Monday, April 06, 2009

All Aboard the Party Train!

WHEW! What a busy week!

If you read my last post, you'll see that 4 years ago on April Fool's Day I was due with my baby boy. Alas, he did not make his debut until April 6th~ which also happens to be my MIL's birthday as well! We have 5 family birthdays in April, (including mine and not cousins!)
So I had been going non stop preparing for Nova's party. Here is what the invites looked like~



Thursday I baked cakes all day. I had a *vision* in my head for the birthday boy's confection.

I would need one huge 11X3" round base= 4 cake mixes.

One "Barbie dress" pan= 2 to 3 cake mixes

And these miniature train cakes =three different cake mixes for more color~
Friday I decorated~
Now I know what you're thinking.... after I had my nervous breakdown over the porcupines how could I possibly attempt to decorate another cake? Well, mom came over to supervise and step in when needed!

Here we have the slope cut, going up the side of the mountain~ also trying to decide where the actual mountain should go. I baked two because the first one wasn't tall enough to suit me!

This is the chocolate "mountain" being added to the base, and I had cut the "peaks" in waiting to be iced. Grey icing with coarse sugar on top for gravel, and graham stix for railroad ties...

You can click on the photos for detail~ I used chocolate for the mountain cake to give a tunnel illusion so I wouldn't have to cut the tunnel all the way through and weaken it.

I thought the track and tunnel turned out so cute I almost didn't want to put the train on it. But those little buggers gave me fits and they WERE GOING ON!

I started shaking like a leaf while piping the leaves on the trees (hmm, blood sugar bottomed out from not eating all day) so mumsie took over. But you know, that LARGE grass tip is the bomb! MUCH better that that hellacious tiny one that gave me so much grief with the porcupines. I was finished with the grass in seconds flat.

I've watched my mom decorate cakes for over 30 years, but being that this is only about the 5th cake I've ever tackled I'm pretty darned pleased with myself!

And it *only* took 6 hours to decorate! LOL!
Kevin came home from work and helped clean up the kitchen, what a man!!

Nova was super excited while watching. I'm surprised I got him down for a nap during the process!

I must plug Cake Wrecks since this is another cake decorating post. With Easter approaching, this post especially cracked me up.

Stay tuned for more party details!

21 comments:

Carla said...

Super cool cake! I wish I was that talented, but I have little patience for cake decorating. I'm sure your little guy thought it was the coolest thing ever.

Unknown said...

WOW! That is awesome! You just made that up, aye? Wayyyyy cool! You are super creative. Just look at that cake and invitation! You even dressed up like an engineer for your cake post photo! How adorable is that!? Happy Birthday to Nova!

Traci @ The Bakery said...

Wow! I can't believe how BIG it is....doesn't look that big til you see the picture w/ you in it! How could you even cut into after all that hard work? GREAT JOB!!! I would have had a STALE cake by the time I finished....2 weeks later...ba haaaaa.

A Southern Rose said...

Your cake turned out beautiful! I bet Nova loved it! You are so creative! My sister does cakes sometimes but I've only tried once. It was a duck for my son's 3rd birthday. Maybe I will try again one day.

Clare said...

It's beautiful! And how cute are you in that outfit? You pull off the braids soooo well.

paintergal said...

Nikki- that turned out fabulously! You definitely have more patience than I do.
And look how cute you are in the conductor's hat. :)

Decor To Adore said...

You are amazing! My cakes usually qualify for Cake Wrecks. :)

Hope the party was wonderful.

Jaede said...

WOW, the cake is fabulous, I would hate to cut it after all that work and how cute are you in your conductor outfit xxx

Amber said...

That is an amazing cake! It almost looks too pretty to eat!

Sometimes It's Good said...

That is the cutest cake! Really creative. You should be proud of yourself.
Happy birthday to Nova.
Hugs, Susan

Unknown said...

Awe Happy b-day Nova!

Nikki that cake is awesome!!! Another great job!

Your give away will be in the mail tomorrow. Sorry for the delay. :(

~Liz

Gypsy Chix said...

This is adorable!!! I love it.

xoxo trailer trash

ps love the music

~ Dee ~ said...

Just Amazing girl I am so proud of you. And hey your wearing my favorite outfit I live in overalls hehehe you look to cute. Dee

Justine said...

Holy crap, woman! I can't believe you did that yourself!!!!! It came out incredible! What did the party-goers say about it?

Justine :o )

Lori said...

Nikki, That is such an awesome choo-choo! How clever the mountain is and how like=life it came out!!! You look so adorable and proud!!!!! Hope hte day is yummy! Lori

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

You never cease to amaze me with your creativeness!! What a great cake! Can't wait to see the b'day pictures!

Happy Belated Birthday, Nova!

That cake wrecks site cracked me up! LOL!!

Katherine

Heather said...

Only your 5th?!?!?! Sick! This is the bestest train cake ever!! Nova had to have been thrilled to bits! I may have to steal this idea for Kyle's birthday this year. He is so in love with trains-Thomas especially!!! Oh I love it!
I always try to do big amazing cakes for my kids every year for their birthday. My husband always loves them but during the process he always asks "Why??" hee hee Must be a crazy mommy thing!
Miss ya!
Heather:)

Queenie's Vintage Finds said...

Hey Nikki!
Girl, that cake is amazing...it's so cute...you did a fantastic job! I have never seen anything like it.... I'm loving the music on this post too....what fun you all had!
You sure have made Nova a very special birthday that I'm sure he'll always remember...Happy Birthday Nova!
Big Hug,
Queenie~

Rue said...

OMG Nikki!! The cake turned out GREAT! I'm very impressed, seriously!

rue

Life on the Edge said...

I don't think I have ever seen such a cool cake! Wow! I would never have thought to do something like this. You did a most fabulous job, and Nova looks so happy with it! Looks like he had a really fun party, and everyone looks so cute in their train conductor hats.

Nova is sure one luckly little boy to have you for his mommy!

Kady

Lallee said...

OH! MY! GOSH! You are incredible!!! That cake is awesome. I can't believe I missed Novah's birthday. He can't be 4! I hope he had a great day. He had to with that cake. How many cake mixes? I can't add that high.