3D Cake: No Glasses Required

So yesterday I decided to get out of my comfort zone and try a little harder cake for a change. I thought I would try to make a 3D cake and I had decided on a pirate ship cake. All day Friday I read some tutorials and thought about the way I would construct it and it all made me extremely nervous. The cake wasn't for anyone but I just didn't want to mess it up and more than anything I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. I was up for the challenge.

First, I baked the cake and then once it cooled I began shaping it the way I wanted. I stacked it twice with two layers of the same shape then added a triangle piece for the front of the ship and a square piece for the back of the ship. Then I added another piece half the size of the square piece I previously added. This made it a total of 4 layers. I then crumb coated is with icing. I did white icing and looking back I should have mixed it with brown dye for brown icing that would match the brown fondant. That way if any icing were to show through it would unnoticeable.

Next I began cutting fondant in the shape of pieces of wood. I cut lines in each strip and two holes on each end of the strip to make it look like nails. I then began to add them to the cake. You must be patient and not get frustrated because I'm warning you that it does take some time- but the outcome is great!

I then added on the small details such as the railing in the front and back, the anchor on the side and the gold port holes going along the bottom.

Finally, I worked on the sails/masts. I took a wooden dowel and got the husband to saw the sizes I needed for each mast. I made the front mast shorter than the back. I glued a smaller wooden dowel to the front dowel and two to the back dowel. I then slipped some sugar paper (which you can find at Michaels and it's edible) for the sail part. I then just stuck the dowels into the cake and made the sails.

And this is the finished product. I hope you will try this and remember to be patient. It's a big project to tackle but the outcome is incredibly rewarding!

Cravin' Cupcakes

So it seems like every time I get on facebook someone I'm friends with is pregnant. No joke! It must be the season for making babies or just that it's now that time in my life where everyone is at that age where they are wanting a family. I know it will come one day for us as well.

As I was looking at all my cupcakes that I want to share with you this one popped out as something that would coincide with pregnant ladies out there. I know that there are certain things that you can't have, like raw eggs, caffeine, and raw fish such as sushi. Which brings me to my cupcakes... Sushi Cupcakes. I know that name doesn't sound appetizing but for the record they aren't actually made of sushi - just decorated like sushi :) So when you have a craving for sushi but can't have it then you can make some of these or order some and it's as if you gave in to the craving but in a healthy kind of way (excluding all the sugar) :) There are always loop holes if you look for them!

I hope this encourages all the pregnant ladies to stay on track when following the things you can and cannot have while pregnant!

Yo Ho! Yo Ho! A Pirate's Life For Me!

I know it's been a while since my last blog post and I sincerely apologize. I got a job and have been extremely busy and allowed cupcakes/mini cakes to take the back burner but I am back. I hope you can forgive me :) If not then maybe I can persuade you with some new cupcakes!

My oldest nephew just turned 3 this month and right now he's into the children's tv show "Jake and the Neverland Pirates." So, for his birthday I did some cupcakes for his birthday party at his preschool. I made pirate faces, treasure maps, swords with gold coins and flags with skulls and cross bones. These cupcakes were pretty simple material-wise. All I used was fondant, icing and food dye. These cupcakes are easy so you can look at the design and make them. Also, the possibilities are endless when coming up with ideas for pirate decorations on a cupcake.

The last thing I'll leave you with is the trailer for my favorite pirate movie, The Goonies. But before you see it you have to do the truffle shuffle :)