Making a Character Cake

This past weekend my youngest son Ryan turned 7.  He wanted his party at a place called Fun Town that had skating, laser tag and arcade games...and he wanted a Pokemon cake!  I went to the major grocery stores and requested one, but they told me Pokemon was 'old' and they didn't carry the characters anymore to make the cake.  My friend had bought a Pikachu Cake Pan off of ebay a few years ago and had it in her garage sale a while back, so I thought it may come in handy someday to have so I bought it from her.  I'm so glad I did!! 

I must say, it has been a while since I tackled a character cake.  The last one was my oldest son's 2nd birthday and I think it was a Big Bird cake pan way back then!  ;)  So I was a little nervous just where to start.  My son wanted a chocolate cake, so I used a box cake mix and sprayed the pan with regular Pam Spray.  This was the best choice.  It came out perfect!!  I made the cake the night before, then made the buttercream icing from the Wilton website in the morning.  All 5 colors.  For the black I used a bottle of Cookie Icing.  It worked out OK, but not great.  I did have some issues using it.  It is a little runny and you have to clean up some seepage into the side areas quickly, but it turned out fine.

I suggest practicing a little on some waxed paper.

I bought my basic Wilton Decorating kit around 30 years ago and they still work wonderfully!  Read the instructions folks.  Of course I thought I did, then when I re-read them, I messed a few steps up.  Ha!  I outlined the cake first then did the outside blue area.  I think the instructions said to do it the other way around, but this worked out fine.  I cleaned up the edges later as I went on.  Start at the top and make your way down.  That was the best way to go on the main color, but I did follow the instructions of when to do each color at which time.  Thank goodness they have the instructions in a data base on the Wilton website!  My pan did not have the paper instruction sheet, but it was on the website.

Well, hello Pikachu!! 

Is this a happy 7 year old or what??

And the final verdict?? Ryan just loved his Pikachu Cake!!!  And everyone said it tasted good too. So don't be scared to try one of these cakes!!  It was actually fun to make!

Linking up to:  Tip Junkie, Hope Studios, Sugar Bee Crafts, Today's Creative Blog, Tatertots and Jello and New Nostalgia

My Son is Getting Married!!

We are so VERY excited here!!!  Our oldest son asked his beautiful girlfriend to marry him and she said YES!  And they are SO happy!  She is witty, beautiful and smart...just like me!!  I know... it isn't about me, but I can't help but want to run to the nearest Barnes and Nobles and go buy every BRIDE magazine that is out there, just to look at the pictures and get ideas for what is in style!  I'm assuming lavender dresses and light gray tuxes are not IN at the moment.  Ha!  I'm already pinning ideas on Pinterest, stalking wedding blogs, and looking at every wedding picture that my friends place on facebook!  And this wedding won't be until next summer!  Oh boy, the diet and exercising has already begun.  If someone wants to start a 'Mother of the Groom' fund so I can get a breast reduction, lipo, a facelift and lasik, I'm all for it!!  haha!

Sarah's family and friends were all up in the North Carolina mountains at her family's summer home for Labor Day.  It was a beautiful morning, with a gorgeous sunrise.  The most romantic place to be on a nice September morn...

Her younger sister Lisa took these pictures.  She is a great photographer.  How awesome that they will have these pictures to look back on over the years.  We have prayed for this new daughter-in-law to-be of mine for many, many years!  Yes, excited is one word for it.  SO very blessed is another.

We love you both so much!!



Moss Covered Letter

My friend Sarah and I decided to make one of the moss covered letters we saw on Dear Lillie's blog a while ago.  We tried looking for the sheet moss in the craft stores but couldn't find any, so we ended up ordering some from Lowe's and was able to go and pick it up. 

We traced the letter out on cardboard which we cut from a large box, then hot glued the moss in parts to the form. It is best to leave it a little long on the sides and wrap it around, gluing the excess to the back so it gives it a nice finished look.

Here it is above our television in the family room for now!  I just love it!

Linking at Common Ground, Savvy Southern Style and Feathered Nest Friday