Horizontal Ruffle Cake for a Baby Shower

I was so excited to create a variation of a ruffle cake for one of my favorite people...ever.  My dear friend is expecting her second child.  A girl no less.  So excited to meet that little one.  Her baby shower was pink and very much her style.  This was the cake I made for her.

As you can see, it was a two tier Swiss Meringue Buttercream ruffle cake.  This time the ruffles were smaller and horizontal rather than the more common vertical ruffles.  I used a natural bourbon vanilla buttercream which gave it an off white color and finished it off with a large fondant flower.  Feminine, sweet, and quite fitting for the occasion.

I also made large cookie favors for the guests.  I didn't want to go with the old standby rattles, bibs, onesies and other quintessential baby shower items, so I went with a feminine look and feel and incorporated the font and tiny hearts reflected on the invitations. 

I really loved the maternity dress form on the cookie.  It was just "baby" enough without being too cutsy or generic.  Just like my dear, sweet friend.

Thanks for checking in.  Hope you like this latest ruffle cake.

Jessie and Bullseye

A few weeks ago, I made a really fun cake for the cutest little girl!  With a Toy Story theme, I was able to highlight the birthday girl's favorite Toy Story character and her sidekick for her 4th birthday cake.

Happy 4th Birthday Alicia!  I hope you enjoyed your Toy Story Cake!

Flour Girl

Ghost Cake

This month's cake for the kiddos over at Casa de Amparo was fun.  Instead of a birthday cake, we decided on a Halloween theme.

I wanted it to me cute but not too cutsie since the teenagers probably would think it was corny.  This is what I came up with.  He is two tiers of chocolate cake under there layered with purple vanilla icing and frosted in electric green vanilla frosting to make it as festive on the inside as on the outside. I finished off my little ghost trick or treater with an electric green fondant candy bag for all of his trick or treats scores.

He was fun to make.  Hope you like my Halloween ghost cake as much as I did. 

Fabulous 50 Birthday Cake

This cake was tricky....

I don't know how, but there was a miscommunication for the design.  Upon discover of the miscommunication, I had just a couple of hours to entirely adjust the design.  My main problem was the original design included a buttercream finish(so I thought).  The design that was ultimately desired was a hand painted fondant finish.  No big deal if I had a day to prepare.  I make fondant fresh for each cake, you see.  Fondant requires a minimum of 8 hours to " ripen" to be usable(texturally).  At least my recipe does, that is.  I didn't have time.  Sort of made me heartsick.  I never want anyone to feel disappointed.  I put so much effort, time and heart into each project.  I want that to convey, always.

So...I improvised.

It is in these situations that you not only grow, you learn and appreciate your own skill.  Something like this may have thrown me for such a loop that I would either a.) not accommodate the adjustment at all and then beat myself up for it for days; or b.) FREAK out. 

Thankfully I was given free reign to fiddle with the ultimate design to adjust it as needed in light of the misunderstanding.  That is always helpful!  Trust is a good thing in cake ;o)

But, the positives are that I put to practice a new method, and ultimately was able to tweak the existing design enough to deliver something that was desired all along.

I hand painted leopard print on buttercream.  Not my preferred method, but it certainly worked...Thank goodness!

I felt the skepticism, that all was well, that the design panned out...they were ellated.  They loved it afterall.

And of course the focal points of the design, the large fondant bow and gumpaste stiletto which have both become signature items for me, creating them time and time again in different colors, for different occasions.  I decided to paint the shoe this time around to mimic a patent leather finish.  I LOVED the look!

Sugar jewelry, a perfume bottle and lipstick accessorized the cake, and a sweet plaque with a birthday message from niece to aunt finished the look.

Thanks for stopping by!

Flour Girl

Bridal Shower Cake

This cake is one of my new favorites.  But...maybe not for the reason you might think.

I am loving this color lately.  "Electric Blue".  Sounds scary, but it's not. ;o)

It's bright, but not obnoxious and has a fun, bold, playfulness about it that lends itself well for just about any occasion. 

