New Miniature Cakes, Including Disasters

I've made a few more miniature cakes since I made my first one. After making the chocolate cake with white frosting, I wanted to make the yellow cake mentioned in the tutorial I was using. Oops! I got so excited about making the cake that I forgot to add translucent clay to my yellow clay. The tutorial author said that without the translucent clay, the cake would look "chalky."

What do you think? I think she was right! :-D Oh well! I still love the bright yellow against the creamy white. I'll try this one again with the translucent clay when I have a chance.

Next up, I wanted to make a solid, uncut cake with aqua and pink frosting--the main colors in my cake shop. I added tiny no-hole beads to the pink frosting as an experiment. Actually, it's all an experiment with my lack of experience making miniature polymer clay cakes. :-)

Bowl of frosting by Beverly of CuteinMiniature on Etsy.

I like how this one turned out, but I tried painting the finished cake with Sculpey Satin Glaze after baking, and I was surprised at how shiny it made the cake. I had a learning experience!

Next, I wanted to make my own bowl (mug, actually!) of frosting and to add frosting to a spatula. I made the frosting thinner than before by adding Translucent Liquid Sculpey.

This time I added the translucent polymer clay to my yellow cake "batter," and the cake looks tastier than my first yellow cake. I like the thicker frosting better, though, so this cake was another learning experience! ;-D

Finally, I wanted to make a chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream frosting. Mmm, yummy! This is my favorite cake so far, the one that makes my mouth water (heavily!).

I'm still experimenting (and having learning experiences). I recently put several cake layers in my dedicated polymer clay toaster oven. Unfortunately, some of the clay was directly under the heating element, and it got lightly burnt.

I'm thinking of turning some of this into "browned" cornbread, "fresh from the oven." It's fun when I can turn disasters into surprises. If that doesn't work, I'll try something else. ;-) Until next time, keep it fun! xoxo Jennifer

  

Time to Meet the Shopkeeper

Last time, Sophie the bear was trying to keep Luna the puppy from gorging on delicious cake. Now Sophie takes a closer look at all of the colorful cakes in the cake shop. "Oh, how I miss baking cakes since I've moved into my own house. Flossy the bunny and I were busy from dawn until dusk baking desserts in Cupcake Cottage. Those were such sweet times."

Luna makes a small whimpering sound and jumps on Sophie's leg. Sophie looks up. "Welcome to my cake shop!" chirps a sweet bluebird.

Sophie and the bluebird-shopkeeper start chatting like old friends. The shopkeeper is very outgoing and friendly. "Please sit down for a piece of cake." "Oh, I wish I could," says Sophie, but I must get home. It will be dark soon." "No problem! I hope you'll come back soon. You're welcome to my cake shop anytime!" says the bluebird.

"I will definitely come back tomorrow, and I'll bring my friend Flossy with me. Goodbye! See you soon!" "Goodbye!"

Sophie hurries home to call Flossy with all of the exciting news. "Imagine that! A bluebird owns a new cake shop in town."

Now, dear readers, I must ask your advice on a name for our new bluebird character. She makes friends easily and is honest and trustworthy too. If I ultimately choose a name you suggest, I'll send you a special prize. Be a follower of this blog and leave any name suggestions in a comment or comments on this post. I'll announce a winner within a couple of weeks. Until next time, keep it fun! xoxo Jennifer

Mini Shabby Cake Shop Exterior

Last time I showed some photos of the inside of Sophie and Flossy's new neighborhood cake shop. Now let's take a peek inside the shop from the outside:

I'll add more flower pots to the front of the shop as I have time to make them, and I'll change the cakes at times too (see below).

Here's a bonus shot from inside my studio. You can see the whole interior of the cake shop, a little of the exterior, plus the behind-the-scenes lighting set-up. It's the real story behind the story. :-)

I've been making more miniature cakes. It's too hot here for baking polymer clay, but I've been doing it anyway. :-) Next blog post I'll show you some more tasty-looking cakes, and maybe some disasters too! :-D Until next time, keep it fun, and stay cool! xoxo Jennifer

Sophie Discovers a Cake Shop

I was so inspired by making that first mini cake that I built a whole cake shop! All of the cakes are old-fashioned homemade-style cakes. You may recognize this building, actually. It's the Greenleaf Primrose dollhouse that I won in a giveaway a while back. My husband recently glued it back together after it arrived in the mail from Greece in several pieces.

