Bike Cake and Cupcakes

The Bike cake and cupcakes were for friends of mine who recently turned 30 and 36. The bike cake was for Ian who turned 36 and was a surprise gift from Sarah. My brief was very detailed she wanted a figure of Ian with a pint in his hand and sat up against a tree, bench or wall along with a bike in a country pub garden scene.

The figure and wall I knew I can do easily but as soon as she said bike I panicked slightly as I've never made one before. I had a look through all my cake decorating books but they had nothing on bikes so I went to the Internet to see if anyone had any suggestions. I found several options but the one I went with had clear instructions and pictures for ever stage. 

Before I started piping out fondant I printed out a picture of a bike at the size I needed and then placed greaseproof paper over the picture so I could pipe straight onto the picture. The wheels were the hardest part as the spokes are made out of angel hair pasta and painted in a silver dust. I had to make two handlebars as one broke as I tried attaching it to the bike and the peddles broke as well but other than that it was a case of building it in sections, allowing to dry thoroughly and then fitting it together starting with the wheels to the frame, allow to dry and then glue the peddles, seat and handle bars on. 

I finished the pub scene of with a fence around the cake and piped green royal icing around that to look like grass which I also used on on the wall. The final stage was placing the figure and bike on top.

The cupcakes were for Sarah who just turned 30 and her favourite colours are black and pink, the pink is my fault I think I had an influence on her at uni. The flavour of the cupcakes was lemon with a pink vanilla butter cream icing and black flowers, butterflies and a big glittery 30. 

Word of warning: My first batch of cupcakes were ruined due to the black paper cases peeling away after being baked, the second batch I used the metallic black cases which were perfect so be careful when choosing your paper cases, cheap isn't always cheerful!!! 

Pink and Blue Floral Cupcakes

The floral cupcakes were an order from a newly wed who wanted to thank her florist, she had an image of what she wanted which makes my life easier as sometimes its like pulling teeth with some customers who don't have a clue what they want.

The cupcakes were vanilla with a vanilla butter cream in baby pink and blue shades. The flowers are combinations of roses and blossom flowers.

Handbag and Shoe Cake

My inspiration for this cake was from the Chanel bags and the quilting effect they use on their lovely handbags. I'd been asked to design a cake around a mum who loves shoes and handbags. Her daughter was helpful with providing favourite colours and liked the Chanel based design.

To create the quilting effect around the cake I used the very useful printing mats and then carefully went over that with the notched quilting tool. After that stage I added beading.

After finishing the sides I added the birthday message so I knew what space was left for a shoe and handbag, usually I make the toppers and then realise I've not left enough room for the message :-)

The handbag is based on a Chanel classic and the shoe is from my imagination but I though it worked well with the bag.