Ladybugs in Fondant Cupcakes

We continued working with the fondant. This time the decoration is related to that tiny insect that many parents choose to celebrate the first birthday of their babies. The ladybug is an insect that is characterized by its red color and  black spots. We can buy the fondant red or we can dye the fondant with dyes.

Gel Dyes

Fondant should be dyed with gel dye. It is not recommended use the liquid dye because softens the mass. In the market there are a variety of brands of edible dyes, we can select the one that best suits our needs. We can keep trying until we find the brand that we like.

Ladybugs decorating the party table

Ladybugs are very attractive, their spots and their color attracts the attention of children and adults. His biggest fans are farmers because that ladybugs have an intense appetite. They eat insects and help to keep protected crops. In many countries, the cute ladybugs are considered symbols of good luck.

Decoration for Hello Kitty Party

I was looking for a special theme to prepare the first baby girl birthday party. I found this lovely kitten of all time, Hello Kitty. If you start to plan the party a little late, Hello Kitty is the best choice to decorate the event, because this kitten is so famous that whatever place you look you will find items to decorate the birthday party.

Decoration

Birthday party decoration is always based on the colors and elements used. The result will depend on how we use each element. Using a range of specific colors like green, pink and white and combining them with different elements like balloons, tablecloths, plates, glasses, etc. helps us get a homogeneous decoration. If you like crafts you can design a few pins for the guests, and a Hello Kitty with  Eva foam for the wall.

Candy Bar

The sweet table became the attractive point for people in the birthday party. This candy bar was decorated with variety of sweets including Cupcakes, marshmallows, jelly and a beautiful fondant cake.

Gift for children

Children parties are always full of surprises. At the end of the birthday party the children are very happy with their gift.

Souvenir

The small gift that the guest receive is how we thank for attending the event. You can select a small gift, in this case a cupcake wrapped with a personalized bookmark.

Games

I also wanted to include other elements that would provide children and adults fun. The games are a way to entertain the kids at the birthday party. Short and fun games, accompanied by prizes for the winners, will make the birthday party be a memorable event for children. The games played at this birthday party consisted of placing the lasso in the Hello Kitty head in the correct position, guess age baby according to the picture and answer questions related to the history of Hello Kitty.

Hello Kitty History

Hello Kitty born in the suburbs of London, England, on November 1. Her height is described as five apples and her weight as three apples. Her head accounts for approximately half of her total body mass. She is portrayed as a bright and kind-hearted girl, very close to her twin sister Mimmy. She is good at baking cookies and loves Mama's homemade apple pie. She likes to collect cute things and her favorite subjects in school are English, music, and art.

Hello Kitty made ​​with Eva Foam

Create craft things for children's parties is a fun challenge. On this occasion, a Hello Kitty  designed with Eva Foam to entertain kids in the party.

Eva Foam (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate), is used in educational and creative techniques in schoolwork and crafts, among its features we can mention that is resistant to climate change, low water absorption, can be recycled, is not toxic, it is washable, easy to paste, cut and paint.



Elements used to make a flat and basic Hello Kitty

Eva Foam in colors like Pink, green, white, yellow and black. (In this case I chose these colors because the party decor is pink and green).

Scissors.

Cold Silicone.

Brushes , tempera or acrylic paint (in case you want to emphasize the edges of the figure).

Procedure

1.- I made the mold by my hand and although I did not stay perfect. It is  Hello Kitty, the cat. (You can get a mold by internet).

2.- Cut out the pieces ( head, eyes, nose, whiskers, hands, sleeves, collar, dress, tie and feet).

3.- Place with cold silicone the pieces on a basis of Eva foam as if it were a puzzle. The base may be in pink or black. The cardboard can also serve as base.

4.- The lasso will not be sticked because for the game which it was done will be the children who will  place it in the right place, at the Hello Kitty's head.

The kids have fun playing the game "Putting the lasso to Kitty"

We can include in the children's party a small detail made in Eva Foam, for example a brooch that we can assign to the children. In this case the green one for boys and the pink for girls.

This small detail can apply to children's parties with different thematic

How to Plan a Birthday Party?

A birthday party requires planning and organization because we must consider many details. If you want the birthday party be a success, begin with the preparations as soon as possible, in this way you can work each point of the birthday party well organized and calmly. Enjoy planning the birthday party, because it will bring you satisfaction and the learning that you will be able to use in your future birthday parties. But if you do not identify with birthday party decorations, you do not have time for it or you have no idea how to start, It is better to leave it in professionals' hands or at least read this guide that will surely give you some ideas on how to start.

