You guys aren't messin around.
When I placed the idea out there.. the idea that I would create three different cakes from one decorators tip... I had NO idea what I was thinking.
The most commonly requested tip was Wiltons #233.
The grass tip.
Most commonly used to make grass. In green.
Grass.
And nothing else.
I was stumped.
I didn't even own one. I had to go and buy one.
(actually, I bought four, which really helped when decorating all these cakes!)
I wanted to make sure all these cakes served a purpose, so this cake is for some friends that just welcomed another baby into their lives. A sweet little boy!
I held the tip at a 90 degree angle, applied pressure and make slight circles with the tip. Then made smaller 'stacks' in the inner circles.
While I will never claim to be an artist (I have too much respect for the people that are!) I really liked how this technique came out.
I hope its self explanatory, but if not, here is my very technical descriptions.
I took the frosting and made swirly lines and stuff.
And while I can honestly tell you that all of these cakes are very easy to execute, this was probably the easiest.
And my favorite. I don't know why... maybe because it has all the colors in the rainbow? And I am obsessed with rainbows?
To make this cake I just used the grass tip as you normally would, but didn't extend the tip to achieve the long grass. Just short little dabs of frosting.
Thanks for pushing me beyond what I knew! I had fun making these cakes and hope that our friends and family will have fun eating them!!
So what do you think I should tackle next???
OMYGOOOOOODNESS!!!!!!!!!!! Nothing like I could ever even imagine! I'm in love!
Posted by: Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen | Aug 24, 2011 at 01:25 PM
I LOVE the rainbow cake ooo and the sunset ooo and the blue and white one! great job!
Posted by: Angie @ Bigbearswife | Aug 24, 2011 at 01:25 PM
These are incredible!! You're my idol! :)
Posted by: Andrea | Aug 24, 2011 at 01:29 PM
Seriously, you are unbelievable! I LOVE that rainbow cake. I wouldn't be able to keep a steady hand to do that whole thing if you paid me!!
Posted by: Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. | Aug 24, 2011 at 01:30 PM
Love love the rainbow cake! It's so bright and beautiful! Great job!
Posted by: Kristy Ketterlin | Aug 24, 2011 at 01:31 PM
Incredible! As always! I like the rainbow cake too, but the sunset is amazing!
Posted by: Mandi S. | Aug 24, 2011 at 01:34 PM
wow, I am super impressed with the effect you get on the second cake - it instantly reminded me of the style of brush strokes Van Gogh used in Starry Night! I think you could replicate that painting, or others of his, using that tip!
Posted by: Louise | Aug 24, 2011 at 01:40 PM
Amanda
I have to say you are wrong about 1 thing....my friends over at little ol Merriam-Webster define an artist as: one who professes and practices an imaginative art and one who is adept at something. If you are not a cake artist I don't know who is!! Just for today tell yourself that you ARE as amazing as everyone else sees you!!
Blessings friend!
Posted by: Kristin Smith | Aug 24, 2011 at 01:40 PM
So perfectly perfect :O) The grass tip is also great for making fur on animal cakes and hair on people cookies and cakes
Posted by: colleen | Aug 24, 2011 at 01:41 PM
The sunset one is incredible!!
Posted by: Faygie | Aug 24, 2011 at 01:42 PM
it looks amazing! do you use buttercream frosting for that?
Posted by: Laura jenner | Aug 24, 2011 at 01:43 PM
I love the sunset one! I bet you could use that technique to recreate Van Gogh's Starry Night painting. :O)
Posted by: colleen | Aug 24, 2011 at 01:44 PM
I LOVE them! My favorite was the rainbow one until I saw the artsy one...now I'm not sure which is my favorite. That must have been a lot of fun to experiment with. You did an excellent job!! I couldn't begin to tell you a tip to try out as I've NEVER seen a decorating tip myself. So I'll randomly throw a number out there and hope it's a tip....154. HA! That should be quite a challenge!! (now I'm off to google decorating tips and see if there's a #154)
Posted by: Amanda | Aug 24, 2011 at 01:51 PM
Yes, I did! Here the recipe I used: http://iammommy.typepad.com/i_am_baker/2011/02/the-perfect-crusting-buttercream.html
Posted by: Amanda Rettke | Aug 24, 2011 at 01:53 PM
Wow!!! Who would have thought. Those are amazing. Okay ready for another challenge... How about a basketweave tip. Wilton 46/47/48 whichever I don't care. Muhahahaha
Posted by: Liz | Aug 24, 2011 at 01:57 PM
WOW - WOW - WOW I love the rainbow cake!
Posted by: Tina @ MOMS CRAZY COOKING | Aug 24, 2011 at 01:57 PM
This is freaking awesome! I love the last one for sure the best, but that sun "painting" one is pretty impressive! Well done!
Posted by: Karen | Aug 24, 2011 at 01:57 PM
I love the one with all different colors! It looks like stuffed animal you can EAT! I would love to see it in shades of pink! Or fall colors!
Posted by: Abbie | Aug 24, 2011 at 01:58 PM
You are absolutely an artist, my dear friend!!! These are gorgeous!!!
Posted by: Robyn | Add a Pinch | Aug 24, 2011 at 01:58 PM
so gorgeous, Amanda! Your skills amaze me. I'm lucky if I can do a decent job just putting plain ol frosting on the cake without getting crumbs all over the place.
Posted by: Katie | GoodLife Eats | Aug 24, 2011 at 01:58 PM
I love stopping buy. Your cakes always make me happy.
Posted by: Lisa @ GF Canteen | Aug 24, 2011 at 02:01 PM
OMGosh!! You are SUCH an awesome decorator!! These are the three most beautiful cakes I've seen in my life!! I LOVE them!!
