Heads up! - a HUGE thanks to Lorraine!

Heads up! - a HUGE thanks to Lorraine!, originally uploaded by the-icing-on-the-cake. (Jo).

Heads up! - a HUGE thanks to Lorraine!
I realise I bang on about this all the time but I am so in awe of the very fact Lorraine has shared the secrets of producing these wonderful faces! ....

So here are some of my examples of Aine2 style faces - I hope they inspire you to try them out for yourselves! (If you want to make faces like this you simply HAVE to buy Lorraine's tutorial on making heads! - it's called 'heads up tutorial' it's the best £5.25 I ever spent! ) ... I am slowly getting better at the mouths!, but absolutely love that I have got close to achieving better face modelling techniques! a real triumph for me this year!

1. Nicola's cake topper, 2. Christine & Dennis Cake topper, 3. Jeanette's cake topper, 4. Groom topper ~ Lee, 5. Sarah & Lee ~ Topper close up, 6. Hilary's cake topper - Retiring District Nurse, 7. Clive's cake topper (another attempt at Aine2 style), 8. Bride topper ~ Sarah, 9. Julie's 50th Birthday cake topper, 10. Natalie's 18th cake! (censored!), 11. Brian's cake topper, 12. Rose's cake topper close up, 13. James cake detail close up!

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

THIS IS MY LAST BLOG!!

I HAVE NOW MOVED TO FLICKR - SO NO MORE BLOGGING FOR ME (for the time being!)
YOU CAN NOW FIND ME AT
www.flickr.com/photos/the-icing-on-the-cake

Kath's 60th Birthday Barge!

Kath's 60th Birthday Barge!, originally uploaded by the-icing-on-the-cake..

Kath lives on a narrow boat - her boat is Navy blue but rather plain in its decor - so I went to town on the decor of this one!

Well, I spent all day boxing day decorating this cake for DH's boss!. (whilst watching and singing along to sing-a-long Mamma Mia ... 3 times! - I have to swoon at the bit where Colin Firth smiles before he sings 'I can still recall our last summer'.... yes I know I am very very sad!)

My attempt at a cake in the shape of a narrow boat - I agree it looks more like a short and fat boat than a narrow boat - something that my darling Hubby informed me of also, to which I replied (through gritted teeth!) "I agree, it is a little short and dumpy - but its an artistic representation - not a bloody scale model!".
..... with that DH was saved by the bell as a friend popped by to share a mince pie or two with us, as he entered the kitchen,Richard (our visiting friend) commented that my Narrow boat was more of a wide short boat .... needless to say, Richard got cast the same glare as the hubby had received moments earlier ...

... both soon retreated to the relative safety of the lounge very soon after that!.

Clive's cake detail!

Clive's cake detail!, originally uploaded by the-icing-on-the-cake..

1. side detail - carrots!
2. vege patch pumkins
3. no not cricket stumps! - this was some side detail meant to be a tomato vine!
4. cake topper Clive!

I took so many pictures of this cake, which was in my usual rather busy, lots to see style! - I struggled to reduce the number of pictures I put on Flickr of this cake! - (I would hate to bore you!) ... so here's some smaller images of pictures I wanted to show too!

Natalie's Naughty 18th! (censored!)

Natalie's Naughty 18th! (censored!), originally uploaded by the-icing-on-the-cake..

Natalie wanted herself surrounded by naked men! .... I have tastefully edited this pic to save the blushes and avoid embarrassing those of you of a sensitive disposition!!
(heart shaped logo added courtesy of picnik!)


Natalie is 18 so the theme of Madonna, Material girl type video was totally lost on her!

another attempt at Aine2 style faces - I cannot master them! - I think I need to lock myself in a room with her tutorial!

Hilary's retirement cake ~ retiring District Nurse

Hilary's retirement cake ~ retiring District Nurse, originally uploaded by the-icing-on-the-cake..

10 inch vanilla sponge with blackcherry preserve & vanilla buttercream.
All edible ... except the cats whiskers!

Julie's 50th - the accessory queen!

Julie's 50th - the accessory queen!, originally uploaded by the-icing-on-the-cake..