This is not an original design.  I was given a photo of a cake for a bridal shower with just a few changes.  If anyone knows where this design came from, PLEASE let me know so I may properly credit the designer. 

We adjusted to color scheme a bit, added pearls to the quilting, and changed the topper to a diamond engagement ring to appropriately celebrate the occasion, as well as adding the plaque with the congratulatory expression.

I rarely get the opportunity to use stenciling, though I love the effect.  The big silver bows finished off the look which are becoming a highly requested element these days.  Really loved this one.

I also made coordinating cookie favors.

Thanks for looking.

Flour Girl

3D Lightning McQueen Mini Cake

A couple of weeks ago, I made a 3D Lightning McQueen mini cake.  This cake probably served about 8-12.  It was my first 3D car, and I was fairly happy with the result.  Because of the small scale, I omitted some of the detailing, but ensured the obvious McQueen characteristics were present.

Mini cakes are always a challenge.  Scaling down the size of something without losing the shape, proportions and details is not always easy.

Lightning McQueen is 100% cake, hand carved/sculpted and covered in fondant.  Hope the birthday boy loved it.  There were 40 cupcakes with toppers included with this cutting cake, as well as Cars themed coordinating cookie favors.

Thanks for looking!

Flour Girl

Nursery Rhymes Baby Shower

There is something in the water...that's for sure.  The last 45 days have brought me more baby showers than I know what to do with!  A couple weeks ago, I had the pleasure of making a baby shower cake and coordinating cookie favors for an old friend's best friend. 

The theme was Mother Goose's Nursery Rhymes.

She wanted to do a stack of books cake and incorporate the nursery rhymes theme throughout.  So, we added some hand modeled sugar figures representing various well known nursery rhymes.  We have:

The Cow jumping over the Moon (Hickory Dickory Dock)
Three Blind Mice
Mother Goose herself
and of course....

Humpty Dumpty (before he fell off his wall!)

The cookies we decided on were:

The Cow Jumping over the moon

Mary's little lamb

Mary, Mary Quite Contrary's Garden

The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe

and my favorite...

Humpty Dumpty



Thanks for looking!

Flour Girl

Progress....

In general, if given a choice, I don't prefer to repeat designs.  I certainly will if requested, but I truly enjoy the creative process involved in creating a new or tweaked design.  Of course, when a repeat is requested, I feel a sense of validation in that the original design had great appeal, but a part of me feels a slight sense of disappointment that there will be no new creative energy in that project.  In short, I feel like I should constantly be looking forward rather than looking back.

This being said, I have to also acknowledge the value in looking back at my work.  Trying to not obsess about the flaws, what I could have, should have done differently or better, but to see my progress.  To really let that sink in.

Last week afforded me this very opportunity.  I created a wedding cake which was a repeat of an old design.  My very first wedding cake for that matter.  A part of me cringed a tad when the request was made mostly because my personal design style and aesthetic has changed drastically.  Not that I cannot appreciate the appeal, but just that I probably would not choose to create this design at this point.  But, of course the wedding cake is not about me....right? ;o)

So, here is the first photo, my very first wedding cake, my very first cake of this size overall....no giggles please...

So, looking at this photo, and looking at the new version....the differences that I note are vast.  My personal preferences of basic cake construction have changed, my techniques have improved, and I have slightly de-cluttered the design to both appease my aesthetic a bit more without altering the overall feel of the look for the bride.

You will notice (I hope) a cleaner finish, taller tiers, better piping and artistry, and an overall improvement in presentation.  Also, I think my photos have improved notably, which  makes a big difference as well in my opinion.

What a difference 18 months of caking can make!  Progress....

Thanks for looking.

Flour Girl

Ruffles and a Rag Doll

Okay, okay, I know it may be getting old to some...but here I go again posting a ruffle cake. 



This little gem was a first birthday cake for a sweet baby girl named Ayla.  Ayla's mom sent me a photo of her favorite rag doll to replicate as the cake topper. 

