Cake Decorating!

I got an opportunity to team up with two lovely ladies, Socheat (so-shet) and Sandy, to create a fall-themed cake for an engagement party.  Sandy recently teamed up with Socheat, who had started a health-conscious catering business.  Both gals are extremely talented and came out of culinary school.  Sandy, my childhood friend, invited me along to offer my artistic input for this particular gig.  The process was so fun, and our cake came out so much nicer than we could have imagined!  They've invited me for some more future gigs, so I will definitely have more to post coming soon.

Socheat made the cake along with the frosting and lining; Sandy and Socheat both baked mini apple, cherry, blueberry, and pumpkin pies as well; and Sandy and I created the leaves and did the final design of the cake.  Everything is edible on the cake except for the berries.

Sorry for the lame pictures.  We were in such a rush, forgot to grab an SLR for picture taking, and didn't get a chance to spend much time on taking nice photos.

In process.  We used a cupcake pan and other contraptions to get the natural folds of fallen leaves.

Counterclockwise rotation of the cake...

I think the back was our personal favorite.  The simplicity of the few fallen leaves against the blank background just added that perfect touch we wanted.

Enlarged view from the top.  Can you see the details of our paintwork?  :)

Socheat and Sandy being loopy.  Work like this is so much more enjoyable when you have amazing company to spend the long hours with!

Don't want to paint or carve another leaf for a long while.  At least this girl made the pain of leaf-making a good time.  Laughing is the best therapy!!!  

Tell Me About it, Stud!

My friend and I decided last minute to go dancing for Halloween, and I realized I already had everything I needed to be a character from one of my favorite movies - Grease.  I just thought I'd share the hair because I didn't think I would be able to get my hair as big as Sandy's, but it worked!  My hair is pin straight so that was thanks to the magic of hairspray and curling iron.  I loved this last scene from Grease!  I only wished I had that slick leather jacket with red lining.

Dressing up in character is fun for me because it brings out that artistic side where I can try and create a look by using what's already been done as inspiration!  "A wop bop a loo bop a wop bam BOOM!"

In process..

Finished!

Farewell Cake Topper

My beloved cousin was moving to Korea after having lived with us for about a decade.  I knew she had always wanted a cake topper, so I decided to surprise her with one as a parting gift.  The outfit I chose was one that she had worn during a memorable girls' night.  Yes, including the batman cape.  Don't ask.  :)  The major issue I had with this figurine was the fact that I didn't take the cape into account.  The weight of it ended up pulling on her so much that she broke at the legs after I had completed everything!  There was some last minute superglue insanity, and she held together just long enough for Esther to thoroughly enjoy the surprise.  Unfortunately, she started breaking everywhere after that, and on the plane ride back to Korea, but since my cousin is crafty herself, she was able to fix her when she got home.  Esther's happiness made me happy, and the figurine was but a small expression of my appreciation to God for placing this blessed sister in my life!      
                               

This was the first time I added lips since Esther has luscious lips.    I also added her characteristic birthmark, and put in the usual earring studs that she wears every day.

Here's the shirt she wore.

Hair before styling (my favorite part!)

I found these awesome pieces at the craft store that were used for jewelry making.  I was so excited because I realized I could use them for the sandal decor as well as the hair clips.  Just buy the right color, do a little snipping and bending, and voila!  Hair clips!  Esther is known for these.  She wears them quite often in her hair.

Batman cape from our girls' night. 

This was my favorite detail.  Those pieces I mentioned earlier that I used for her hair clips were also sold in gold.  Once I bent them and colored them with permanent marker, they couldn't have been more perfect for the bizZaM leopards on her sandals.  (That's my foot kicking her in that picture above..heh heh)

On top of the yummy mustache cake that our church girls made for Esther.  (Esther loves mustaches.)  

Ok.  She's going to hate me for putting these up.  But, they were too cute not to.  I love Esther because she is so expressive with her emotions.  She's so cute when she cries.  Knowing how much she appreciated the figurine, and how much she would miss us, just made me love her more.  :)

No more tears!  Keep smiling your beautiful smile and bring the same joy you brought us to others!

Birthday Cake Topper

 One of my church girls, Enjee, was turning 19, and our cake queen, Esther, designed yet another beautiful cake with Dain.  I made a cake topper for the cake, and I probably spent the least amount of time making this one.  That's because I already had the idea for the topper visualized in my head, it was a simpler outfit, and I only had to make one person, as compared to the two that's required for wedding toppers.  I was very happy with the results!

Creation process

Playing with hairstyles, yet again.  This was the first time where I changed the shape of the figurine's face. At first, I freaked out because she looked like an alien.  But, it looked much more like her once I added hair.  The face shape change worked well because it's a very characteristic part of Enjee's cutie face.

Holding little Enjee.  If she were really this size, I'd take her in my pocket with me everywhere!  :)

Enjee (or rather Hannah) blowing out her candles.

The amaaazing cake!  Esther and Dain hand painted each member of our church's English ministry group!

Happy Birthday Enjee!

 

Side and back views.  Whenever Enjee puts her hair up, she does it like this.  Updos are easier (and less fragile) to manage both in the creation process and the final product.

I was making her outfit purely from memory so I got some details wrong.  The thong part of the shoes should have gone straight back, not angled like I did it.  I also forgot to make the ring part around her big toes, and the bottoms to the shoes.  Oh well.  They're still cute!  I needed tiny gold pieces to make the gold rings on her shoes, so I bought tiny beads, then pinched and pressed them in with pliers.

Details.  I used real makeup on her eyes and cheeks, and drew in her freckles and signature beauty mark on her lip!

 Here's the inspiration for the outfit.  Earlier in the year, she had worn this at Dain's graduation, and I had remembered it visually in my head.  I was planning to make the purse too, but couldn't find the right gold rings for the chain, and also knew it would take too long.  I just noticed her toenails!  If I knew they were blue, I woulda done that too! 

Our girls on Dain's graduation day!  (From L to R:  sweet Sunghye, me, Enjee-bday girl, Dain and Esther-cake makers!)

For Mom and Dad

It's been ages since I've posted.  These were made in 2012, I believe, for Mother's Day and Father's Day.  My brother and I collaborated.  I gave him my thoughts I wanted to express, and he used those along with his thoughts to write little poems.  He helped me come up with the ideas for the artistic portion, and I created.

FOR MOM

We wanted to create an image that represented our mother's strength and love.  

Emperor penguins are extremely dedicated to their young, and will endure much sacrifice in order to feed and protect their young.  

That's our momma!  

  Card holder made out of wire

Baby coat

Momma coat

Baby face

The poem

FOR DAD

We wanted to create an image that represented fun and leadership, since our dad always made us laugh and led our family with courage, confidence, and integrity.  Our favorite memories are the long car rides we took on road trips.

 Simple water color with colored pencil