Fashionista Witch's Hat

It's Halloween MONTH! (that is why I look ridiculous in this costume!)

This week we are Mixing-It-Up in the kitchen with a Fashion forward cake in the shape of a Witch’s Hat with some bling!  It’s the perfect cake to make for the center of your HALLOWEEN Table.

WATCH our video HERE

Part of the OCTOBER PLAYLIST ON TASTEMADE 

WHAT YOU NEED:

Cake- four 4.5-inch rounds from sheet cake

Buttercream

MATERIALS

4.5-inch round cardboard

9-inch round cardboard

Serrated knife

*Pre-dyed black and purple fondant

Rolling pin

Cornstarch

Vegetable shortening

Piping gel

Brush

Paring Knife

White Glue

Tape Measurer

(Optional) For the Hat pin/brooch:

Small ball of fondant or Gum paste

Jewel Brooch Mold from Marvelous Molds: Gatsby

(http://marvelousmolds.com/silicone-molds/gatsby)

Luster dusts: gold, orchid pink

Lemon Extract

Black gel

Royal Icing

Small brushes

*(Fondarific brand is suggested)

STEPS:

1)Cut out cake with 4.5” round cutter

2)Place on cardboard, stack layers of cake and buttercream

3)Freeze cake

4)Cover 9-inch cardboard with Black fondant and cut away center with 4.5” ring (3/4 of a pound)

5)Carve cake

6)Frost cake

7)Cover with1.5 pounds black fondant

8)Roll out and apply purple band around cake

9)Make mold

10)Paint with luster, gels and royal- attach to hat

More info:

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Craftsy

NEW VIDEO- How-to Sock Monkey Cupcake Topper

I've had a LONG history with Sock Monkeys. Here's a new video how-to make a cuddly cute sock monkey

From my very first Food Network Cake Challenge to one of my last Food Network  Cake Challenges: EXTREME CAKES (I won- yeah!)

First Food Network Competition

EXTREME Food Network Competition

Now I made a super cute and yummy version perfect for any cake or cupcake topper.

I also made a sculpted cake involving a sock monkey in our second book: Confetti Cakes for Kids

Sock Monkeys for all!

Watch the video on YouTube and don't forget to SUBSCRIBE!

Oh and here is a list of the stuff you'll need:

WHAT YOU NEED

Decorated cake or cupcakes

* I used #12 pastry tip to make polka-dots

MATERIALS

Vegetable shortening

*Sculpting/Modeling Chocolate (4 ounces)

Pastry tips: #2  (for nostrils), #6 (for eyes)

Toothpicks

Stitching tool

Brown powdered food coloring

Lemon extract

*Pre-dyed red, black and orange fondant

Paring knife

Veining tool

Small brush with stiff bristles

Small soft brush

Dish of water

Royal Icing (optional)

Black food safe marker (optional for eyebrows)

*(Fondarific brand is suggested)

Hot Air Balloon and Cloud Cookies-Dr. Seuss Style!

Cookies were inspired by Dr. Seuss's book, Oh, the places you'll go!

To make these cookies watch our video here!

WHAT YOU NEED

• Sugar Cookies
• Royal Icing 
• (Recipes at THIS link)http://www.today.com/id/27440745/#.UjDRNRaFEao

MATERIALS

• *Light Brown Pre-dyed Fondant
• Hello Kitty Strawberry Marshmallow Candy (25 pc bag)
• Food color gels (yellow, pink, blue)

*(Fondarific brand is suggested)

EQUIPMENT

• Pastry bags and Pastry tips #2 and #3
• Small Rolling pin
• Toothpicks
• Paring knife
• Scissors
• Round cutters: 1.5, 2.75 and 3.5-inches
• Square cutter: 1 3/8-inches
• Small dish with water
• Small brush

This is how I remember everything I used in video!

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to our Channel so you don’t miss our NEXT episode-we are going to the Wizard of Oz!

