Flags Missionary Homecoming Cake

How fun is this?!  Two missionaries home at the same time from two different countries!  I have to say, the Japanese flag was much easier to do than the Guatemalan flag!

 The details were done with edible markers on gum paste.

 The tie was red, white and blue, to welcome the Elders back to the USA!

 Isn't luster dust awesome?!  Couldn't get that sweet silver shine on the belt buckle!

I really enjoyed making this cake and doing something different for a missionary cake.  I love having new challenges and fun ideas for each cake.  Welcome home Elders, and thank you for serving the Lord!

A Special Friend In Need

Okay, this post is going to stray a little from my normal cake post.  I've been thinking a lot about a friend of mine lately and all the struggles she's been going through.  We met not that long ago, but I feel as if we've known each other for years and years.  Her name is Jessica, and she's been battling with the emotional roller coaster of infertility for several years now.  When Jessica and her husband were first married they were blessed with the most amazing little boy, but since then it's been a struggle.  Jaxten is 7 years old now, and my son's best friend.  It's been a special experience for me to get to know not only Jessica, but her son as well.  This is a family that it's not hard to see they love each other very much and they know what's important in life.  They know that LIFE is precious!  They are trying again to bring a little spirit into this world and they are asking for any help anyone can provide.  Their story is here if you'd like to read more about the trials Jessica has gone through.

This is Josh, Jaxten and Jessica.  What a beautiful family!  They know how to laugh together.  They love together, they play together, but unfortunately they've mourned together.  When you visit with them you can tell they hold life a little more importantly than most people do.

This is Jaxten.  He's the sweetest boy you'll ever meet.  He's always asking how he can help me whenever he's over to visit, and he's a great cook!  He tells his mom he's ready for a brother or sister and that he'll even change the diapers!  What a champ!  Jaxten isn't ashamed to talk about his brother who is in heaven, and that he wishes he could play with him.  It breaks my heart when I see his sweet little spirit just desperate for a playmate.

This is sweet little Jrayden.  I can't even imagine the emotions that went through my friend as she delivered this little angel.  As a mother of 5, I know I was always holding my breath until I heard that first little cry escape my newborn's lips.  My heart crumbles when I think of what Jessica was feeling as she knew she wouldn't hear that musical sound.

 This is their family picture of them all.  Jrayden is a spoiled little angel, but that's okay.  He deserves to be loved and cherished.  I think every child, whether on this side of the veil or in heaven, deserves to know how much he or she is loved!  I have no doubt in my mind that Jrayden knows he is loved, and he is just waiting patiently until he can kiss his mommy's cheeks, throw a ball with his dad, and wrestle around with his older brother!

I'm not elegant with words, and I can't put to justice the struggles this family has gone through, but I just want to say I love this family.  If you'd like to donate to the growth of their family you can go here:  http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/a-baby-for-the-dupass-family/74897 

Jessica tells her story for all to know.

Rose and Pearl Baby Shower Cupcakes

Some fun and beautiful cupcakes for my dear friend's baby shower!  She and her hubby will be welcoming their first baby soon and my kids and I are beside ourselves excited for them!!!

 I was excited to do some more roses now that I know how!  I LOVE how they turned out.  With a little luster dust they even sparkle!

 Fresh lemon cupcakes with fresh lemon curd with fresh raspberry butter cream frosting!  Gluten free even.  They were DIVINE!!!  

It was really fun doing different styles then seeing them all together!

They were the perfect touch to a perfectly beautiful baby shower.  I should have taken pictures of all the other stuff the hostess put together.  She did a really great job!  Congratulations, Tiffany and Clint!  We sure love you guys!!!

American Girl Josefina Doll Cake

What a fun cake for a 5 year old birthday surprise!!!  My girls LOVE American Girl books and the dolls so this was a special treat for me to make!  Josefina is even one of the favorites here in our house.  I really wish I had gotten better pictures of this cake, but oh well.  Someday I will get a fabulous camera to capture all the details I put into these cakes.

 Close up shot of the little lady herself.  Surrounded by edible tissue paper!

 No, I do not have a Cricuit machine, so these letters were all done by hand!  LOTS of work!  But so worth it in the end.

The gift box and more tissue.  So fun for me to do something different, and I have to say, I was TERRIFIED to do this doll.  I haven't had the best of luck with people, but this one I took my time and she turned out much better than I'd hoped.  Happy Birthday, Tatum!

Cowboy themed baby shower cake

 Cute little cake the celebrate the coming of a baby boy!  Jeans, big belt buckle, rope, cow pattern and red handkerchief!  What more can you ask for?!  It's all edible and oh so fun!

 I loved the baby bib!  Something extra fun about baby shower cakes.  The celebration of life is so deserving of something fabulous!

Pirate Treasure Chest Birthday Cake

A complete 180 from my last cake, this one is ALL boy!!  My sweet son has a birthday so close to his older sister's that he sometimes gets over looked.  Not this year!  This was supposed to be just a treasure map cake, but turned into a full on pirate loot cake.  EVERYTHING is edible.  The coins, the sword, the eye patch, the map, the jewels.  It was ever so tasty too!  Gluten free so I could eat it of course.  Tee hee.

 Close up of the skull accents on the sword and coins even.

 The map and metal closure piece.

 I got pictures of my boys holding the sword before my 3 year old dropped it and shattered it to pieces!  It was a sad moment.

 Edible eye patch string

 Jewels, gold doubloons, pearls.  So fun!

 The cinnamon and sugar on the frosting was so so yummy!  Added a little texture to the cake.

 Can I just say I love luster dust!?  It's a magical tool for me!

 Believe it or not, I used a Celtic knot doorbell button to shape the treasure chest closure piece.  Unconventional, but very useful!!

And the back of the treasure chest.  I used two bread loaf pans for the chest and just shaped the top one to look curved and I used modeling chocolate for the wood.  Happy birthday to my little boy.  I love you tons and tons sweet boy!!

'Anne of Green Gables' Inspired Vintage Birthday Cake

Okay, I'm going to do a LOT of pictures of this cake because it was PHENOMENAL!!!!  (I'm forgetting to be modest for just a second, sorry!)  My daughters and I have been watching "Anne of Green Gables" and it's brought back so many fond memories of watching it with MY mom.  What a beautiful time period.  And every second I was thinking, "Hmmm, how can I incorporate that?!  Or that?!"  

 My daughter wanted a very vintage cake.  She's very much into lace, pearls, muted colors, lace.  Did I mention lace?!  She wanted something very feminine, which is kind of new for her.  She's been such a tomboy, so this was really fun for me.

 The broach was done without a stencil or mold.  Just by hand.

 My first time with sugar flowers.  I got a little carried away and did TONS of flowers, but it was SOOOO fun!!!

 My daughters and I loved the knotted pearls and pretty hat that Diana wore at her wedding.

 The green flower was an experiment, and took so many layers, but turned out beautiful!  The lacy doily was done with modeling chocolate and my daughter even helped me punch out all those holes!

 My daughter is also obsessed with Paris...

 ....and XIII is how old she turned!

 The only things not edible are the little jewels on a couple of the flowers.

 A better picture of the lace.

I LOVED making this cake and the kids at the party couldn't get over the fact that it was all edible.  Who knew 13 year old boys could even google over a birthday cake?!  But that's a WHOLE other story!  Happy Birthday, my beautiful teenager!  I love you tons!