Quilling And Rosettes...A New Adventure

I saw this technique on "My Cake School", an online blog I follow and knew immediately that I just had to try it.

The gal who did the tutorial, her rosette was pink...and dainty...and frilly...and everything this girly girl loves!

Well...turns out...it wasn't all that hard!

I thought I would never be able to do it.  And let's face it, it's not perfect.

But for a first attempt, I was very happy with it!

I didn't have all of the proper "decorating tools"...so as usual, I just improvised with gadgets I had in my kitchen.  You never know what odds and ends will work in a pinch!  LOL!

After I finished it, I also tried luster dust for the first time.  There isn't any on it in these pictures.  I still haven't quite figured that out.  But I had a blast making this flower and was very pleased with the outcome.  It went on a very special birthday cake...

MINE!

Teehee!

Another technique that I tried for the first time was quilling.

I found that on "My Cake School" as well.

Everyone keeps asking me if it was hard.

NOPE!

It was FUN!

I felt like a kid again...playing with playdough!

These also went on a very special cake as well...

My momsie's!

We usually celebrate our birthdays together as hers' is February 1 and mine is February 6.

Photos of the finished products to come!

Hang in there!

Lace, Conversation, and Florals...

Ever since I saw the lace tutorial by "My Little Bakery" I was obsessed with learning how to do it.  Nadia was kind enough to show us her techniques and I was absolutely intrigued after I saw all of her beautiful cookies and handiwork.

I have by no means perfected it...but I am learning a lot as I practice...for example icing consistency, how far to pipe lines apart, and more.

I did this technique on some more of the famous "SugarBelle's" Brown Sugar Cut Out Cookies.

It's a really tasty recipe.

I also did some Conversation Hearts.

Or...at least, that's what they were supposed to be...teeheehee!

I also attempted some floral bouquets...thinking they'd be cute for Valentine's Day.

But I have to say...I have been working to perfect this particular cutter/cookie style for nine months now, and it just isn't happenin'!  LOL!

I don't know what it is...I've seen come cookiers do some beautiful bouquets of this style...and this is one I just can't seem to master.

Oh well.

Guess everyone has their specialty, LOL!

I have to say, as much of a romantic as I am...loving hearts and all things pink...I think I'm tiring of Valentine cookies...teehee!

Who's ready for St. Patty's Day?

"Lace" Cookies...

I had been wanting to try these ever since I started following "My Little Bakery" on Facebook.

If you have never seen her cookies or heard of her...Nadia is an amazingly talented cookie artist with exquisite handiwork!

I would have never attempted these, had she not put out a wonderful video tutorial.

After watching the tutorial several times (and marveling at her steady hand and amazing talent), I decided I had to give it a go.

Well...let's just say, I don't think my "lace" will ever match up to the talent of "My Little Bakery".  But it was a lot of fun and wasn't as disasterous as it could've been, LOL!

I enjoyed doing these and it could've been much worse, LOL!

If you've never seen her work, check out her blog here.

Sweet Snowmen!

Here in Micigan, we have had a record-breaking mild winter.

UNTIL...

Thursday night.

It snowed...

And snowed...

And snowed some more!

We have a about a foot now!

It's all good with me.

I work from home, so it never bothers me.

The sun came out and all the roads are clear now, yet it's so beautiful ,with the snow laying heavily blanketed on all of the trees.

As it "blizzard-ed" (is that a word? lol!)...I decided I'd make a special treat for my family.

Sure they'd be tired of cookies and cake, I decided to whip up some brownies.

Boring brownies?

Nope!

I did snowmen brownies!

I had a snowman cake pan that make four at a time, so I was able to whip out a dozen (very slowly, only four at a time).

I decided to frost them and make them cute.

I had two conclusions on the final product.

My youngest son (whom is just like my husband) informed me that, "You do not frost brownies with anything but chocolate frosting mom."

LOL!

Ok then!

My oldest son, whom thinks there's no such thing as "too sweet" thought they were great.

So the final thoughts on this project were split right down the middle.

Oh well, I guess ya can't win 'em all...can ya?

And A Few More Valentines...

These were some fun cookies.

I love doing random letters and sayings with cookies!

So any time I have the opportunity to "write" or "spell" with cookies, I take that opportunity and run with it.

I did these in a Brown Sugar Spice Cookie recipe that I got from the famous SugarBelle's.

You can try the recipe for yourself...

here.

I think they turned out fairly well.

There were a few minor glitches.

For example...my never-ending problem with runny icing.

Some of the leaves were a little gooey and didn't hold shape as much as I'd have liked.

But for the most part, these were some stress-free cookies, LOL!

Stress-free cookies, you may ask?

Yes.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I stress BIG TIME when I decorate cookies and cakes.

As much as I love baking and decorating, it is still a source of stress for me...as I am a perfectionist.  And as a newbie, the learning curve is very difficult for me.

So, when you hear me say "stress-free cake or cookies"...

Now, you'll know that it was a good experience!

LOL! 

Valentine's Day Cookies!

I started early this time.

For Christmas, all of my baking buddies seemed to be baking holiday cookies by Thanksgiving!

So this time, I got on the ball and started baking for the next holiday early.

I figured I needed some samples if I'm to get any orders for the Valentine's Day holiday!

Valentine baking (cookies, cakes, treats) are one of my favorites to do because I love romance, love, and all things pink!

I didn't have my cookies done and posted, but maybe ten minutes and I was already getting questions on what some of my "sayings" were on the cookies.

I guess I thought everyone knew all the lovey-dovey acronyms for Valentine's Day and love...but that's not the case.

So...I guess I get to interpret, LOL!

First, my husband asked me what S.W.A.K. was.

WHAT?!?

"Are you kidding me?", I asked him.

SEALED WITH A KISS!

Silly hubby...doesn't he know anything about love and romance?

LOL!

This little floral one was one of my favorites.
I love doing flowers.

The next question came from one of these cookies.

Well, I think "most" everyone knows that XOXO means "hugs and kisses", right?

But...

I got a question on "Mwah".

What does that mean?

I guess I thought everyone knew that that was the sound you make for an exaggerated kiss!

MWAH!

LOL!

I still don't have perfect penmanship when piping lettering.

That is still something I still struggle with and continue to work on.

But these were a lot of fun.

And...

If you live in the southwest Michigan area or on the lakeshore...let me know if I can help you out with any Valentine baking!

I do cookie and cake pop bouquets, cake truffles, cookies, cakes, petite treats of many kinds!

All can be individually bagged, tied with ribbon, and customized/personalized with tags!

Sweet Ivy wishes you a very happy Valentine's Day!

New Year's Cookies 2011

Made up a batch of the new recipe I discovered on a fellow baker's blog...chocolate chip cut-out cookies.  And let me tell you, it is mighty tasty!

After I did the "Michigan Cookies"...I had some leftever and decided to do a few New Year cookies.

I could've made them more fancy, but didn't want to deal with mixing up a lot of colors late at night.

Somehow my cookie decorating always ends up dragging into the late hours of the night.

They're just simple.  But we really enjoyed the taste/flavor of these chocolate chip cut-outs.

Now we have some variety when I want to do more practicing/decorating!

There are two more flavors of "cut-outs" that I want to share.

I won't share those yet until I've tried and tasted them!

We hope you and yours have a very Happy New Year.

Thank-you all for following me...my blog, my Facebook, my Twitter.

Thank-you to those who have placed orders.

I wouldn't have ever had the courage to start this journey without the encouragement and support I get from all of you.

And for that, I say thank you!
Here's to a happy, healthy, prosperous 2012!