I thought she was super cute.  I stayed as true to the actual doll as possible, only losing small details due to scale.  She was fun to mold.

I loved the hand cut and detailed name plaque too...if I do say so myself ;o)



This ruffle cake was made with the oh so silky, oh so lovely Swiss Meringue Buttercream.  I don't have the occasion to work with this buttercream very often, but every time I do, I wonder how it is that I don't use it exclusively.  So much more sophisticated than your average American Buttercream.  We'll see.....maybe I will just make the switch!

Hope you like this rendition of the oh so sweet ruffle cake.

Flour Girl

Bunting for a Baby Boy

You would think that a rough finish on a buttercream cake would be super simple, that it would be a very natural thing to do, actually.  Really, it is NOT.  I really pride myself on my straight smooth sides and sharp corners.  It took a while to find the techniques that worked best for me, and once I did...it became, well...obsessive.  Doing a rough finish is very time consuming and takes a surprising amount of effort to get the right look.

I have also been wanting to do a cake for some time now that involved bunting.  It seems to be all the rage all over the place online, and also goes well with many different occassions.  I have to say, I loved it.

I was asked to make a baby shower cake for a baby boy with no specific theme involved.  Just a color scheme which mirrored the chosen linens for the nursery and the sweet baby's name.  This is what I did:



I did a rough, rustic finish on the buttercream, let it set, then went back over and semi-smoothed the peaks to end up with a different look.  I have seen several rustic buttercream cakes that had an almost plaster-like finish that really appealed to me.  This was my first attempt, and I liked the look.

I made fondant pendants and strung them on navy blue ribbon and added the baby's name for a vinatge-y fun look, as well as uneven random drapings and buttons.  A fabric rose was added to soften the look a touch.

Hope you like it as much as I do.

Flour Girl

Favorite Things

In general Men's cakes are a challenge.  So many design elements to avoid.....flowers, bows, pink, purple, glitter, polka dots, you catch my drift?

So, unless there is some sort of theme to follow, it is TOUGH.  At least when you are trying to create something a little more unique and original that your run of the mill cake.

Then, there are also your super themey cakes.  I have had my share of super themey men's cakes.  Like Call of Duty especially.

This 40th birthday cake was a welcomed departure from the super themey, but had just enough theme element to make it fun and interesting.  Love that!

It was a simple tiered cake meant to pull in several of the birthday guy's favorite things. 
A USC alum, Kansas City Chiefs fan, and iphone and ipad gadget lover.....this was the end result.



Fun stuff.

Flour Girl

Sweet Baby Shower Dots

So, recently I made a baby shower cake that I really liked.  I liked that it was a little different than the normal babt shower cake and a bit less "themey" ....that it actually could have easily been a birthday cake....

I was given a photo to emulate with changes to the color scheme.  Here is the photo provided created by the talented Mandotts on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/amandascakes/3376550819/in/photostream/

The color scheme for this baby shower cake was to be pink, teal and black which was fun!  For a baby shower, this is not a common request.  I liked that.  It is still a really sweet design, but is a departure from the standard baby pinks, blues and yellows you see most often. I tried to stay fairly true to the photo provided, except that this cake was a bit smaller, so I made a couple slight adjustments for that.  All in all, I hope Mandotts would approve.  Entire design credit to her.

Thanks for stopping by!

Flour Girl

Luau Birthday

I was so excited to work on one of last week's projects.  I made a cutting cake and coordinating cupcakes for a 7th birthday for a little girl named Mikayla.

There have been TONS of ideas floating around my head for a luau theme, so I FREAKED out when I finally had the opportunity.  Although, once I put pen to paper to sketch my rough design, I found that the small 6 inch cutting cake was going to eliminate lots of those ideas.  It was just too small to convey what I wanted....So I played with it, pondered it, and came up with something I was very happy with in the end.  Also, I really liked making the cupcake toppers for this one.  I don't always feel that way about cupcake toppers, but this week I did.