Posted by: Melissa | Aug 24, 2011 at 02:04 PM
The sun cake reminds me of the 70s and I just LOVE the rainbow cake!...curious - you mentioned that the cakes were for a purpose and taht the first cake was to welcome a baby boy, so what are the other 2 cakes for?
Posted by: Dianne@Baking4Six | Aug 24, 2011 at 02:05 PM
I loved all three, just beautiful and so creative! Well done.
Posted by: Connie | Aug 24, 2011 at 02:06 PM
The sunshine cake is for an elderly neighbor couple whom I have grown to love, and the rainbow cake is an early birthday celebration cake for my son who is turning five. :)
Posted by: Amanda Rettke | Aug 24, 2011 at 02:07 PM
AWESOME!! Now my kids want me to make these cakes for them lol....u get pushed, then my kids push me lol....I love the challenges too. Thanks so much for sharing with us your talent.
Posted by: Laurie | Aug 24, 2011 at 02:07 PM
OH MY GOD!!!! I LOVE EACH AND EVERY ONE! You are BRILLIANT! :D
Posted by: Nourhan @ Miss Anthropist's Kitchen | Aug 24, 2011 at 02:07 PM
They are all so fun! And the sunrise cake...GORGEOUS!!!
Posted by: Lorie | Aug 24, 2011 at 02:10 PM
I LOVE the sun and ocean cake...that is fantastic!
Posted by: Heather | Aug 24, 2011 at 02:11 PM
Speechless!! WOW, AMAZING Manda!!
Posted by: Carsedra - Sweet Tooth Desserts | Aug 24, 2011 at 02:14 PM
Oh the Van Gogh-esque cake makes me happy! I will have to try that at one point:)
Posted by: Amanda Joy | Aug 24, 2011 at 02:16 PM
What a perfect purpose for a happy cake. Beautiful, sunny, bright job Amanda!! Congrats to your pal & their new baby :)
Posted by: [email protected] | Aug 24, 2011 at 02:17 PM
you are a hidden treasure. my birthday is in january. can I put it my order for the "pom pom" multi colored cake now? can you hand deliver it and sing with me? x
Posted by: the urban baker | Aug 24, 2011 at 02:18 PM
So cute! The last 2 were my favorites. I can also tell you that the grass tip makes excellent puppy fur. :~)
Posted by: Queen Mommy | Aug 24, 2011 at 02:21 PM
I just can't believe how awesome these and you are! I have shared with my "panel." As I do with all awesome things in the universe! I want to make them! :)
Posted by: Cathy | Aug 24, 2011 at 02:22 PM
All beautifully done by a cake ARTIST! The sun looks just like a Van Gogh painting! Nice work!
Posted by: Beth | Aug 24, 2011 at 02:25 PM
You are amazing! I love them all!
Posted by: Maria | Aug 24, 2011 at 02:31 PM
Those are so brilliant! I want that last cake... it just looks like happy!
Posted by: Kristen | Aug 24, 2011 at 02:38 PM
I am in LOVE with that sunset cake!! Love, love, love! I never would have thought of doing that with a grass tip. I must go make one now. :0)
Posted by: Robin | Aug 24, 2011 at 02:41 PM
This post truly proves how creative you are. That sunset cake is amazing. I am going to disagree with you and say that you are an artist. A sugar artist (that's what I like to call myself instead of a baker sometimes when I'm having fun)
Posted by: Linda V @ Bubble and Sweet | Aug 24, 2011 at 02:50 PM
These cakes are INCREDIBLE~~~ You are amazing and an artist!
Posted by: claire | Aug 24, 2011 at 02:51 PM
The "I am Baker Updates" is the first thing I go to in the email mess that sits in my mailbox. Today was one of those huge WOW moments!! If it was "real" mail, I'd be chewing it!
Posted by: Peg | Aug 24, 2011 at 02:59 PM
I'm going to be just like you when I grow up…
Having a hard time picking a favorite but I never would have thought to make the strings icing look like paintbrush marks. Brilliant!
(I use #233 on almost all my cakes…because it also makes awesome fur.)
Posted by: Jessica G. | Aug 24, 2011 at 03:11 PM
Ohmygosh Ohmygosh Ohmygosh! Fantastically fabulously glorious!! You are amazzzzing.
...and I'm not exaggerating. At all.
Posted by: stace | Aug 24, 2011 at 03:15 PM
I love all three, but my favorite is the multi-colored short dabs! You did an amazing job on all three! Hope I can have the nerve someday to just "play" with tips.
Posted by: HollyH | Aug 24, 2011 at 03:19 PM
Just beautiful. And I know each one must be totally yummy.
Here's a challenge for you that I'd like to know how to do, and that's fondant. Got any ideas?
Posted by: Francine Pearson | Aug 24, 2011 at 03:20 PM
those are super fun ... my favorite is that rainbow one too. :)
Posted by: Stephanie | Aug 24, 2011 at 03:21 PM
The sunset cake is just STUNNING! I really love it with that tip and technique! The rainbow is so pretty too~I may have to try it! You hit a grand slam with the three cakes, Amanda!
Posted by: Sue | Aug 24, 2011 at 03:22 PM
AWESOME cakes!! You are definitely an artist!
Posted by: Rhett Hoff | Aug 24, 2011 at 03:23 PM
Nicely done I love that sunset cake the most!
When you said "what should I tackle next " did you mean as in the next tip to try or are you moving on to something completely different ?
Posted by: Diane | Aug 24, 2011 at 03:29 PM