Need Help Or Ideas - Please!!
Decorating By Sunshine0507 Updated 17 Aug 2007 , 5:10pm by Sunshine0507
I am fairly new to all this and have only done a few cakes in the past for fun or family b-days. I agreed to do my friend's sister-in-laws baby shower cake. She's having a Boy and the only thing my friend was able to give me was the color theme and that is Caribbean blue. The shower is on August 19th. I need help trying to decide what kind of cake to do (not sure how many people are attending) and something that will be generally easy. I don't have the extra money to invest in the classes, I don't have a reliable babysitting issues but I do like to do this and want to learn a lot more about making cakes. I figured this would be a good way to get my name out there and begin a passion that I've had for a long time. I could really use some ideas on what types of cakes to do. I was thinking, please feel free to tell me otherwise, about doing a cupcake spread (so it looks like one big cake) - all the cupcakes are together and spell out 'Its a Boy' and then have on the other different cupcakes things that represent boys or boy things and sayings. Color ideas to go along w/ the Caribbean blue would be helpful also.
Also my best friend's mom has offered to pay me. Should I charge her or just do it b/c this is my best friend?
Thanks for any advise and support!!
The cupcake cake sounds like a nice idea and you could use green and yellow with the Caribbean blue. If you need another idea, I have two quilt sheet cakes in my photos that I made for baby showers. They were very easy (but time consuming) to make because they are all stars like you used on your Dora cake. You could substitute the "ruffle" around the cake with "fringe" or some other kind of border. Good luck!!!
Thanks for the ideas. I saw the sheet cakes you had mentioned and I see what you mean but it could be a possiblity.
Does Wilton have a Caribbean blue color or do I have to mix a few colors together to get it?
Any other ideas are also welcomed!!
Sunshine I know what you mean about kids...I have 2 under the age of 2. I do cake decorating as a hobby and the only time I Have to do it is when the go to sleep. I'm usually up till 1-2:00 AM finishing up. I have a few baby shower cakes in my photos if you want to check them out. Maybe you could modifiy them to the colors or theme you want. But when I heard you say caribbean blue I thought of sail boats. Try a search for boats and you could find all sorts of ideas. Also I like checking out baby websites. I get a lot of my ideas from crib bedding. Good luck.
Best tip I can offer is to search the galleries. Look for baby or baby boy or baby shower. There are so many wonderful ideas. If you find something you like and need help, you can PM the decorator. Everyone on this site is so nice and extremely helpful.
Good luck with your cake.
Melissa
PS. - As to whether or not to charge, you might consider asking for the cost of supplies.
I don't know exactly what color Caribbean blue is but I don't think I've ever seen a Wilton color by that name. It sounds like you may need to do some mixing. I really am not sure about charging. Will you be a guest at the shower? How would you feel about giving it as your gift? Or you might charge at least for ingredients. Don't really know what to tell you since I only make cakes for family and very close friends. Am anxious to see what you decide to make. There is so much inspiration on this site. Be sure to post a picture of your finished cake.
Thanks. I just found out that there is going to be 30 people in attendance so I'd probably be better off going w/ the sheet cakes. Which might actually turn out a little better. I have been looking at the Galleries for ideas and have found a few. I'm starting to come up with some ideas for combinations, etc...
I offered to make the cake but at the same time, I didn't want to step on any toes because I know my best friends mom likes to do this stuff also. But was all for me doing it. I will not be able to attend b/c my husband and I already have a previous engagment to attend. Her mom has asked how much but I don't really want to charge them. I'm just trying to get my name out there, you know!?!
Here is Wilton's page of baby shower ideas. Each with pictures and instructions.
http://www.wilton.com/recipes/browse.cfm?theme_id=2
This is a cute and easy sheet cake idea:
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=12406
This is one of my favorites to do. Same icing bootie as above, but on cupcakes. Very easy!
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=43926
For the caribbean blue, maybe try sky blue with a little teal or green added. Tiny amounts -- you can always add more color, but can't subtract. Don't forget to let the color sit a while and deepen before adding more. 
HTH!
Thanks for the sites...I'm checking them out now. I think this will help out, a lot!!
Question: Can you use whipped cream frosting to decorate with and if so, does anyone have a good receipe for it?
Thank you soooo much everyone for your help and ideas!!
Can you use whipped cream frosting to decorate with and if so, does anyone have a good receipe for it?
I don't have a good answer for the whipped cream icing. I've used WC for icing cupcakes, but never tried to decorate/ pipe with it other than a tip 1M swirl. I did a search in the recipes section and found the following:
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=Recipes&sort=recipename&sort_dir=ASC&op=search&chname=X&chingredients=X&searchtext=whipped+cream&cat_id=47&x=35&y=13
I've never used any of them, but some look really good. You'll most likely have to refrigerate with this type of icing.
I have used a product called Rich's Bettercreme. You might find this at your local cake supply store. If not this brand, perhaps something comparable. It is easy to use and pipes well. I've not tried getting dark colors with it, however. Here is the Rich's site with cakes decorated using this product.
http://www.bettercreme.com/listcakes.cgi
I think I'll try some of those recipes you found.
Should I use 2 boxes of cake mix in order to make a sheet cake? Where would I find a pan big enough to make the sheet cake? Can I find something like that at Michaels or AC Moore? I'm not familiar with any cake supply stores in my area. If anyone is from Raleigh, NC and knows of any, please let me know!! I plan on making the cake on Friday, so I want to be prepared by then.
You can find pans at Michael's. Try looking for a cake supply near you. There is a brand of cake pans called Magic Line -- they are really good, solid pans with straight edges. Wilton makes a product that has straight edges, but I don't know what they're called off the top of my head and I'm not sure if Michael's carries them. How many mixes depends on the pan size. Usually you'll need 1 1/2 mixes for a 9x13 pan -- or an extended mix. You'll find mix extenders in the recipe section. Here are a a few:
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake_recipe-1599-83-Enhanced-Cake-Formula.html
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=Recipes&sort=recipename&sort_dir=ASC&op=search&chname=X&chingredients=X&searchtext=&cat_id=4&x=31&y=10
Great Thanks...Going shopping now...I'll let everyone know how things turn out!!
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