Got my toes in the water...

So far, one of my largest orders to date. For sure, my largest variety/decorated order. After working my little fingers to the bone, I came up with these summery little fondant creations. They were for a Friday afternoon office party, summer-themed with a smoothie bar to boot! I want to go...

Even though these took some time to make, I love how they turned out. Next time around will be easier, since I created a couple of templates to reuse. Smart thinking if I do say so myself ;)

The order was for vanilla cupcakes with strawberry, lemon, chocolate and vanilla buttercreams.

But as I was baking, I was also plotting. I came up with 2 new flavors, simple but WONDERFUL- fresh lemon and nutty almond. Mmmmm!

Do I smell baking...?

A friend of mine needed some baking-themed cupcakes for her mom's birthday. Her favorite colors were pink and green and her grandkids call her, "Nannie," so I had to incorporate that in there somewhere. I was so excited to make these little fondant guys, I almost couldn't wait to get started!

I love all the details on the apron and the oven mit and I think the cookies and cookie dough are just so sweet. Get it? Sweet... Anyway, I hope she enjoys them as much as I loved creating them!

Roses are red...

Actually, they are pink, yellow, peach and violet!

A friend of mine's mom turned 90 years old this past week and their family is celebrating this weekend. Rightfully so! She wanted me to make the bright flowers I had done before, which I love, but they seemed to little girly for this occasion. I wanted to do something pretty and delicate... I thought of my grandma, who used to grow roses by her house, and poof! The rose brainchild was born. I had delusions of grandeur to make large buttercream (piped) roses atop a third of the c'cakes, smaller, handmade sugar roses on a third and do some simply frosted for the remaining. As I realized that the HUGE buttercream roses would be HUGE amounts of frosting, I settled for just the sugar roses and the simply frosted (with strawberry buttercream- Y-U-M). I'm so glad I altered my original plan, because look how beautiful these turned out!

I had never made sugar (royal icing) roses before and at first, I was pretty sure they'd be the death of me. I stuck it out and once I got the hang of it, they were actually pretty fun to make! So fun in fact, that I went a little overboard and I have a few (try 20) left over... Anyone want to order some super pretty rose cupcakes? ;)

M-I-C, K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E!

Well, actually Minnie Mouse!

These very girlie, very cute pink and white spotted and Minnie Mouse cupcakes were for my very girlie, very cute 2-year-old twin nieces- Haley and Annabelle.

I had to miss their birthday due to my trip to MI, but I hope they love eating them as much as I loved making them :)

Cookies & cream

Unfortunately, I lost my first set of pictures for these yummy cupcakes. Soooo, I had to wait until I made them again to post some photos. I know I'm not supposed to have a favorite (wait a minute, that's just for students), but these are my favorite! I love that when you peel them out of the wrapper, there's a cute little Oreo cookie crust looking up and you. And the cream cheese and Oreo cookie frosting... Oops! I think I just drooled on my keyboard...

It's a boy!

My first baby shower! One of my old co-workers asked me to make some simple and not overly extravagent cupcakes for her son's baby shower. They're going to have a boy, so I couldn't do any cutesy flowers or girly bows, etc. After some research (ie Google), I chose a few of my favorites and this is what I came up with. I LOVE them!!!

Sweet little feet, diaper pins, and 3 peas in a pod

Rubber ducky

ABC blocks and a cute little onesie

Baby shower in a box

Last minute birthday...

It seems that I'm starting to have some "regulars." Well, one at least. The mom of one of my students is apparently the queen of parties, and has requested cupcakes from me 3 times since the end of school :D She was the beach lady, the 4th of July lady, and now she's the "how late is too late to order some cupcakes" lady ;) With some family in town and a niece's birthday quickly approaching, she requested some simply frosted, but not girly (absolutely no pink or flowers) cupcakes.

Here was the end result:

Vanilla with vanilla buttercream

Chocolate with vanilla cream cheese

And NO pink (well, there might be a pink sprinkle or two, shhhhh)!