golden Graham roof) complete with a campfire to which she added a birthday candle to make a real campfire! (Yes, we had to test it out and get the pic of course!) She also did the rice krispie mountain (covered in fondant) and the foaming waterfall. Dad did most of the trees (now you know where her artistic ability comes from!) and made them actually look like trees. Mine looked like pretzels with hair! Bill also came up with the "bear floating in the stream" and that was one of Gideon's favorite parts. Greer and Margot helped so much with all the boulders and rocks around the mountain and in the stream. Oh yeah, it's a choc cake! Thank you, Roger and Kim.






Terah's Sweet 16

Innocent and sweet, yet still mod for Terah. White cake with choc buttercr. filling and pink van. buttercr. on the outside. Accents are fondant with pink pearl dust and silver dragees. Thank you, Ted and Johnnie.

Kinder Grads

Cake for six kindergarten grads in the same neighborhood. Choc cake w/ choc and van. buttercr. Mortar boards are upside down Reese's cups w/pieces of Hershey bar. Each grad's name goes down the side under their hat. Thank you, John.

Luke's Eagle Scout

We were asked to do a fleur-de-lis cake (Boy Scout symbol) for an Eagle Scout ceremony. Cameron worked diligently and skillfully on this Eagle Scout medal. I think she did a terrific job and it truly makes the cake. Choc cake/choc buttercream with choc clay cover and roping. All fondant Eagle Scout medal dusted in silver pearl dust. Thank you, Allison.

Loy's grad cake

First image has better lighting and easier to see detail. Second image was cake's final "home" complete with choc. dipped strawberries dressed up with baseballs and bats. Choc cake/choc buttercream with choc clay cover (both tiers). Used diamond impression mat on bottom tier. Sugarpaste banner and diploma, fondant tassels. Gold pearl dust on the edge of banner and diploma. Thank you Keith and Judy.









Kendall's b'day

Margot made this one! She took it to Kendall's party for her gift. Mommy helped with the cake and smoothing the "base coat" of icing, but she did all the decorating. She learned most of it from our cake class.

GCC Graduation Cake


This is two 14x14 in. cakes put together. First time to pre-slice a cake. Seemed to work okay. (We cut the servings with dental floss before icing the cake). White cake/Swiss Meringue Buttercream icing. Mortar board is choc cake w/choc clay cover. Small mortar boards made from upside down Reese's cup and two sections of Hershey choc bar. A mini M&M and icing finish off the tassel. Thank you GCC.

Baby Boy Shower


Thanks to Cameron for all the chocolate detailing. Inspired by a cake on Peggy Porschen website. Bottom tier - white, middle tier - choc, top tier - choc. All tiers covered in fondant. Thank you Mary Kay.

Welcome Baby Charis

Mama's special request - choc cake with chocolate-dipped strawberries. She got it! Baby carriage made of hardened royal icing dusted with pink pearl dust. Thank you Tammie G.

Ballerina Rock Star and Hula Girl











Our little neighbors Madison and Macy had their b'days together. Madison was very definite about her "Hawatti" theme, but Macy could not decide between ballerina and rock star. So, with Cameron's help, here is our interpretation of that cake! Hula girl - choc./Baller. - white. Both regular buttercream with fondant accents. Thank you John and Leisa.

Evan's grad cake











First gluten-free cake. Whole family eats gluten-free and they really liked it. The other guests at the party liked it too! Used Bob's gluten-free flour and choc. chip cake recipe on the back of the package plus Swiss Meringue Buttercream. Grad hat also choc cake. Other accents fondant and royal icing. Thank you Paula P.

Wilton cake class








Here are the girls' finale cakes from our 4-week class. Thank you for your instruction, Cookie. Margot's - pink and orange flowers, Greer's - large "W" (for a neighbor) and Cameron's - grapes and vines on stucco.

Dustin's b'day

A boy turning 13 needs a very masculine yet sophisticated cake, right? I asked Dustin if he was sick of chocolate yet after eating that cake. He said, "No" and I would probably concur. Who could tire of chocolate? Choc. cake/choc. buttercream, choc. clay outside, choc.-dipped strawb. with choc. (and white choc.) "D".

