Create special, one-of-a-kind birthday cakes when a limited budget prevents the usual gift giving. Birthday cakes don't require much financial investment, just time and a little thought. Inspired results can be achieved through simple decoration or the creation of original shapes and designs. Using time-tested techniques like buttercream transfers to create realistic replicas of patterns or photographs can add a personal connection for the receiver. Does this Spark an idea?
Create a Jewel Box
Create a jewel box birthday cake for a favorite sparkle and bling lover. Decorate the cake by copying a favorite jeweled box design---think Tiffany's, Horchow, Fitz and Floyd---or create an original design. Collect ideas from recent jewelry or decorative arts catalogs or out of a personal collection. Use edible metallic icing, edible gold or silver leaf and edible gemstones. Search local cake decorating stores or online catalogs for decorating products. Take the cake a step further by turning it into a gift box that hides a real jeweled surprise---a sweet sixteen ring, a strand of pearls, a pair of diamond earrings. Build the birthday cake around a small gift box that holds the real jewels by cutting into a cake before decorating or icing have been added and placing the box inside.
Decorate in Black And White
Black and white are perfect cake decorating colors for the dreaded 30th birthday cake. Decorating ideas can include the grim reaper, a black and white checkerboard pattern (use actual checkerboard game pieces for added decoration) or black and white photos. Consider a photo montage showing the birthday boy or girl from childhood to the present. Use decorative patterns like zebra prints, stripes and polka dots for a fashion inspired birthday cake. Extend the decorative patterns down the sides of the cake.
Computerize a Cake
For those tied to the laptop and unable to break away, create a laptop birthday cake. Using two single layers, place one as the keyboard and the second as the open screen. Prop the screen up using a flat cardboard panel a half inch smaller on the top and sides than the layer of cake and use triangular props to hold the cardboard panel in place. Use a buttercream transfer method to create a realistic keyboard with monitor and browser window. After the transfer has been applied, add a personal birthday message across the browser window. Investigate the use of edible printing ink and sheets as an alternative to the buttercream transfer.
Tags: birthday cake, birthday cake, black white, browser window, buttercream transfer, cake decorating, cardboard panel