cake catch up...picture marathon...

who's ready to see a BUNCH of cake pics?

we'll start with this simple little number...a small fudge chip cake, iced in buttercream, then covered in purple fondant...i made it to go along with a gift certificate that i donated to a live auction (for the local Boys & Girls Club gala)...which reminds me - i wonder how much money it brought in?


here's some more purple...& black...& blue...it's a Corpse Bride cupcake tree...made for a fun couple's wedding rehearsal dinner...the bride really wanted this as her wedding cake theme, but compromised with her parents & used it for the rehearsal dinner instead ;0)

the cupcakes were fudge chip, spice & lemon...all iced in buttercream, then topped with fondant circles that i airbrushed with funky designs...

here's the couple's wedding cake...it was 4 tiers of carrot cake, filled with cream cheese icing...then iced in buttercream & covered in orange & purple fondant...it was also accented in more fondant work...


this isn't one of my cakes, but i had to include it...it's some fondant sculptures that my girls created...they used some cutters & made their little fondant picture, then painted their creations with food coloring...they LOVE doing stuff like this!

i made this fun cake for a friend's daughter...she thought it would be fitting for her Memorial Day weekend birthday party...

it was confetti cake, iced in buttercream...the "table" was also cake, with a fondant tablecloth (that i handpainted)...all the food & accessories on the table are fondant (except the burgers - they're chocolate cake)...100% edible!

this next cake is now one of my favs...it's a treasure chest, created for my friend's son...Cole had a pirate birthday party & this fit his theme perfectly!

the bottom of the chest was yellow cake, iced in buttercream & covered in fondant...i made the jewels out of sugar, & used chocolate coins & candy necklaces to fill the chest...the lid was rice cereal treats, iced, then covered in fondant...the sand is crushed graham crackers...

i also added a little treasure map on the side...again, this cake is 100% edible...

Cole, & everyone at his party, loved the cake!

next are some Gaga cupcakes!

made for a special friend, celebrating his birthday...they were wedding white & fudge chip, iced in buttercream & decorated in Gaga fondant toppers...


graduation is a busy time of year for any cake decorator...i wasn't taking any new orders this year, but i had a sister combo contact me about creating their kiddos' grad cakes almost a year in advance! this cousin combo had a joint graduation party...

Samantha loves anything zebra striped...so her cake had to match! it was butter yellow, strawberry & wedding white cake tiers, iced in buttercream & accented with dark chocolate fondant zebra stripes...the ribbon & carnations are real...

her cousin, Chad, is a country boy...his cake was also tiers with the same 3 flavors...iced in buttercream & decorated with blue fondant stripes, a modeled figure of his dog, a rebel flag, his welding mask & his derby car steering wheel & number...it was also topped with a rice cereal treat graduation cap...


this cute little cake was another friend's son...Dean asked for a cake that had "a black poodle sitting in the green grass...with a blue sky & clouds & the sun"...

i think i got all his requests in there ;0)

Jaden's teacher (he just finished the 3rd grade) just celebrated his 5th wedding anniversary...he asked me to help him surprise his wife with "a pretty cake with yellow daisies" (her fav)...it was wedding white cake, with a raspberry buttercream & fresh raspberry filing...i made the flowers & leaves from fondant...

actually, you'll see these daisies again in a minute - they were extras from ones i made for a wedding cake ;0)

now you all know i live in the country...here's a cake that you've seen me do in a million different variations...folks love farm animals round here - especially the kiddos! this cake was for Autumn, who asked for "a black & white cow cake, with 2 pink piggies rolling in the mud"...here's what she got...


right after Memorial Day, i got to visit the TV3 Daybreak crew again! Yuna Lee invited me back for my 4th time...this time, to talk about WEDDINGS!

that's me, mic'ing up ;0)

i invited my friend, Carrie, along this time...she also makes cakes here locally...she's about the only person i refer folks to...she helped me with the HUGE RMH job last June, & we team up on quite a few projects together...

we split up the 2 segments...she talked about cupcakes as the new wedding trend...& i showed how a wedding cake is stacked, & how to do the embroidery technique with icing...

here are the 2 spots we did...






