Recently, Icing Designs held a cupcake contest to create a couture inspired cupcake in honor of their cupcake inspired stationary line.
Cupcakes, dresses, an excuse to decorate... sounded like fun!!
I drew up some cupcake designs based on couture dresses with a floral theme..
...I wanted the cupcakes to be pretty and unpractical like couture dresses. This is the one that I entered to the contest.
And I won!! You can see the whole post and the beautiful runner-up cupcakes here .
To make the cupcake I started by rolling out gum paste, painting it with petal dust, and then cutting out triangles with a gumpaste tool (although any knife would work)
Then I wrapped the triangle around a stick...
..and shaped the base of the decoration into a point and set aside to dry. It was a little bit time consuming but it was simple enough that I was able to watch tv while I did it (yay hoarders!). I made them in three different sizes and let them dry overnight.
The next day I baked up some vanilla cupcakes and whipped up some swiss meringue butter cream and arranged the gumpaste "petals" from biggest to smallest.
For the rest of the couture collection I kept the floral inspired theme. This cupcake got little gumpaste flowers arranged on a dome of minty buttercream
And these three got piped buttercream petals.
This one was topped with the remaining gumpaste petals and a matching rose.
It was so much fun creating these and I have to thank Icing Designs for hosting such a great contest!
Congratulations Stephanie!! Your cupcakes are incredible. I just love your blog; this particular post made me want to rush out to a cupcake shop for a sweet treat! :)
Posted by: Michelle M. | 04/07/2011 at 07:54 PM
Yeah!!! You totally desrve it! ~*CoNgRaTuLaTiOnS*~ : D
Posted by: Patty | 04/07/2011 at 08:15 PM
Your cupcakes are gorgeous!! Congrats on the win :D
Posted by: Vanessa | 04/07/2011 at 09:40 PM
These are just gorgeous! Too pretty to eat even. Wow.
Posted by: Lora | 04/08/2011 at 03:08 AM
Several things:
#1. I love your blog and all your pretty/delicious pictures.
#2. Please, please tell me what shade and brand nail polish you're wearing in the above photos? I've been looking for a shade like it for forever!
#3. Your notebook sketches are lovely and whimsical. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Laurie Skelton | 04/08/2011 at 07:02 AM
I would say too pretty to eat, but I'd eat them anyway. The patience you have for doing all of the decoration is amazing... I'd cave and eat all the batter out of the bowl.
Posted by: DK | 04/08/2011 at 08:53 AM
Laurie: thanks! The nail polish is Revlon (the topspeed stuff) and its called jaded. Its a little lighter in real life.
Posted by: Stephanie | 04/08/2011 at 10:34 AM
Of course you won! You are so supe talented with the food you make and your presentation always makes me drool. Sorry for the graphic image of me being a slob but seriously, you deserve the praise. :)
Posted by: Marilyn | 04/08/2011 at 10:56 AM
Congrats!!!! They look awesome!
Posted by: Jenn | 04/08/2011 at 02:16 PM
You are really amazing. These look truly beautiful. Kudos. I hope you have a great weekend. Blessings...Mary
Posted by: Mary Bergfeld | 04/08/2011 at 09:12 PM
Congrats! Your cupcake is beyond fabulous - of course you should have won!
Cheers,
E
Posted by: yummy supper | 04/09/2011 at 06:09 PM
I am in awe of your talent! Congratulations on the win! I love that you shared your sketch book. I think you deserve a trip to Paris to showcase your skills!!
Posted by: Thegonzogourmet | 04/11/2011 at 11:08 AM
Congratulations! I am so blown away by your designs. My cupcakes are lucky if they even get frosted...yours are pure eye candy.
Posted by: Clare | 04/11/2011 at 01:10 PM
Congratulations. Those are seriously creative and amazing. You deserved to win.
Posted by: Darina | 04/12/2011 at 08:32 PM
Congrats!! Those are absolutely divine!
Posted by: Lilie | 04/13/2011 at 04:11 AM
*Wow*! Those are incredible-looking! Congratulations on your win, I think you most definitely deserve it! I think these are also perfect for the less-prestigious-but-infinitely-sillier Pimp My Easter Basket Challenge my friends and I put together; you should send this post in! ^_^ http://tinyurl.com/69g6c2f I know I'd love to see your cupcakes in *my* Easter basket. :)
Posted by: Mary at n00bcakes | 04/13/2011 at 05:10 AM
Such original and cleverly inspired designs! I'm happy you won (and not surprised for one second). Well deserved!
Posted by: rigel | 04/13/2011 at 07:34 AM
congratulations! Your cupcake designs look amazing!
Posted by: Candice | 04/15/2011 at 01:55 AM
These are absolutely stunning - and thanks for explaining how you did it! I'll have to give it a whirl.
Posted by: Jessica | 04/27/2011 at 06:42 AM
congrats! those cupcakes are all so pretty...i really like the one you did a tutorial on...it looks like a peacock :D
Posted by: cakewhiz | 04/28/2011 at 01:40 AM
No kidding you won. That cupcake is stunning.
Posted by: Mindy | 04/28/2011 at 07:43 AM
Wow this is so beautiful. As I was reading I was thinking how you did. Congrats on winning!!!!
Posted by: Allie | 05/01/2011 at 10:13 PM
*falls on floor at awesome cakeyness*!
:)
Posted by: mimi | 05/04/2011 at 01:57 PM
This is just stunning...
Posted by: Lea | 05/05/2011 at 05:09 AM
These cupcakes are delicious looking! I just hope I could have some:( I've also tried to learn baking but I guess its not suitable for me.
Posted by: ivory suits | 05/07/2011 at 03:14 AM
Those are some pretty impressive cupcakes! I am just in love with your blog and tutorials. I just found your blog today. Makes me a happy camper. <3
Posted by: Julia | 06/19/2011 at 12:33 PM
Theese look delious! I was wonding if you could give me the recipe for the swiss meringue butter cream you used in your winning design. Thanks
Posted by: Jessica C | 11/03/2011 at 11:11 AM
wow, these cupcake frostings are AWESOME!
Posted by: yasmin yeong | 04/09/2012 at 07:32 PM