GIVEAWAY from...Sweet Ivy Confections!

Some of you may or may not know that I have another blog...

Sweet Ivy Confections.

This is my baking journey/business.

I started out posting my baking on this blog...

But as things grew...

I decided to start up a new blog for my baking.

Things have really taken off and I am doing a "Thank-You" giveaway for all the support I've received.

If you'd like to enter...

Head on over to:

Sweet Ivy Confections

And enter today!

Just my little way of saying THANK-YOU!
Thanks!

If you bake...

If you bake...
Don't forget to check out my baking blog!
Sweet Ivy Confections
There is a link on the side of this blog.
We also have a Facebook page and a Twitter account!
FOLLOW US!
Yesterday I delivered a cake I made for a sweet friend's birthday and I just have to share it with you...
Check it out:
http://sweetivyconfections.blogspot.com/2011/12/polka-dotspiralbow-birthday-cake.html

Don't forget!

I haven't stopped baking!
For those who used to enjoy my baking posts and photos...
I have started a new page/blog!
You can follow me at:
http://sweetivyconfections.blogspot.com/
Check us out on Facebook and Twitter too!

Are YOU following us?

Hey you!

Yeah YOU!

Are you following my baking/decorating journey?

Come join me!

Follow along as I learn to perfect my skills in cakes, cupcakes, cookies, pops, and all other sugarcrafts!

I'd love to have you join me and also give me feedback!

You can follow my blog at:

http://sweetivyconfections.blogspot.com/

We are also on Facebook!

Sweet Ivy Confections

You can also look us up on Twitter!

Sweet_Ivy_Conf

Join me!

Busy baking...

Don't forget to check us out on our other blog!

Click:

Sweet Ivy Confections

I have been a busy little bee lately!

I've done two cookie pop bouquets this week.

One as Sweet Ivy's second give-away.

The other as a Sweet Sixteen birthday present for a friend of my son's.

Come follow me on my baking journey at my new blog!

We are also on Facebook:
Sweet Ivy Confections

And Twitter as well:

Sweet_Ivy_Conf

Join and follow my journey!

I'd love to see you!

New post at "Sweet Ivy"...

Check out my review on the BabyCakes cake pop maker!
You can find it here.
http://sweetivyconfections.blogspot.com/2011/07/thoughts-on-babycakes-cake-pop-maker.html

To clear up any confusion...

When I posted the other day about my new "Sweet Ivy Confections" blog starting up...
I just wanted to let you know, that I'm NOT stopping this blog.
This blog is staying ACTIVE. :)
This will remain my personal blog, I will just be using "Sweet Ivy" for all of my baking.
I will put a link in here each time I update "Sweet Ivy" so you can continue to follow my baking journey.
I'd love it if you'd pop over there and follow my journey too!
Join me! :)

I am starting another blog! (and FB, and Twitter)

Many of you know, I have been on a baking/decorating journey for a little less than a year.
I have been encouraged, inspired, and supported by so many other wonderful bakers/decorators around the world on Facebook, Twitter, and by following their blogs!

This has become more than a hobby for me.
And it is my dream to one day, bake for a living.

In the meantime, I need all the practice I can get.
More practice baking sweets, than my family can eat!

So, with the encouragement of fellow bakers, I have named my baking endeavor and started a Facebook page, Twitter account, and blog JUST for my baking journey!

I will be doing MANY GIVEAWAYS!

So...check out our Facebook page, Twitter account, and blog!

My name is:
"Sweet Ivy Confections".

I am specializing in cupcakes, cookies, pops, and specialty sugarcrafts.

The blog is brand new and I am playing catch up by writing my history and adding pics of all of my cakes during my journey.
The link to the blog is:
http://sweetivyconfections.blogspot.com/

You can find me on Facebook at:
Sweet Ivy Confections

And on Twitter:
Sweet_Ivy_Conf

One of the only things I've ever attempted by "Martha"...

Though Martha Stewart creates some of the most beautiful things...

I don't think most of us average people out there feel very confident attempting them.

These cookies however...

When I saw them on the cover of her Martha Stewart Living magazine...

I HAD to attempt them.

They were just too pretty not to.

I did them in red, white, and blue on my first attempt and they looked like fireworks!

They turned out pretty decent for a first try!

I made a gift basket for my dad for Father's Day.

You may remember seeing that post earlier.

They also kindof remind me of tie-dye.

I think this is one of my favorite techniques I've learned yet!

Do I have to work? I'd rather just practice decorating all day!

Tried some more decorating yesterday.

Just playing around with different things.

I am never quite satisfied with my end results.

I don't know if I ever will be.

I don't know if it's because they really aren't that great...

Or if I'm just too hard on myself.

But imagine my pure delight...

When...

My ten year old son exclaimed,
"Mom!  These are the most beautiful cookies ever!"

Awwww.

Thanks sweetie.

You made my day.

Whether anyone else thinks they're pretty or not...

My sweet-pea loves them.

When it's too hot to go outside...practice your BAKING/DECORATING! :)

It has been so hot here lately.

There are Air Quality Alerts, High Heat Warnings...

They're telling us "stay inside", "check on your neighbors", "stay hydrated".