Julie loves to accessorise her outfits! - she is always sporting the handbag, earrings, necklace, bracelet & shoes in just the perfect shade!! (she really ought to take me shopping - get me all co-ordinated!!).

Here's Julie - looking good at 50!!

Yet another attempt at an Aine2 (the wonderful Lorraine) style model (I still cannot get the hang of the mouth!!)

texture on the cardigan made using 'designer PME cutting wheel' - inexpensive tool with so many uses!

Short notice wedding cake (flowers ~sweetpeas~ by Mum)

Short notice wedding cake (flowers ~sweetpeas~ by Mum), originally uploaded by the-icing-on-the-cake..

This 3 tier stacked wedding cake was ordered less than 2 weeks before the wedding!! - My Dad still makes all my fruit cakes for me & Mum does still dabble in cake decorating (though did give up all her equipment to me about 5 years ago).

This cake was for a friend of my Parents so Mum wanted to agree to the cake, but a number of issues meant that it wasn't practical for Mum & Dad to do the whole cake, so being a bossy type Daughter I decided to relieve them of the stress of icing the cake and managed to get Mum to agree to just make the sugar paste sweet-peas & since Dad had already baked the fruit cake, I'd do the rest.

So this was another family collaboration (Mum & Dad, and my neighbour came to my rescue with this cake last year when I was rather too poorly to have done it myself!).

Actually my neighbour Karen also sort of helped with this cake - she plays in a string quartet & they were practicing in her lounge (it was a hot day so all doors & windows were open) and as Mum & I placed the flowers on to the finished cake ... we had beautiful relaxing live music played for us as it wafted over the fence! (Karen hides her light under a bushel but she plays exquisitely!)

The bottom tier is traditional rich fruit cake with vanilla sponge as the middle & top tiers.

This is the first time I have stacked a cake before transporting to the venue (I have usually only ever stacked the whole cake when at the venue) ... it got there in one piece at least and was admired which is always good to hear!

**(original design given to my mother as a photo, downloaded by the bride from somewhere - if anyone know's who did it first please shout up so I can give credit where credit is due!)**

Cake topper details ... not finished yet

Cake topper details ... not finished yet, originally uploaded by the-icing-on-the-cake..

This is a cake topper I'm part way through making - its for a couple's wedding cake topper (Liz is making the rest of the cake)
Once the motorbike has dried I will place the groom stood on the far side of the bike and the bride sat side saddle on the bike - or at least that's the plan! - I thought I'd take a picture now, before it becomes all wedding-like!

This is fondant on a 6 inch topper board.
This will be classed as inedible since there are roughly a million cocktail sticks supporting this internally! (yes I perhaps did over estimate the number of cocktail sticks but you catch my drift!)

Peggy's Birthday Cake

Peggy's Birthday Cake, originally uploaded by the-icing-on-the-cake..

Little 6 inch vanilla sponge with strawberry jam & vanilla buttercream filling.

I confess it is not my own design .. somewhere on flickr there is one very very similar though I think a daisy cutter was used for the flowers (please shout up who-ever you are so I can give proper credit!!)

Even so credit has to go to the mighty Rouvelee www.flickr.com/photos/rouvelee/2844210433/, and also the front cover of last months 'Wedding cakes a design source' magazine!!

I have fallen out with my sugar shaper gun so tried rolling these stems with my cake smoothing tool, just like Rouvelee does... except she is much much better at it - and the ribbon roses! ... than I am!!

Uploaded by the-icing-on-the-cake. on 10 Oct 08, 1.06PM PDT.

Elizabeth's Baptism cake topper

Elizabeth's Baptism cake topper, originally uploaded by the-icing-on-the-cake..

Elizabeth's Baptism cake topper
Handmade from flower paste (by me!.. and Im rather pround of this one!).
(the hair and eye lashes are feather).
Proud Mum & Dad want to keep the cake topper so it wont be eaten! (good job with the addition of feather!). The blanket was supported by a piece of plastic beneath which will also make removal of the topper easy (and thus avoid damaging it as its only anchored to the cake with the smallest dab of icing).

Even though in these pics it looks like her ear is made in the wrong colour paste - I think its the was the light hit the picture! (it looks fine in reality!)

