At a different end of the spectrum from the other day’s Nerdy Nummies Do-It-Yourself cupcaking, we have Craftsy’s understated but valuable tips to achieve professional cake decorating effects through simple means. With their Project Cupcake videos, in less than two minutes you can learn how to turn gelatin and food coloring into edible sequins to decorate a cupcake (turns out it just requires a textured acetate sheet and a hole puncher). Or learn how to create a gorgeous ruffly fondant flower to sit atop delicious icing (it only takes a few cookie cutters, a shaping tool, and some piping gel).

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I know that Comic Con was a few weeks ago now and the summer blockbusters are winding down, but with the new television season is creeping up on the horizon and the promotions beginning for several major franchises’ autumn and Thanksgiving/holiday releases, my inner nerd isn’t going into hibernation any time soon. In fact, it seems to be spreading. Lucky for me, I found Rosanna Pansino’s Nerdy Nummies tutorials on YouTube and a new, tasty outlet has been opened for my nerdiness. Read the rest of this entry »

There are many different kinds of cupcake toppers out there to choose from if you don’t want more than just icing to entice. Some are like little toys that can easily be stuck into delicately piped mounds of frosting (or they can be used to cover up the sloppier last minute jobs before a bake sale you forgot about). Others are personalized for birthdays, anniversaries, retirements, weddings, etc. and allow you to slap dozens of copies of a loved one’s face onto treats that allow you to, literally, bite their head off. Then there are cupcake toppers like those produced by blogger Tikkido who has posted a number of cupcake topper tutorials. Read the rest of this entry »

For some people, cupcakes and cake are just a vehicle for sugary frosting. For others, the frosting is the paint and the cake or cupcake serves as the canvas. Some of us cook or bake as a kind of therapy, a way to handle stress, to blow off steam (beating eggs and sugar lead to a much tastier mess than beating the feathers out of your pillow). Whatever the reason for pulling out the decorating tips and pastry bags, each cupcake is an opportunity for creative expression. As Penny Alexander of A Residence, blogger and mother of two, who had little regard for cupcakes discovered, the right materials and the right attitude can turn anyone into a cupcake fan. Read the rest of this entry »

The craft and baking blogger known to many as Big Bear’s Wife has a few how-to posts for baking and decorating your cupcakes in a Disney (and Pixar) fashion. To accompany the recent release of Monsters University, there is a cupcake decorated to resemble the big, blue, and furry Sully. With a little advice from one of Disney’s own cupcake decorators, Big Bear’s Wife shares many of the tips and shortcuts she used in recreating the kid-friendly confections. Read the rest of this entry »

The time has come to raid Grandma’s kitchen for a pair of shoes that won’t hurt your feet. The cakes and cupcakes decorated by Amanda Amundson at Grandma’s Bakery in Cashton WI are frequently posted to the bakery’s Facebook page. While many of them are orders, Amundson doesn’t forget to have fun and try new things every once in a while. This past July, a photo of some fashionable high heel cupcakes that was posted to Facebook earned the bakery a lot of attention when the picture unexpectedly went viral. Read the rest of this entry »

Hello there sweeties! I am sad to say but this may be my last post here on All Things Cupcake. I have loved working here at ATC but we are currently having some issues and I may not be on the payroll anymore. So after almost 4 years here, I am going to do what I always wanted to do- I am going to make a post about my own cupcake stuff in my Etsy shop!  It is called StayHomeCupcake and it is full sweets and treats.   I have a passion for crafts and sweet crafts are my utmost love!

So stay in touch cupcake fans! Find me (StayHomeCupcake) on Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter.  Thanks for the past 4 years!

These cupcakes by The Adventures of Sugarbelle are seriously the cutest Easter cupcakes I have ever seen!  At first I thought the head of the chick was a macaron but after scrolling down further and looking at the image closer I realized they are little chick cookie cupcakes!  They cupcakes look easy to put together but I have a feeling this would be an all day decorating event so if you’re planning on these better start soon!

Meri Meri is one of my favorite companies, everything they make is very cute, especially their cupcake topper sets.  For Easter they have this Happy Easter Cupcake Treat Kit on the Hearth Song website.  The kit, which costs $12.99 includes two egg boxes with tags and ribbons, 24 mini cupcake liners, and 12 cupcake toppers.  I love that the cupcakes are displayed in the egg carton, such a festive idea that you could easily replicate on your own after dying a dozen Easter eggs!

Each Sunday I like to flip through the Parade Magazine that comes inside the Sunday newspaper with the coupons and flyers.  There is usually a good recipe or two inside.  This week, in preparation for Easter there is a vanilla cupcake recipe and three Easter cupcake decorating ideas.  I think I have seen versions of these over the years but sometimes it’s good to see an old idea again.  Personally I still love the “hot chick” because it looks too easy to mess up!

I found these creative Bunny’s Carrot Garden Easter Cupcakes on Wilton’s website.  I know filled cupcakes are very popular right now and I think these cupcakes would be a huge hit at any Easter celebration!  Most of the reviews say that they are easy to make and guest liked them.

