Sophisticated Cake Decorating Party

For her 9th birthday, Abbi wanted a sophisticated cake decorating party.  We checked out a local bakery,  but unfortunately they couldn't accommodate our numbers.  Aaargh.


Lots of neon, decorating cakes (a piñata - essential) and a donut tree were all on the "brief".  Oh and also a decorating demonstration please mum.   Uh Abbi -  have you seen my cake decorating?

Invites issued. Check.

Decorations up. Check.

Literally hundred of cakes ready. Check.

Icing ready.  Check

I also made up a load of icing sugar and water icing (no idea what its called in official cake parlance), in a variety of lurid colours.  Its usually the only icing my kids will eat.  Sorry - No organic free from additives colours here.

Et voila.  A selection of headache inducing colours.  Actually we wanted them to be more vivid, but even I drew the line at more Dr Oetkers poisons potions.

Decoration Station Ready. Check
Before the girls arrived I set up a table with icing, sprinkles and other doo-das that can be stuck in a cake.

Each girl got a plate (to transport their creations home), with their name in icing, and a t-shirt that we made to protect their clothes.  The plates were £1 each from ikea.

All set up ready to go.

First the girls just chilled in the garden as they waited for everyone to arrive.  We had 12 girls in total. 

Lots of gymnasticing going on.

My lovely friend Rachel came to help.  2 of her 4 children were there...though Sacha the baby perhaps a little too small to decorate this time.

So we were ready to start.....

Abbi wanted to be taught how to decorate something, so I demonstrated a bunny on green grass with a carrot, step by step, and the girls copied as we went along.  I am the last person that should be demonstrating icing, but in the land of the blind and all that.
We gave each guest a plate containing the colours they would need for this pre measured.

The green icing I squeezed through a garlic press to give a grassy effect (though mine is awful).  the girls did a much better job.

Once we had done the demo, it was time to give the girls free reign.  Let the games begin!!!

I was amazed and surprised how focussed the girls were concentrating on their creations.  and very creative.  I had expected much of the cake and the topping to be eaten as we went along, but there was very little nibbling...they were concentrating so hard.

And dont you love a girl who coordinates her icing to her other accessories!.  Thats very Lucy.

Proudly showing off their creations.

They decorated for about an hour and a half, then the had lunch....(sausages in buns, juice and popcorn).

Before we set up "The Donut Tree".  Abbi had been very keen to do this outside, hanging donuts from the tree at the end of our garden, however it was too cold, so we strung them to her netball hoop....which was perfect, as we could adjust the height depending on the size of the girls.

......being tall a big advantage in this game.  No hands allowed.

Small girls got a helping hand from some of their friends!

Jamie had a friend over to dillute the 9 year old girl effect.......didnt hear a peep from them until the donuts emerged!

I was very keen to make a cake shaped piñata, but Abbi wouldnt allow me......had to be a traditional donkey

The boys decided to stay around and "police" the piñata....and make sure they got their mits on any sweets going.

While the girls were pinata-ing, we wrapped their plates in florists cellophane.  Its  amazing how wonderful it makes everything look.

After the party ended, some friends popped round to help us eat some of the remaining cakes, and wish Abbi Happy Birthday.


Jessie just deciding which of Abbis creations she should risk.

And finally, we can get rid of our giant cardboard cake......