My Most Popular Cakes of 2012

Since making the decision to focus only on fondant toppers and cookies, I've had to say no to a few cake orders the last few months. Although I know it's the right decision, I'm going to miss making cakes for my customer's special celebrations!

Here's a few of the cakes I made in 2012. While I made many cakes this year, these were the most popular ones shared online...via Facebook, party blogs such as Kara's Party Ideas, Hostess with the Mostess and Lil'Sugar and that were shared on Pinterest.

The Florida Gator cake made for Nikki Glynn of  Great Gatherings

A Bon Voyage cake for a special send off

For a sweet Cookie Monster loving little boy

 This cake was a hit among polka dot and cupcake lovers alike

 I loved this Matroyshka themed party! (photo by Wendy Updegraff Photography)

This Ocean Reef Animal cake was super fun to make for Nikki of Great Gatherings!

                                                (photography by Lauren Mckinsey Designs)

The Hunger Games cake on FIRE! 

Photography by Wendy Updegraff Photography

My daughter's camping cake was named as one of Lil'Sugar's top unique birthday cakes!

Photography by Wendy Updegraff Photography

 

 This bright & fun Chevron cake is hands-down THE most popular cake I've ever made!! 

Shared and pinned more times than anything else I've created!

Photography by Wendy Updegraff Photography

2012 was certainly a fun year of cakes! I'm looking forward to whatever sweet things 2013 brings my way!

Easy ways to dress up your Holiday Cakes!

For the Winter Issue of Bird's Party Magazine, I shared some simple ways to dress up your holiday cakes!

No matter the size or theme of your gathering, nothing dresses up a holiday table like a gorgeous cake! The holidays are the perfect time to add some glitzy sparkly drama to your dessert with a few products that you can find at your local craft and party supply store.

Use a homemade or a plain cake from your favorite bakery and add these decorating supplies:
-Wilton Color Mist Spray in silver, gold and pearl
-Wilton White Sparkling Sugar
-Sixlets candy in white and black
-Lindt White Chocolate Truffles
-number candles
-optional: pinecone floral pick

If you are planning a winter themed party, this snowy cake is sure to add some sparkle to your festivities! Start with a cake frosted white and stack white chocolate truffles on top (to resemble a pile of snowballs). You can use a bit of frosting to adhere them together if needed. Next, cover the entire cake, including the truffles, with the Wilton Pearl spray. Finally, sprinkle white sparkling sugar over the entire cake for some extra sparkle.

If you want to add some GLAM to your dessert table, use the Wilton Gold spray. Frost your cake simply in a rustic style and then completely cover with the spray. Top your cake with a festive pinecone floral pick or use some seasonal fruit if you prefer. If using a glittery floral pick as shown, be sure to completely seal it with a clear food safe sealer to keep glitter from getting on your cake.

To ring in the New Year in sweet style, serve this fun and festive cake! Use the Wilton silver spray to completely cover your cake and then use black and white candy Sixlets to create a fun border. For the 2013 topper, use birthday candles and trim off the wicks. If you can’t find the candles in colors you like, use additional edible spray to color them to your liking.

 For more holiday entertaining ideas, be sure to check out the Winter Issue of Bird's Party Magazine. 

Photography by Wendy Updegraff Photography

Bridal Shower Cake: God & Nature

I was recently asked to make a bridal shower cake that incorporated God and nature. My customer really loved the Spring cake I had made previously. She asked that I add a cross to the cake to reflect the couple's faith. I kept the cake white with pastel colors for a traditional bridal look.

I used sugar pearls for the flower centers and pearl spray for the butterflies.

I also used the sugar pearls to embellish the cross so that it flowed with the rest of the cake.

Inside was a carrot cake with cream cheese filling, the bride-to-be's favorite.

A beautiful cake befitting a special & beautiful occasion!

Travel Themed Cake

I was recently contacted to make a cake for a going away party! Erin sent me the fun vintage luggage invitation from Party Box Design to incorporate into the design. The scooter from the invite, chevron and a luggage topper made for one cute cake!

My favorite part was most definitely the luggage topper! They were individually made using Rice Krispy Treats covered in fondant. I had a lot of fun adding the finishing details to each one.

A sweet way to send a great friend wishes for life's next adventure!

Fiesta Baby Shower Cake

I was recently asked to make a baby shower cake for a fun loving couple! The "belly cake" is a very popular baby shower cake style and since this party was being held on Cinco de Mayo, I was asked to incorporate some FIESTA elements into the belly cake design!