This cake is for Elizabeth (the same wee one I made the welcome stork for way back in May!). She is to be baptised this Sunday.

The butterflies were Mum's idea, Elizabeth seems to have lots of butterfly things in her nursery so they have become a family favourite!. - there are even more butterflies around the base of the cake.

Uploaded by the-icing-on-the-cake. on 8 Aug 08, 10.06AM PDT

Elizabeth's Baptism cake

Elizabeth's Baptism cake, originally uploaded by the-icing-on-the-cake..

Elizabeth's Baptism cake
The finished article!

A 10 inch tangy lemon sponge with lemon buttercream & lemon curd filling.
(mmm)

... Oh & yes, i did cheat a little teeny tiny bit! ... the piping!.. my hands are so wobbly again at the moment (long story: side effects of new inhalers!) that I decided to type the lettering I wanted and then laid the paper over the cake and pricked through with a sterile pin and then just joined the dots! - my piping has never been so neat! (think I'll be doing that again! - well, every cloud has a silver lining eh!) ;-)

Uploaded by the-icing-on-the-cake. on 8 Aug 08, 10.36AM PDT.

Theo's 1st Birthday cake

Theo's 1st Birthday cake, originally uploaded by the-icing-on-the-cake..

Theo's 1st Birthday cake
Theo is off to a petting farm to celebrate his 1st birthday. The four figures on the main cake are claydough - bought figures (see earlier on in my photo stream). The piggy was made by me - I thought it was odd a farm set and no pig!!.
All the rest is fondant.
(its been really humid and thundery stupid weather again and the back of the cake shows another story - the small top sky piece has decided to subside a little and the grass has sagged a little bit - but hey - its the back!! (and Im not showing you that bit!! LOL!!!)


This cake has been inspired by a number of people - so go girls - take your bows:

Andrea's Sweetcakes & 4goodnesscake :- helped inspire the cloud/grass idea

www.flickr.com/photos/25863947@N05/2665532982/

www.flickr.com/photos/28439449@N02/2663848748/

Extra icing - Aine2 - for the wonderful inspiration of a more expressive face (her tutorial from her blog is just amazing!) - thanks Lorraine!!
www.flickr.com/photos/extra-icing/2537607351/in/photostream/

and to SUGAR REEF for the idea of the cake shape : www.flickr.com/photos/seaqueen8/2467895114/

thanks so much to all these fabulous people!!

Theo is seen here playing the tambourine with his feet - he actually does this rather well for real!! - Mum thought it was one of his cutiest poses so here he is on cloud 9!!!

Uploaded by the-icing-on-the-cake. on 14 Aug 08, 11.38AM PDT.

Ben's WALL-E cake ~ finished at last!

Ben's WALL-E cake ~ finished at last!, originally uploaded by the-icing-on-the-cake..

I finally finished this cake this morning, adding the stars & edible glitter (I love edible glitter!!)

So here he is ~ WALL-E & his beloved EVE, I had to add the fire extinguisher, having viewed clips of the WALL-E trailer on youtube! (I haven't seen the film, but it looks rather funny!!).

Both WALL-E & EVE are held together with a number of cocktail sticks so a warning note will accompany this cake (I would usually just use dry spaghetti for support if needed but boy, EVE needed lots of support, she just kept fainting which did get rather annoying - perhaps she was astounded by the vision of the lovely WALL-E, or indeed my cake decorating skills!)

Derventio eXcel congratulations to the squad

Derventio eXcel congratulations to the squad, originally uploaded by the-icing-on-the-cake..

Derventio eXcel congratulations to the squad
A cake made to celebrate Derventio eXcel elite swim squad sucess, one of their swimmers has just returned from the paralympics.

10 inch vanilla sponge with raspberry jam & buttercream filling.

www.derventioexcel.org.uk/

Derventio eXcel is the elite swimming squad for Derbyshire and is part of Bill Sweetenham’s blueprint for international swimming success. Derventio eXcel is a partnership between the existing swimming clubs in the county, the ASFGB, the ASA, Derbyshire Sport, the University of Derby, Derby College, Derby City Council, South Derbyshire District Council and Erewash Borough Council. It offers young swimmers in Derbyshire the opportunity to meet their swimming potential by training over 20 hours each week, and offers land training resources and sport science support.