Sophie the bear has just discovered the new cake shop while out walking Luna the puppy. The shop feels so cool and refreshing after being out in the heat of the day.

That yummy strawberry coconut cake arrived out of the blue from
Natasha of Eat Cake Miniatures while I was building the cake shop.

Luna heads straight for the table, laden with yummy food, while Sophie takes in the scene.

Luna wants some yummy cake NOW! She lets out a howl.

Mmm, everything looks so tasty!

Sophie calls Luna away from the table. "Come here, Luna! That isn't for you. Be a good girl!"

This project was so fun! My creative energy was in full force, as I painted, cut, and glued for about two weeks straight. Anytime I had a spare moment, I made something for the cake shop. I used furniture from my stash, and then I painted it and updated it with shabby paper and fabric. I even made two more cakes for the shop and bought the perfect pink cake from Beverly of Cute in Miniature on Etsy.

Next time I'll show you views of the shop from the outside. Thanks for stopping by and taking a look! I appreciate your comments so much too. Thank you, Natasha, for sending two beautiful cakes and to all of the blog friends whose gifts have added so much to this project. Until next time, keep it fun! xoxo Jennifer

It All Started With This Cake....

I felt inspired to follow this miniature cake tutorial that I found on Pinterest.

Not bad for my first ever attempt at a polymer clay miniature cake, eh? It's a rich chocolate cake with creamy vanilla frosting.

Then one thing led to another. ;-) 

I had so much fun creating something totally unexpected. I'll show you more about this new project next time. :-D 

Good news: all my greeting cards are back in stock and are in stores around the Portland area as well as in my Etsy shop. Thank you so much for your precious comments. I read every one of them and treasure your blog friendships. I hope you're all staying healthy and cool and having lots of fun too! xoxo Jennifer

Sweet Prizes From Mary's Giveaway

I recently won the giveaway that Mary of M's Minis and More blog held. I was one of two lucky winners, and "lucky" really is the right word for it. Mary was so thoughtful with her prizes, sending handmade miniatures in my favorite colors and themes along with some great craft supplies. Here's a special cookbook with photos of cupcakes inside:

Some of my personal favorites include all of these wonderful min vegetables, including open baked potatoes, pats of butter, carrots and green beans. Mary even included chopped veggies and peels too! Finally, Flossy and Sophie can eat some healthy food! ;-)

There were clamps for holding together mini projects while the glue dries, darling books with mini bookmarks and mini ink pens, gorgeous beads, and a potted plant that is absolutely perfect for my 1960s mid-century modern instant dollhouse:

And I adore these tiny baby bottles and toilet bowl scrubbers. So cute!

Thank you so much for your thoughtful, fun and useful gifts, Mary! If you haven't seen Mary's blog, I highly recommend it. It is fun, interesting, and from the heart.

Next post I'll show you a new mini that I made. It was really fun to try something totally different. Until next time, keep it fun! xoxo Jennifer

Flossy Feels Like Vanna White

Yes, Flossy the bunny feels like Vanna White of Wheel of Fortune fame, but here she is anyway, showing you one of the new miniature baking sets I've made that are now in my Etsy shop. There are several different sets in my shop, so please take a look and let me know what you think. Can you picture one of these baking sets in your mini dollhouse kitchen? If so, which one is your favorite?

By the way, all of my newest cards are sold out right now(!) but are still available at select brick and mortar outlets). You can still see my other birthday cards while you're at my shop looking at the miniature baking sets, though. ;-)

Thanks so much for looking and for your sweet comments. I hope you're having a good weekend. Until next time, keep it fun! xoxo Jennifer

Big News!

It's been close to one month since my last update, and in that time I had two really bad colds, I took a short trip to Seattle, and I found out some great news. My greeting card line was accepted by New Seasons Market here in the Portland metro area. New Seasons is a chain of 12 (soon-to-be 15!) healthy grocery stores emphasizing organic and local foods and local home goods items.

Over the last couple of years I've had probably ten different people suggest that my greeting cards would be perfect for New Seasons. Finally, a few weeks ago, after some prompting and coaching by my good friend Lise, I applied with the wonderful help of New Seasons home goods buyer James. It all happened so quickly I was almost in shock!

