Watch out Martha Stewart

Last night I went to a cake decorating party at Frills Bake Shop and I must say this was the most fun, out-of-the-box idea that I am already telling so many people about.  My friend Mary from The Yellow Binding suggested we go and I am so happy she did! 

(Clockwise from top left: Frills cake boxes, all the piping tips, flowers on our decorating table, my station before we started, all the piping I learned how to make) 

Frills provides each guest with a 9” round cake, techniques to decorate like the pros and all the icing and things to beautify your cake; all in a fun frilly pink space that is inspiring for design.   Plus, you can bring in your own drinks and snacks! 

The first part of the 2-hour party was Anne, the owner, showing us the different tips to create certain shapes.  We learned how to pipe pearl beads, tiny flowers, swirls and even a way to make hair for people.   We practiced with ‘store-bought’ icing on paper so we could get a hang of each technique before the fun (stressful) part, when you put the icing on the cake.  Frills uses homemade French Butter Cream for all their cakes-for-purchase but for the decorating party, they offer the ‘store-bought’ because it is easier for the amateur decorator.  If you go though, ask for a sample of their icing, it is a rich, buttery, not too sweet spoonful of deliciousness!

(Clockwise from top left: Me busy trying to save my cake from disaster, Mary and I, Gina making her Moroccan cake, Mary busy making swirls, Beth piping beautiful flowers)

We each came up with a design but quickly realized that practicing on paper was much easier than putting it on something you are taking home and potentially sharing with others.  For example, I was pretty good at piping straight and even lines so I wanted to incorporate them into my cake.  However, as soon as I had to pipe the lines vertically up the cake versus just on a flat surface, I began to feel a bit overwhelmed. 

I took a couple pictures of the progression of my cake and I think including the additional colors and using the dots to cover up some of the many mistakes, left me with a final product that is okay to share on the www.  I am no Martha Stewart (even though I would love to be) but I am leaps and bounds better than before Frills. 

(Beth, Gina, Me and Mary with our final products)

More than anything, we were able to laugh through pretty much the whole class and poke fun at our mistakes along the way.  Do you have any fun/different/creative ideas for a good girl’s night?