Gift Box Cake

This is a Gift Box cake my daughter, Ruth, and I made for her future sister-in-law's shower.






Under the layers of green fondant tissue paper is a white sheet cake with buttercream frosting - the bottom part of the box. Everything else is fondant.




For the box lid, I used a piece of styrofoam. I didn't think I would be able to support it if it was made of cake, but after doing it, I think it would have worked. So next time . . .

You also might notice the plastic in the bow. I found out two days before the party that the party was that week and not the next! Not enough time for a fondant bow to dry. So I improvised by cutting strips of plastic from a 2-liter plastic bottle to hold the bow up. It worked perfectly, except it showed up in the pics! It wasn't so noticeable at the shower.




Other than not enough of the fondant bra showing, I like the results.

Congratulations, Calah!!

Sugar Cookie Recipe

This is the sugar cookie recipe I'm using as of now. Especially the chocolate variation! I got this from Cookie Crazie and I absolute love it!




1-1/2 cups sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup sour cream
1 egg
4 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Here's how I do mine:

Cream together butter and sugar. Add sour cream, egg and vanilla. Mix well. In another bowl mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Combine. Roll out to 1/2 - 5/8" thick, depending on how thick you want your cookies. Cut into desired shapes. Place on ungreased cookie sheet 1" apart. Place cookie sheet with cookies in freezer for at least 10 minutes. Remove from freezer, making sure cookies don't slide together, and place in 325 degree preheated oven. Bake for 14 - 18 minutes, depending on your oven and how you like your cookies. I don't like my cookies the least bit crunchy, so I take them out sooner rather than later.

For the chocolate variation, substitute 1/2 cup of the flour with 1/2 cup dark cocoa powder. You can use regular cocoa, but one you try the dark, you will never go back to the regular!!

Hope you love it as much as I do!

Cricut Cake Machine

I am thinking of getting the Cricut Cake Machine. I have a wedding cake coming up and I could really use it, if it works as advertised.



I was wondering if any of you have one or have tried one, and if so, what do you think? Would you recommend it?

Cinderella Cake

This cake was my first attempt at making a Cinderella Slipper! I have to say it was quite an experience.




First of all, as I found out after searching the Internet for tips, I found out that the shoe should have been made at least a week in advance in order to have plenty of time to dry. I made it two days before I needed it!




So then, since it wasn't dry, I had to get creative to give it enough support so that it didn't split in two on the cake. That's where a empty 2 liter Dr. Pepper bottle came in handy! The front part of the shoe is resting on plastic from that bottle. I didn't get any pics of that because by that time I was too stressed to even think about taking pictures!!

Here are a few pics I took while I was making the shoe. It shows a few of the different stages.








These pics were taken after the shoe was painted with white pearl dust.







My daughter came up with the idea of putting the birthday girl's name on the shoe.




I wanted to incorporate the pink sash in some way other than just laying it on the cake board. I like how this turned out.






The pearls and buttons are made of fondant.




And the magic wand!! I made it out of a straw, ribbon, a string of beads and feathers.




This was actually a very fun cake to make!! I'm hoping one of my granddaughters will decide they want a Cinderella cake for their next birthday!




Happy 1st Birthday, Rylie!!

My Favorite Sign!!

I picked this up a few months back at Hobby Lobby.

It was half off so I couldn't resist.

It's one of my favorites!!

Valentine's Day In Vanuatu

Remember these cookies that I sent to my son and daughter-in-law in Vanuatu? I sent them on January 26, hoping by some miracle they would make it by Valentine's Day.




Well, it happened!! They arrived at this little house in the bush on Friday before Valentine's Day!! (Okay, they had to go to the Post Office and get them, but I just had to show you where my son and daughter-in-law live).




My son messaged me on Facebook. It only took two weeks and two days - that's a record!! Especially since the last package I sent took seven weeks and those cookies were not exactly fresh!!

I talked to my son last night and he said these cookies were still fresh and delicious. A taste of home!!

Glaze Recipe Revisited

I posted here about the glaze recipe I used. I thought I'd give an update since I've started using a different variation. Same ingredients, just a thicker version.

The original recipe is a lot thinner. In order to do the detail work, it had to be thickened by adding powdered sugar.

With this version, I use the same recipe to outline, fill and detail. I got this version Cookie Crazie's blog. I love her cookies!!

Recipe
(This recipe is doubled. I rarely make a single batch)

2 lbs powdered sugar
1/2 c white corn syrup
1/2 c water (I add gradually until I get to the consistency I'm looking for)
1 - 2 t flavoring

Mix ingredients together until smooth, holding a little water until the proper consistency is achieved. To get the correct consistency, peak with your finger. It should go smooth in 10 seconds (see Cookie Crazie's 10 second rule). Divide and color as desired.

I use bags and tips to outline, fill and detail. Most often I use tip #'s 2 and 3. Sometimes I use #4 or 5 to fill if the cookie is large.

I recently found this tutorial that has made cleanup a dream come true!! Keep watching until you see how she fills her bags.

Happy cookie making!!

Tombstone Cookies

These cookies were ordered by my daughter for my son-in-law's 30th birthday party.

.

She obviously has a warped sense of humor. They were fun to make, though!

Happy Birthday, Ben!

Divinity!

Divinity is my hubby's favorite homemade candy. I meant to make some for him at Christmastime. Really, I did. But it didn't happen.




So yesterday, I surprised him with some for Valentine's Day. Well, kind of surprised him. He came home when I was in the big middle of making it!

But he enjoyed it anyway!

Here's the recipe I used. It turned out perfect! (except I got my wood spoon caught in the beaters and finished off my mixer!) Oh, well. I was wanting a new one anyway.

Fabric Flowers

I've been wanting to try these for a while. I had actually bookmarked this tutorial at Restorative Living a couple months back.

So, in keeping with my "homemade" gift pledge this year, I decided to give them as Valentine gifts to my daughters and daughter-in-law.




I actually made this one first, then decided it needed less layers.




So I used less on these two, and decided I liked more layers!!





I learned a lot. What to do, what not to do, use something besides your fingers to hold the fabric over the flame, etc.!! I definitely like the tulle and I definitely like more petals.

I see a lot more of these in my future. I do have six granddaughters, after all!!