The cake flavors were chocolate with chocolate Swiss Meringue and Vanilla with strawberry cream cheese.

Congratulations and Ole!

White Ruffle Cake

Last week I was asked to make a cake for a little girl's first communion...can I tell you how much I loved this cake?

I LOVE ruffles and I think I've decided that white ruffles are my favorite!

Inside the cake was a chocolate cake with salted caramel filling (my most popular flavors). A bright purple ruffled flower added a fun pop of color to the cake.

A sweet cake for a special celebration!

Hunger Games Cake {Cake on Fire}

Are you a Hunger Games fan? The book was recommended to me and I DEVOURED the series...just loved it! I was actually sad when I finished the last book because I knew that was it! But then of course there was the movie. My friend Wendy of Wendy Updegraff Photography hosted a Hunger Games premiere party and everyone brought a dish inspired by the book. Of course you know I had to bring a cake!

I LOVED making this cake!!! I wanted the cake to be on FIRE because if you've read the books (or have seen the movie) you know fire is an important element! I wanted it to be engulfed in flames with the Mockingjay rising out of the top...the symbol of rebellion and freedom! (yeah...I totally dorked out on the books I know).

All the decorations (including the Mockinjay topper) were hand-cut from fondant. This was actually the 2nd topper I made, as the first one just snapped in half (oh SNAP) and I sprayed it with edible gold.

The party was AWESOME! Everyone brought great dishes and we played trivia before heading to the midnight showing. With a theater full of teenagers, I've never felt so O-L-D in my life LOL!!

You can read all about the party & see the great pics on Wendy's post at Wendy Updegraff Photography. All photos in this post were taken by Wendy...except for the close-up of the Mockingjay topper, which was taken by me.

HAPPY HUNGER GAMES &

MAY THE ODDS BE EVER IN YOUR FAVOR!!

Country Music Groom's Cake

I make alot of cakes for kids and girly-type cakes, so it was fun change of pace to make a groom's cake. The groom-to-be loves to play guitar and is a country music fan so I incorporated those elements in his fun cake!

Cowboy boots, cowboy hats and a rope border for that country feel...

Hand-shaped musical notes spilled down onto the cake...

and an acoustic guitar topped the cake!

It was fun to feel a "little bit country"!

Zebra & Stars Baby Shower Cake

I an animal print kinda girl, so I was super happy to make a baby shower cake featuring fun zebra stripes! Mommy-to-be also wanted to incorporate pink shimmery stars for the little "star" about to make her debut!

The cake was a strawberry cake with strawberry cream cheese filling and a carrot cake with cream cheese filling...all covered in a yummy vanilla buttercream! Zebra stripes, stars and ribbon all made from vanilla fondant.

A super fun cake for a wild little star getting ready to enter the world!

Woodland Baby Shower Cake

I recently had the pleasure of working with Wendy of Wendy Updegraff Photography to create a cake for her sister's baby shower. Wendy, her sister and her mom are a seriously talented trio who put together amazing parties. It's always an honor to play a small part in any of their celebrations. Wendy's sister Jamie chose a  woodland themed shower, which is a perfect theme when you are expecting a sweet baby boy!

The cake inspiration came from the beautifully illustrated invitation from Whimsy Whimsical. As soon as I saw that invitation, I knew I wanted to create those sweet woodland animals out of fondant! But my favorite part to make was the teeny tiny cupcakes.

The cake was a chocolate cake with salted caramel Swiss meringue buttercream filling, which is quickly becoming one of my most requested combos. The top tier is covered in chocolate fondant and the bottom in vanilla fondant.

The shower was absolutely gorgeous with so many beautiful details. You would be amazed to know how much the family did themselves...from sewing the tablecloths, making the centerpieces (the wood used was cut by Wendy's husband) and when their mom told me she cut the wooden banner signs with her jigsaw I about fell over! Check out the gorgeous photos Wendy took and all the fabulous details over at Wendy Updegraff Photography!

*all photos provided by Wendy Updegraff Photography

Bridal Shower Cake {Brackets & Flowers}

This weekend I had the pleasure of making a cake for a bridal shower! The cake design is based on the fun invitation. I loved the cool & bold brackets and knew I wanted to use those on the cake!

The bride's and groom's monogram will be 3 R's so we just went with the single R on top! I added a ruffly flower for some pretty contrast and because who doesn't love a ruffly flower?

The cake was a chocolate cake filled with salted caramel Swiss meringue buttercream...a yummy combination!

I really loved making this fun cake!