Sunrise Creations Blog

Cake Pops are all the rage at the moment.  They are fabulous looking little morsels of cake on a stick which is how they get their name.  They were invented by Bakerella, a clever American baker whose work was noticed by Martha Stewart.  Once she appeared on the Martha Stewart show there was no stopping her.  Cake Pops took the world by storm.

The cake pops are highly decorated and look like little works of art once they are done. They are a stand out feature on any dessert table.

Here are a few of my favourite Easter inspired cake pops.  

 

The first two designs are by Bakerella, queen of cake pops.  The next two are by Natalie's Cake Pops. I found the last.ones at the Dollhouse Bake Shoppe.

You can see what I mean about these little cakes being mini works of art, can't you?

I don't know that I will be making cake pops this Easter but I might dream of them!

Wishing you a very happy Easter season to you and your family.

I love Easter.  Despite its religious significance, to me Easter always means children and lots of childlike fun for everyone.

I love the egg hunts and the bunny footprints around the garden.  I love the crazy hats the school children make and parade in each year.  I love the baskets and I love the decorated eggs.

Above all, I love the brilliant dessert tables that some creative people are able to put together. 

 

Aren't they lovely?

The top dessert table is for the grown ups - well, for the girls, anyway.  Who could resist Easter in Paris?  This table is by Laura's Little Table and was featured in The Party Press.

The middle table I spotted on Pinterest, pinned on the Catch My Party page.  I love the colour and layout of the table.

The last is by Sleek Shindigs and was shown at P is For Party .  It's the dessert table waiting for the children when they finish their egg hunt.

What will you do this Easter?  Games, parties and dessert tables sound great to me.

There is no law that says you have to have a theme for a party.  Even a child’s birthday party can be loads of fun with just a general party atmosphere but let’s be honest; themes do make parties more interesting and memorable, and you can have as much fun in the planning as your guests will have on the day.

 

Half the fun is in picking the theme, especially for children who have a favourite character, toy or colour you can work with.

 

Make every effort to follow your theme the whole way through, from your invitations through to your lolly bags and thank you cards because making it truly memorable is usually all about the details.

 

There are many wonderful examples of themed parties on blogs and websites and it is worth doing a search on themed parties in general as well as the theme that you choose to work with.

 

One of the finest examples of a Mary Poppins “Jolly Holiday” theme as lovingly depicted on Sharnel’s “My Life My Loves” blog.

 

 

Don’t feel overwhelmed by the lengths that this amazingly creative woman as gone to in her efforts to recreate the “Jolly Holiday” experience, her work is inspiring but you can invest as much expense and effort into your themed party as you choose.

 

If you choose a theme subject that you and your child already know and love it gives you greater room for creativity and you can often utilise items that you already have for decoration and in activities.

 

Having a theme that allows for dress ups and costumes works well as all kids love to dress up and role play, and the natural play acting that comes with that adds to the festive atmosphere.

Sometimes the big day sneaks up on us, making it a mad scramble to create an atmosphere where there is none.  When you are working under pressure it can block your creativity.  Ideas are suddenly few and far between.

I found these gorgeous images at Better Homes and Gardens in one of their Halloween slideshows.  What appealed to me about these ideas is that they are all created using just paper cut outs or ribbons and string.  They aren't hard to do at all.  I hope these images give you some ideas that you can use at your place at Halloween.  Drop into Better Homes and Gardens and look through the rest of the images.  They are fabulous and really not difficult to do.

Have a happy and ghoulish Halloween!

 

This clever design is a by Carolynne of Two Brunettes and was featured on Ruffled, one of my favourite blogs.  The card is part of a candy buffet and cake table sign set which comes with blank matching cards.  You can use the blank cards as place cards, name signs or to label the delicious cakes and treats that are laid out on your buffet.

This is a prinatble set which is available as a free download from Ruffled.  Drop in and download your copy.  While you are there, have a look through the blog.  It's lovely!

 

As you may know, I love the gorgeous and girly creations made by Emma at Two Little Maidens.  Today I want to share with you an interview I did recently with Emma where I learnt more about her divine little tutus and dresses.  They are perfect for little girls as flowergirls or just for a special occasion.  The style is lovely and the price is very affordable.

1.  How long have you been in business?
I have been in business for just over a year now.  It is still a very new business but it has been doing very well.  The dresses in particular seem to be very popular.

2.  Do you make your lovely dresses and headbands?
I hand make all of my tutu dresses and tutu skirts.  I like to see them take shape in front of me.  Each one is special and in some way unique.  Some of the headbands are bought in and some of them I hand make also.

3. Have they been used as flowergirl dresses before?
I have had orders for tutu dresses in white to be used as flower girl dresses and also christening dresses.  I think they look lovely and the little girls look like angels.  They float as they walk.  The girls love the layers of frilly skirt, too.

4.  Which colour or style is your best seller?
My best colour and style/s so far are my whispy white tutu dress and also my berryliscious tutu dress is popular for birthdays.  I think the pretty pink colour is a hit and the added berry colours give it a really special look.

