A musical endeavor.

Growing up, me and my sisters were all in band, we all played different instruments, and music had a very special place in our lives.  So when I was offered the chance to do this cake, I was very excited! 

 The notes and her name are all painted on fondant. The more I play around with this, the more I love it. It gives me so much more freedom with my designs, and it allowed for the notes to be a little bit more delicate. 

It also has topsy turvy layers, It's an effect that is easy enough to achieve, if you're not afraid of cutting your cakes.  

TMNT: Take Two!

 I had the opportunity to do another Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cake... and this time... I got to make the turtles!! I also had the challenge to make it girly... Sooo.. PINK! but not just that, the cake itself is purple! A very bright and vibrant purple.

The turtles themselves were fun to make, my daughters wanted to play with them.. and my husband was pretty much shocked at how well they turned out.  Yup, you'd think he'd learn that I'm good at what I do... but he hasn't yet.

Heroes in a half shell, TURTLE POWER!

Chicka Chicka Chicka Chicka CHOOO CHOOOO....

This cake is one of the first shaped cakes that I have done without using a cake mold.  Parts of it were tricky... the curves didn't want to hold up after they were cut and tended to tear as the underlying layer of buttercream was laid.. However, we  worked around that and perservered!!

I piped around the fondant elements with the same blue icing I used to pipe onto the cakeboard. I wanted to add a bit of cohesion with it, and it helped with the humidity issue I was having (the fondant pieces were not laying flat on their own, they were wanting to fold and roll.... eventually I will get used to the differences in weather down here. 

I absolutely adore the coal bin in the back. It was time intensive, doing the layers of rolled coal, but worth it. 

I also got to play with my cookie recipes a bit!  They were very time intensive when it came to the icing, but they're so cute!!

 Altogether this was a very time intensive order, that had several challenges. I loved it!  

Flowers...and balloons.

     This cake was one that I was extremely happy to do. I can't go into the details as it is not my story to tell, but this was a cake that was gifted by me to someone who I thought could truly use it.  (Yes, I do that, regularly. I feel that the reason is justification enough, although good karma obviously can't hurt).

That being said, I didn't put any less effort into this cake for it being a free one... honestly, what kind of person would that make me if I did? I was given very few guidelines for what they would like, and I took them and ran with them, and couldn't be happier for how it turned out.

Rosettes and drop flowers are so much fun. They truly are, and who doesn't like balloons?

Fly, Fight, Win.

I am so proud of our Nation's troops, regardless of branch, however, as an Air Force Wife, I will admit to having a soft spot. That's one of the reasons I was so happy to do this cake! (That and it's practice for the next time Eric needs one at work!).

This cake is half chocolate, and half white, on each layer. The bottom is four layers high, the top is made from two higher layers. Regular buttercream and marshmallow fondant. 

This is the first time that I worked with draping fondant, and I have to say, it is -way- easier than ruffles. I may have to do a different sort of princess cake for Chloe's next birthday!

The finished cake is magnificent. It's huge, weighty, moist, and delicious.  Completely worthy of the occasion!

It's coming up... poppies!

This cake seriously moved me, because it was for her Mother-In-Law. Now I've had bad in-laws before, I have, and I get the whole stereotype for them and everything, but this time around I am blessed with great in-laws, and it makes me so happy everytime I come across others who have such a good relationship with their in-laws. Family is family, whether you're married into it or not, and I wish more people realized that.

This cake turned out terrific! It's classy and understated with a bright pop of color in the form of... you guessed it, Poppies! (There's a story behind them that made it even more touching!).

I absolutely love this quilting with the black brads (chocolate buttercream). They give the cake a lovely texture. 

These poppies were made using the same method I use for my gum paste roses. They're adorable, and the center is chocolate buttercream as well. 

Vrooom vrooom!

I was very excited for this cake, not just because I'm excited for every cake, but because this time, I got to use THEIR family recipe. I LOVE family recipes, LOVE, and I wish I had more from my family. So, I am ridiculously happy every time I get to see another family recipe, much less use it! The whipped icing was a bit difficult to work with, and if I do this again in the future I think I will add a stabilizer, that way I can do more decorative work, but boy, did this cake turn out good!

There's a lot of detail on the car, however, it was rather difficult to photograph. 

I'll tell you what, this guy is lucky to have such a thoughtful wife :)