Autumn Carpenter's Weblog

Barnyard Farm Birthday party theme

autumncarpenter — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:41:12 +0000

Down on the Farm Cake from my book, Complete Photo guide to Cake Decorating

Cupcakes with green piped buttercream grass with purchased adorable pre-made figurines.

Barnyard two-tier cake

Farm Animal Cookie Bouquets

Quick and Easy Cupcakes with Plastic Picks

Quick decorated cookies with edible frosting sheets

I’ve always loved cute animals, especially sweet little farm animals. When ever I am in the mood to create animals, I instantly seem to think that chubby pigs, cuddly lambs, and sweet little chicks are the way to go. The cakes, cookies and cupcakes above are some farm creations I have made in the past. Complete instructions for these projects can be found on Country Kitchen SweetArt’s website.

Valentine Cupcakes

autumncarpenter — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:17:15 +0000

Valentine cupcakes with Edible Frosting Sheets

These valentines cupcakes are another sample from my book. The edible frosting sheets are a quick and pretty way to add a lot of detail and color to cupcakes. Simply ice the cupcake with buttercream and place the edible image (that was cut in a circle), on top of the iced cupcakes. The heart accents are cut from patchwork cutters. Small royal icing dots surround the hearts.

Cut the frosting sheet in a circle large enough to cover the iced cupcake

My Book, The Complete Photo Guide to Cake Decorating, is Now available!

autumncarpenter — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:52:31 +0000

Complete Photo Guide to Cake Decorating

I’m so happy with how my book turned out! I worked with a great publishing company, and Linda, my editor was so easy-going and helpful. I hope more books are to follow! I must give my mom a great big thanks for all her help and support on the book. Also, Bruce, my husband, was my biggest cheerleader (cliché… i know…but true!) He was super supportive of the hours that it took to complete this book. The book can be ordered from Amazon, or from Country Kitchen SweetArt. If ordering from Country Kitchen SweetArt, you receive my fabric texture set free, which is a $14.95 value!

SWAK Valentine cookies, candies and cake

autumncarpenter — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:54:47 +0000

SWAK lips and valentine love envelope cupcakes

SWAK envelope sheet cake

SWAK lips and Valentine love envelope cookies

SWAK kiss candy sucker bouquet

Valentine’s day love notes and kisses are great symbols for Valentine’s Day! I love the SWAK theme and have seen it all over stores this Valentine’s day. I had fun coming up with this theme and these four treats were super easy and fast to decorate. The cupcakes were piped with buttercream icing and accented with rolled fondant details. The lips were molded from a candy mold. The envelopes were cut from a rectangle metal cutter. The sheet cake was covered in fondant and accented with cut rolled fondant letters and candy molded lips. The cookies were decorated using thinned royal icing (flood icing). The sucker bouquet was created with red candy coating using a lip sucker mold. Complete instructions for these treats can be found on Country Kitchen SweetArt’s website.

LOVE Blossoms Valentine theme cakes, candies and cookies

autumncarpenter — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 14:24:23 +0000

LOVE blossoms square buttercream cake

Close-up of Rolled Fondant Flowers

LOVE Blooms Valentine's Day Cookies

LOVE blooms Valentine's Day cupcakes

LOVE caramel chocolate candies

Large crunchy chocolate bark bar with LOVE

This collection of Valentine’s day treats are created using edible frosting sheets in red, pink and white as well as chocolate treats with “LOVE”. Rolled fondant flowers with the edible frosting sheets adorn the buttercream iced square cake. The heart shape cookies are simply iced and decorated with the edible frosting sheets. The caramel-filled candies are molded, and when released, decorated with piped chocolate white dots and a rolled fondant letter. The LOVE bark bar was painted red and pink first, then filled with chocolate and candy crunch. After the bark was released from the mold, white dots were piped around the edge.

Simon’s Construction Birthday Party Cake

autumncarpenter — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 19:02:46 +0000

This cake is a cake featured in the gallery section of my book, Complete Photo Guide to Cake Decorating. I also created some cookies to coordinate. Simon (my son), now wants this cake for his birthday. He’s never been “into” construction toys, but I guess since it has his name on, he thinks it should be the cake for his birthday! The cake board is covered with red fondant and textured with my brick texture mat. The bottom tier has wood panels created with a wood texture mat and rolled fondant. The top tier is covered with yellow fondant and has cut strips using black fondant. The hard hat, hammer and orange cone was hand molded. The nails were cut using the opening of tip #6 and grey fondant. The fondant was painted with silver luster dust. “Simon” was cut using the cricut cake.

Construction Theme Birthday Cake

Road Sign Sugar Cookies

Bruce’s 40th Computer Theme Birthday

autumncarpenter — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 15:00:19 +0000

My husband is a software engineer and loves everything computer. I wanted to highlight his passion on his 40th birthday. I did a lot of research trying to come up with computer theme supplies and ideas, but couldn’t find much. I did find one particular blogger who gave some really cool ideas. Visit her blog here: http://computerparty.wordpress.com/. I had a difficult time figuring out how to decorate! I based all the decorations on 101000 and the colors black, white and silver. 101000 is binary code for “40″. My sister and I recently just went in together and bought a Cricut. While I don’t scrapbook, I loved making decorations for the party. I was very happy with my first project-the banner. I also cut “1′s and “0′s and scattered them on the food tables. I also cut larger numbers and attached them to the window. Other decorations that I used were CD’s hanging from black and silver ribbons.

: Assorted Chocolate Truffles

: Close up of Chocolate Truffles

: Bruce’s “must have” cookies at every party- ritz crackers dipped in dark mint chocolate

Butter Pecan Cupcakes with Caramel Filling and Cream Cheese Icing

: Appetizer Food Table

Spring Rolls

: Bruschetta Kabobs

: Sun dried tomato cheese torte and mini cheeseballs

: Yummm…. Cheese……

: Bruce’s 40th Birthday Photo collage

: Bruce’s Birthday Banner

Brown, Red, White and Green Decorated Christmas Cookies

autumncarpenter — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 13:47:43 +0000

These Christmas cookies are covered with rolled fondant using various texture mats from my Cookie Cutter Texture Sets. The holly is created using a plunger cutter from PME. Fine details were piped with royal icing.

Christmas Cookies decorated with Rolled Fondant

Santa clothes cake with snowflake cake and cookies

autumncarpenter — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:30:44 +0000

Chocolate panel cake with snowflakes and Santa's Clothes

This collection of treats is from my book “Complete Photo Guide to Cake Decorating”. I am so excited! I just heard that I may be receiving a copy any day! It is officially out February 1. (Preorder on Amazon.com or Country Kitchen SweetArt) This cake is covered with chocolate panels using light blue chocolate and snowflake chocolate transfer sheets. The decorations are created with gum paste and PME’s gum paste Santa cutter. The snowflake cookies were made with my snowflake cookie cutter texture set using light blue fondant and piped royal icing designs. The Oreo cookies were dipped in light blue chocolate and decorated with piped run sugar accents.

Sneak peek of my Cupcake and Cookie Texture Sheets

autumncarpenter — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 11:27:57 +0000

I have several designs of Cupcake and Cookie Texture Sheet Sets coming out early next year. The sets will include mats with designs for cupcakes and round cookies. Each set will include three different designs. These sheets will make decorating easy! The sample below is from my Whimsy Floral set. Other sets will be Classic Floral, Geometric, Scrolls, and two Christmas sets.

Christmas Cupcakes with Holly and Berries