Derventio team-mate Livvi Sefton earned herself a place in the European Junior Championships with her performance in the 200m butterfly. Derventio eXcel swimmer Dave Ellis, fulfilled his potential by qualifying for this year’s paralympics games in Beijing .

Sam's 6th Birthday cake ~ Lego Racing cars!

Sam's 6th Birthday cake ~ Lego Racing cars!, originally uploaded by the-icing-on-the-cake..

Evita & Matt's wedding cake

3 tier cake with handmade sugarpaste flowers

Sweet Daze: Organ Wedding Cake

Sweet Daze: Organ Wedding Cake

Hey! - Ive been blogged! - how cool is that! - what a great compliment!

Steve's 50th ~ The cricketer

Steve's 50th ~ The cricketer, originally uploaded by the-icing-on-the-cake..

STEVE 50 ~ NOT OUT!

(I admit, now I look at it it looks as though its saying "Steve SO not out" - oh well!.. It is FIFTY really!)

Stork ~ Delivered today!

Stork ~ Delivered today!, originally uploaded by the-icing-on-the-cake..

A Stork for Lisa & Ian to celebrate the safe arrival of their new baby Daughter Elizabeth Ann Born at 7:20am 30th May 2008 (this morning!) - I just managed to get it planted outside their house in time - Ian had just left the house to collect Lisa and Elizabeth from Hospital

steve 21st ~ pole dancers

steve 21st ~ pole dancers, originally uploaded by the-icing-on-the-cake..

have wanted to do this cake for so long! - my take on a wonderful design from the great Debbie Brown!

Standing figures! - I dreaded they falling over but thanks to a body of marzipan covered in fondant they stayed up right!

Champagne bottle candles

The blonde started life taller! - her bottom slid down her dress so she looks as if she is sticking her bottom out quite a lot!!!

My Favourite bit of the quilt! (well it HAD to be a cake didnt it!)

My Favourite bit of the quilt! (well it HAD to be a cake didnt it!), originally uploaded by the-icing-on-the-cake..

I couldn't resist but put a cake on the quilt!

Quilt for new baby girl...

Quilt for new baby girl..., originally uploaded by the-icing-on-the-cake..

For a work colleague - baby due mid - May! (we know she is expecting a girl obviously!)(baby shower next week! - I cannot wait to see her face!)

India 2008 (sorry not a cake!)

India 2008 (sorry not a cake!), originally uploaded by the-icing-on-the-cake..

A close up of the temple in Chennai - visited by my Husband on a recent business trip (alot of work being done as you see - he has time to visit temples!). I thought this image was beautiful so added it as wallpaper for my screen saver on my computer - only to realise I cannot now see where all my icons are! - oh well - will have to pick something less busy!!

India 2008 (sorry not a cake!)

India 2008 (sorry not a cake!), originally uploaded by the-icing-on-the-cake..

A close up of the temple in Chennai - visited by my Husband on a recent business trip (alot of work being done as you see - he has time to visit temples!). I thought this image was beautiful so added it as wallpaper for my screen saver on my computer - only to realise I cannot now see where all my icons are! - oh well - will have to pick something less busy!!

Janets busy Jungle cake!

Janets busy Jungle cake!, originally uploaded by the-icing-on-the-cake..

Janet loved the time she spent wandering the jungle so her daughter Rachel thought it would make an excellent cake to celebrate her 60th! - here's Janet in her motorcycle jacket (I presume it was worn lots during the trip! - I only did as asked!)

The top piece is mounted on one of my fantastic lit cake boards - (they have small red LED's in the edges that flash! - how cool is that!)
the cake beneath is (as requested) gluten and dairy free!

Matt's 18 ~ piano cake

Matt's 18 ~ piano cake, originally uploaded by the-icing-on-the-cake..

Matt's 'french polished piano!' (plenty of black food colouring and confectioners glaze!)
All but the glass and the champagne bottle (candle) is edible!

Birth announcement!

Birth announcement!, originally uploaded by the-icing-on-the-cake..

