Friday, January 25, 2008

Details, details....

I was so proud of myself I just had to share this. I know I'm probably over my limit on birthday posts but it took up so much of my time this weekend, what's a girl to do?!

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(Yes Chey. That is a NEW bag of Mini Eggs. I didn't even eat most of them...baby steps!)

I've never attempted anything like this before, mostly because I'm notoriously bad at decorating cakes. Don't get me wrong, they're always super yummy but in the looks department, they fail miserably. I realize these ones are pretty amateur to the the seasoned pro but for me...they're as close to perfect as it gets.

The big problem is...
1. I'm not really a details person
2. I'm not a perfectionist...
3. I'm a procrastinator.

I marvel at people who are able to think of the minutia and who care to pull it off. You know her, the lady who remembers to paint her toes or who remembers that you might need a thank you card two weeks into your vacation...someone like that. I'm the one who forgets to bring my toothbrush or a hair elastic or underwear.

I figured it out though, as far as the cakes go. Do as much before hand as you possible can, freeze the layers and decorate frozen. It's amazing how well this works. It can be applied in all sorts of situations actually. If you get as much done before the actual event, you're much less likely to forget something. It seems my mother was right (again) after all!

I did almost forget to serve the cake though! BUT that's another story....

Click here for my inspiration...

17 comments:

Don Mills Diva said...

Okay. Those cakes? AWESOME! You have every right to be proud!

Jess said...

This is insane. INSANE. I can't believe your cake talent. I mean, seriously. I can barely make a cake from a mix. The normal round kind.

InTheFastLane said...

Freeze the layers! That is genius! Too bad our next birthday isn't until June. I am actually already planning the party because I have seen so many cute party ideas lately on the internet.

Mighty Morphin' Mama said...

Your cakes always taste divine! And those princess cakes are pretty gorgeous! I think I may have to steal the idea for my princess' party. In the summer!
Ooh maybe we will be at the lake and we can make the simpler version. Yummy! If I can't have the yummy beach cocktails, I am for darn sure eating the cake.

shay said...

Aw shucks...I'm blushing with all the complements! I didn't post this so that you could pat my back BUT go ahead:)

She had a wonderful day and the cakes were super easy to make and very impressive:)

Oh and the freezing the layer thing was not mine. I stole the idea from some website somewhere. I've been struggling with the dreaded , crumbs in the icing thing forever!

I'll go back and put in the link where I got the cake idea:)

Amy said...

that's a fabulous cake! great work!

LoriD said...

Awesome job! I love making kids birthday cakes - so fun!

My mom always did the freezing thing too... it IS amazing what a difference it makes.

Klin said...

Are you available for hire? I made some when my boys were little. That decorate when they are frozen trick is a must know.

I think I want some cake now.

Chey said...

Shay your cake(s) turned out fantastic!!! I noticed the mini eggs right away. I'm doing the big princess thing for the big OH-Five for The Girl in June. I was also planning on doing a dry run on the castle cake just to make sure I could do it.

Yes the freezing thing is a pro secret. If you don't freeze you always have a "crumb layer" (yes they really call it that) and have to ice your cake twice. Rarely do I ever give myself the time to freeze the cake, so usually I do have the crumb layer. It's okay though.

The Oh-Five is already in the plans becuase it is going to be big-ish I think. It's going to be a princess tea party, but I will dress up like a princess and hopefully corner a couple other friends into dressing up too. I was thinking Snow White ish for me, and then have a Belle and then either Cinderella or Sleeping beauty. So you see if I want to get the dresses made....and have them look decent I need to get on the ball. Plus I need to figure out costumes for the girls that might not have princess dresses in their wardrobe. I know it's unlikely but hey....you never know.

I was looking through some old pictures of B-day cakes I'd made the kids, I love doing cakes. When Michael's opens here (yay I can't wait) I'm hoping that there will be someone to do the Wilton decorating classes.

Lori said...

WOW!! That is impressive!

I am TERRIBLE at decorating cakes!!

Hunny Bee said...

I love that princess cake. Now all I need is a princess to make it for (we're working on that). Btw, that is great pic of you holding her in the hospital. My god I wish I looked half that good after giving birth. Dig the nose ring too. I had one for awhile, but it got infected. Not a great location for a raging infection.
Anyhoo, your kids are adorable. And that little girl looks like she's a spunky one...keeps you busy I'm sure!

painted maypole said...

wow, that is incredible.

and freeze the layers? and then decorate? I bet that keeps the cake from peeling off into the frosting as it always does when I try to decorate a cake. It's brilliant! well done! And not just one, but TWO!

Unknown said...

I learned about that frozen trick from my sister who always makes cakes like that. I already told you how awesome I think your cakes turned out! You rock, girl.

Family Adventure said...

Those cakes are beautiful! I'm totally in awe...

Thanks for the hints...though, honestly, I know I could never pull that off. Never, ever.

I bet the birthday girl was just THRILLED!

Heidi :)

Aunt Becky said...

Gorgeous cakes, dude. I don't like to EAT cake (weird, I know) but I love to buy really fancy ones for my kids birthdays.

You outdid anything I could ever do.

AND you made me want to have a girl.

Pregnantly Plump said...

Those cakes are so great! How fun and imaginitive.
Little Elvis' first birthday is next month, and I'm going to attempt a teddy bear cake. It's not nearly as ambitious as yours, but hopefully it will turn out well.
Thanks for visiting my blog!

Big Doofus (Roger) said...

My wife is a good cakemaker (I just invented that word) and I'd love to see her do this one for our youngest, who is convinced that she is a princess. Nicely done.