Why I'm Blogging

I decided to start blogging because people are always asking me "How did you do that?" I like to think that I'm some super creative genius that almost effortlessly manages to bring these great ideas into fruition with minimal effort.... However, that is not the truth.

The truth is I have an uncanny ability to duplicate things that I've seen (I always give credit and don't do it for profit). You name it, I can copy it. That's probably not something that I should brag about, but it's the truth and has saved me money (most of the time).

I realized my copycat talent while I was living in Austin, TX. I visited a bead shop called Nomadic Notions (it's still there!) back in 2003 and they had some awesome beads and findings that reminded me of some of the earrings and necklaces that I had seen in stores and magazines. 

In my mind I had an idea of how they must have been put together, so I purchased the pieces and began making jewelry. I stuck with that for several years. Making jewelry for friends and family, however I wasn't great at selling the stuff because I loved it all so much.  Needless to say, the business side of that didn't work out and eventually I had to deal with real life challenges, like raising my wonderful son. Now jewelry making is just a hobby that I play around with occasionally.


Fast Forward.

Like a lot of people in the mid to late-2000's I became obsessed with cooking, baking and cake decorating shows. I decided that year I would make a 3D cake for my son's first birthday. Once again, I found a picture and figured I could piece it together if I had the right materials. What I learned from the shows is that I needed four things: cake, fondant, fondant coloring and tools. 

Lightening McQueen inspired cake.

The result was a cake and experience that made me proud and excited about my copycat abilities. My son loved smashing the cake, and I enjoyed showing people the (albeit lopsided and a little crumbly) cake creation. 
Aside from the candles, the entire cake was edible. I made Paula Deen's strawberry cake and used a marshmallow fondant recipe that I found online for the covering and decorations. 


#LESSON# 
Cake must be a little more dense in order for the fondant to lay smoothly and marshmallow fondant takes a LOT of time to make. Especially when you have to separate it and mix five different colors.


Fast Forward Again.

Elmo cake done with a Wilton cake mold.

The next year I ventured into cupcake decorating.The theme was Sesame Street, and I found a Wilton cake mold that was shaped like Elmo's face.

Cupcakes: Elmo, The Grouch, Cookie Monster & Big Bird

That year's pièce de résistance was the four characters I created: Elmo, Cookie Monster, Big Bird and The Grouch.

All with edible decorations of course. The grouch has cookie eyebrows, Cookie Monster without a cookie hanging from his mouth? For Big Bird I used some yellow soft mint candy and the rest was done with icing and food coloring.

#LESSON#
Cupcakes are much easier to decorate than cakes, and if didn't already know which colorful cupcake your kid ate at daycare, you'll find out at diaper change time.


How could I stop there?

Thomas the Train cake.

For his 3rd birthday I decided to sculpt a Thomas the Train cake. I did make a more dense cake, but after sitting for a few hours it was clear that I still had some learning to do. 

Although it looks to be sitting okay in this picture, it was ALL fondant, so by the morning Thomas was a "train wreck" and the back of the cake was a crumbly mess.

#LESSON# 
Fondant is very heavy, too heavy in fact to create a six inch Thomas the Train, especially if it's sitting on top of a (still) too soft cake.



So here we are.

My son is turning 4. Can you guess what this year's theme is? There's a hint in the picture below from Halloween...

If you guessed Captain America you're right!!

This time around I began planning and gathering in January and I have managed to create quite the event in my head only at this point. 

This time around I've put my event planning skills to work and I'm super excited to share what I've pulled together. This is why I'm blogging!

~ Jessica