Hello Kitty Backpack Cake

 To make this backpack cake watch our video here 

One cake will feed about 10-15 people

WHAT YOU NEED

• One 9” x 13” sheet cake (one box of cake mix or half of my cake recipes)
• Buttercream/Filling (about 8 cups)

MATERIALS

• Vegetable shortening
• *Pink Pre-dyed Fondant (2 pounds)
• *Red Pre-dyed Fondant (1 pound)
• White Gum paste (size of a large marble)
• Yellow and black gum paste (small amounts)

*(Fondarific brand is suggested)

EQUIPMENT

• X-acto Knife
• One 5 x 3.5-inch rectangular cardboard or foam core
• Tape measure
• Ruler
• Pastry bag and large pastry tip (#806)
• Small brush
• Rolling pin
• Scissors
• Small serrated knife
• Small off-set spatula
• Hello Kitty (or any Logo) template
• Tracing wheel (stitching tool)
• Toothpicks
• Clay gun
• Paring knife
• Dog bone tool (optional)
• Scalpel (optional)
• Turntable (good to have)
• Heart cutters: 1.5 and 2.5-inches
• Air Heads-Xtremes sweetly sour candy (rainbow berry flavor)

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to our Channel so you don’t miss ANY episodes!

End of Summer Treats

Welcome to the first Blog post for our new YouTube series: 

 Mixing-It Up!

Check out the video here0%

One half-sheet of cake will make about: 

12 "Ice cream"cupcakes and 12 "hot dog" cakes

 WHAT YOU NEED

• One half-sheet cake (13” x 18” x 1”)-use either 2 cake mixes or one recipe from Confetti Cakes Books
• Buttercream- either a can or make your own!
• Cupcake frosting: recipe is in this blog posting
• Royal Icing (for “mustard”)

 MATERIALS

• Piping Gel (for shiny hot fudge)
• Yellow and Brown powdered food coloring
• SprinklesVegetable shortening
• *Red and Brown Pre-dyed Fondant
• *Sculpting Chocolate (or Ivory Fondant) 

*(Fondarific brand is suggested)

EQUIPMENT

• Yellow & White containers from thecakegirls.com link here
• Small brushes
• Small rolling pin
• Scalpel
• Veining tool
• Pastry bag with small pastry tip (#2)
• 2" round cutter
• Small serrated knife
• Small off-set spatula
• Large Pastry tip (#806)
• 2-inch long green cloth covered wire (optional)

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to our Channel so you don’t miss ANY episodes!

Where does the cake go?

Over the years I've created many cakes not for a specific recipient but for television, magazine/book shoots or videos.

Joey's "Head" a number of years ago- we all enjoyed the cake!

People always ask, "Where does the cake go?" A six-foot tall sock monkey, a life-sized dress form, wedding cakes, an alligator handbag, a realistic sculpted dog...they've all been made for on-camera usage but it would be a crime to have them wasted.

The original Joey cake was made for my dad. We recorded it so the world can see the sped up process. Now people can watch the full version and learn from the templates, course materials and hours of video. (subscribe to my YouTube Channel so you can see more videos like this!)

Many cakes have gone to the crew, to my friends, family and neighbors- but at the end of my last video shoot at Craftsy.com a very special girl received a delicious vanilla birthday cake, in the shape of a labradoodle. After the shoot, Abby's mom Heather, who works at Craftsy was able to bring the cake to her daughter's birthday party! I'm so happy she and her friends had a chance to enjoy the cake. I think the photos tell it all...

Abby hiding behind her b-day cake's head!

 And if you want to WIN a free Dog Video for LIFE enter the contest at Cakespy

Too-da-loo...

Two ways to win a FREE Craftsy Class

I'm doing a webinar tomorrow for CakeFu.com  

I will be on camera showing some fun stuff and will be happy to answer your questions too.

Plus CakeFu.com will be offering a give-away for one of my craftsy.com classes.....

http://www.cakefu.com/cakefu-master-series-elisa-strauss/

And, Craftsy is doing a giveaway for a FREE class- you have until this Weds, May 22nd:

http://www.craftsy.com/ext/ElisaStrauss_CraftsyGiveaway

AND if you just CAN't WAIT; You can buy the class fro 50% OFF: 

www.craftsy.com/dogcake