Show your support for Breast Cancer Awareness!

You can’t miss it… Pink is everywhere! I’m sure each and everyone one of us knows someone who has battled breast cancer. For me it is my mother-in-law. I’ll never forget the day my husband and I were told. My father-in-law said to my husband, “your mom is going in for surgery today”. They had known for some time, but decided not to tell anyone, as they didn’t want us all to be worried. I admire my mother-in-law’s strength and courage throughout her mastectomy, treatments, and  checkups. She a survivor going now on her thirteenth clear year.

Show your support through organizations like the American Cancer Society, Cancer Centers, and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Many organizations are hosting events all month long!

Directions for the treats below can be found on Country Kitchen SweetArt’s website.

Breast Cancer Awareness Cupcakes

Breast Cancer Awareness Chocolate Suckers

Breast Cancer Awareness Cookies

 

Sneak peek- Cupcake and Cookie Texture Sets

After many long months of waiting, I finally have the Cupcake and Cookie Texture tops almost ready to go! By next week I will have three of the six sets ready to sell. The following are the sets that will be available:

Geometric
Scroll
Whimsy Blooms
Floral
Christmas
Winter

Samples using the Geometric Cupcake and Cookie Texture Top Set:

Geometric Cupcake Tops. Elegant on their own!

1st birthday cookies with cupcake texture tops

Flower cupcake with Geometric Textures

Bunny Cupcakes with Cupcake Texture Tops

About the Texture Sets:
The texture sheets are made of a lightweight clear plastic. Either side of the mat can be used. One side will give a raised impression, while the other will give a recessed impression. Each set comes with three mats. Each mat has a design that is repeated four times. Below is a sample of the geometric set.

3 sheets- Each with a design repeated 4-x's (12 textures total)

Instructions using the cupcake texture sheets:
Bake and cool cupcake. Generously ice cupcake with your favorite cupcake icing. Lightly spray texture mat with a cooking spray. Wipe excess grease with a paper towel. Roll rolled fondant to approximately 1/16” thickness. Place the smooth, rolled side of the fondant face down on the texture mat. Place the rolling pin on one end of the fondant with the mat underneath. Firmly roll over the fondant, rolling to the opposite end. Do not double roll. Lift the mat and the fondant. Flip over the mat so the fondant is on the bottom and the mat is on top. Peel back the mat. Cut fondant using a circle cutter from Autumn Carpenter Cupcake Top Fondant Cutters. Place textured fondant circle on top of the iced cupcake. If icing has crusted, brush a thin layer of piping gel onto the icing or slightly dampen icing with a small amount of water from a squeeze bottle to adhere the fondant circle.

Coordinating Cupcake Top Fondant Cutters:
The diameter of baked and iced cupcakes may vary according to recipe, amount of batter, and amount of icing used. Choose a cutter sized to completely cover the top of the iced cupcake. Use the texture sets in conjunction with my Cupcake Top Fondant Cutters. The cutter set contains 3 stainless steel cutters, 2¾”, 3” & 3¼” for standard size cupcakes.

Bruce’s 40th Computer Theme Birthday

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

Dave’s 40th Birthday Luau Cake

A friend of mine had a surprise 40th for her husband and I volunteered to make the cake.   I’m working on a book on hand-molding, so this cake happened to fit in perfectly with this project.  The luau themed cake had a 14″ bottom tier with waves at the bottom accented with scuba gear, signs, surfboards and a crab.  The top of the cake featured a tiki hut made from Wilton’s 3-D cupcake pan and hand molded characters and details.