2018 NC State Fair Entries

Hi there! So, after a couple years' absence from the State Fair, I finally decided to enter again - two cakes this time! My first cake was, honestly - a last minute entry that I wasn't sure I was going to have time for since my primary entry had taken up so much of my time! I just wanted to have fun and push myself with this entry - I primarily make fondant covered cakes and really wanted to try some new (to me) techniques with an all-buttercream cake! And ironically enough, this cake ended up placing higher (1st place!) than the one I spent three weeks on lol! (You just never know!)

As for my second cake - wowee. I loved working on this project day after day...but by the end of it, I really was just ready to be DONE ;) I love the Pixar/Disney movie, "Up" and was inspired to make a cake replica of the house and balloons - so much fun! I ended up placing 3rd in the category for that cake, but am still so tremendously proud of that cake!

Minnie Mouse Birthday

Fun little Minnie Mouse themed first birthday cake - vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream rosettes and a fondant bow!

Captain America Birthday

This was a fun project for a little guy's birthday - Captain America cake and matching cupcakes! The cake was marble with vanilla buttercream filling, covered in fondant and the cupcakes were vanilla and chocolate with fondant toppers.

Carolina Birthday Cake

Fun little cake for a Carolina fan! Vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream filling, covered with fondant and fondant details.

Western Bridal Shower

This cake was for a sweet couple's bridal shower - their wedding was themed with a western flair, so of course their cake had to match! Vanilla cake, with vanilla buttercream filling, covered with fondant and fondant accents.

Race Car 3rd Birthday Cake

Fun little race car birthday cake for a little one turning 3! Vanilla cake with chocolate buttercream filling and frosting with vanilla buttercream accents and toy cars :)

Grad Cake

It's been a little while since I've had the pleasure of making a Grad cake for someone! Love working on these :) This cake was vanilla and chocolate with vanilla buttercream filling, covered in fondant with fondant details.

Police Officer's Birthday

This was a fun little request for a police officer turning 30! Strawberry cake, vanilla buttercream filling, covered in fondant with fondant details. Loved making the handcuffs :)

BIG Chocolate Birthday Cake

Was this a LOT of cake for a Birthday? You betcha. BUT, this was a very special Birthday - my Dad's 75th. Made even MORE special because earlier this year, after the scare of a pretty massive stroke...we weren't sure we'd get to celebrate this day with him. Blessings on top of blessings on Top of Blessings to be able to spend this momentous day with my sweet Daddy! I asked him what flavor he wanted for his cake and he smiled and replied "Chocolate!" so I wanted to deliver in a big way :) Chocolate cake, with chocolate swiss meringue buttercream and chocolate ganache drizzle, accented with some chocolate cake crumbles. I think he was happy and we felt like WE were the ones receiving the present - of more days with Him! <3 p="">

Simple Strawberry Cupcakes

These were just some simple strawberry cupcakes with strawberry whipped buttercream made with fresh strawberry puree - such a lovely shade of pink! :)

Basketball Birthday Cupcakes

Fun Golden State Warriors/Basketball themed cupcakes for a Birthday boy! Cupcakes were strawberry and chocolate, with vanilla buttercream and custom fondant toppers.

Twinkle Twinkle First Birthday

Fun little buttercream cake for a little one's first Birthday - the party was "Twinkle twinkle little star" themed, and the cake was vanilla with vanilla buttercream rosettes, gold fondant stars and a fondant plaque.

Superhero Cake for Icing Smiles

This was my latest cake for Icing Smiles - a superhero cake to celebrate a special little hero's last chemo treatment! Brody loves all things superhero, so we made sure his favorites were represented :)

Spring Floral Cupcakes

I finally took the plunge and ordered Russian piping tips - I so enjoyed trying them out on these cupcakes!

Cupcakes Make Me Happy

I love making cupcakes - baking those perfectly domed little beauties with perfectly swirled buttercream on top - there's something so satisfying about achieving those uniform swirls :) These were some recent cupcakes of mine:

Chocolate covered strawberry cupcakes (chocolate cupcake with strawberry swiss meringue buttercream, topped with a chocolate dipped strawberry).

Cookies & Cream cupcakes (Chocolate cupcakes with Oreo buttercream, topped with half an Oreo cookie).

Duck Blind Birthday Cake

Fun little cake for a guy who loves to hunt :) Vanilla cake, vanilla buttercream filling, covered in fondant with fondant details.

Trolls!

This was a fun little Trolls themed birthday cake - the cake flavors were vanilla and chocolate with vanilla buttercream and fondant details with the exception of the two trolls - they were toys :) I really enjoyed making the fun little rainbow and thought it was a great backdrop to the rest of the elements on the cake!

Tarheel Birthday

Fun and simple Birthday cake for a Carolina fan :)

Star Vs the Forces of Evil (cake!)