1.- List of Guests

This is the first point that we must develop, because knowing the people' quantity, we can establish a limit in the budget. We can select the place with the suitable size, acquire the quantity of necessary elements (plates, glasses, chairs, etc.), we can define the quantities of appetizers, drinks and sweets to prepare and finally we can buy or make the exact amount of souvenirs for each guests.

2.- The Time, Date, and Place

When we talk about birthday parties any time is good, you can arrange a breakfast or lunch, although when it comes to children the most common is the snack time, but if the birthday party is for adults it is best to do it at night. When you seek the day of the birthday party, try to select a date that have free both you and your guests, this will ensure that none will be missing the event. The perfect place for this type of birthday party, is your own home, but If it is not possible for reasons of space or location, you have the options to do it in a park, in a restaurant or you can even rent a place, today we can find premises for parties in a variety of unimaginable business, schools, children's hair salons, theme parks, etc.

3.- Decoration and Theme

Create the perfect decoration in the birthday party is not an easy task. The theme of the party, is the starting point in decoration, can be cartoon characters, costumes, sports and anything that can inspire us can serve to develop a funny theme. Knowing the theme, we can define the colors that we will use in the decoration (pink, green, blue, gold, red, etc.), the necessary elements (banners, tablecloths, napkins, etc.), we can customize the decoration because brainstorm probably it will arrive to our mind and creativity will emerge. The important thing is to take advantage of the decoration to convert the space into a pleasant and magical place for our guests.

4.- Candy Bar or Sweet Table

If you want to see your little guests and even adults with a big smile on their faces, must there be a candy table in the birthday party. We can make a budget depending on the number of guests, however it is advisable to include variety of sweets (cupcakes, cookies, jelly, chocolates, macaroons, etc.) but it is not necessary to make a sweet of each type for each person, thinks that not all eat the same. The way we exhibit our sweets it is important to attract diners, we can use our own housewares as cupcakes stands, attractive trays, glass jars, vases and can even identify each dessert and with this the guest knows what they are eating.

5.- Menu and Drinks

Food is an important point if you do not want the guests leave soon of the birthday party, if you like cooking yourself can prepare meals or you can hire a caterer which bring food to the party time. You always have the option to prepare cold snacks (fruit, cheese, crackers, vegetables, etc.), prepare easy dishes that the guests can serve themselves (salads, chicken nuggets, sandwiches, etc.), another option is to set a specific time for the snack of the children, so we can use a big table and the children can share together. As for the drinks, you probably know the favorite drinks of your friends, however, it is good to include variety and that the same guest select what you take during the birthday party (soft drinks, juices, cocktails, etc.), in the children's parties should not include alcoholic beverages and in summer it is advisable to increase the budget on drinks and ice.

6.- Games and Entertainment

When the birthday party is to adults, the  entertainment could be limited to music, but for children's parties besides music, we must include variety of activities to keep children entertained and happy, among the most common options is to develop a list of games,  craft, you can design a frame and add some funny accesories for a photocall, both children and adults will enjoy it, and if the budget allows we can rent a bouncy castle, children will  jump almost all the time, we can hire clowns, magicians or people dressed as the theme of the party, this kind of shows makes children to be very happy.

7.- Gift or souvenir

Prepare the gift for friends guests is a point that it will take time, we must to broach it as soon we know the number of guests. This small gift is a souvenir that is given to the guest as a thank their support to the event. In the case of children it is common that this gift be candies and toys. Only we must consider the age of children to give them a gift that they can enjoy.

Birthday parties are very important especially for children and can be a simple or very attractive birthday party, always will become an unforgettable memory.

Cupcakes for a Hello Kitty Party

Hello Kitty Cupcakes decorated with Fondant to celebrate a little girl first birthday. Children would like to try a sweet cupcake at the party. The fondant formed from water, sugar and glucose becomes our ally when we cover our cupcakes and make them fun and attractive to children.



To make those cute Hello Kitty faces just need fondant, coloring gel, edible market, Hello Kitty shape cutter and roll to extend the fondant.

1. First knead the fondant until it is completely elastic.
2. Dye the fondant with gel dye.
3. Extend the fondant with a roll in a flat surface.
4. Cut the Hello Kitty shapes with the special cutter.
5. Cut the ties or small flowers to complement.
6. Paints eyes and nose with edible markets.

Cupcakes are part of the decoration in the sweet table

The lovely Hello Kitty produced by the Japanese company Sanrio and designed by Yuko Shimizu has won the hearts of girls of all time. Many other cartoon are imposed today, but Hello Kitty is always very close to us. Hello Kitty is so famous that not only found in toy stores but is also in theme parks, restaurants, even in Asia is the Hello Kitty airplane.