OK this isn't a cake either! - but it is a birth announcement! (not mine I hasten to add!! - I just had a hand in making the stork - not the baby!!!!)

Rocco's floor Quilt

Rocco's floor Quilt, originally uploaded by the-icing-on-the-cake..

another non cake item! - more sewing!!

Stephen's Elephant floor quilt

Stephen's Elephant floor quilt, originally uploaded by the-icing-on-the-cake..

ok not a cake - but some sewing for a change!

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.
the link to my flickr account....!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/the-icing-on-the-cake/

Janet's Jungle cake - Happy 60th!

Rowena's 70th Birthday Cake - Crown Green Bowling

cake pictures coming soon.....

David's Fosters Beer can cake

A huge sponge cake!! - here it is with a real can of Fosters for scale and to compare the artwork!!

Roz's 50th Birthday Ballon ride cake

Roz had a balloon ride for her 50th - this inspired the design on the side of this cake (which was ordered to be otherwise the same as the one I did for Sue below!)

Sue's 50th Birthday cake

Sue's 50th cake - a yummy lemon sponge!

with pretty flowers around the base! - this is another of my flashing cake boards too!!!

Neil's 50th ~ Golf Cake

Yet another Golf cake ... a popular choice... this one with a twist! - a naked woman in a bunker!! (thats why he likes golfing so much eh!?! - I bet he wishes thats what was hidden in bunkers!!)

Wendy & Ken's Ruby Wedding Anniversary Cake

Wendy's love of shopping and jewellery (amongst her many loves) and Ken's love of organ music (and playing of the organ - in this case, the infamous Wurlitzer!), not to mention his love of a pipe and a pint (or two... or three...) - this was the inspiration for the decoration of this cake to celebrate their 40th (Ruby) Wedding Anniversary.

Here's a short video showing the flashing cake board in action!....

...more pictures to follow - as soon as the blogger site mends whatever problem they are encountering at the mo! - I cannot get any more photos to up-load at the mo!

x

Scouts Centenary Cake

I was asked by the Leader of the local scout group to make a cake to take to the camp to celebrate 100 years of scouting.The theme of the centenary neckerchief was stars - pictured below - so a stars theme and the well known scouting emblem (though now replaced and updated) were created in fondant icing for this cake.

Emma's 13th Birthday Cake ~ swimming with dolphins!

I got a bit carried away making this cake!, much like the garden theme cakes I get carried away with the decoration to the side of the cake...

...here's some of the life under the sea!...

...meanwhile, on the beach...

Evan's 10th Birthday Cake ~ Luton Town FC

Evan is an avid Luton Town (The Hatters!) Football Club Fan!





Here's Evan in his kit (and it just HAD to be a number 10 shirt!), complete with football (candle!).







This cake board is excellent - it has built-in red LEDs that flash! - though getting them flashing captured on camera has proved a bit tricky!.....


..... So here's a video clip of the cake board in action!.... PRESS THE PLAY BUTTON BELOW THE PICTURE!!!

Rosie's 1st Birthday cake

Rosie's 1st Birthday cake was made to match the napkins, plates, balloons and bunting design.



The sponge cake inside was even coloured pink! - very girly!

Sarah & Anthony's Wedding Cake

A 3 tier cappuccino coloured stacked cake dotted with ivory blossoms. I have to say, when Sarah said she wanted a 'brown' wedding cake, I did have my reservations!. But now, I do love this cake! - it worked so well with the colour theme which ran from chocolate brown, through to shades of coffee & creams.
The bottom & middle tier were fruit cakes - and top tier vanilla sponge (there was also an additional tangy lemon sponge cake - decorated in the same colour theme, this went straight to the kitchen and was offered as a summery alternative to the traditional rich fruit cake).

Each hand made blossom was dotted in the centre with an edible pearilised ball, and painstakingly applied by hand to the cake (Here's me adding the finishing touches!).

The vast majority of the blossoms were attached prior to delivery at the wedding venue. Any blossoms broken in transit were replaced and the final flourish of blossoms were added once the cakes were stacked.
...In the end I lost count of the number of blossoms on this cake!

...The cake got a thumbs up from the Bride!

...and quite a few compliments from the guests too!