Predict and Win Contest!

Let's have some fun!  The last chance list of stamps sets will be posted on June 1st for Stampin' Up!  Let's look forward and see how good you are at forcasting the trends.  What stamp set do you think is in the current Stampin' Up! idea book & catalog 2009-2010 and will remain in the 2010-2011 catalog?  Pick 12 that you think will remain from the 2009-2010 catalog and be carried over into the new 2010-2011 catalog.  (hostess sets do not count) and post your predictions as a comment to this Post.  Be sure to include your email address so, that I can contact you.  Or, you can email me your list by clicking here!  To enter the drawing, first become a follower of this blog.  Then, you need to contact me by posting a comment on this post or email no later than Midnight on May 30th, 2010 Eastern Standard Time with your 12 picks.  Your name will go into a drawing for any price clear stamp set (no hostess sets) or a la carte stamp of your choice from the Summer Mini Catalog (May 1, 2010-August 31, 2010).  If there is a tie, the tie breaker will go to the earliest entry received on this post or my personal email.  I will notify the winner by June 2nd and the prize will be shipped in July.  Please note that demonstrators are not eligible and entries are for the United States, Peurto Rico or APO Addresses.  If you have a demo, please check with them.  Thank you for understanding. :)  

In addition, I will randomly draw a winner that will receive the 2010-2011 catalog (no stamps or product included) for free.  You can view the 2009-2010 catalog to make your predictions by clicking here!

You can view the summer mini catalog 2010 here or email me if you would like a copy mailed to your home.

Perhaps, I am having Summer fever!  Let's kick off to a great Summer!

You can order 24/7 from my stampin up website click here to see promotions.  Once you are ready to shop click on 'buy now'.  Or you can contact me to place an order.

New Stampin' Up! idea book & catalog 2010-11

Contact me to find out how to receive the NEW Stampin' Up! idea book & catalog 2010-11 FREE! PM/email me direct Available for pre-order Now!


http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/stampiton/promotions

Stunning!

I must say that this is the most stunning cake!  HobbyHo struck again with this cake that takes my breath away!  I have been agonizing with what cake to get for my beautiful darling daughter's 1st birthday this weekend until I saw this!  ok....still a problem because I know that I cannot make it look this good besides not having the time to get the tools necessary.  Atlhough I already do have the perfect dress for darling daughter to go with this cake! 

I would have loved to have this cake for my wedding to go along with that beautiful castle cake!  Ah... at least I got my Prince Charming in reality! :) 

Anyways, Awesome!

Picturesque Cherry Blossom

You can view the video above on the blog or double click on it to view in youtube.  I cut the Cherry Blossom using some fruit roll up as my medium.  What is cooler than making edible images especially for or with your little ones? 

It even cut out the cute little circles within the cut.  It just had to be picked out.

Scrapbooks

Do you wonder how your scrapbooks will look in the coming decades?  Here is an album from the 40's.  It was interesting to even see a telegraph.  I suppose that would be the equiv. to our modern text or email or perhaps twitter or facebook.  How will our communications be viewed in the coming decades?

Be sure to use some acid free, lignin free items when possible and encapsulate those items that are not.  Also, remember that over time your ink might fade and we wouldn't want our setiments to disappear or our efforts to crumble.  The Stampin Up craft (pigment ink) is the best to use for archival items to last a lifetime and beyond.

You can order them 24/7 from my stampin up website click here to see promotions.  Once you are ready to shop click on 'buy now'.  Or you can contact me to place an order.

Picturesque Tulip Cake

I posted my Picturesque Tulip Cake the other day but, what goes into it? I think you grow a greater appreciation for cake decorators when you make your own.

First, you need to select what type of cake that you want. There are so many different types of cakes that could be made. And although you would think that everyone's favoite would be chocolate...it is not! Some people do not like chocolate cake. Stranger so is if they love chocolate but, not chocolate cake. hmmm yes there are those out there. For this cake a white was selected but, it was not a wedding white because I used whole eggs and butter rather than egg whites. It made it not a true white.

After I baked the cake according to the recipe, I let it cool on a rack.  Afterwards, I leveled the cake with a knife and sliced it into layers. 

As I wanted to add a filling, I made some buttercream frosting from scratch for the outside of the cake and a bit for inside. I put it into a bag with a tip to be able to pipe it more evenly.  I spooned it into the bag by folding the inside of the bag out.  It makes it a lot easier to get it into the bag with not so much mess.

I piped some frosting on one of the halves creating a well to put the filling in.  This helps to avoid the filling from oozing out of the cake. 

Now it is time to add the filling!  For this cake the flavor of choice was strawberry....yum! 

Now it is ready for the other layer to rest on top and it will seal the strawberries inside the cake. 

On to the next step which is the crumb coat!  This is where you put a thin coat of frosting on the cake and unfortunately the cake crumbs will mix into it.  Place it in the fridge for a few minutes to set. 

Now the real fun starts!  Your final coat of frosting goes on and smooth it over. As you can see, the above picture is more bumpy.  Apply your buttercream and smooth it over with a clean knife to get it smooth.  I would dip my knife in a glass of hot water and wipe it clean.   

I used the large star tip to put a decorative bead around the border of the cake as well as the bottom.  I also added my decorative cuts that I made out of gum paste.  Those were cut from the picturesque cricut cartridge. 

Below is the final cake. 

 You could also add some cuts to go around the sides of the cake but, I opted to keep the focus on the beautiful tulip cut on top.  My son sure was eyeing up the flower and spied that for his plate.  The cake was a huge success!  Not only was it quality time with my family in making it but, it was also something to talk about and it tasted great too!  It was overall a huge hit! 

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Picturesque Cake

Here's a yummy cake that I made from scratch including the buttercream frosting.  Considering that I have never had any cake decorating training, I think it turned out pretty cute.  I did not do a fondant base on this cake instead I used buttercream.

I used the Picturesque cartridge.   For sizing details, see the youtube video just click here!  Come back Sunday to see more on the making of the cake.