& since it's wedding season...of course you're going to see more wedding cakes!

this one went to Strasburg...for a sweet & fun family! it was 4 tiers of wedding white cake, filled with raspberry buttercream & fresh raspberries...it was iced in buttercream & covered in fondant...recognize those yellow & white daisies? i made those out of fondant too...

sitting next to the wedding cake, was a groom's cake i made too...the groom is an avid fisherman, so i gave him his biggest catch ever! ;0)

it was fudge chip cake, iced in buttercream & covered/decorated in fondant...i then hand painted & air brushed the color detail...it was a fun cake to make!

here's a message i received from the bride's mother (who actually ordered the cake since the couple live in Washington state)...

"Sharon: I didn't get a chance to thank you again for this beautiful wedding cake! Everyone loved it...and it was delicious! The grooms cake was also amazing! We will definitely keep you in mind for future cakes! Thanks so much!"

then came another chest cake...this time, for a little girl that loves to dress up!

again, the bottom of the chest was cake (wedding white) & the lid was made of rice cereal treats...both then covered in fondant...i made some fondant clothes to go inside (the gloves, ribbons & pink/white/blue garments), but i used quite a few non-edible items to fill it too (saves the client on cost & me on time)...

here are the hinges on the back ;0)

next is this FUN cake! i tried a new technique for the tie-dye design...piping out a bunch of different colors of buttercream, then smoothing it all at once...i think it turned out pretty cool! i also accented the cakes with the birthday girl's favorite symbols - peace signs & yin yangs (dark chocolate fondant)...

for her matching cupcakes, i tried a little more tie-dye in the buttercream...

who didn't own an old school Nintendo? i remember ours...& the sibling fights over ours ~lol~ this one was fun to do, while reminiscing about the good ol' days! (did you have to shove cassette tapes in yours - to hold the game in tight & get it to work - too?)

this cake was a groom's cake - to be served at the couple's rehearsal dinner...it was fudge chip cake, iced in buttercream & covered in fondant...i made the controllers out of fondant too...& did some handpainting with food coloring for the details...

then came an oldie, but goodie...an Elmo head "smash cake"...this was for 1yo Zoe...butter yellow cake, with buttercream fur & a fondant face :0)

did someone say wedding season? here comes some more...

this one was for a co-worker's son...she actually designed the cake as a surprise/gift for her son & his bride...

the bride actually collects Jim Shore figures...so the topper was an extra special surprise!

it was 3 tiers of butter yellow cake...iced in buttercream & accented with fresh flowers...the cake stand was also very special - hand crafted by the groom's father & grandfather!

the groom's cake was a Washington Capitals hockey puck...fudge chip cake, iced in buttercream, then covered in dark chocolate fondant...i handpainted the logo on top...

here's the message i got from the groom's mother...

"Sharon, once again you have created exactly what I wanted. The Bride loved the cake with its special Jim Shore topper, and the cake it's self was so darn good. You know how much this family loves your icing. Major thanks to you, just wonderful."

& lastly, this beautiful wedding cake...

(thx to Curt for snapping some pics while i assemble the cake)

this cake was all red velvet, filled with cream cheese icing...

it was then iced in my classic buttercream, & accented with a real ribbon & sugar flowers...

the ceremony went on right next door to the reception hall...see them exchanging their vows in the background?

& i was asked to stay to serve the cake (with Curtis as my date)...so i was able to get a pic of the beautiful couple cutting the cake...

that's it...for now anyway...i've got 3 weddings lined up for this coming Saturday (whew!)...so i'll have some more pics for you next week...wish me luck!

xoxo,
sharon

this week's cakes...

i made these cute little cupcakes for Corinn's 1st grade teacher, who celebrated her birthday on Tuesday...marble CC's, with buttercream icing, topped with fondant ribbon roses...

this past weekend, i had a wedding AND groom's cake...but for 2 different weddings ;0)

this groom's cake was of course for a truck driver...his (now) wife gave me a picture to duplicate...it was wedding white cake, iced in buttercream & covered in fondant...

