Cake Dummy

It has always boggled my mind how display cakes in grocery stores were made. Never did I once think I would make one of my own. I mean, what do you do with a fake cake??

Soon I will be launching my Etsy store, Hello Sunshine. Crafting has my heart, but my home does not have the space. My crafts will be for sale online, and others across the country will partake in the joy of my home-made goods. One of these will include cupcake toppers and cake bunting, and I need a way to display these. This is where the cake dummy will come in handy.

"How would one go about making one of these faux confections?" Oh I'm glad you asked :) Now, this is how I made my cake dummy, and it could totally be the wrong way, but so far it's working for me.

1. Cut out two 9" circles (or the diameter you want your "cake" to be). I used an old cardboard box that was in the garage.

2. Cut out strips for the edge of your "cake". I wanted a tall cake, so I cut mine at 5" tall. Make sure the corrugating is vertical so you can curve the cardboard around the edge of the circles.

3. Using a glue gun, glue the outer edge to one of the circles. Place a strip that is the same height of your outer edge through the middle for support. You don't want your "cake" caving in!

4. Glue the other circle on top of outer edge. You now have a cake skeleton.

5. This is where you have to get creative. I used joint compound for the first layer of "icing", but you can use royal icing or butter cream icing if you wish. I just didn't have enough powdered sugar. Make sure this layer covers all the cardboard. Let this layer dry over night.

6. Use stiff royal icing (or butter cream) to decorate top coat. Let dry for a few days.

Ta-da! It's not the greatest, but it's functional. It will come in handy for sure. And I won't have to make a cake every time I need one for a prop! Easy on my wallet and stomach :)



"X" Marks The Spot

Throughout the month of July, Neighborhood Church is holding a family fun program each Thursday night called Connect For. It's a chance for families to get together, worship, eat and have fun.  There are many volunteers who make this program possible, but since I'm more of the behind-the-scenes kind of person, I made two dozen cupcakes.

 

Since my energy level hasn't been too high lately, I cheated and used boxed cake mix. I did however, make my favorite recipe of frosting. I then used graham crackers to be the "sand", and piped a red "X", along with a black trail. They turned out super cute :)

 

It looks like the pioneer who made these "maps" had a little too much, but it makes me smile. Well... it's nap time. Tootles :)

 

 

My Apologies

I'm not sure who I feel more bad for: the tiny handful of my family that follows my blog, or my blog itself. You have not been neglected, rather *gently* placed on the back burner for 40 days (or is that the same thing?).

Summer has not been much of the season I love so dearly. Instead, time has been spent indoors studying and baking. The summer semester is only a few days from ending, with a few weeks rest before Fall semester begins. I wonder if one day I will ever look back and think "I miss being a college student." Maybe someday when I'm a mother and the children are screaming bloody murder over taking a bath, then the thought may cross my mind. Until then, I just want to be done.

Although Heavenly Treats' blog has not been very active, my trusty sidekick, Noel, and I have been baking up a storm. Lately our hobby has been sugar cookies and cupcakes. Cake pops have been mastered, so it's on to the next challenge. My mixer, Noel, is been running non-stop. She is hands-down the best birthday present I have ever received. Thanks, babe :)

Here are a few photos of creations I've made since my last entry:

Pink and Minnie Mouse themed cakepops

 Salted Caramel Cupcake. Mmm ;)

Inside a Salted Caramel Cupcake

 Patriotic Sugar Cookies

Sugar Cookie Bunting.... so cute!

I hope you enjoyed the photos. I promise not to let 40 days go by without a blog entry! You'll hear from me again soon. Tootles :)