5.  Which outfit would you choose for a flowergirl to wear?
I would choose the whispy white tutu dress for a flower girl as the white tulle is lovely and the hand made satin yoyo is just a nice touch as an embellishment on the dress along with the sparkling rhinestone centrepeice, not too over the top! :)

6.  What do your girls think of the dresses?
My girls love the dresses! They always say "mummy I'm a princess" and "is that dress for me mummy? can I try it on?"

7.  Why/how are your dresses different? 
My dresses are different because each one is hand made. I also hand make the satin yoyos and take extra care in the finish of my dresses. I can add extra layers of tulle, make them longer or shorter, do different colour combinations and add different embellishments to the dresses as required. I love custom orders as they allow me to be creative and make something really special for little princesses, after all they are only little once and every girl deserves to be a princess!  

If you are looking for something really special that looks exclusive, visit Emma and Two Little Maidens.  She will look after you.
 

This is a little different to my normal posts but it is so lovely that I wanted to share it with you.  This is a poem written to 'my child' and I'd like you to take a few minutes out of your busy day to read and think about it.

It arrived in my emails this morning, one of the many doing the rounds, but I felt this one was important to read.  It's the attitude shown in the poem that is the key to getting into your child's world and capturing it with your camera.

To My Child

Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and
 pick you up and take you to the park to play.

Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and l
 let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together.

Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the
 computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles.

Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine
 for the ice cream truck and I will buy you one if he comes by.

Just for this afternoon, I won’t worry about what you are going to be when you grow up,
or second guess every decision I have madewhere you are concerned.

Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I
 won’t stand over you trying to fix them.

Just for this afternoon, I will take us to McDonald’s and buy us
 both a Happy Meal so you can have both toys.

Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a
 story about how you were born and how much I love you.

Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry.

Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on
 the porch and count all the stars.

Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and miss my favorite TV shows. 

Just for this evening when I run my finger through your hair as you pray, I will simply be
grateful that God has given me the greatest gift ever given.

I will think about the mothers And fathers who are searching for
 their missing children, the mothers and fathers who are visiting
 their children’s graves instead of their bedrooms, and mothers and
 fathers who are in hospital rooms watching their children suffer
 senselessly, and screaming inside that they can’t handle it anymore.

And when I kiss you good night I will hold you a little tighter, a
 little longer. It is then, that I will thank God for you

Many of us are opting for DIY catering and decorating for our events lately.  Apart from the cost savings, a DIY event can be more personal and often more creative, too.

It's the details that make your occasion look fantastic and one of those details is the napkin.

Quality modern paper napkins are thick, abosrbent and disposable but they are also elegant.  In fact, sometimes it's hard to tell if they really are paper. Their embossing can give the impression that you are using fine linen.

Even if you choose the less expensive paper napkins, you can still create a stylish table setting with a little bit of clever folding.  A simple place setting with a sophisticated folded napkin can really create an impression.

There are dozens of ways to fold a paper napkin and there will be one to suit your event whether it's a wedding reception or a child's party.

Have a look on YouTube and you will find many clips that teach you those different shapes.  I saw this one and loved the look so I thought that I would share it with you.

Buy yourself some paper napkins and have a go.

Sometimes you come across a photographer who shows a real flair for capturing their subject. Sydney based Fiona King of Polly Street is one such photographer.  She is unique because although she photographs people of all ages and in all sorts of events, she specialises in "photography for fun loving people."

Her photos of children really capture their essence and their zest for life. Just have a look at these photos and tell me that they don't inspire in you the desire to go out and play.

Cupcakes first appeared about 200 years ago when the original recipe was made known. Since it came out, cupcakes have grown in popularity and have become a trend in the culinary world. It has given rise to many bakeshops dedicated to these little treats. There are even cookbooks that are devoted to them. Clearly, cupcakes are here to stay for a long time.

But what makes these mini cakes great?

One of the reasons is that cupcakes are very convenient to make.  They cook much faster than regular-sized cakes. When you have kids at home waiting, something that cooks quickly is a lifesaver!

You can also do a variety of flavors in one batch of cupcakes. Unlike cakes, you don’t get stuck with just one flavor. You can do chocolate, vanilla, butter, mocha, or strawberry. The possibilities are endless!

In addition, you can decorate the cupcakes with different toppings. It can be colored icing, candy sprinkles, marzipan art, or simple powdered sugar. You can even incorporate chocolate chips, preserved fruits, and jam in your cupcakes to make them more special and unique.

Just have a look at these ones.  They are from a book called Planet Cake Cupcakes.  Aren't they fabulous?  The work in this book is pure art.

 

 

Cupcakes are the perfect size for little kids. They’re not too big and they’re not small enough to leave you wanting for more.  They can be turned into any sort of creation from fun to elegant.

Start making them and give your family a sweet treat that’s sure to put a smile on their faces. You can check out Book Depository for The Planet Cake Cupcake book and a list of other cupcake cookbooks you can begin with.