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)

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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

Cake for Icing Smiles

I've created many cakes in my life, big and small ones. Cakes for celebrities and for all sorts of celebrations. But none were as special as the cake I made a few weeks ago for an amazing little girl, Antoinette. I was given the honor of making her 12th birthday cake through the wonderful organization, Icing Smiles. Icing Smiles provides cakes to critically ill children and their siblings.

The party took place at the Ronald McDonald House in NYC. There is a party room decorated with all the characters from the comic book, Archie. Antoinette requested a vanilla cake with vanilla frosting.

I carved the cake from a block of layers (with a support board and dowels inside)

If you'd like to know more about Icing Smiles or if you are a cake designer and want to become part of their network of sugar angels please contact them here.

Confetti Cakes on SWEETOPIA

One of my favorite Blogs in the world is Sweetopia. Not only is it an excellent resource for inspiration, it's a fabulous  resource for techniques too. Marian, its founder and author (blogger!) is so creative and just the sweetest to boot. I was thrilled when Marian asked me to be interviewed.
We are also offering a Confetti Cakes for Kids book giveaway!

Check out the interview and you will be eternally grateful I introduced you to this Blog and hey, maybe you can win a book too! Good Luck!

Enter HERE

Mini Brownie Cakes

Ice Cream Cupcakes

Whimsical Cake