Mark and Nicole anniversary


Nicole surprised Mark with this replica of the top of their wedding cake for their 7th (bronze) anniversary. Marble cake/vanilla buttercream icing. Nicole has a much better picture of the final cake (complete with fresh flowers!). I'll try to post that soon. Thank you Mark and Nicole.

Tinkerbell

For Emma's b'day. Mandarin orange cake and Swiss Meringue Buttercream icing. Tinkerbell and name in fondant with dragees for "pixie dust". Cameron worked on Tinkerbell and I on the cake and other piping. Thank you, Angie, for letting us bless you back ;)

Wedding Feast of the Lamb













This one has an interesting background. Some very talented people at church made a short film based on Matthew 22:2-14. The parable Jesus told included a wedding feast. So in portraying the feast they needed a wedding cake. White cake and vanilla buttercream covered with white fondant, fondant accents and royal icing scrollwork. Accents dusted with white pearl dust. Thank you film artists.

Welcome Baby Jonah

For baby blessing at church given for new grandbaby of Ted and Johnnie Seago. Proud parents and gr'parents (and others!) ate choc cake w/ vanilla and choc buttercream. Thank you Ted and Johnnie.

Flower cake


Bright, fun cake for a bright, fun neighbor. Mand. orange cake/vanilla buttercream icing. Choc. clay outside, fresh flower and choc. sprinkles.

Andrew and Elisabeth's groom's cake




First wedding-related cake. Choc. cake and buttercream icing under choc. clay cover. Gold fondant accents and dragees. Tuxedo strawberries finish it off. Thank you Tim R. family.

Ted and Johnnie Anniversary


We've felt so priveleged to be a part of special wedding anniversary celebrations. This one for our pastor and his bride of 30 years! Bottom tier-mand org. cake/rasp filling, middle tier-white cake/lemon curd filling, top tier-choc cake/van. buttercr. filling. Silver dragees and fresh flowers top it off. Thank you Jake and Rachelle.

Bridal shower

Mandarin orange cake, vanilla buttercream icing. First cake using tinted white modeling chocolate on the outside. All accents are modeling choc. White choc. covered and icing "swished" strawb. Thank you Sherry R.

Welcome Baby Titus


Mandarin orange cake and buttercream icing under fondant blankie. Cameron to the rescue again with all the "things that move" doo-dads and baby head. For Baby Titus at church. Thank you Nicole W.

Krista's b'day

Choc. cake and b/c icing. Lavender fondant accents and icing scrollwork. Edible purple glitter sprinkled on the "K". Choc. dipped strawb. supporting "K". Thank you Bob and Calleen

Purse


Took this to an "old neighbors" gathering. Choc. cake and icing. Fondant accents dusted with pink pearl dust.

Rabbit in a Magic Hat

Emma I.'s b'day cake. Strawberry cake with strawberry buttercream. Hat rim and rabbit head are formed rice krispie treats. Hat is choc. clay on the outside. Rabbit is covered with fondant and dusted with pink pearl dust. As usual, Cameron made this bunny come alive with her artistic eye (Mom worked on the cake!). Thank you Brian and Lori.

Colleen's b'day


Our first Feingold diet-approved cake. Fortunately, we didn't have to change anything in the basic recipes. Just stayed away from any food coloring. Thank you Terri Br.

Practice


Practicing working with chocolate clay and lattice impression mat. What else - choc. cake, choc. icing under the clay.

Jeadyn's ballet b'day













This was for sweet Jeadyn's b'day. White cake and buttercream. Pink fondant accents (done by Cameron, of course) and sheer pink fabric. Thanks Christi L. for your help on this one. Thank you Mark and Terri Br.

Bob and Calleen anniversary


Thanks to Bob and Calleen - some of our first encouragers and "customers". Choc. cake and buttercream with choc. mosaic outside, choc.-covered strawberries. Sugarpaste plaque. Thank you Bob and Calleen.