Cake Buzz: Can You Cricut?

Photo of cake decorated with cricut fondant designs is courtesy of Pippilotta, Tortentante.blogspot.com

Cricut Cake is a new machine especially designed for cakers which will debut this spring! You can take a sheet of fondant or gumpaste, roll out the medium on a special mat, place in the feeder, and using the Cricut Cake machine cartridges, cut a number of intricate designs, pull the cut fondant or gumpaste designs from the special mat, and affix directly on a cake or cupcake!

Words, cute critters, scrollwork--any design you think of can be cut with precision with this nifty little machine! There is a video available on the subject, and a few YouTube tutorials using the current Cricut Expressions machine. Although the Cricut cartridges are said to be pricey, if you search long enough online there are companies and websites out there which reportedly offer affordable or even free software that is compatible with Cricut Expressions and probably Cricut Cake as well. A great idea for cupcakers and cakers alike.

Ruth Drennan Cakes our New Sponsor!

NYC Cake Decorators is proud to announce that Ruth Drennan, Ruth Drennan Cakes, is a Sponsor of our club. Ruth has been supportive of NYC Cake Decorators since 2007, when she and former partner Lauri DiTunno hosted a cake tasting and seminar for members.

Since the dissolution of The Cake Atelier, Ruth has conducted several classes with NYC Cake Decorators, opened Ruth Drennan Cakes, and more recently, her NY Sugar Art School.

NYC Cake Decorators wish Ruth much success with her Sugar Art School and are looking forward to a sweet partnership!

Cake Buzz: CakeDiva's Sugar Art Classes

The fabulous Charmaine Jones, Cakediva, will show NYC Cake Decorators and their guests how to create three stunning orchids in February 2010. The class is tentatively scheduled to be held at the Wedding Cafe in NYC.

Charmaine, a fine artist, began baking delicious and fabulously designed cakes in 1980's and has amassed an A list of clients, including but not limited to Erykah Badu, Queen Latifah's mom, Michael Jordan, Susan Sarandon, Charles Oakley, and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

Charmaine will now share her expertise, tips, and hints in upcoming sugar art classes and seminars.

For more information about the gumpaste orchid class with NYC Cake Decorators and to register, contact Dina at nyccakedecorators@yahoo.com.

Photo courtesy of Charmaine Jones, CakeDiva.

The orchids and filler flowers above represent the type of work NYC Cake Decorators and their guests will complete in CakeDiva's orchid class.

A Nifty Cake Box Delivery System at Oasis Supply

Always on the search for unique cake decorating products and supplies, I came across a neat cake box delivery system for my upscale custom cakes at Oasis Supply.

The box is beautifully decorated to showcase that awesomely designed cake nestled inside. What is so great about this delivery system is that the medium box inset holds a 10" square cake or a 6" and 10" square stacked cake!

Oasis Supply, a sponsor of NYC Cake Decorators Meetup, also offers great discounts for bulk orders and has a variety of products to choose from. I am going to order the delivery system and will report how well it transports my tiered cake.

February 2010 Cake of The Month

Member Shameeka Silver-Berry has been crazy about cake decorating and sugar art ever since her wedding in 2004. Her fascination with cake decorating as a bride going about selecting her own wedding cake, soon developed into a "passion in [her] bones to make & decorate cakes".

As soon as she was able, Shameeka eagerly took all the Wilton Method cake decorating courses at her local craft store, and then further developed her skills with advanced courses with noted sugar artists such as Chef Ruth Drennan, Ruth Drennan Cakes, and Irene Likokas, The Painted Eye.







Shameeka's reputation for baking cakes that are "good to the last slice" has been earned from constantly tweaking her scratch recipes and experimenting with new flavors.

Her business, Berry Good Cakes, had a great showing at the WBLS Bridal Expo, June 2009. Brides loved the moist "home baked" taste of her cake.


In November 2009, Shameeka was commissioned to make a cake for Melanie Fionia's album release party! She has since created designer bag and designer box cakes for family and fans. Shameeka's bubbly and warm personality and great tasting cakes make a very sweet future for Berry Good Cakes!

Member Spotlight: Irene Likokas Launches Cake Biz in Bay Ridge!

The dream of many cake designers is to one day open their own custom cake, cupcake, or cookie business. With the support of family and friends, member Irene Likokas (Adven68 on Cake Central), was able to realize her dream when she recently launched her custom cake business, Sweet Irene.

Sweet Irene is a jewel box located along a highly trafficked shopping district in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn: 8811 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11209, 718-921-1307.

Irene's extraordinary signature topsy-turvy cakes and 3D cakes developed a strong customer base over the years, and despite the slow economy, Irene is happily experiencing no lack of business from loyal fans and customers.

NYC Cake Decorators Meetup was fortunate to have Irene teach several techniques for members over the past two years, including a topsy-turvy cake, pillow-cake, designer shopping bag, and designer handbag cake class. All classes have received rave reviews from members who are excited to learn from such a talented and gracious lady.

