Kinda.
I wasn't planning on doing a tutorial, but had a few requests so figured why not.
But... the tutorial is actually on a cupcake.
I hope this will be enough information for you wonderful bakers to translate it into any application that works best for you!
Now. For the very in depth and grueling tutorial.
Or not.
You can successfully create a lilac design is five easy steps.
(a cupcake or cake)
An optional step... you can see on my original cake that I didn't do that.
I also used a #101 and #102. I found them all to be about the same in this context.
And thats it! A Lilac Cupcake. Easy huh?
I made three different purples, and then decorated a cupcake using each color.
That got a bit boring so I made multi-colored cupcakes as well.
Still a little bored.
What else can we do?
Now these are fun! (and to be honest, sooooo much easier!)
I made all of these cupcakes the exact same way as I did the lilac cupcakes. Or should I say, the technique is the same.
The difference between the two versions is simply pressure. I made a bigger dollop for the cupcake on the right and a smaller dollop for the cupcake on the left.
I don't know, but I have a feeling that is what those tips were supposed to do. But since I am not a trained baker and I just make up stuff as I go along, I cant say for sure.
I bet you guys know... what exactly is a #101, #102, #103, and #104 piping tip for?
Now that I have shared my lack of technical intelligence with you all and am horribly ashamed, I might have to just go to my happy place.
Which is of course, anywhere I can find large quantities of cake and frosting.
Just sayin.
Very pretty!
Posted by: melody | Jul 26, 2011 at 07:30 PM
Beautiful!!!!! I love the multi colored one in front of the pack. You have NO reason to be ashamed at all... not having any formal "technical intelligence" training only means you have nothing to unlearn.. no one has told you things are not possible.. so for you everything is possible... thank you for sharing with us.
Posted by: Michelle | Jul 26, 2011 at 07:33 PM
LOL, girlie! I love that even the things you "don't know" still turn out so fantastic! I love all of the cupcakes, but my very fave is the one that's front-&-center in the last photo - too adorable! :-)
Posted by: Nicole/Life's a Batch | Jul 26, 2011 at 07:36 PM
These are FAB! I will have to make them for my mom, lilacs are her favorite and she returns tomorrow from a three week trip. THANKS!
Posted by: Deborah | Jul 26, 2011 at 07:47 PM
Beautiful! I'm glad you posted a tutorial on how to make those.
Posted by: Miranda | Jul 26, 2011 at 07:52 PM
Just a guess, but I bet even some people who know what those tips are for could not do half as well as you with them. You have a gift! I am always happy when I visit your blog. And it makes me think I can actually maybe kind of frost a cake and make it look pretty good. I'll let you know. I have one cooling now. I love these cupcakes - how you take something so simple and turn into art like this is so much fun. you made my day.
Posted by: Lisa @ GF Canteen | Jul 26, 2011 at 07:53 PM
The 101-104 tips are used to make petals, like what you see on a rose, for instance, but that doesn't mean they arent what making your pretty lilacs as well!
Posted by: Katie B | Jul 26, 2011 at 08:00 PM
I wanna be your neighbor so we can have tea and cupcakes every afternoon. :)
I'd be as fat as the house though.
Posted by: Nanette | Jul 26, 2011 at 08:08 PM
I just love the things you create!! You are such a wizard with a piping tip!!
Posted by: Cookbook Queen | Jul 26, 2011 at 08:21 PM
Very nice :)
Posted by: Renee | Jul 26, 2011 at 08:37 PM
Awesome tutorial! Thanks! I'll be trying this one soon!
Posted by: Amanda | Jul 26, 2011 at 08:47 PM
These are just beautiful, Amanda!!
Posted by: Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction | Jul 26, 2011 at 09:02 PM
While I love the lilacs, the others that look like gerber daisies are fantastic! I love the ideas you come up with and trying them out myself. Thanks!
Posted by: Janae | Jul 26, 2011 at 09:10 PM
I think we could be best friends. I love all your stuff, so pretty and creative. Keep up the good work, cant wait to soo what comes next!!!!!
Posted by: Rita Adcock | Jul 26, 2011 at 09:11 PM
thanks for the tutorial. now i have another simple and beautiful idea to decorate a cake...
Posted by: Ivy PM | Jul 26, 2011 at 09:20 PM
These are beautiful! I'm inspired!
Posted by: Sugarfooteats | Jul 26, 2011 at 09:30 PM
Thanks for th tutorial :)
Posted by: Notyet100 | Jul 26, 2011 at 09:30 PM
Although it's hard to pick a favorite of your creations these are at the top. Lurve!
Posted by: Amy | She Wears Many Hats | Jul 26, 2011 at 09:39 PM
these are beautiful Amanda - just beautiful!! and i think even i, who is craft-challenged, might be able to do this!!
Posted by: SMITH BITES | Jul 26, 2011 at 09:47 PM
So pretty!
Posted by: Tracy | Jul 26, 2011 at 09:53 PM
I like it. I like it a lot. I like you a lot.
Posted by: Shaina | Jul 26, 2011 at 09:53 PM
Oh! Even prettier than the lilacs! I love the multi-colored. Thanks so much for the tutorial.
Posted by: Donna | Jul 26, 2011 at 10:22 PM
Those are sooo adorable and sooo pretty! =D
Posted by: Cassie | Jul 26, 2011 at 10:23 PM
When I finish moving, I'm going to buy so many cake tips so I can decorate like you! So so purty.
