Peachy Keen

This weekend I casually stopped by Home Goods to look for some new sprinkles.. 

I only planned on running in, taking a quick look, and rushing out.  I was so dead set on being quick, I actually threw my bathing suit on and cover up, as I figured I'd be in, out, and would rush to my parents' pool right after.  I wasn't going to actually do any shopping while wearing my bathing suit..

I cannot help myself in Home Goods. Even though I love all aspects of the place, nothing compares to their plate selection. I am a sucker for beautiful plates, for obvious reasons!

So a plate I picked up about two years ago made a reappearance this Saturday, and it turns out they had the entire set! I was in my glory.  I instantly thought of the wedding I am doing at the end of August.  We were going for a vintage/rustic feel and these were perfect.  So there I am in the middle of the store, in my bathing suit and cover up, taking pictures of these plates and sending them to the bride, shuffling ten into my cart like a mad woman who just struck gold. The detail in the edges are so beautiful.  I couldn't pass them up.

 

At the checkout the woman looked at me like I was crazy probably thinking "Why does this girl need ALL of these plates?" and "Why is she wearing her bathing suit?"

So I displayed them all out today for the bride and groom to see when they stopped by to taste test some cake pops!  I know I am going on and on about these plates but, I certainly plan on keeping them a secret until the wedding! 

I will however, reveal some of my ideas for the wedding!

I went with a few different shades of peach, green, gold, brown and added whites and silver in there was well. 

 

I also went with different flower molds to give the bride the choice of what she likes best!

 

No wedding is complete without romantic fondant ruffles! My heart melts for these little sweets.

Peach hydrangeas were very delicate, and happen to be one of the bride's main flowers. These will be a beautiful focal point in the whole display.

This color palette is beautiful and gives me so much room for creativity. It will surely be a beautiful display for a beautiful couple!

-Elena

Lions and Tigers and Cake, Oh My!

Animals invaded my kitchen this weekend..

Some were cute with their tongues sticking out, waiting for flies to catch!

Some were ferocious beasts..

HA HA Ok, not so much ferocious, but they were little sugary beasts that definitely put a smile on your face!

The elephants are my favorite..

 I love the fondant ears!

I made 40 cute pops for a 1^st birthday party, and my talented friend Becky put it all together with other treats and made it the cutest little display!

These were fun. I want to make them again!

Hope your weekend was relaxing and full of sunshine! Mine was full of both, plus sugar of course! 

-Elena

The Beach Themed Wedding Sampler

This mini project is one of many firsts for me!  

This is my first sampler, where I've put together my best and favorite flavors for a couple to try.  Going to taste wedding cakes is an exciting milestone for a couple during the wedding planning process, one I can't wait to do someday, and I have been thinking a lot about how I want to replicate the same process on a smaller scale when I am asked to bake for friend's wedding.  After trying different plates and numbers of flavors, I came up with this long tray of 2 pops per flavor using what would be the theme of the entire display..

Which leads me to another first -- beach theme!  I got close to a beach theme with the Little Mermaid Cake Pop Display, incorporating sea shells and coral, but I have been dreaming about a gorgeous beach wedding display with pearly blues and pops of coral pink, with sand dollars and edible sand..

The colors had to be just right.. I didn't want blue like a baby shower, the colors needed to be muted by distinguished. A lot of chocolate was mixed in all sorts of combinations in order to find the perfect shades. 

I am on a total fondant kick lately and have been doing a lot of research on how to texture it and use it in different ways,which leads me to my third "first" in this display-- the ruffle pop. 

A little cake pop dipped in chocolate and adorned in pretty ruffles.  For me, this pop evokes the feeling of sitting on the beach and watching calm sea waves float by.  

I used my variety of ball tools to achieve the ripple effect, and plan to do a lot more ruffling in the near future.

The finished product looked like this..

Finished off with a little card adorning the flavors of cake inside each little creation. 

We decided on a few color tweaks and are adding a few other beachy items and I have a feeling this display is going to be my most favorite yet!

-Elena