If you follow my blog regularly, you will know that I’m doing a cake decorating course at my local college. My daughter has asked me to make her wedding cake next year and I want it to be everything she has ever dreamed of … so no pressure there then!
A few weeks ago, my cake class teacher asked me to come along to one of her cake events to demonstrate some papercraft projects to her group of ladies. I wanted the projects to have a cake theme, so used the create a cupcake stamp set and matching punch from the spring mini catalogue from Stampin’ Up!
We made a matching card, gift tag and cupcake holder …
I chose colours that reminded me of Neapolitan icecream – yum!
I made some more examples to show different colour options …
Most of the ladies hadn’t done any papercrafting before but all their projects were just gorgeous. Stampin Up makes it so easy to get fabulous, professional results first time. The ladies were delighted!
A big thank you to everyone who attended for making me feel so very welcome and for making it such a great evening. And a big thank you to Tracey too, for inviting me along. Did I get nervous teaching my teacher? …of course not! I found out she doesn’t bite!
All papercraft supplies from Stampin’ Up!
Card recipe: cardstock: pretty in pink, crumb cake, very vanilla; stamp sets: create a cupcake; punches: 2 3/8”large scallop circle, cupcake builder, word window, modern label; inks: pretty in pink, chocolate chip; accessories: tombow glue, stampin dimensionals, sticky strip, crumb cake seam binding ribbon, mini glue dots.
One of my friends has a new addition to the family … a beautiful little boy called Micah. He is such a little sweetie! Catriona visited with him this week and he slept the whole time – bless!
I made a card for us all to sign …
I stamped the main images in marina mist ink, with the bundle of love stamp set from Stampin Up, and then made my own background paper to mount it on to by stamping with the spiced paisley stamp set from the spring mini catalogue – but it’s only available until Monday 30th April 2012 – so you need to hurry if you want to get yours!
In cake class, I made a sugar model of a little girl too … well they say little girls are sugar and spice and all things nice!
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Love the little bow on the back of her dress – how cute!
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I know it needs work but it’s not bad for my first attempt … can’t wait to make another … and will definitely work on making the features a little cuter next time!
What I love about Stampin’ Up, apart from their fabulous products, their superb quality and their designs, is that their demonstrators are so friendly, kind and generous and love to share their talents, ideas and projects.
For my card today, I cased (copy and share everything) a card given to me by my friend and fellow demo, Deborah Wright. She made it for my birthday and I was just blown away. She very kindly agreed that I could case it, so I made it as one of my samples using the charming stamp set for my inspiration station at Michelle Last’s craft event back in January.*
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I loved the colours Debs had used – so I used the same – early espresso and pool party…
My stampamajig was my best friend – without it I could not have lined up the images to make my own background paper for the card.
I just loved this! The colours, the design …everything!
And the charming stamp set is one of my favourites from Stampin’ Up’s spring mini catalogue – but it’s only available until the end of this month so you’ll need to hurry to order yours!
It’s great value at £13.95 in clear mount, or £17.95 in wood -
Card recipe: cardstock: early espresso, pool party; stamp sets: charming, happiest birthday wishes; punches: corner rounder, small heart; inks: early espresso; accessories: stampamajig, rhinestones, dazzling diamonds, two way glue pen, stampin dimensionals, chocolate chip satin ribbon.*
I’ve been so busy lately! The Easter holiday was a blur; mainly because I was on a mission to make a VW camper van cake to celebrate Mick’s 60th birthday!
Now when I’m in cake class, I have my teacher demonstrating how to make the cake. She is always on hand to help answer questions … this time, I was on my own! My teacher loaned me a book with basic instructions for the cake, but it only showed how to make a cake topper, and I wanted to make a full sized cake. I think I bit off more than I could chew … literally!
It took a whole afternoon just to mix and bake the sponge as the cake tin I’d bought was huge! While the cake was baking, I iced the board and made the icing sugar base that the cake would rest on. I was trying to colour white icing black …nigh on impossible. I settled for a dark grey and painted the edge that would be seen with black food colouring; a good compromise I thought … Once cooled, I cut the sponge into a general camper van shape and added the jam and buttercream … and called it a night.
Day two, I started icing the cake early morning. It took 1.5kg of grey icing to cover the cake. At least now I had a fair idea how big the final cake would be. I made the headlamps, side lights, door handles, and wing mirrors as these would need to dry overnight so they would keep their shape on the finished cake. I enlisted my daughter’s help to make the VW sign for the front of the van. She had the patience to cut the shape freehand … wow! She made a fab job of it! I dusted the top half of the cake with edible silver dust for the windows.
Day three dawned, the day of the birthday celebration, and I was up early to finish the cake. I hadn’t even had chance to make his card yet!
I coloured the next layer of icing pale blue, measured and rolled it out once… twice…three times… maybe more - I lost count – I just couldn’t get it how I wanted it to look! I took a breath and went for it…not bad…could be better, but I was ok with that. I cut the top of the van freehand – it wasn’t perfect but my daughter said it looked good, so I moved on to making the tyres, windscreen wipers, etc – time was ticking after all…
By now the cake was quite heavy - it contained 1lb flour, 1lb sugar, 1lb butter and 8 eggs… and not only was there all that butter, sugar and flour in it, but I reckon there was about 4lb of fondant icing on it too!
I was on my feet for the whole day – the fiddly bits took lots of time, and I finally finished with an hour to spare. I just had time to get ready to go to Mick’s party, but I didn’t have time to make him a card! Oh my word! That’s what I do for goodness sake! My daughter said she thought he would forgive me as the cake was so special and personal to him. I was exhausted but really pleased with how it looked…
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My daughter bought sparkler candles for the cake …
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I know that Mick loved it – the front number plate said “UR 60” and the back one had his name on it. They thought the cake was too good to cut into! I finally got a text a couple of days later to say they had plucked up the courage to cut the cake, and that it tasted as good as it looked so I was a happy bunny!
Although I didn’t get to make Mick’s card, I did make a card for a friend who turned 50 recently.
I am always inspired by the beautiful projects on Pauline’s blog, and cased one of her cards, using similar colours, inking up my wedding sweet and french foliage stamp sets from Stampin’ Up with crumb cake ink.
I added a teeny tiny crumb cake bow and some rhinestones too…
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I just love these colours together – the pink goes so well with the crumb cake card and ink.
I think the card looks a little bit vintage but with a modern feel …love it!
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All papercraft supplies from Stampin’ Up!
Card recipe: cardstock: crumb cake, pretty in pink, very vanlilla; stamp sets: wedding sweet, french folliage; inks: crumb cake; accessories: crumb cake seam binding ribbon, rhinestones, glue dots, stampin dimensionals.
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