Posted by: Georgia Pellegrini | Jul 26, 2011 at 10:27 PM
lovely.
Posted by: trisha | Jul 26, 2011 at 10:50 PM
Those are the same tips you use to make roses.
I finished taking cake decorating classes a few months ago and wanted to do these exact cupcakes(mums) for one of my projects. I had seen some pics somewhere online and when I asked the instructor she told me to use a different tip (kind of a U shape). I didn't like the way mine turned out, but I love yours!
If only I had your creativity and imagination! Keep up the GREAT work!
Posted by: Kim | Jul 26, 2011 at 10:51 PM
Love it! Hear the cry out here saying, "more, more, more!"?
Posted by: Lenita | Jul 26, 2011 at 11:00 PM
I have been reading your blog for a while and just soaking it all in and now knowing you never had any actual training gives me all the more gumption to keep going with my decorating! I love your tutorials. Please keep it up!
Posted by: jessica | Jul 26, 2011 at 11:24 PM
wow it's just beautiful! i will try this!!
Posted by: Naomi | Jul 27, 2011 at 12:00 AM
Your cupcakes here are so pretty! I absolutely love that you come up with these flowers all on your own without any training at all. You are so creative!
I've taken two of the three Wilton cake decorating classes available at the Michael's craft store where I live. There we were taught how to make roses with a tip 104 like in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxLnGEVBjAk but we also used tip 104 and 103 to make the petals for violets, apple blossoms, and primroses. They all use pretty much the same technique, shown here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9qgl4r3Hqc&playnext=1&list=PLE6E28FB705ADFC40
Hopefully that helps... I didn't do a whole lot of digging around on youtube so there may be better videos out there... It took me a while in class to get the technique right. But once you get the hang of it, you can make so so many cute flowers =)
Posted by: Colleen | Jul 27, 2011 at 12:07 AM
I love your blog...I always learn new things and I am a Wilton Instructor. I cant wait to try this out...thanks for sharing...we can all learn from each other. I love learning from my students. Keep up the great work!
Posted by: Michelle Parodi | Jul 27, 2011 at 12:59 AM
Ohhh thats so sweet. It would look awesome when you have the lilac cake AND lilac cuppies on a table.. mhmmmm...wonderful.
Thanks for sharing your tutorial, Amanda. Love it! :-)
blessings,
niner
Posted by: niner // wechooseorganic.com | Jul 27, 2011 at 01:10 AM
These are fab - I love the one in the middle!
Posted by: Nic@diningwithastud | Jul 27, 2011 at 01:35 AM
They look great... will try it out!!
Posted by: Danielle Mazzarino | Jul 27, 2011 at 03:57 AM
Nothing wrong with being self taught! Especially when you've got so much innate talent.
Posted by: Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen | Jul 27, 2011 at 05:54 AM
Brilliant!!! you KNOW how much I love this post don't you! {wink}
I can't wait to make some now!
Thanks Amanda, you ROCK my icing world!
Posted by: TidyMom | Jul 27, 2011 at 06:15 AM
Wow - I LOVE lilacs, but even if I didn't, I'd LOVE these cupcakes! They look so absolutely professional. I see no reason at all for you to be "ashamed"!!! Thanks for sharing !
Posted by: Marie C | Jul 27, 2011 at 06:46 AM
Those are the most beautiful cupcakes! Seriously - beautiful. I actually think I may be able to do these now!
Posted by: Kristen | Jul 27, 2011 at 07:55 AM
Lilacs are my favorite flower! Love these!
Posted by: Maria | Jul 27, 2011 at 08:39 AM
So cute! Makes me wish I were smelling lilacs (my very favorite flower) right now.
Posted by: Amy's blah, blah, blogging | Jul 27, 2011 at 09:24 AM
As I scroll down the photos in your blog posts my eyes grow wider and wider. Gorgeous cuppy cakes girl! Love all your fab piping skills :)
Posted by: [email protected] | Jul 27, 2011 at 09:32 AM
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!!! :) Loved your tutorial!!!
Posted by: bridget {bake at 350} | Jul 27, 2011 at 09:59 AM
These are so gorgeous! I need to bust out my other frosting tip and try this technique out.
Posted by: Jamie | My Baking Addiction | Jul 27, 2011 at 10:08 AM
These are so pretty! I'm so glad you posted a tutorial. You make it look so easy, I think I might actually be able to make these! (:
Posted by: Elizabeth Branch | Jul 27, 2011 at 10:51 AM
It looks just as adorable on a cupcake! Great tutorial.
Posted by: naomi | Jul 27, 2011 at 01:13 PM
Amazing, Amanda, as always! I love your simplicity in decorating cakes and cupcakes. The colors and decorations pop, without being over the top like I feel the decorating in the Wilton courses are. As some other people commented, I would love to have you as my neighbor!
Posted by: Mandi Stiles | Jul 27, 2011 at 01:13 PM
Oh I love the new design even better than the lilac design, and I was dreaming about that one last week. You're amazingly creative. I must try this ASAP.
Posted by: Carrie - Carrie's Creations | Jul 27, 2011 at 01:44 PM
Oh lady what you can do a mixture of wet sugar…….simply genius
Posted by: Danee Kaplan | Jul 27, 2011 at 01:54 PM
so beautiful! i love love love you work!
Posted by: tania | Jul 27, 2011 at 01:57 PM
So beautiful!! You are blessed with such a gift, Amanda!
Posted by: Lynne @ 365 Days of Baking | Jul 27, 2011 at 03:01 PM