In honor of my little girl's upcoming birthday...here's her cake from last year! She LOVES watching Star Vs. the Forces of Evil - totally her favorite cartoon, so I knew I wanted to do this cake theme for her! But how?! Really didn't want to do an edible image, or attempt what would surely be a sadly modeled  version of Star Butterfly out of fondant or gum paste! When searching for inspiration, I came across a screen shot taken from the episode where this particular cake was made for Star - now THAT I could do! :)

I baked the cake (funfetti of course), covered it in white fondant, then hand modeled the fondant "icing" around the sides and top edge of the cake. Then, I used a combination of edible food color markers and thinned gel coloring to paint & draw the image on top of the cake! Not too shabby and the Birthday girl was thrilled with the end result :)

Under the Sea Birthday

Fun little "under the sea" themed cake for a little one's 2nd Birthday! Loved the colors & detail on this cake.

Black & White 40th Birthday

Just a simple little quick cake for a 40th Birthday - vanilla cake, vanilla swiss meringue buttercream filling, covered in fondant with fondant details.

Snow White First Birthday

I loved the theme for this sweet little one's 1st Birthday party - Snow White! Hand cut and etched fondant Snow White cake topper along with an apple smash cake :)

Elephant Baby Shower Cake

Fun little elephant themed baby shower cake! Flavors were red velvet with cream cheese filling and pumpkin spice with cinnamon cream cheese filling, covered in fondant with fondant details.

Catching Up!

Last weekend was a busy one! 

Lovely Fall Birthday cake frosted in chocolate buttercream with fondant leaves - 

Then there was a Fireman's Helmet Birthday cake - 

And finally a lovely golden dripped, pink peony Birthday cake - 

Avengers Birthday Cake

Fun little Avengers themed cake for twin brothers turning 5! Cake was strawberry with vanilla buttercream filling and chocolate with toasted marshmallow buttercream filling, covered in fondant with fondant details.

2015 North Carolina State Fair Cake

Well, here I am again after a long hiatus! (Sorry about that!) I just realized that I never posted my entry for the 2015 NC State Fair, so thought I'd remedy that. As I think I've mentioned before, I always enjoy using my state fair entry as a way to try something new and really have fun! When I decided to focus on orchids, I didn't want to just have the orchids displayed on a normal shaped multi-tiered cake - I wanted something different, a little more realistic. So, I decided to attempt a potted orchid plant! Overall, I'm still very happy with the outcome even if it didn't result in a blue ribbon. And I discovered that I enjoyed making sugar orchids, even with all their minuscule parts!

Pumpkin Cupcakes

Fun and simple little buttercream pumpkin cupcakes for a Fall get-together! Chocolate cupcakes with vanilla buttercream piped pumpkins.

Pumpkin/Fall 1st Birthday Cake

My latest cake for Icing Smiles, Inc. - a sweet little Fall/Pumpkin themed cake for Delaney's 1st Birthday! Vanilla cake, vanilla buttercream filling, covered with fondant and fondant details. So blessed to be able to provide a cake for a sweet little patient!

Owl Baby Shower Cake

Fun little owl themed baby shower cake! Vanilla cake, covered with vanilla buttercream with fondant details/accents.

Prince 1st Birthday Cake

Fun little 1st birthday cake fit for a Prince! Vanilla and chocolate cake, vanilla buttercream filling, covered in fondant, with fondant details.

Woodland 1st Birthday

This was a fun double-barrel 8" round woodland 1st Birthday cake! The cake was chocolate, covered in chocolate ganache with fondant animals.

Sea Turtle Cake

I truly love working on cakes for Icing Smiles more than any others - nothing beats the smile you help put on that child's face - at a time when they truly need it most! This cake was for sweet little Collier, celebrating his 1st Birthday. He loves watching the videos of the brightly colored tropical fish and sea turtles in his room, so that's the inspiration for his party decor and cake! Two tiers of fresh orange cake with whipped orange buttercream filling and one of chocolate cake with mocha filling - Collier got his own little smash cake made of vanilla cake and vanilla buttercream :)

Sports Themed Birthday Cake

Fun little 3-tiered sports themed Birthday cake! Chocolate and vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream filling, covered in fondant.

Super Mario Brothers Cupcakes

Fun Super Mario Bros themed cupcakes for a little guy's birthday! Flavors were chocolate with whipped chocolate buttercream and strawberry with whipped vanilla buttercream. All fondant toppers.

Duke Basketball Cupcakes

Fun Duke University/Duke Basketball themed cupcakes for a dinner party! Flavors were vanilla bean with whipped vanilla buttercream, chocolate with strawberry swiss meringue buttercream and chocolate with whipped chocolate buttercream. Hand crafted fondant cupcake toppers.

Duke Divinity School Graduate Cake

Loved crafting this all-ivory fondant graduation cake for a Duke Divinity School graduate! I re-created the Divinity School logo using ivory fondant and tried to mimic the look of the gorgeous windows that can be found at the school on the sides of the cake.

Paisley Birthday Cake

Fun, cheery and bright little paisley birthday cake! Vanilla buttermilk cake, vanilla swiss meringue buttercream filling, covered in fondant with fondant details.

Frozen Birthday Cake

(Another) Frozen themed birthday cake! Styled a little differently than others I've done, so that keeps them fun! Covered with fondant, toy Anna, Elsa and Olaf toys, all other details were fondant.