So far, you can find my cards at the Mountain Park (Lake Oswego) New Seasons. My whole card line of eleven different cards is represented there, so if you're in the area and interested, please check it out. Meanwhile, my cards are still available at five other special stores and on Etsy.

I've managed to keep up with most of my blog reading, which feels good. I love this community of bloggers and love keeping in touch with the latest news from blog friends. Another thing that keeps me busy is Pinterest. It is a great way to find and store miniature tutorials and printables. I have hundreds on my boards. If you haven't discovered Pinterest yet, you might like it! :-)

Behind the scenes, I'm working on that Greenleaf Primrose dollhouse that I won in Tam Toum's giveaway over one year ago. It's shaping up to be a vintage kitchen. I'm working on a new character for that house too. I also have a new story in the works! And I may give Sophie the bear's Brambleberry Farmhouse a shabby country makeover. :-)

I hope all of you are healthy and happy. It's always a joy hearing from you. Thank you for your sweet comments! I read every one and appreciate them so much. Until next time, keep it fun! xoxo Jennifer

More Mini Birthday (and Other) Gifts!

Flossy the bunny, as usual, has been busy baking cupcakes at Cupcake Cottage. This time it's vanilla cupcakes with creamy coconut frosting and a cherry on top. These are definitely a Cupcake Cottage favorite!

Flossy has been using a favorite cookbook, but in case that's not enough, look at all the darling cupcake books sent by Anna of LITTLETHINGS blog:

Aren't these tiny books precious? Anna also sent a pretty card and two more books, including a vintage one for my mid-century modern dollhouse and a special bear bedtime stories book. Sophie the bear has already gotten her paws on that one and has moved it to Brambleberry Farmhouse. ;-) Thank you so much for your thoughtful birthday gifts, Anna. We all love them!

Next up, Maria of Pretty Things Ireland blog sent a wonderful birthday package filled with darling minis and craft supplies:

Isn't her card beautiful? And that miniature bicycle is too cute! See the tiny red lipstick on the white tray? Flossy has put that in her bedroom already. :-) The pink hat and purse were hand crocheted by Maria too. I keep the tiny guinea pig candle holder near my computer monitor, so I think of Maria often. Thank you so much, Maria! You helped make my birthday so special!

Finally, I received a wonderful package from Sans! of The Dollhouse Diaries blog. Sans! offered her readers some miniature paper sunflowers, and I jumped at the opportunity. Then Sans! surprised me by sending all these:

As soon as I received the package, I started making mini bouquets with the tiny rosebuds. You'll see some of them in future posts. I'd also love to make a mini pond with huge pink lotus flowers, so maybe you'll see that one day too. Thank you so much for your thoughtful gifts, Sans! You really brightened my day with all of these gorgeous flowers.

Blog friends are real friends--isn't it so? I feel very blessed indeed. Until next time, keep it fun! xoxo Jennifer

I've Decided What I'm Doing When Google Reader Goes, Have You?

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Lately I've been busy trying to figure out how I will follow the blogs I love now that Google Reader is disappearing July 1. I needed an alternative to Google Reader--the sooner the better! After reading a couple of posts on Carina's Craftblog and Mockingbird Hill Cottage about this very dilemma, I decided to switch from Google Reader to Bloglovin'.

I recently made the switch, and I couldn't be happier. Bloglovin' made it so easy to import all of my favorite blogs from Google Reader. All I did was sign up for Bloglovin', which took about five minutes total. I had to click a link in an email from them, and their first question was "Would you like to import your blogs from Google Reader?" Again, it took less than five minutes, and all of my blogs were there, mostly in the correct folders that I had set up in Reader. ;-) Yay!

I've set up a "Follow this Blog with Bloglovin'" button at the top of my blog's right-hand sidebar. Please use it, if you find it helpful. Or just click the button above. :-)

Many of you are not using Reader to follow blogs. You may be following blogs in your Blogger dashboard. If so, I believe you will find Bloglovin' really refreshing. Just as in Google Reader, you can set up folders to categorize your blogs. For example, I have folders with titles like "Shabby Chic," "Cute Kawaii," "Favorites," and so on. It makes looking for information and prioritizing which blogs to read much easier than using the Blogger Dashboard's blog feed.

I hope you found this post helpful. Feel free to ask questions, answer questions, and share experiences in the comments. Until next time, keep it fun! xoxo Jennifer