Monday, April 23, 2012

Yes, it is worth it!

I had another one of those super hectic weeks and I realized (though quite late) that I haven't properly acknowledged all those who left messages, advice, words of encouragement and expressions of concern and belief in me when I wrote this post.  THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.  I must admit though that I haven't had much progress into getting my priorities sorted out BUT I will get there, I promise.  In the meantime, just know that I am managing.

There are a few cakes I haven't shared with you yet.  Here they are!

ALICE IN WONDERLAND-THEMED CAKE

My niece turned 16 last month and this was her special request.  Her only specifications were that the cake be blue with no Alice figure.  Personally, I didn't want a whimsical design as most Alice cakes were.  I wanted something quite elegant.


This gumpaste teacup is probably my most favourite cake topper to date.  It's just stunning and pretty.  It does seem complicated to make, doesn't it?  Really, it's not (with the help of this tutorial).  All you will need is a lot of patience.

Another thing that I wanted on the cake was the rabbit's watch.  At first, I didn't think the watch time was important at all and I just made it to be 5:00.  Then my daughter corrected me, saying that tea time in Wonderland was always at 6:00!  I could have left it at that but I just couldn't stand the mistake.  So yes, I discarded a perfectly good watch and made a new one.

Here is the finished topper.


And here is the cake.


My niece appreciated it very much.  And so did all her friends and other guests at her party.

THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE-THEMED CAKE

My kids were never into Thomas.  I don't know....we just found the show quite boring (sorry to those who love the show!).  This is why we don't own a single Thomas toy.  How then was I supposed to make a rather complicated figure with nothing to copy from?

I searched the web and found a few tutorials and videos.  In the end, I decided not to stress too much into making a perfect Thomas with all his parts and details.  For as long as it was recognizable, it would be fine.  Maybe a 3-year old would not be so discriminating after all.


Could have been better but it's not too bad, isn't it?



ANGRY BIRDS-THEMED CAKE

This cake theme seems to be very much requested as the game is so popular with kids.  I don't mind making them cause the birds are so easy to mould, what with their very basic shapes.  The cake topper was all done in one sitting.




I know it's not as elaborate as other Angry Birds cakes are but sometimes less is more, right?

I have another Angry Birds cake coming up soon and this time around, it's going to be the new Space version.  Really looking forward to making that one!

BART SIMPSON-THEMED CAKE

When I was first asked to make this, my initial thought was to just make a 2D Bart.  Moulding a 3D Bart seemed too advance for my skill level.  One night, however, I sat down and just thought of trying.  If I could only make a decent head, then everything else would probably be less difficult.

I moulded the head then asked my kids, "Does this look  Bart enough?"  When they all said yes, I was confident enough to proceed.

Funny how the kids said my completed Bart was too fat. I didn't mind because isn't almost everyone in Springfield?  




I hope you enjoyed reading and looking.  I really have fun making cakes like these.  Sometimes the compensation is great, sometimes not so great.  Sometimes I feel like I work too hard, sometimes it seems like it's more like playing.  Whatever it may be, at the end of the day, knowing that I've made someone happy does make it all worthwhile.

Have a good week!



17 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness Corrine! Those cakes are just fabulous! I had to read the teacup one twice before I realized it wasn't a real china teacup! Each cake was better than the one before! You made some people very happy with those cakes!

    MGM

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  2. Corinne, each time I visit your blog all I can see is, you're getting better and better in what you do. The cakes look absolutely beautiful! Keep on posting those lovely cakes. Wish I could do it too. Take care.

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  3. Jaw drops yet again! Corinne your cakes never cease to amaze me. You have such talent!

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  4. Wonderwonderful cakes... it is unbelievable what you make...

    and I know the difficulties with timemanagement...

    but a good start is sometimes not to answer the phone when you don't feel like it... or just take an hour to yourself in the morning, when the kids are on their way... and do whatever you like...

    For me it helps when I don't think to much about it what lays ahead in front of me... I just keep doing stuff... and then I am glad what I achieved and not concerned what didn't get done... a new day comes by and I just start all over again...

    so I appreciate the little things... and there are a lot of things where you can appreciate... even the laundry... because that means you have a family... :-)

    I hope you doing better and don't feel so exhausted...

    and btw, I learned to say no... sometimes I can't... but more often I manage... especially when I think about it, that this time would be taken away from my kids... because they are no. 1 priority...

    Lots of love from Germany

    Andrea

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  5. Once more, wonderfully done!The Alice in Wonderland themed cake is unbelievable. My boys will go crazy over your Angry Bird themed cake.

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  6. Your talent is just awe inspiring. I was wondering why there was a china teacup on your post until I started reading. I thought it was real. Thank you for sharing your work with us.

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  7. you are so very very talented and must have pounds of patience your cakes have me dropping my jaw everytime they truly are works of art well done,cheers Vickie

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  8. As a tea addict, the Alice in Wonderland cake is my favorite, but all of the cakes are fabulous. I have never used gum paste. Your cakes are so inspiring that I'll have to try some for the next party cake I make.

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  9. Love the new banner and also love the Angry Birds cake so cute! Looking forward to seeing the Angry Birds in Space cake :)

    http://greyskysaturday.wordpress.com

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  10. Awesome! All these cakes use your Swiss buttercream recipe?
    Regine

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  11. Hi corinne! Just a quick question. I am planning to make a purse cake with LV design. This will be a fondant cake, should I use edible paint or edible pen to do the pattern on the fondant? thank you!

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    1. I do not really do much writing or painting. Nor do I do fondant covered cakes. My recommendation, however, would be to use edible paint but you have to have a suitably sized brush. Otherwise, use an edible pen.

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  12. Corinne, these are gorgeous. I love that you are showing us spectacular cakes can be made WITHOUT fondant. I am not a fondant fan at all. Now, only if you were in the United States. I would definitely be ordering an Alice tea cake for my 30th birthday next year.

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  13. Hi Ms Corinne! I love all your cakes you are such an inspiration, though its unfortunate (to us) your not making cakes anymore, but I totally understand it is really exhausting. Just a question I will try to make angry birds cake like yours using gumapaste toppers and covered with buttercream, my question is how do you store them once finished? Do you put them in the fridge or just room temperature? They say that dont put fondant / gumpaste in the fridge as it will be soft. I am making the cake a day ahead so im wondring how to store it bfore the party. many thanks

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    1. I make my gumpaste decorations days ahead so by the time I put them on the cake, they are really dry and rock hard. The centerpiece is always on top of a cardboard round so it does not come in direct contact with the buttercream.

      If I have to, I put my cakes in the fridge (like if I finish it in the night for pickup the next morning). I always store them in cake boxes for minimal exposure to moisture. I think, for as long as your gumpaste is of good quality, it will be ok in the fridge for a few hours.

      By the way, I don't use pure fondant for decorations. I always add tylose powder.

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