then i had to travel over the mountain, to Luray, for the other wedding...Becca picked out a beautiful design (one of my favs so far)...as well as some super yummy flavors! it was 4 tiers - alternating flavors of amaretto cake, with almond buttercream filling...& rich vanilla cake, with raspberry filling...

i did the scrollwork in chocolate buttercream, & bordered each tier with a strip of chocolate fondant...i made the light teal flowers from fondant as well

i caught this pic, just as i was ready to leave...it's my favorite part of a cake delivery...i finish setting up, & adding the final details...i snap my photos, then step back & let everyone else move in...a crowd gathers, & folks whip out their cell phone cameras...it makes me smile each time! :0)

here are some pics that were taken by the wedding photographer,
Rebecca Tabor Armstrong...

love this one of the bride's children...

thx for looking!

xoxo,
sharon

wordless Wednesday...modern day pen pals...

(Jaden using FaceTime to chat with our friends in San Diego)

xoxo,
sharon

they're so talented!

for the 2nd year in a row, our kiddos participated in their elementary talent show (here's last year)...but this time - they performed together!

they did a simple hula hoop/jump rope routine (that they created all on their own)...& they did great!

here's a video of their performance...

xoxo,
sharon

field trip frenzy...

one week in April, we had 3 field trips lined up all in a row...literally - one day, right after the other!

the first 2 were all-day trips...Jaden & the 4th grade classrooms headed to Jamestown on Tuesday...then Gabrielle & the 2nd graders hit the National Zoo on Wednesday...thankfully, Corinn's Thursday 1st grade field trip was just to a local greenhouse - not sure we would have had energy for much else

Curtis & i both went along with Jaden to Jamestown...we opted to drive instead of riding the charter bus (& paying $25/each)...it was nice - we had plenty of room to spread out, snacks & drinks at our disposal, Jaden even got to watch whatever movies he wanted - instead of what the rest of the bus was watching

the day was perfect...sunny, with mild temps...the river had a great breeze blowing off of it...Jaden was in love with the ships, & just about everything else there was to see...the trip couldn't have gone any better...

that is, until we were on our way out...

we were headed to the building up front...you sort of have to go thru it to get out to the parking lot...well, we were almost there & Jaden notices a boardwalk that he hadn't had a chance to check out yet...it sort of spreads out over the marshy area, & has signs talking about the different plants & wildlife found there...it looked like just a big deck to me - so i tell him to go check it out & come right back...i stand on the main path, at the entrance to the boardwalk, waiting for him to return

after a few minutes, i start to look around to check on him...no Jaden...i start out towards the deck, then suddenly realize that the boardwalk isn't just a deck - it actually goes somewhere!

i send Curtis walking down the path in the same direction, & i start down the boardwalk...we meet up at the other end - but no Jaden in between!

i immediately assume he's followed that boardwalk out to the other end (where Curt & i just met up), & then continued out into the park, looking for us (instead of turning around like i wish he had done!)...we split up & start looking...peeking in the nearby huts & calling out his name...we circle the park & find nothing...i head down to the ships (Jaden's favorite area) & start doing a scan...it's there that i run into his homeroom teacher & alert him...he immediately calls the principal on his cell (who's also on the trip) & starts calling the other teachers...he instructs me to go back & search the park again, while he looks in all the nooks & crannies of the 3 ships

Curtis & i stay in touch via our cell phones...but no Jaden...we probably circled the entire park about 7 times...our calls for Jaden turn into frantic screams & i notice folks are now staring...i'm running through my head the whole "what would i do if i were Jaden?" question, & then it hits me...he knows we were about to leave...maybe he's trying to head to the car!