Aloha....and Mahalo!

Flour Girl

Oh Louie....

Louis Vuitton and Chanel brands are popular topics amongst us girls....aren't they?

This was a birthday cake I made last week for a gal who loves her Louis Vuitton collection.  To add servings and switch up the design, I added a bottom tier gift box cake with a big gold ribbon and bow to add a little glam.  The Chanel lipstick and compact were specifically requested to represent the birthday girl's favorite makeup.

I also made Louis Vuitton wallet and keychain cookie favors.  Now all the guests could have a little Louie in their lives too.

Thanks for checking in....

Flour Girl

Happy Birthday to my Big Sis...

So, today is my favorite sister's birthday.  She also happens to be my only sister....but that is irrelevant, of course.  To celebrate her birthday, I made her a small cake for our family dinner yesterday.

Ya see, she is a bit of a country girl at heart.  She loves her country music, has attended the rodeo, and has been known to go to the races...that's of the NASCAR variety...not the ponies....

So, in honor of some of her favorite things I made her a chocolate cake with peanut butter buttercream with a chocolate cookie cowgirl hat topper, chocolate fondant belt and "T" initial buckle with a hot pink bandanna to girlie it up. 

Happy birthday T...it's gonna be a big year, a good year...I'm banking on it.


Flour Girl

FORE!!!!!!

Last weekend I had the distinct pleasure of creating cookie favors for the wonderful people participating in the golf tournament benefiting Casa de Amparo.  The event was called "FORE - the Casa Kids Golf Tournament" and was held at the beautiful Rancho Bernardo Inn.

As you may recall, I am lucky enough to have recently struck up a relationship with these wonderful people that I told you all about here.  For this important event, I donated 150 cookie favors to include in the goodie bags of the participants of the fundraiser.  They also held a silent auction to raise funds for their very important cause.

The design was inspired by the fabulous Sweet Sugarbelle.  She is definitely one of my cookie idols.  Check her blog out.  She always has beautiful photos of her impeccable work, and she is always so generous with tips and tutorials for anyone interested in learning.

I hope they raised a boat load of cash for those sweet, deserving kids!

Thanks for stopping by...

Flour Girl

A Cake for a Worthy Cause

You may remember the ladybug cake I did for Kylie via the Icing Smiles Foundation that I showed you here.

After that experience, I realized I had been bit by the bug.  No pun intended....

I loved having the opportunity to create something special for someone who really deserved it.  Someone who may not have the opportunity, means, or even the inclination to obtain a custom cake to celebrate an important occasion.

I learned that I had a valuable opportunity to give something that was unique and really very special to both the recipient and me personally.

In looking at what I do, I realize that from the outside it may only seem like...well...a cake.  You sing happy birthday, for he's a jolly good fellow, etc, you cut it up and it's dessert.  But, since I have been in this world of creative confections, I have come to intimately understand how personal this is.  When you create a custom cake, cookies, cupcakes, etc, you are creating a centerpiece for a gathering, event, or occasion that will be remembered for years to come.  Not only is it in the all too important candle blowing photos, many times custom cakes serve as the main focal point to the entire decor, a talking point for mingling, and really is an opportunity to reflect the recipient's personal interests, personality and favorite things.

This alone is special combined with the fact that so much effort, time, and personal investment goes into each project on my part, that I truly feel that I am an important part of their important day.  Even when I am not....invited :o)
This leads me to today's post.  After the experience with Icing Smiles, I wanted more opportunities to contribute in this way.  But the question was how....

I remembered that there was a children's shelter located in the area for children in circumstances of abuse and neglect.  Children who have been removed from their families for one reason or another for their own safety and well being.  This was my cause.  This was the perfect fit.

I contacted the people over at Casa de Amparo to see about donating birthday cakes for the participants of their organization.  Kids I knew probably never really had special birthday cakes.  It took several weeks to set up this new relationship, but boy was I ever super excited.

