A Fondant First

Julie, my old friend, (as in friend for a long time - not the wrinkly kind!!), was getting married in July, 2010!!  :)

She had seen Caiden's elephant birthday cake, and asked me if I might make her wedding cake!  I was delighted, honoured and - absolutely terrified!!  It would need to be a good effort for her big day... so, I asked her: "Do you want an elephant cake??!!"    :)  ...nope  :P

Jules sent me some pics of various cakes that she liked, and they all involved fondant... unfamiliar territory for this icing-piper-person.  So, as a practice run, I made a cake and decorated it with fondant for my Mum's birthday.

I was lucky to receive some handy tips and helpful advice from a resident cake-baker at our local supply store, International Imports (aka the chef shop)... merci monsieur!!

Here's my first fondant effort:

...this little piggy wishes you a "Happy Birthday!"  :) 

I chose to use pre-made fondant... we live in Bermuda and the wedding was to be in Canada - very different levels of humidity!  I didn't want to take any chances that my fondant icing practice run and actual wedding cake fondant would vary too drastically, so I went with something tried and tested!  ...and again, "Easy is better than hard!"  :) 

I was pleased with how Mum's cake came out... for a first time fondant effort, and I readied myself for the task ahead... making sure Julie's wedding cake came out special (presentable at the very least!!!), for her special day...

Mother's Day

I had so much fun making Caiden's elephant cake, I decided to take the opportunity to make another cake... for Mother's Day.  I wasn't sure what I would do at first, but then I thought that something Spring-like with flowers would be appropriate  :)

This cake involved 3 rounds for the flowers and a sheet cake cut in pieces to make the stem.  I did the rounds in vanilla and the stem in chocolate, and cut them to shape.  I eye-balled it, but paper templates work well also!

A crumb layer of icing came first, and then I piped the rest.  The pink icing is Betty Crocker's cherry flavoured icing, and the green is Betty Crocker's fluffy white icing with green food colouring added.  The yellow is a store-bought tube.  Quick and easy-peasy!

Happy Mother's Day!  :)

Caiden's 4th Birthday Cake

Caiden turned 4 in May, 2010. 

I asked him what kind of cake he would like - thinking he would say chocolate or vanilla - and he replied, with conviction: "an elephant cake!"  Okay then... thinking cap on!

 I started to have a look online at various images of elephant cakes, found one that I thought I might be able to manage for my first themed cake, made a few adjustments of my own, and gave it a whirl... ta da! 

My love - and addiction - for cake making was born!

I started with a sheet cake in chocolate for the body, and then using another sheet cake in vanilla, I cut out shapes for trumpet, tusk, ear, feet, tail and hat (using paper templates I had drawn and cut out).  I gave it all a crumb layer of icing, outlined the eye, mouth and inner ear, then piped in the rest.  I used store-bought tubes for the red, black and white, and I coloured some fluffy white Betty Crocker icing with black food colouring to get the gray.  The inner ear was filled in with store-bought pink cookie icing.  I now enjoy making my own icings too, but sometimes "easy is better than hard", as my mother would say!! 

The cake was a hit with my birthday boy and his friends, and with both chocolate and vanilla to choose from, everyone was happy  :)

...and baby makes 4

Well, we welcomed baby Milena into our family in November, 2011.  Big brother Caiden is chuffed (for the most part!), and life is starting to settle back down into place now  :)  ...phew!!!

I've always been a crafty bird - in the creative sense, not the other kind of crafty! - and I really enjoy trying my hand at various projects.  Having kids makes it even more fun, and I look forward to making each birthday special and fun for my babies  :)  ...with a few other creations and parties along the way! 

I thought I would share and I hope you enjoy it all too!