Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl Cake

This is a fondant cake I made for a little girl's 4th birthday.  The Jessie topper is a toy figure that can be kept afterwards to play with.  Yee haw!

Becoming Flo

Another Halloween is over. If your kids are like mine, they are already thinking about next year's costume.  Maybe you are one of those that like to plan way ahead too.  If so, you may want to consider my costume for next Halloween.  I was Flo from Progressive.  It was very easy and I even found a web site with step by step instructions.  The most expensive part was the iron on printer paper, normally it is about  $7 for a pack of 5 sheets, but I got it for around $5 with a coupon . The apron was about $3.  Both purchased at Hobby Lobby. I didn't own white pants or shirt like Flo's, but found them both at the Goodwill - $5 for the outfit. The navy head band was $1 at the Dollar Tree.  I already had the shoes.  So I spent about $14 total.  Not too bad considering the price of some costumes at the party stores.  Check out the website if you decide to be Flo next year.  FLO INSTRUCTIONS

Bowling Cakes

Here are a couple of easy to make Bowling themed cakes.  They are double layer 8inch cakes with butter cream frosting. The decorations are made with fondant.  Even if you haven't used fondant before, you can do this.  Roll the fondant flat and cut the stars and circles with cookie cutters.  It is a lot like using play-doh.  I hand sculpted the fat little bowling pin and bowling ball.  You may want the bowling pin to be tall and thin, but I was going for more of a cartoon look. Don't forget the little finger holes on the ball.  I used the end of a paint brush to make them.  Insert sucker sticks into the bottom of the pin and ball, then push them down onto the cake.  This will hold them in place. Super easy!

The fondant rick-rack along the bottom of this cake was shaped using a fondant mold.

The little beads at the bottom are made from fondant too. 

Justin Bieber Party

My daughter has "Bieber Fever" like most girls her age.  So for her 9th birthday, we had a Justin Bieber theme party.  Don't think you will ever have a Justin Bieber party?  Never Say Never!!

We made our own invitations on the computer that looked like concert tickets:

Typical party paper goods:

Since the party guests are getting older, I thought I could go with a smaller goody bag and give them things can really use (or eat).  Pen, pencil, elastic hair bands, a ring, candy, and a Justin Bieber sticker....all in purple!

We had sour patch kids candy - it's Justin's favorite.  We also had some chocolate candy and cupcakes.  The chocolate microphones are made with candy molds and pretzel sticks.  We added purple food coloring to the cupcake batter, used purple cupcake liners, and made toppers with purple paper. Add a little sparkle to the cupcakes with some edible disco dust.

I made the cake using fondant and an edible image that I bought at my local cake store. I made the microphone with chocolate fondant.

Bunco!

It's Bunco night with my girl friends, so I made us a quick batch of cookies.  The edges aren't perfect, but they are still cute.

Shark Snacks

Here are some fun shark snacks that you can use for your next pool party or summer celebration. I made these for a swim team event.   

Shark sugar cookies with royal icing.

White chocolate shark suckers made with candy molds. The eyes are royal icing (also on the cookies).

Shark fin cup cup cakes.

The fins are made from fondant.  I used the top portion of a Halloween moon cookie cutter for the fin shape.

Fun in the Sun

I want to share some cards with you that are all about fun in the sun.  My friend Patty designed them and I made them at one of her card classes.  She designed these cards using punches that I bet a lot of you already have. (A big congratulations to Patty....she just became Grandmother for the first time.)

This little guy is made with oval punches for the body and beak, half of a butterfly for his head, and his feet are part of a snow flake punch.

This sun burned dude is a bunch of circles and ovals with corner punches for this arms.  The sun is a scallop and circle.

 
Here we have circle, scallop, and cloud punches.  The flip flops are made with the dog tag punch, oval punch, and flower punch.

This is a fun one made using circles of all sizes.  The tentacles are just cut up strips of paper.