Christmas Cookies 2013

Here they are... My sugar cookies for the 2013 holiday.  My initial inspiration were these adorable postage stamps, then I ran across these cute reindeer parking cookie signs and thought I would give them a try.  I also fell in love with these really cute North Pole signs.  Thanks to all of the cookie ladies for their inspiration.

 Also threw in a few "ugly sweater" cookies (Except I only had a jersey cookie cutter...) They are short sleeved sweaters :)

I used my CopyKake for a guide to piping the designs.  I really like that thing... So glad I got it as a gift for myself last year...

She is definitely on the nice list this year...   :)

Cookie Exchange 2013

The Great Food Blogger Cookie Exchange was such a great time  last year  I decided to participate again this year...    OXO was a sponsor again and sent us some really cool silicone spatulas. The cookie exchange raised $13,778.40 for Cookies for Kids' Cancer! Yeah...  

I sent cookies to these awesome food bloggers...

Simple Everyday Food

http://www.simpleeverydayfood.com

Cooking with Cakes

http://cookingwithcakes.com/

Patricia's PattiCakes

http://www.patriciaspatticakes.com

I wrapped my cookies up in their boxes and got so excited that I packed them without including my name or what kind of cookie I made- Oops.  I mailed a separate card so they would know what they were eating...

Here is the recipe:

I received cookies from:

  Marcie @ http://flavorthemoments.com/-Salted Chocolate Toffee Sables (They were awesome) 

and 

Dani @ http://www.seehubbycook.com/ sent me Spicy Dream, which were also really good.  Notice in the picture below that some are missing from the mason jar...

I never received my third dozen of cookies, which was a slight disappointment, but life happens- and best laid plans don't always work out... 



Coming home to a package of home made cookies is fun.  Wish every day could be a cookie exchange... Then again, I might not be able to make it through the front door If I continue to eat cookies everyday ;)

Thomas the Train Birthday Party

 My super sweet nephew turns 3!!!  He loves Thomas the Train and trains in general so it was a Thomas celebration.  I tried something new with his cake- I've been watching Paul Bradford Sugarcraft school videos about Ganache.  I coated the outside with Ganache to help make the sides smoother so the fondant would lay nicely against the cake.  It was a little messy but I figured it out.  I think the more I practice, just like with everything, the better I will get...   Here are some pics of my super cute nephew and the making of his cake...

The big reveal...

The Ganache...

My workspace...

Glamour shots :)

Minion Birthday

 My youngest niece turned 7 years old and her party theme was despicable me.  We had lots of fun with the minions.  My sister did an awesome job, as usual, making sure the kids had fun.  There was yellow and blue everywhere :)

Here are some pics of the assembly.  I used sytrofoam cake dummies for the minion and covered it in fondant..  The little birthday cake is rice krispie treats.

Headless minion...

 The goggles gave me some trouble.  I originally formed fondant pieces around a container but they broke, so I resorted to using the extruder and made a circle around a cookie cutter and let it dry.  It held it shape, which was good.

 Hair and buttons, dried and ready to go...

 Some pumpkin carving genius by my brother in law...

 The sweet birthday girl!

Baby Whale Cake

 This cake turned out to be a "whale" of a cake... It also unfortunetly didn't make it to its destination in one piece... The bottom layer split apart and the top layer came crashing down as I was driving up the turn pike.  It was very sad... but still edible.

The part that made it...

Baby Shower Cake

Baby shower cakes and first baby birthday cakes are amoung my favorite to make...  There are always lots of cute designs to shift through...  This cake was inspired by Corri Cakes.  I had hoped for an all pink cake but somehow I ended up with a peachish color...I'm still a work in progress but I was happy with the way this one turned out....

Water Color Cake

I found this beautiful cake and tutorial from Half Baked and wanted to try to recreate it.  It was much easier then I thought it would be. I can see myself trying something like this again once I learn how to make a few more buttercream flowers...

 Made a few cupcakes too...

Vintage Dude

Made a cake for a special 50 year old Vintage Dude...  I found the design on a website that sells 50 proof birthday paraphernalia.   I used my CopyKake to help me recreate the design on a fondant circle.  Writing on cakes and fondant is tough for me.  I used Royal Icing for the design, which is also my arch nemisis.  I can't seem to perfect the consistency I need...  I will keep working at it...
Here are some more pics of the finished cake:

I Pledge Allegiance Flag Cake

My aunt asked for a cake with a "design inside" for her annual picnic.  I settled on a flag cake. I found the details of how to do it from Glorious Treats.  I envy her blue cake stand from fishes eddie... but I digress...   I also made a "little" birthday cake for my second cousin. I used my copykake projector. Picture are below.  Enjoy!

Here are some pictures of the "making of... "

Cakes are cooling for the flag cake.  This is the batter for the cupcakes...

 Stacking the flag cake...

 

How did I make this boy scout logo? With my CopyKake...  This projector allows me to pipe designs I wouldn't be able to do easily freehand.

Here it is...

 It projects this image...

 Work in progress...