With the temps in the 90s, the heat index over 100, and the humity levels at 60-70%...

There is NO WAY I'm going outside.

It's miserable.

And unhealthy.

So...

What else is there to do?

Practice some more of my baking/decorating skills!

Although I must admit...hubby wasn't too thrilled at the thought of me turning on the oven...
Even with central air...our upper level gets WAY hot.

So he usually retreats to the family room downstairs or to our bedroom where it's always about 10 degrees cooler for some reason.

I just thought I'd try some different things.

I've never done anything like this.

After reading so many wonderful baking blogs...

(Check them out some time...they're all listed on my sidebar!)

I get the itch to try new things.

They turned out "OK".

Not perfect.
Not great.

But "OK".

I still don't have a very steady hand.

I baked a whole bunch of shapes, but only decorated these three tonight.

So...

As long as it's too hot to go outside...

You'll probably be seeing more of my work!

Practice "bakes" perfect...

Today I did some more practicing w/ my baking and decorating.

I did one of the classic Wilton cake designs.

Let's just say...

Heat and humidity are NOT kind to bakers and decorators!

Even with central air, my drop flowers and icing were melting.

Ugh.

It was fun, none the less.

And I'm sure it will taste great.

And we all know practice makes perfect...

But can't I have perfection now?

LOL!

Oh well...

Let them eat cake!

My newest cake! (Evan's b-day cake)

Well...I did it.

I attempted fondant!

I did not take the class yet.

I did it strictly by studying youtube tutorials, LOL!

Seriously.

Doing "camo" probably wasn't the best choice for my first attempt.

With camo, I had to cut all of the different pieces in "puzzle" type shapes.

Then, I had to piece them together, overlapping.

Then I had to roll them out together.

I thought it looked pretty good.

But then...

When I went to flip it onto the cake...

The "puzzle pieces" started coming apart.

For my first attempt, I probably should've practiced with a solid piece of fondant.

But...

I didn't lose my cool.

I stayed calm and focused.

I repieced them back together, and then QUICKLY flipped it onto the cake!

And I did it!

And I think...for my first attempt at fondant...

It didn't turn out half bad!

I'm pretty proud of it!

Sure, it's not perfect.

Sure there are little cracks/seams where I pieced it together.

But...

For not having any training in fondant...

I am quite pleased with it!

I did the deer as a Royal Icing plaque.

I was terrified as I peeled it off the parchment paper, but it came off without a hitch!

Overall...

I am a happy camper and amazed with this cake!

Take me out to the ball-game!

We were assigned "snack duty" for Nate's last ball game.

Well, I'm sure you couldn't guess what I wanted to do?

Baseball cookies!

♪♪♪ "...and it's 1...2...3 strikes you're out at the old ball game!" ♪♪♪

New techniques, experiments...so much fun!

I had seen these cookies done multiple times on many of the baking blogs I follow.

I always wanted to try making them.

But never had the courage.

And by stroke of luck...what was on the cover of Martha Stewart Living when it arrived in the mail this month?

Yes...these cookies!
I followed the simple instructions and they were super easy and so pretty!

For the first time ever, I'd say they turned out pretty good!

Though, I do think if I'd have thinned my Royal Icing a bit more, I wouldn't have had the lines.

Oh well!

Live and learn!

Next up was cake pops!

I got the BabyCakes cake pop maker for Mother's Day and still hadn't tried it out.

So, I decided o make a gift basket for my dad for Father's Day filled with cake pops and cookies!

It was SUPER easy to use.

Neat and clean.

Quick!

I loved it!

I actually used a brownie mix and made brownie pops.

Since this was my first time, I wasn't sure what the best coating was, so I tried one of the recipes in the BabyCakes recipes book.

I hope dad liked it!

I decided since it was June, I'd go with a summer theme.

I put them in a little sand pail w/ a shovel.

And when I think of summer, I always think red, white, and blue.

The finished product.

It was a lot of fun.

I hope dad enjoyed it!

I can't wait to try more flavors.

Extra cookies in a favor bag.

I could bake, decorate, and experiment all day!

A few more baking delights that I forgot to share...

So, I continue to practice my passion.

Baking and decorating cookies and cakes.

I'm moving at a snail's pace...much slower than I'd like.

But time and finances are slowing me down right now.

These were my latest little projects.

I attempted a cookie pop arrangement for my mom for Mother's Day.

I thought it turned out half cute for my first attempt!

It's a bit tricky...

Getting them arranged just so.

I can't even imagine arranging REAL flowers, LOL!

I DID learn that I may need some longer sticks next time.

But I enjoyed the trial.

It was time consuming, but lots of fun.

The bumble bee turned out ok...but he was a challenge!

The most important part...was...that according to my dad, "They tasted great!"

LOL!

I also made Red Velvet Cupcakes for the first time last month.

My grandma always made red velvet cake when I was growing up.

I didn't like it much when I was a child.

But now...I'm quite a fan!

They were tasty.

I did the traditional cream cheese frosting and added some red crystal sugar for a touch of fun.

And there you have it!

Can't wait to start my next project!

Whatever that may be...