Be Still, My Unicorn

It was going to be a quiet week for me partly because the World Cup has ruin my sleep - I'm not usually a football fan but hey, this is a once-in-four-years event with some athletic eye candy, so why not! But then a friend contacted me for a Unicorn cake for her elder girl and I decided to forgo sleep altogether ha! They are based overseas but were headed back to Singapore for a wedding in Bintan, and she needed a birthday cake as a surprise for her girl who was turning 8.

I love horses, and the mystical unicorn adds another dimension to the equine beauty. At first I was going to make a dumb down version of the beast but when Mummy J showed me the birthday girl's favourite unicorn figurine, I got inspired to make one like it (well, close enough at least).

Keira's Unicorn and Pegasus

As you can see these figurines are almost life-like and I've always been nervous about making anything too much like still life. However, I was up for the challenge and did some research online and found this amazing tutorial on Cake Central on how to sculpt a unicorn. After a few attempts, I was happy with how my unicorn was turning out. I'm so grateful for the generous cake crafters out there who constantly put up ideas and how-tos.

Here's my unicorn in progress...this is made with a mixture of fondant and gum paste, left over night to set and dry before details and shading were added on.

Sculpting at work

Done without shading

Complete with shading

The cake had a few challenges to overcome before it could meet with the celebrant - mainly: Transportation. It would have to go by car to a ferry terminal, take a 45-minute ferry ride, then a transfer to the resort and stored till evening when celebrations will happen. It was a highly humid day. I was seriously concerned. Just a week ago, one of my cakes didn't make it in transit and it was just a car ride that unfortunately had to brake suddenly at one point. The tiered cake shifted, the fondant cracked. I think I was more devastated than the recipient. So yes I was a bit naggy with Mummy J but she was totally cool about it.

Here's the completed cake when it got picked up in the morning...

Keira's Surprise

I'm glad to say everything went well. Mummy J reported back that the cake survived the journey and the birthday girl loved it! While I could see in her picture that there was some wear from the day, I'm glad everyone enjoyed it. For me, that's what it's all about :)

Happy Birthday Keira

What more can a cupcake be?

Some time back, I made a cake made up of cupcakes. My dear friend saw the idea from somewhere and asked if I could do something like that. For all intents and purposes it's a regular cake, except it's made up of many cupcakes put together, kinda like a jigsaw puzzle.

This great little idea is called the 'pull-apart' cake. It's also perfect for those who don't want to deal with cutting up a cake to serve. Once the candles are blown out, all you have to do is pick up a cupcake and enjoy the goods. And the design possibilities are endless!

I made a beach theme pull-apart complete with the birthday boy's favourite beach toys! Here's a look at how it's done...

Setting up the base of cupcakes

Adding the frosting over the top entirely

Happy Birthday Zach!

These cupcakes quickly caught on as I started to get a few requests for this idea. Mummy P ordered what must be the biggest batch of cupcakes to date for her kids as they both shared the same birth date so it was cupcakes galore at school!

The birthday boy wanted an superhero themed cake so I suggested Iron Man! The request was for 50 cupcakes so I had to think of how to configure the 'cake'. I image googled Iron Man and thought the logo was the best way to go - a huge red M with a dot above.

Esan's Iron Man Celebration

For the birthday girl, she wanted something princess-y so I had a look around and saw a very nice idea online of a princess dress put together by cupcakes. I made a fondant tiara to top off for the royal treatment. Admittedly, the shape didn't work out as nicely as I would have liked. I think it' was a case of no. of cupcakes versus the configuration for a dress.

Happy Birthday Princess!