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

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

Cupcakes for a Girl's Girl

Last week I was so happy to make some very girlie-girl cupcakes that were for a surprise birthday party.  I have to admit that I am not always so certain about cupcake designs.  I truly feel that they are an entirely different skill set than cakes.  I think I have done well with the designs that I have done in the past, but I feel that I excel most with cake design.  I think it is the small scale that gets me every time.  I think I have ogre hands for miniature modeling....errrr, maybe I just have an ogre hand complex.

So, back to these cupcakes.  This was funny because the birthday girl's friend contacted me on the birthday girl's husband's behalf to work on some cupcake ideas for her surprise party.  He had a very vague idea of what he wanted and the only real direction I received was that she loves pink and purple, and that she loves glam, so they need to be fabulous. 

Hmmmmmm, what was I to do?  At first I was stumped.  I really didn't want to do run of the mill toppers that you see all over the internet, I didn't want them to be too cutsy.....

Then I received a text from the birthday girl herself asking if I would be able to make a birthday cake....She was wanting to request her own birthday cake.

OMG...how do I respond?  Does she know?  Is the cat out of the bag?  So, I try to play it cool and simply say "sure, let me know what you are thinking" 

Haha, this started a whole thing on the back end.  We wanted to draw out what she wanted, specifically, then I was to back out so she thought there'd be no special birthday cake after all, to be surprised with exactly what she requested.

Well... this never happened.  As the day drew closer, I had nothing to go on.  With just a couple days lead time to allow drying, this is what I came up with per the few details I was given to work with.

 Chanel Clutch

 Chanel Tote

 Lipstick and Nail Polish

Flowers and sprinkles, and also pink and purple bows (pictured somewhere up above).

I used gold foil cupcake wrappers and gold dragees to glam it up a bit.  I would say I am more of a silver person, but I totally loved this look in person.



Well, the birthday girl was surprised! 

Mission accomplished.

Thanks for stopping by,

Flour Girl