Latest cakes :)

I'm ashamed to say I've completely neglected this blog lately - time just seems to disappear! Anyway, hopefully I'll get round to posting some more free tutorials soon, I still keep getting lovely messages about some of the ones I've posted so far so if there's anything in particular you'd like to see, just let me know and I'll get cracking :)

In the meantime, here's a couple of my latest cakes that are total opposites....

Pretty Tatty Teddy cake. I loved working on this one :)

And then I was completely out of my comfort zone with this next one, before this order I had never even heard of Minecraft, I'm obviously a bit out of touch these days!

Hope that everyone is having good baking days, don't forget you can also contact me on facebook.

BakerLou 

-x-

Win a BakerLou Hamper!

Here's your chance to win a special BakerLou Hamper!


The bamboo hamper up for grabs is a special one off combination and contains some of our favourite goodies. All you have to do is complete the rafflecopter form below to be in with a chance of winning - easy peasy! HINT: You will need to visit the hamper page on our website for the answer to our question!! EXTRA HINT! (as a lot of people aren't looking properly!) - You need to scroll down to the end of the description :)

Prize Details:
A BakerLou Bamboo Hamper containing:
Hot Chocolate Spoons - for perfect indulgent hot chocolate
Gingerbread Stars
Shortbread
Choc & Raisin Flapjacks
Choc Chip Muffin
Vanilla Fudge


a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Boring Bit!

How to enter:

• Complete the Rafflecopter form  to confirm your entries. There is a question to answer plus you can earn extra entries by completing the facebook and twitter options if you wish.
• This competition will close on Saturday 3rd November 2012.
• Please read the rules below.
• Winners are announced on the Rafflecopter form after the prize has been claimed by the winner.
• Never heard of Rafflecopter? Watch this short video 
• If you can't see the form, try refreshing your page.
• Mandatory entries need to be completed first and you do not have to complete the other options - they just increase your chances of winning!

Rules :

• Only open to UK participants.
• The prize consists of a BakerLou hamper . There’s no cash alternative to the prize and the prize is not transferable. No part or parts of the prize may be substituted for other benefits, items or additions.
• Instructions form part of the terms and conditions. Entries using any software or automated process to make bulk entries will obviously be disqualified. The winner will be picked at random using software and then contacted by email. If you win and then don’t respond to this email within 7 days then another winner will be picked so check your emails and your spam folders. The hamper will be delivered to the winner as soon as possible after you have sent me your delivery address.
• BakerLou's decision is final!
• All entries will be checked to ensure fairness!
• This competition is not endorsed or connected with facebook or twitter in any way.

Good Luck! -x-

Happy Halloween!

I just love Halloween, so much fun with the kids as we always go trick or treating. Although my eldest is a bit too cool these days and is saying he won't be dressing up this year but I bet he'll give in!
Anyway, this is a cake I've created for this year's Halloween and has to be one my favourite cakes to date, just loved making all the details for this one. The backdrop is airbrushed and I practiced (a lot!) on paper before doing the real thing on the iced board as I'm not really used to my airbrush yet.

Hope you like it as much as I do! You can see more pictures and close-ups of the detail on my facebook page by clicking here

Have a happy Halloween -x-

Christmas Hampers 2012

Yes it's that time of year again already! The new hampers are now available to order but please note we only have limited availability, once they're gone, they're gone!

Here's a rundown on the contents this Christmas.

Willow Hamper £35 with FREE nationwide delivery

* Chocolate Brownies 

* Shortbread 

* Vanilla Fudge

* 2 x Hot Chocolate Spoons

* Gingerbread Stars

* Mini Fruit Cake (muffin sized)

* Honey Flapjacks

* Choc & Raisin Flapjacks

Bamboo Hamper £28 with FREE nationwide delivery

* 2 x Hot Chocolate Spoons 
* Shortbread 

* 2 x Vanilla Fudge Packs

* Mini Fruit cake (muffin sized)

* Gingerbread Stars

* Honey Flapjacks

Treat your family or a loved one (or even yourself!) this Christmas -x-

How to use Tappits

Suddenly realised that I hadn't updated the blog for ages so here's a mini tutorial on how to use Tappit letter cutters! I know a lot of people have trouble with these and it took me a while to find the best way for me. In the past, I have tried various methods using plain sugarpaste, CMC treated sugarpaste  and greasing the cutters with Trex with no success but this way really works without any faffing around!

You will need:

Tappit cutters - here I'm using the "funky" type

Icing sugar for dusting

Rolling pin and sharp knife

Flower paste

It's the flower paste that really makes the difference and is easily available to buy, or you can make your own as I do which is an awful lot cheaper! This is the recipe I follow:

Sugarpaste Flowerpaste Recipe

Now you have your paste, colour as you wish and knead until pliable. Roll out on a surface lightly dusted with icing sugar as thin as you can - approx 1-2mm.

Leave for about 5 minutes to let the surface of the paste dry a little. Using your knife, cut into sections big enough for your letters. Place your cutter over the paste and press down firmly. Then, still applying pressure, move the cutter in a backwards and forwards motion on your surface to ensure the paste is cut properly.

Now you will see why some people call them Whack-its!

Holding the cutter at a 45 degree angle towards your surface, give it a good whack on the edge of your surface and hey presto! Your letter will drop out of the cutter easily - sometimes you may need to whack it more than once but usually once does the trick.

To attach to your cake, use a bit of edible glue and move into place using a dry paintbrush.

Easy Peasy! Happy Baking :)

Rose Leaves Tutorial

Rose Leaves Tutorial

To make these realistic rose leaves, you will need the following items:

Flower/gum paste, rose leaf cutters, rose leaf veiners (I use Aldaval Veiners), rolling pin, florist wire and tape (I used a very fine gauge wire), cornflour, edible glue, petal dust - burgundy, confectioner's glaze, paintbrush.

Roll out your paste thinly but thick enough to insert a wire and cut out your leaf shape (my cutters leave an indent in the middle but this doesn't matter as it will disappear later!)

Cut your wire into pieces around 10cm long. Dip a wire in edible glue and insert carefully into the leaf about 3/4's of the way along the leaf.

Dust the veiners with cornflour to stop the paste sticking and lay your leaf on the veiner that looks like the back of the leaf, making sure the wire is in line with the leaf spine.

Place the other veiner on top and apply pressure, kind of squash it gently between your fingers! Carefully open the veiners and pop out the leaf - if you find it sticks, tease it out slowly with a dry paintbrush. Keep going until you have as many leaves of different sizes as you need.

Now use a paintbrush to dust the edges of your leaves with a hint of burgundy petal dust. (I used the colour in the bottom left of the picture)

Using a paintbrush, give each leaf a sheen using confectioner's glaze - I use a liquid but sprays are also available.

Now all you have to do is use florist tape to bind together your leaves in the arrangement you choose :)

Happy Making

BakerLou -x-

For other tutorials, please take a look through this blog or see our website

Tutorials Now in Store!

We now have three brand new tutorials available to purchase on the BakerLou website with lots more to come! Like all our step-by-step guides, each one is illustrated with photos for each step of the way with clear instructions. Feel free to visit our facebook page if you have any questions or you'd like to show off your work!

First up are these gorgeous Simple Flowers which are made without any cutters at all! Find the complete guide here.

Next, we show you how to make realistic and beautiful Wired Roses. Find the tutorial here.

And, last but not least, the pretty Open Rose - find it here.

We have quite a list of requests so expect a lot more tutorials on the way very soon, including more sugar flowers, baking and decorating basics and complete step-by-step cakes - we might even show you how to make one of our very popular Bottle Cakes!

Happy Making!

BakerLou -x-