"How am I going to do this?"

Sometimes the design requests we get are very clear in what they want, and sometimes we're given the freedom to do whatever we feel at the time with little specifications - which are both fine with me. It is always interesting to hear some of the requests though.  There have been times where I thought it wouldn't work out. Either the idea was too complicated, or too big, or "how am I going to make that look nice on a cake?" haha. Here's a couple challenges I had that turned out pretty cute.

This Michael Jordan cake was probably one of the hardest cakes I've done. It was right after only my first decorating class and I think I was in way over my head. After so many hours (and close-to-tears moments!), I got it. I was excited how this one turned out. Both shoe and shoebox are cake with buttercream icing. 

 

I learned after this that it takes a ridiculous amount of black dye to make black icing, and it also runs into the other colors. I try not to use black icing much now.

You should have seen my kitchen when I was done! This cake is the reason I do the majority of the cakes at my parents' house because they have more room and counter space! ...and Mom helps clean up ;) 

 

These next two cupcake designs were requests I just had no idea how to do.  I wanted to use butter cream icing, so  I was just winging it with Snow White.  She doesn't have a face, but looks cute anyway. I think the apple next to her was a nice touch - I think it was one of my sister's ideas.

The elephants were a very pleasant surprise. I love how they turned out! They're so cute, don't you just want to eat them up? ;)  I saw a picture of elephants like this online and decided to try it out. I did it much like the clowns they teach you in class but used a round tip instead of the star. For the ears I used a rose tip.

This one by far was probably the strangest request I got for a cake, and I wasn't sure how I would be able to keep it classy...

 

...But I think the toilet cake for a Birthday Potty came out pretty cute. I made the toilet while my sister rolled the toilet paper out of fondant. It was surprisingly not that hard and was a lot of fun to make.

Worst part: falling down my stairs afterwards! 

To quote Vector from Despicable Me: 

"Curse you tiny toilet!"