Opening up another session of the FNCC! Who's up? What are you working on? This place is open to anyone and everyone who needs help, wants to help or just wants to talk about their week and share photos of what they have been working on! Hope to see lots of photos tonight!

Cat

Hi there everyone!

This week I have been working on pieces for two cakes coming up next week. I did make the cupcakes I spoke about last week with the pistachio creme I brought back from Sicily...they were amazing! I'm just sad that I don't have this stuff available all the time. Here's the photo:

Cat, they look sooo good! I hope to have some time this summer to experiment with some flavors. It's been a while since I've done that.

Here's a couple of pictures of the pencil cake that last week's FNCC inspired me to make.

And finished...

Just finished a cup cake wedding cake with a 6" top tier for the couple to cut.  Bride requested the cutting cakes finish be swirled - that the first time I've tried swirling and it's a lot harder than making a smooth cake finish.  Surprised myself on that one.  I'm done for tonight and watching Say Yes To The Dress.

Yum to both.  I made some cupcakes last night and used buttercream that I had frozen and cream cheese icing that had been frozen.  When they were defrosted I had to add a heap more icing sugar as they had gone a bit watery.  Is this normal or is there a way to avoid this?  It made the flavorings a bit wishy washy.

Went to Perth fro the craft fair this week so got to actually go to a cake decorating shop rather than just shop online.  It is so great to see everything in the one place and to be able to pick someone's brain on items before you buy them.  Bought a pile of stuff I probably don't need but what the heck, isn't that what hobbies are about-accumulating non essential, but fun, bits.

Elcee! I love it! The precovered version, the carvings, makes me think of pencil shavings! So I got the point of the cake immediately even before covering. Wonderful!

Denise, is there anywhere we can see the finished product? I love and hate challenges equally...I love figuring things out but hate hate hate the stress!

Cazza, I'd love to answer your butter cream question but I have never frozen it before. I'm going to be paying attention to see if anyone has that answer for you! (and yes, I am a master at accumulating totally unnecessary gadgets for decorating! LOL!)

Cat

Good evening all, 

Cat, those cupcakes look great.

Elcee love your pencil cake, and I agree with cat.  You could have left the pre-covered cake as is, IMO people would have loved it just the same.

I had 2 8" cakes to make for today, for a set of twins in my apt complex.  The cakes went to their class, tomorrow is their party, but the parents just want a flat 1/2 sheet.   Tomorrow is my granddaughters birthday celebration as well and on Monday my nieces.

My granddaughter will get an elephant cake, fashioned after a Heffalump (think that's what its called) but my niece is getting my first high heel fondant shoe.  I have to admit I am rather nervous about making her cake.  It will also have a purse cake to go with it.  Her favorite purse designer is Alexander Wang.  I made a purse before and it was not too hard.  I find myself procrastinating and I know its nerves.

If anybody has a good tutorial please share. 

Thank you.

ACazza I freeze my leftovers buttercream a lot and have not really had any problems with defrosting it and using it later. I use the Wilton recipe using half butter and half shortening.

Marian

Its been a busy week for me. Here are some of the things I worked on

Your figures are adorable and those cupcakes, especially the caramel ones, look luscious!

A

I didn't watch these so I'm not sure if its what your looking for.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=lCw7MEsZ_6g&feature=fvwrel And m.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwrel&v=3TFJTYkp4Ls

AHello Ladies:) I am new here, new in cake decorating too. Next week i promissed a cake for a friends kid, i am planning to do vanila cake with white chocolate and strawberry mouse. I really, really want to add some fresh strawberries inside the cake, but I am afraid they are too watery. I've done this before, but with some fparfees. This time I'll want to cover my cake with fondant. Can you give me some idea or advise what kind of filing I should do if I want nice, creamy cake with fresh fruit...not a mushy mess. Thank you and please excuse my English :)

Thank you Kazita, I watched that one and yes it seems easy enough, I think I'm just nervous because my niece is an asst manager for a well named shoe designer and a shoe snob to boot, rofl.. Didn't mean to turn that into a pun.

I'm not afraid of the purse, just the shoe.  Sorry ladies for running on.  

Hope everyone has a great holiday.

A

Shoe is absolutely adorable.

cakecentral.com/b/tutorial/high-heel-cake-topper?utm_source=cake-central-homepage&utm_medium=featured-content&utm_content=high-heel-cake-topper&utm_campaign=tutorial

Thanks Kazita, you have helped me be lazy and not have to go looking.  I also am going to be doing my first shoe this week. 

Marian I use a Swiss meringue buttercream.  I do not use any shortening in it so I don't know if this is what helps stabilize yours more.  Like you, I had frozen all the leftover bits of buttercream from various projects and took them all out to put on cupcakes for hubbies bring and share tea.  They looked quite pretty as each time I used one up I filled the bag with the next and the leftover colors swirled together.

ACat, I Love Pistachios! I want one of those cupcakes!

Elcee, what?!! A Scantron!! Brilliant! Oh I so want to do that cake now!

Denise, that rustic frosting look is so much harder than people think. And, if its not done right, it looks awful! I use a big fat tip (10), out a dallop then push in with the spatula. It's the only way I know to get that perfect swoosh.

Cazza, so jealous! Why doesn't Charleston have a nice big shop?!

ABakingMeCrazy, those cupcakes are beautiful! What is the secon photo?

Kazita, I often freeze buttercream & never have a change. Is it possible the container was a bit open or had some moisture in it? Maybe some ice crystals formed then melted?

AThis week was much calmer.

I hate cookies. Seriously! They highlight my inability at symmetry & sizing. I wanted to make perfect cookies with white background & perfect graduating owls. Nope! Luckily they were or a local florist who is a friend. I called her & told her they just weren't coming out right. She said "oh Laney, they are not pitiful....they just aren't Laney." She then explained she really just wanted pretty cookies & do whatever I wanted. I use the same colors but had fun creating something more my style: [IMG]http://cakecentral.com/content/type/61/id/3016876/width/200/height/400[/IMG]

AAs labor intensive as those dang cookies are (never again) (much new respect for cookie people & mad piping skills), this weeks cake was more.

This is a lowcountry boil I made for a local catering company Charleston Bay Gourmet: [IMG]http://cakecentral.com/content/type/61/id/3016879/width/200/height/400[/IMG] [IMG]http://cakecentral.com/content/type/61/id/3016880/width/200/height/400[/IMG]

AEveryone's cakes and cookies and cupcakes look amazing as always! No cake for me this week as I'm moving to Houston, today!

AOh wow! Best wishes on the move. I really don't like moving.

AYou're welcome cazza1 , I can't believe how cute that shoe is. Would love to see pictures of yours when your done.

ABakingMeCrazy, I knew there was a reason I was drawn to them. Huge Baileys lover! Had some in my coffee this morning.

I had it in my coffee this morning too ... and every morning..

Kazita  Yes!!! That's the one I need,  Thank you Thank you Thank you.

Baking me crazy, love your work, you/ve been busy.

AOk, finally added the label & like it more [IMG]http://cakecentral.com/content/type/61/id/3017026/width/200/height/400[/IMG]

Delicious D, I hate making cookies and decorated cookies.  Those with all the little tiny fondant figures and stuff.  Give me a cake to make anytime.  I love your cake tho.  I'm sure its labor intensive just the same.

kikiandkyle, I don't envy you, Good luck on the move.