Saturday, April 10, 2010

First Birthday Giraffe

Another totally cute first birthday theme.

Here is a sample of the custom picture invitations (not our birthday boy....but you get the idea)

Cake and smash together.

I made the ears from chocolate and created "ear lollipops" by putting them on sucker sticks to ensure they would stay put. I angled them down when I placed them in the cake.

The mane is also chocolate, but I didn't use sucker sticks....I just made long "sticks" of chocolate and stuck it into the cake to give it an anchor.
These are the matching cookie favors.

And here is the wonderful feedback I received!


Karen, I have no clue how to say "Thank You" enough!!!! Each time I opened the box to look at the cake, I just couldn't believe how perfect it was! The cake was a major hit at the party, even the guys were impressed with how cute it was. Everyone talked about how great it tasted. The kids loved the cookies and I wish there was a way to keep one in his scrapbook! You made Grant's 1st birthday so special. He also enjoyed his little cake and I have attached some pictures. I will be calling you for every party or baby/wedding shower I plan. Lisa



And let me say....I am impressed that she opened the box more than once to look at the cake before the party! That makes me smile!

25 comments:

  1. loved that everything matches! From the invites to the cakes and cookies! I love how you decorated the cake! It's awesome and also the cookies they are amazing too! love your work!

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  2. These are absolutely DARLING! Great job :)

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  3. My mother in law and I are going to try to make this cake. Would you share what kind of chocolate you used to make the ears/mane?

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  4. Erin ~ I used candy melts they are easier to use since you don't have to temper them.

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  5. Was wondering what you iced the cookies with??? They are seemless.

    Thank,
    Jenn

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  6. Jenn~ I use a cookie glaze. A wonderful cookie artist who blogs www.cookiecrazie.blogspot.com inspired me to try because I love the shiny look you get vs. royal icing. Check out her blog for the recipe she uses! Thanks for looking!

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  7. what is the cake iced with? it looks so shiney? is it royal icing? great cake and i love how everything matches!

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  8. i was just wondering where you got the cake pan? i seen this and just loved the idea for my son's first birthday/

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  9. Anonymous ~ The cake is iced with buttercream icing! Thanks for looking!
    Anonymous ~ This is a 1/2 sheet pan, stacked and carved to create the shape. Thanks for looking!

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  10. Love this!! My baby is turning 1 and I'm looking up giraffe ideas, thanks for sharing your creativity!!! :)

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  11. I am thinking of trying something like this for my 1 year old this weekend :) I was obsessed with giraffes before he was born...he has so many giraffe toys/ decorations in his room...I love this! Are the 'spots' on the cake fondant?

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  12. These spots are chocolate buttercream, but you could certainly use chocolate fondant!

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  13. this is a great cake and it looks fairly easy for a novice cake decorator to replicate to some degree,how much time would you suggest dedicating to the whole process? my child's birthday is in a week and a half...

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  14. Anonymous ~ As far as time to create the shape and ice, I would think you would need at least an hour. Depends on how comfortable you feel about cutting the cake into the shape you want. Measure first and make sure you can get all the pieces you need before you cut! Good luck and I would love to see your cake when you are finished!
    Thanks for looking!

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    1. How did you get the icing so smooth on the cake? I read the spots are buttercream but mine is never that smooth. Also, how did you make the color of the giraffe? Is it orange or yellow?

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    2. What recipe you use for your buttercream has a lot to do with how smooth you can get it. A crusting recipe is the way to go. I'm sure I used Wilton's gel golden yellow color for the giraffe cake.

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  15. Gorgeous! How do you get the cookies in the right shape? Probably a silly question, I'm not much of a baker... but I'm inspired!

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    1. Cdtill ~ I actually have a copper cookie cutter in this shape. There are a lot of cookie cutter resources on-line!

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  16. i love the cookies i want to make these for my nephews 1st birthday can you tell me how you got the brown color?

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  17. Wow this is amazing! My daughter is 1 soon and I would love to try something very similar, thanks for posting and ideas you are very talented! :) JZB.

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  18. Heidie ~ I used americolor brown food coloring. Thanks for looking!

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  19. Love this cake! Could you provide more detail as to how you made the ears? and also the mane? When you say you used 'candy melts', do you mean that you melted a chocolate bar? what kind did you use to get the 2 different colours for the ears? Thanks!

    Daena

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  20. Going to try this for my sons 1 year next week!

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  21. Do you have recipe and/or steps for making this gorgeous giraffe cake?

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  22. Would love step by step please

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