Decorating Cupcakes with Buttercream

It's time to experiment and make the famous Buttercream to decorate and give flavor and color to the Cupcakes. Buttercream is the most used to decorate cakes and cupcakes. It has the property that when mixed with different ingredients, it is much delicios.

Buttercream (also known as butter cream, butter icing, and mock cream) is a type of icing or filling used inside cakes, as a coating, and as decoration. In its simplest form, it is made by creaming butter with powdered sugar, although other fats can be used, such as margarine or lard. Colorings and flavorings are often added, such as chocolate, fruit purees, and various extracts. Buttercream is a common topping for cupcakes, sponge cakes, butter cakes, and other desserts.

Here I tell you some utensils and ingredients to start decorating our delicious cupcakes with buttercream:

Utensils

Mixer

The mixer will allow us to mix the ingredients and whisk the cream with their rods high speed.

Piping bag

They are essential for decorating cupcakes with buttercream, we can find them as cloth , plastic and some are disposable.

Nozzles

Nozzles and piping bags are used together. You can find nozzles stainless steel and plastic nozzles also. There are plenty of nozzles that allow us to make different designs with the buttercream and you can find different brands.

Sieve or Strainer

It is advisable to sift the icing sugar to detach it and get it a thinner texture, achieving a softer cream.

Silicone Spatula

It is used to mix the cream and clean the walls of the bowl that we use to mix the cream, so the entire cream will be used in our cupcakes.

Measuring cups and Kitchen scale

Measuring utensils allow us to add the exact amount of ingredients in our baking recipes.

Spatula

This spatula is used to extend the frosting or cream on the cake.

Ingredients

Butter

You can go searching and testing different brands of butter on the market, until you find one you like. Always use unsalted butter.

Icing Sugar

The icing sugar is the ingredient that will give the sweet touch, if the cream is thinner, the texture will be better.

Essence, cookies, fruits, etc.

You can include in your recipes for buttercream variety of ingredients such as vanilla, jams, cookies, fruits and many more, to achieve different flavors with each buttercream that you prepare.

Gel Dyes

The dyes play a important role in the presentation of the cream, making them more attractive to the palate of people.

Edible Powder

The edible powder is intended for decorative purposes and it is suitable for consumption, plus we can find them in different colors for our decorations.

Sprinkles to decorate

In the market there are varieties of sprinkles, colored rain, edible pearls, tiny forms, etc. The sprinkles make the cupcakes more attractive, fun and delicious.

It is time to put into practice your creativity, take your piping bag and unleashes your imagination!

Decorating Cupcakes with Fondant

Decorate cupcakes for parties is the trend these days. A cupcake decorated with the famous pastry fondant is a success because in addition to give the sweet touch, people enjoy it very much when seeing them and eating them.

Fondant is an edible icing used to decorate or sculpt cakes and pastries. It does not have the texture of most icings; rolled fondant is akin to stiff clay, while poured fondant is a thick liquid. Ingredients to prepare fondant are Unflavored gelatin or gelatin flavored, Cold Water, Glucose, Glycerin, Butter, Sugar glas, essence or flavoring to taste.

Here I tell you some utensils and ingredients to start decorating our delicious cupcakes with fondant:

Utensils

Roll to extend the Fondant

It is used to stretch the fondant. The side guides help us get different thicknesses depending on the ring color we use.

Silpat

Having a nonstick mat with measures can facilitate stretching and cutting the fondant.

Fondant cutters and Silicone molds

There are variety of fondant cutters, some are flat, others have ejectors that allow us to manipulate the least possible the fondant, others bring textures that are transferred to the fondant to make it more beautiful. Also there are the silicone molds with different cavities that allow to get different figures.

Fondant embosser tools

Those tools are used to give different finishes and textures to the fondant.

 

Fondant sculpting tools

This set of tools is used for 3D modeling, allowing a better finish in the figures we do with the fondant.

Fondant Smoother

This tool allow stretch the fondant to avoid wrinkles. They are used for large surfaces such as cakes, in the case of cupcakes although it can help us, it is not indispensable.

Ingredients

Fondant

You can make your own fondant, but you can also find it in the market ready to use. The fondant comes in various colors, but you can buy it in white color and dye it in the color you need. There are many brands, you can go trying and choose the one you like more.

Gel Dyes

When we choose to work with white fondant, we have to buy dyes to dye and make our small works of art.

Vegetable shortening

It is used to hydrate the fondant, making it more flexible and also it help us prevent sticking to the work surface.

Edible Powder

The edible powder is intended for decorative purposes and it is suitable for consumption, plus we can find them in different colors for our decorations.

Edible Marker 

We also can find in the market edible markers that are helpful to complement fondant decorations.

Remember that this kind of work, takes time, presicion and creativity. If we have the basic utensils and ingredients will be easier to achieve!