Pooh Party Preparations

It's No.1 here! Yesterday No.2 and I went to Nana's in the morning to do some party baking. My favourite was icing the gingerbread men.

No.2 and I helped to decorate the cupcakes. No.2 made the cupcakes. Nana took her to the cake shop to choose the pretty decorations. Aren't they cute?

We all helped make the choc chip biscuits. Look at me taking the first biscuit, aren't I naughty?!! We thought they were so heavenly. Now over to Mummy with the Pooh cake.

Colouring the icings always takes ages to get the perfect colours. There were quite a few to do as well. My hands were rather coloured after this job. Always leave the black to last!

I think I need to make some changes to the way the cake sits on the plate, aye?

That's much better!

And now for the icing. I've applied "glue" to the cake first. Apricot jam and water heated up and then brushed on. The icing is a bit thin really but who cares. Most of it will be covered in Pooh anyway. Ha ha! I love the way it looks like it's been poured on.

A quick trim around the edges and here we have a blank canvas for the decorations.

Now I've cut the pieces out after tracing the Pooh picture from the colouring book. I've tried to join up as much as I can to make applying the cutouts easier.

Now we cut out the icing shapes in the correct colours. I use baking paper to roll the icings onto so they are easy to pick up without stretching. I've also used a blunt knife to add the details to Pooh.

I popped a blob of yellow icing in the middle of each flower and then pushed them down with an icing gadget to give it a pretty effect. It does look like I've piped them doesn't it? Normally I would have gone to the cake shop to buy some ready made flowers. But being on 'The Challenge' I was unable to do this. But look, I had the perfect cutter and I think they have turned out beautifully. And they didn't cost me a cent. I like it!!

You know what? I think tomorrow I'll use the rest of the icing to make some more flowers for another party. They last very well. More money saving ideas.

And a few pink flowers at the side to hold the two candles.

And ta da....!!!

It's hard to see his face in the photo as he's squinting and grinning. In real life he looks just fine. Maybe I should have given you a close up shot. Oh well, never mind.

We've been to the airport to meet the party girl. She was a little overcome with all these new faces eager to see her again. She'll be fine later I'm sure. Everyone's starting to get a bit excited now. Husband has even spring cleaned the kick boards in the kitchen and all the stainless steel ware! Goodness me, I'm staying away!!