Besides cake design, Irene is a talented fine artist in several mediums. Irene is proficient in stained glass work and her murals have been commissioned by well known corporate clients such as Metro Tech BID in Brooklyn. Check out her amazing cake designs and fine art at her website, The Painted Eye.

A "Man's Shirt & Designer Tie in a Box" cake class, is in the works. NYC Cake Decorators hopes to offer the workshop just in time for Father's Day, June 2010.

Cake Buzz: Anne Heap's New Tutorial Available Online!

Photo courtesy of Chef Anne Heap, Pink Cake Box

Chef Anne Heap, Pink Cake Box, reported on her website that she was unable to attend the NY Cake Convention due to personal illness. To make up for not attending the event she is going to post the Fancy Shoe and Shoe Box Cake Video Tutorial. Part I of the Fancy Shoe and Shoe Box Cake Tutorial is now available. Chef Anne Heap is scheduled to meet with NYC Cake Decorators on Febuary 6, 2010.

Cake Buzz: Frances Kuyper Hospitalized

Photo Courtesy of Frances Kuyper

Frances Kuyper, "The Cake Lady", fell on January 2, 2010 and fractured her leg and is currently in the hospital. Frances is a pioneer in cake decorating and is the curator of the Mini-Cake Museum in Los Angeles, CA.

Please keep Frances in your thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery. Feel Free to send her gifts and get well cards: Frances Kuyper, Hollenbeck Palms, 573 Boyle Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90033.

Member Wins Big at NY Cake Convention!

Photo courtesy of member Marcos Pena

Marcos Pena's beautifully executed Mermaid tiered cake won 1st Place at the NY Cake Convention. Marcos is one of our younger talented members. Congrats Marcos!

Cake Buzz: How To Start A Cupcake Business

Photo courtesy of Carmen Colon, Organizer, New Jersey Cake Decorators Meetup

Always wanted to start a cupcake business but don't know where to begin? Cupcakes Take The Cake Meetup is hosting a Cupcake Business Seminar on January 13, 2010 at 6:30pm at New Work City, 200 Varick Street, Room 507B, New York, NY 10014, (888) 823-3494. The fee is $15.00. Happy Cupcaking!

January 2010 Cake of The Month

Photo courtesy of member Marisa

January's Cake of the Month was designed and decorated by member Marisa. Marisa loves to bake and is always looking for opportunities to advance her sugar art skills.

Cake Buzz: Convention Comes to New York City

The NY Cake Convention, produced by Darel Rodwell, was held at the Pennsylvania Hotel on January 2, 2010. The convention was an ambitious undertaking which included an A list of sugar artists and a cake/cupcake competition.

This spectacular entry into the cake competition was created by NYC Cake Decorator member and instructor Silvinia Barboza.

Vendor Scott Chapin illustrating that a tiered cake shipped in one of his and wife Juli Chapin's CakeSafe isn't going anywhere. The cake displayed is a real 5 tiered cake that traveled over 200 miles without a hitch!

Member Rita's yummy chocolate cake entered into the cake tasting competition.

Mark Jones and Margaret Schreiber next to their Winter Wonderland tiered cake entered into the cake competition. The "snow" on the top of both tiers is coconut. Winter scenes were painstakingly painted on the sides of the cake. Mark is scheduled to partner with Cake Boss Buddy Valestro in an upcoming episode of Ultimate Cake Off on TLC.

Anne Rolley is the creator of this delicate and superbly crafted Marie Antoinette doll which took 35 hours to complete along with a cake. Unfortunately, on the way to the competition, Anne had a mishap with the cake that accompanied the doll. Anne fell in love with sugar approximately 6 months ago. She truly has a long and sweet career in sugar art for years to come.

For all the gumpaste flower fanatics, we had to include this lovely urn of gumpaste roses and orchids.
This sculpted tiger cub cake has such a cute expression, isn't it adorable?

The sculpted bear cake was a crowd favorite. The moccasins were so lifelike that you were tempted to touch them!

An amazing sculpted elephant cake with intricate sugar work on the carpet and headdress.

A crowd favorite in the holiday themed category. The cookie jar cake and sugar cookies look just yummy!
The junior division had some really talented entries like this Christmas light bedecked "youngster",
the cookies and cup of hot cocoa near the fireside,

and this adorable snow couple.

Aren't these cupcakes amazingly creative? Lots of detail work here.
Delish cupcakes entered into the Cupcake/Cake throwdown.

Assorted cupcakes topped with fondant designs and dragees.

Cake Buzz

Member Dianna Lopez is honored to be part of an amazing team of cake artists. Watch them create their masterpiece on The Ultimate Cake Off on TLC.

Dianna and her partner Vanessa will also be competing in the live cake challenge at the NY Cake Convention. When not competing, Dianna is an intern at Carlos Bakery in Hoboken, New Jersey.