School's Back in Session - Pile of Books Cake

The kiddos are all getting ready to head back to school! They've got to get all their pencils, notebooks and folders (in just the right colors, mind you), paper, backpacks, rulers, etc. And when they get to school, they'll be issued their heavy, information-packed text books!


Of course, this cake was for a college graduation, but I think we can apply it to today's post.

Dhyana's parents came into the shop to order her graduation cake. Apparently her favorite subject is Biochemistry and she also enjoys Calculus so those are the two books we created to sit under her graduation cap.*

The books and cap were all cake, and we used fondant to decorate them. A ridged rolling pin (similar to the one we used on the Florida Highway Patrol hat) was used to create an effect that looked like book pages.


And the diploma, banner, and stars were also created out of fondant.

Good luck in school this year, kids! As a member of the official Ph.D. Club**, I think I've earned the right to say, "Stinks to be you!" {evil laugh}

*I cannot wrap my head around the idea that Biochemistry and Calculus were her favorite subjects in school. I guess we're all wired pretty differently...In fact, my Mom once told me that she thought Statistics was "fun"! Um...riiiiiiight.

**Yes, I just created the club for fellow suckers who have a doctorate degree, but I think it could really fly!

Pink & Brown Cowgirl Cake

This week, one of my favorite cakes was one we created for a 4-year-old's birthday. I actually used to work with her Mommy when I was still at the University of Florida so it was fun to create a cake for someone I know.

The bottom tier was iced in pink buttercream. The paisley pattern was hand-piped with white and black buttercream, and the rope border was made out of chocolate fondant.

The top tier was iced in white buttercream. The stars, "leather" tassles, and rope garland were all made out of fondant.

And the boot on top was hand-crafted out of gum paste and fondant!

Happy Birthday, Gracie!

Wilton Class Fun!

Last month, one of my students from Wilton Decorating Basics brought her camera to class and captured some great shots of the cupcake decorating in action!

And Elizma (the blond in the photo above) sent me a photo of her finished cupcakes, which she took to the Ronald McDonald House to share with the children there.

Such variety and cuteness!  My personal favorite is the yellow fishie. *smile*

Also last month, we found a little extra time* in the Wilton Flowers & Cake Design class so we decided to model a gum paste figure together.  Since I'm the teacher, I got to choose what we created.  And, since I love clowns, that's what we did!

Isn't it funny how each clown is so different, even though we were all following the same instructions?  Well, aside for the two identical ones, which were created by sisters who somehow managed to make clone clowns. Oh, and some of the clowns are missing eyes because we didn't actually have time to finish them in class.  But don't the little buggers look great?!


*Ok, so technically, I can get in trouble for teaching the fondant figure in class.  I'm supposed to ONLY teach the Wilton curriculum...but these girls were fast!  We got through the curriculum so quickly that we had an entire class session free!  How could I deny them a fondant figure?  So, um...let's just keep this on the down low. *wink*

Florida Highway Patrolman's Hat Cake

A few weeks ago, we were asked to make a groom's cake that looked like a Florida Highway Patrolman's hat. Here's an image of the hat I found online to share with you:

And this is the best close-up photo I can find online...it seems to be a different model of the hat, but you'll get the general idea:

Here's the hat we created:

The family provided us some really great close-up photos of the groom's actual hat. The hardest part of the design was the concentric circles that covered the whole hat. Once we figured out how to do that with the fondant, the rest was just simple details.

And even better - the family provided the REAL cords and medal for the front of the hat! You thought they looked super nice, didn't you? Yea, I can't take any credit for them. But I think they really enhanced the look of the cake hat!

I was told that when people saw the cake, they thought the groom had left his hat sitting on the table. You just can't get a better compliment than that!

White Buttercream Wedding Cake with Pink Roses

This elegant cake was iced and decorated with only buttercream. 

The scrolls were hand-piped, and sugar pearls adorned the middle tier.

The cake was delivered all the way to Lake City, about 45 miles from Newberry.  And the bride and groom left the topper and fresh roses at the reception for us to add to the cake.

While I was gone...

While I was on vacation last week, Edna de la Cruz* wrapped up her online cake decorating competition.  The theme was "Summer Sensations," and all you had to do was email her a photo of a cake you'd made with that theme!  I sent her a photo of Cassidy's pool party cake for the Intermediate/Advanced division.

It's ironic...I posted this cake in honor of my Dad's birthday since we had already booked our Caribbean cruise and were looking forward to it.  This competition wrapped up while we were on the cruise...and I was awarded 1st place in the Intermediate/Advanced division!

Also ironic: I created a sugar cruise ship, gators in beach chairs, palm trees, a ship's wheel, and an anchor for a cruise-themed cake going out last week while I was on vacation.  I can't wait to see how the cake turned out, and I'll be sure to post pictures here!

*Edna is a cake blogging friend of mine.  She does amazing work at Design Me A Cake in Orlando, FL.  She entered a gorgeous gold cake at the Let's Eat Cake Fundraiser in Gainesville last year, and she is going to be a judge in the Florida I.C.E.D. Cake Competition in Ocala, FL in March 2010!

Pink & Black Zebra Cake

Did you all miss me???  Did you even notice that I hadn't posted anything in a week?!  Nah, you probably didn't...whatever...

But what matters most is that I'm back!  Last week, I went on a relaxing cruise with my hubby and my parents.  I'll post some pictures later this week.  But I'm dying to post some cake pictures - I'm going through cake blog withdrawal! 

Here's a cute cake we made a couple of weeks ago for a first birthday party.

The cakes were covered with white or black fondant.  The top and bottom tiers were decorated with pink fondant zebra print, and the middle tier was wrapped with a giant pink bow.

And, because this was a 1st birthday, we gave them a matching "smash" cake.  Fun cake!  I can't wait to see what they order next year!

We're on Cake Mom one last time!

Cake Mom is wrapping up her Birthday Month with one of our cakes!  Check out the post and her blog here.  Oh, and Happy FRIDAY!

Lady Bug 1st Birthday Cake & Cookies

Last week, we had some pretty fun cakes!  This was one of my favorites because the design was just so darn cute!

This birthday girl's Mommy found a Pink Cake Box cake she liked and we adapted it from there.

Since it was her first birthday, we gave her a "smash" cake to match the party cake.

And, they also ordered ladybug cookies that matched both the party invitations and the cake.

Cake Spotlight - The Cake Engineer

I just have to share this cake with you all.

It was created by a friend blogger, Roxanne, who calls herself the Cake Engineer.  Funny thing is...she discovered her talent and passion for cakes while pursuing her Ph.D. in engineering.  Sound familiar?

Anyway, she created this cake for her entry into the Threadcakes online cake competition.  You can't tell from this picture, but there was a LOT of work behind this gargantuan cake!  Check out her full process and be sure to vote for her entry!

Great job, Roxanne!