i start towards the front building again, & run into Jaden's Science teacher...i explain to her that i suspect he's trying to get to the car & she offers to head that way instead...again sending me back into the park

at this point, i'm drenched in sweat! tears are starting to form, & i'm feeling like i'm on the verge of panic...Curtis' fear comes across more as anger...he's frantically searching, with the meanest scowl on his face i've ever seen! together, we look like a fighting couple - him, with his pissed off face, & me in tears...now, i can look back & laugh at it...boy, what the other park visitors must have been thinking! ~lol~

as i'm rounding the park for what must be the 10th time, i spot Jaden's homeroom teacher again...he gives me a shrug as if to say "nothing yet" & i totally lose it! i can't hold back any more - the tears turn into sobs, & i feel as though i'm about to pass out...i start looking for the nearest tour guide...it's past the point of just involving school staff on our hunt...i'm ready to lock this place down!

no sooner than i start to walk away, Jaden's teacher shouts "Mrs. Skates!" & i turn around...he's on the phone & is nodding his head...i can tell by his face that Jaden's been found...WHEW! i've never felt such relief in my LIFE!

sure enough, Jaden did exactly what i suspected he would...he was trying to find his way out, & in the process, ran into a parent/son combo that he knows at the front building (THANK YOU Jarrod's mom!!!)...he asked them if they'd seen his parents, & she knew to help him out

when we were finally reunited, he looked scared...he said that he didn't cry during the whole ordeal, but i could tell that he had...he kept apologizing over & over - but i assured him that he did just what he was supposed to do (by asking for help)...i'm glad he wasn't able to get out to the parking lot, but i was proud that he had remembered that's where we were headed - & actually tried to get there! (major step, honestly!)

Curtis drove to Jamestown, so i offered to drive home...but as soon as we hit the main highway, i felt like all the life had been sucked out of me! i was coming down from the huge adrenaline rush i had been on...that was the 1st time i've ever lost one of my kiddos...& it was the scariest (& longest!) 20 minutes of my life...i'm just SO thankful that it all ended well!!!

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the next day's trip to the zoo was another gorgeous one...Curtis went alone to chaperone this trip (& they did ride the charter bus)...we've been to the zoo a thousand times (plus Curt is from DC!), & i got to go with Jaden on his 2nd grade trip...they had one other girl in their group, & they were looking forward to a carefree day of just strolling around & checking out the animals...Curt joked that maybe he should take the dog's leash with him on this trip - just to be safe ~lol~ instead, we made sure to have a long talk with all 3 kiddos after we got home from Jamestown...just to brush up on what we should do if we ever get lost ;0)

at this point, Gabby's seasonal allergies hadn't kicked in full-force quite yet...by the end of the day, she would say her eyes were a little itchy, & we'd need to put some allergy drops in em...but she wasn't to the point of taking her daily meds yet...well, DC must have hit the pollen spurt about a week earlier than us...cause Curtis says that after less than an hour of being at the zoo, Gab's eyes were completely swollen shut!

they spent the first 1/2 hour looking for the first aid station (because of course we didn't think to send along allergy meds...duh!), then Curtis had to fill out paperwork to have the Benedryl cleared...finally, they got a dose in her...the first aid attendant told them she'd been handing out allergy meds like candy that week!

it didn't take long for the Benedryl to start working, & thankfully this didn't ruin their day...even tho you could tell that Gabby wasn't feeling 100%, they still had a blast!

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the last field trip of the week was an uneventful one...i'm THRILLED to report! i had a little group of 4 to keep an eye on (including Corinn)...but we were contained to just 2 buildings...i wonder if i would have been put in charge of 4 rugrats had the 1st grade teachers known what happened on Jaden's trip just 2 days prior?! ;0)

Corinn got to sit with her BFF, Tyler, on the bus ride there...

they learned the basics about how a greenhouse works...my veggie lover was the only one that could identify the lettuce! ;0)

they even got to plant some seedlings of their very own to take home!

it was a great little trip...relaxing & beautiful...the perfect way to end our week of field trip frenzy! ;0)

xoxo,

sharon

this week's cakes...

a Vera Bradley bag for a special birthday/Mother's day combination...fudge chip cake, iced in buttercream, then covered in pink fondant & hand painted...

and a squirrel cake for 13yo Morgan...confetti cake, iced in buttercream & decorated with fondant squirrels & accents...


thx for looking!

xoxo,
sharon