It just so happens that one cake recipient shares Emily's birthday, but not to worry, I had already decided that her family celebration would be on Saturday.....
The first cake was for a girl turning 13. Her mom told me that she would like a cake with a beach theme. Immediately, I had thoughts of crushed graham crackers, blue icing and teddy grahams. Then her mom reminded me that it couldn't look like it was for a child. Shoot! What to do.....I immediately turned to my favorite cake idea resources. Cake Central and Sugar Teachers. Both offered great ideas. I knew that because of the little 'accessories' I would need to get started early so that I wouldn't be up until the wee hours of the morning or have to miss work because of my lack of planning. (I'm getting better at this....when you watch those cake shows and they whip stuff out in what seems like no time at all, well, I guess that's the magic of television. Things take time to sculpt/shape and dry. Not to mention, the baking and cooling of the cake, making/coloring icing or fondant. You have to plan and keep planning as you go!)
This is what I came up with....
The itty bitty flip flops are my favorite!
The cake was red velvet with cream cheese icing and the cake was covered in homemade fondant. I was told the cake was a success (my favorite part of the process). I was so happy that it turned out so well.
The second cake I made, was for my daughter, Emily. She turned 10 last week. I can't believe it! In the true spirit of my kids picking their cakes, she changed her mind a few times and was set on something red and black she'd seem out of a Toba Garrett book. I either forgot to copy the picture or misplaced it, so I went back to Cake Central for inspiration. I found something pretty and fitting for a 10 year old's birthday. Wouldn't you know it, she changed her mind AGAIN!
She decided that she wanted a cake with a beach theme too, but she wanted under the water as well. Then she told me that she doesn't like the taste of fondant. So I decided to duplicate all of the sea side goodies I was currently making and then just figure out how to put creatures on the sides of the cake with buttercream.
She wanted to help me and I had intended on letting her do that, but, we got pressed for time and she needed to pick up her room. So I stacked the cake (forgot that I had a cake lifter and broke the top layer putting it on...idiot!), iced it and piped the creatures on the sides. She helped me with the stuff on top and I let her put the coral on the sides. (generous of me I know -but hey, we were pressed for time 'member?)
Here is the final product....
(I'm sure it's just me, but the placement of the umbrella makes the 10 look like 10%)
She picked out carrot cake and I made buttercream. I LOVE real buttercream and not the class stuff I make for demos and the like.
Lastly, my grandma asked me to make a small cake for a baby shower we had for my cousin. I knew that because it was going to be small and I was already loaded down with 2 others I wanted simple. I'd seen cakes with a cute little pair of white baby shoes on top. I also knew that I could have some cutters shipped to me, but I didn't have the time to wait, or the money. At first I had printed off pictures of the cutters, thinking I could outsmart the makers of that product...FAIL! So then I scoured the internet and through the generosity of others, I was able to find a template. (you guessed it, at Cake Central) It's not one that I was happy with, but I don't want to blame the template - gonna say it was user error. One day, I'll save up for those cutters. But until then, I'm going to use my little paper template and keep trying!
See very simple. Spice cake with cream cheese icing. (I love cream cheese icing more than real buttercream. I always say that I could sit in a dark closet all by myself with a bowl of it - It's that GOOD!)