This week I made my very first birthday cake for the folks over at Casa de Amparo.  There were 5 birthdays this month, so I incorporated all the names on the top tier. 

See!... more polka dots as promised.  This time with randomly set colors.  I liked the look.  What do you think?

And a crazy loopy bow to top it off!

Looking at it in retrospect...it sorta looks like a baby shower cake.  Oops!  But I really liked the overall look.  I love the mod dots, and the colors are summery and fit for a boy or a girl without being too girly.  Boys are always tricky, and this cake was for 4 guys and 1 gal.

Thanks for stopping by!

Flour Girl

Polka Dots

A while back I was asked to make a cake for a little girl's birthday party to be held at Chuck E. Cheese's.  The ultimate design was up to me, as long as I used the signature Chuck E. Cheese colors of electric green and purple, and incorporated a "cute mouse" in the design.

I love when I can choose the design...but it also drives me CA-RA-ZEEEEEE.

You see, in general, I have about a bazillion ideas floating around my head.  Things I'd love to try.  So, when I am told to do whatever I want to do...I get super excited, but then a little exasperated and coo-coo as I try to plan the design.  What of those bazillion things can I make work for this occasion?  Do I like that color scheme with it though?  Can I make a flowery cake for a teenage boy and it not be weird????

So, for this cake I finally settled on modern dots, a big bow, and a mouse...but not just any mouse, THE mouse....Chuck E Cheese on top.

For this mod, polka dot scheme, I wanted it to be very structured, very planned, very...even.  I stuck to a color pattern.  I loved it.

Then when I was done, I sat Chuck right on top.  Perfect for the occasion, I thought, and he helped tie all the colors together and make it all make sense. 

I threw in some small flowers to girly it up a bit too.  This is one of my faves....I hope you like it too.

I have another polka dot cake to share tomorrow.....

Flour Girl

Cherry Blossoms

It's August!  Can you believe it?

With wedding season still in full swing, I thought I'd share one of my favorite wedding designs. 

Cherry Blossoms!

Cherry blossom designs are a beautiful, feminine, classic design for weddings any time of the year.  Decor, stationary, cake, floral design....I love it all.  Such a popular choice for brides all over the world.  Cherry blossom weddings and decor ideas can be found all over the internet.  Chances are that everyone has either attended or seen photos of a cherry blossom themed wedding.  There is a reason it is so widely popular.  Cherry blossoms are beautiful.  Simple, but beautiful. 

This particular design, actually, was not for a wedding but rather a graduation party.  The design was inspired by the party invitations.  Before adding the topper, this was THE quintessential cherry blossom wedding cake.  I loved the overall look.

Three tiers, round, white with coordinating fondant ribbon trim and hand made fondant branches, leaves and cherry blossoms.  The second tier was an extended tier which just over 6 inches tall to add a bit of height and interest to the overall proportions of this cake.  I wanted it to be clean and simple, yet just a little more interesting.  Every cake designer has at least one version of a cherry blossom cake....so, this was mine.  If you haven't noticed, I love extended tiers.  They are so much more impressive.  In my humble opinion that is.  Not to mention that guests receive a more generous slice of cake.

Here is the cake with the handmade topper for the final look.

See...totally a graduation cake!

Thanks for stopping by!

Flour Girl

Leopard Print....FUN

Leopard Print is FUN!

This was a fun, funky 20th birthday cake I made for a dear friend's daughter who turned the big 2-0 on Monday.  The birthday girl is a beyond talented photographer.  She did a beautiful engagement session for the hubs and I.  You should check her out should you need professional photos.

Taylor Bartram Photography

The leopard print is all hand painted with just a little touch of gold luster for a little dimension.  The topper, flowers and ribbon and bow are all handmade from fondant.  I loved the final look of this design with the added pops of color with the flowers.  I also did a couple dozen cupcakes with leopard print in teal, pink and purple.  Fun design for a great gal!

Thanks for stopping by, have a great weekend!

Flour Girl