GOOD TASTE: Naked Cake Fail & Spring Cupcakes

I’m sure you’ve seen all of those beautiful “naked” cakes that are being pinned lately. They’re all the rage and so pretty overflowing with layers of frosting, berries and flowers. I decided to try to make one and although I wouldn’t categorize it as a complete fail it definitely falls short of the inspiration images I’ve been eyeing.

GOOD TASTE: BLACK & WHITE CUPCAKES

I’m trying to learn how to frost cupcakes so that they’re oooh and ahhh worthy. This is my first attempt at the swirl technique. I definitely need some more practice but thankfully I had some pretty cupcake holders to detract from my mediocre frosting skills. The cupcake is in a black & white polka dot baking cup and then nestled in a beautiful pearl paper floral cupcake wrapper.

Good Taste: a year of cupcakes on the Inspiration Board

There’s one item that is consistently linked up week after week on the Inspiration Board. Cupcakes. I’ve been wanting to round up the best of the cupcakes for the longest time – and finally went through a year’s worth of Inspiration Board link parties to bring you…

A Year of Cupcakes on the Inspiration Board

Celebrations: holiday clearance {repurposed hanukkah candles}

Christmas ornaments, lights and garlands aren’t the only thing you can find on clearance after the holidays. I spied these bright colorful Hanukkah candles during the holidays and was thrilled to find them on the clearance shelf after New Year’s.

Celebrations: cupcake candle flags

Cupcake and cake flags are so popular right now and the sky is the limit when it comes to decorating sweet treats with flags. I love using these tall super skinny birthday candles for celebrations so I thought it would be fun to incorporate the candle and the flag.



I made a few different types of flags. Leaf green striped flags with a tiny piece of matching velvet ribbon for Easter treats.

Pretty in pink birthday flags with tiny crepe paper streamers.

All occasion “I {heart} U” flags.

This “Take One” flag would be fun for a buffet table or cupcake stand.

Just remember to leave enough room at the top for the candle to burn.  

  

Have a happy day and thanks for visiting.

Carolyn

Good Taste: cupcakes ~ and black & white inspiration

Yum! I made these cupcakes the other day. I wish I could go on and on about the ingredients and provide you with the recipe, but I must confess, they are from a mix.



These are my new go-to quick dessert. They’re Duncan Hines Triple Chocolate Decadent cake mix. This isn’t a sponsored post – I just really like this cake. My family loves it too. Whip up a batch and in the eyes of your family, you’re a rock-star!

The cupcakes are all gone but while I was editing the photos, the dark chocolate and white powdered sugar got me thinking about the different black and/or white projects I’ve made. So I created a black and a white pinboard collage.

{Black Pinboard}  top left – clockwise: Black & White Gift Wrap, Fortune Cookies, Envelope Card, His & Her Painted Mugs, Black Crepe Paper Flowers

{White Pinboard} top left – clockwise: Fuzzy Yarn Sheep, Spring Candles, White Camellia, Capiz Shell Tidbit Stand, Paper Flower Jar Lids 

Thanks for visiting.

Carolyn

Sew and Tell: accidental cupcake toppers

The other day when I was making this Mother’s Day Memory Pillow, a toothpick accidentally stuck to the hot glue on the back of one of the rosettes.

When I picked it up, I thought it looked cute…like a lollipop.

So I made some more rosettes to be used as cupcake toppers.

Sometimes you spend hours trying to get a project to work. And sometimes you accidentally make something. Fun!

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This project is linked at the following:

  

 

And other link parties that I participate can be found here.

Be my guest: katycakes

I’m so pleased to tell you about katycakes. My friend Katy makes the most delicious baked goods. Trust me, I’ve sampled many, many of Katy’s bundt cakes and cupcakes.

Formerly with Bakesale, Katy is branching out on her own with delicious, fresh baked goodies. The only downside…katycakes is local in the Los Angeles area only. But if you live in the area or are visiting or have a friend in Los Angeles – check out katycakes.

Everything is made with the best ingredients and made with old-fashioned homemade care.  

Here’s what Katy has to say:

Katycakes is not for lovers of "store bought cupcakes" with whirling twirling frosting dyed all the colors of the rainbow or for fans of mouthfuls of sculpted fondant on top of cakes that have spent a few days in the fridge

It is a culmination of lots of years of baking...with my grandmas, my mom and dad, my three wonderful sisters & a couple of very special cousins, and from a lot of late "sugary" nights tweaking my recipes until the cakes were super moist and the frostings buttery rich and creamy dreamy.

Thanks Katy and best of luck with katycakes.

Let me know if you need me to taste test anything!