Happy Spring! It seems the cool weather has every one, even Mother Nature thinking it’s still winter.  Today happens to also be Macaron Day.  As a dessert lover and a fan of all things Parisian, I love macarons.  I dare to ask, have you noticed how they are kind of the new cupcake, Paper Source has a good selection of macaron gift items!  If you are like me and love both macarons and cupcakes and of course you love spring, you could make these macaron cupcakes like Polka Dot Bride made! They are colorful, springy, and the perfect way to enjoy both treats!

I know I have shared my love of Sur La Table in the past and I am so excited that in the last few months a store opened up at my local mall.  The only down side to having the store near by is I see and want things like this Duo Icing Set.  What an ingenious idea! For $14.95 you get eight bags and six tips.  The bags are not your ordinary bags, these bags have a divider down the middle so you can simultaneously pipe two colors at one time!

I found these handmade cupcake toppers featuring a watercolor bird painting on Poppytalk Handmade.  The toppers were created by artist Renee Anne. Renee Anne sells the toppers on her Etsy site for $10.00 for a set of 12.  There are also bee and rabbit cupcake toppers; each topper has a matching garland available for sale on Renee Anne’s Etsy.

 Wilton has some amazing new cupcake products and A.C. Moore wants to introduce you to them this weekend! Stop by one of their many stores on Saturday, February 16th from 1-3 and see free demonstrations of the new products.  FYI- if you sign up for A.C. Moore’s emails, they send you free coupons every week!

My sister and I have a weird love of cute monsters.  If she was home I would definitely make her cupcakes and top them with these DIY free printable monster Valentine’s Day flags and toppers.  I like how the monsters make this download a little bit different and more boy friendly.  Ellinee of Handcraft Your Life made a whole party kit so don’t forget the candy wrappers and stickers!

Simple is better has become my motto and I know in the past I have expressed my love of simple cupcake decorations.  It’s no surprise then that I love these very simple Happy Heart Day cupcake flags by Sally J Shim.  A nicely frosted cupcake with these toppers is the perfect treat for a loved one on Valentine’s Day!

Catch My Party has tons of free printables including a whole Valentine’s Day party set that has these cute cupcake toppers.  The best part about these printables is that they are not just Valentine’s Day themed, they are also cupcake themed!

I have a ten year old cousin that is obsessed with pugs.  She has pug clothing and pug stuffed animals and repeatedly tries to talk her dad into getting a pug.  I think she would love these pug cupcakes! I on the other hand am not crazy about pugs so I’ll ask you cupcake fans, are these pug cupcakes “pugly” or “pawfectly cute?”

Mini Football Cupcakes are the perfect dessert for a Superbowl party tomorrow.  The cupcakes are festive and they are mini which means people are more likely to take them.  I think people are more likely to take mini desserts because they don’t feel as guilty eating a small portion.  On a night like Superbowl Sunday when there are tons of foods and desserts at parties I think you are better off brining a small bite sized dessert that way people can sample other things.

Project Domestication made these mini football cupcakes a few years ago but they are still one of my favorite football cupcakes because they are so easy to frost and decorate. Her cupcakes are chocolate-mint flavored but you can make any chocolate flavor you or your friends like!

Groundhogs Day is tomorrow and even though here in North Carolina we have had a mild winter so far, I am hoping the groundhog does not see his shadow!  I am ready for spring weather!  I love these Groundhogs cupcakes created by Bloom Designs using green frosting, sprinkles, and teddy grahams.  The cupcakes are so easy and the teddy graham looks cute popping out of the frosted cupcake!

Cupcake Place Mat from Kohl’s $4.79 each

I love walking through the stores this time of year because so many stores pair cupcakes and hearts in their Valentine’s decor items. So far I have spotted cuppies in the Valentine’s sections at Walmart, Target, Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, Christmas Tree Shop and Kohl’s.  So a big thank you to all the stores who join cupcakes and hearts this holiday season.  You make it so much more special for the cupcake obsessed.  All Things Cupcake appreciates you!

I don’t know why I’ve never thought of this, but I love it. These white chocolate shavings make a positively elegant cupcake garnish! This photo is courtesy of foodie photographer Esther Fox. And just in case you’ve never played with chocolate shavings before, it is super easy! Just use your vegetable peeler. Then, the next time you go to peel carrots, you’ll have an irresistible cupcake craving!

It snowed last night in North Carolina! Sadly it didn’t stick but I still managed to get a delay from it!  Thinking about the snow has me longing for a real snow day where the bare trees end up looking like these let it snow cupcakes created by Not Your Momma’s Cookie.  She used melted chocolate and a tree template to create the trees.  White chocolate and sparkling sugar were added to create the snowy effect.  She says she entered the cupcakes in a creative holiday recipe contest, I hope she won!

Impressed? So was I. Now this is cupcake art! And McGreevy Cakes of Akron, New York has provided a video tutorial to help you create these artistic wonders yourself! Check it out: