Creative Abubot

SWEET STUFF!

2012-01-26T05:17:00.000-08:00

Be sweet and accessorize with SWEET STUFF by Creative Abubot!

Available on PRE-ORDER at ETSY.com!

Items will be shipped on Feb. 1, 2012.

Limited stocks only!

Please visit Creative Abubot on ETSY.com!

Yummy Magnets!

2012-01-26T04:59:00.001-08:00

New items on my ETSY shop ... Chocolate Magnets and Mini Oreo Magnets!

I made these magnets from resin.

These are PRE-ORDER items, and will be shipped on Feb. 1, 2012. Only limited stocks available!

Chocolate Magnets

Mini Oreo Magnets

Please visit Creative Abubot on ETSY.com!

Tutorial: Fake Parfaits + Frozen Yogurt

2011-12-04T04:07:00.000-08:00

A new tutorial available on ETSY!

Learn how to make REALISTIC looking fake parfaits and frozen yogurt.

These are great home and office decors.

These are also perfect and unique gift items!

You may even sell the items created from this tutorial.

Included in this tutorials are instructions (with photos) on how to make:

Faux Strawberry Parfait
Faux Mango Parfait
Faux Chocolate Parfait
Fake Frozen Yogurt

Available on ETSY!

Chocolate Truffles Ornaments Tutorial

2011-11-29T10:59:00.000-08:00

Learn how to make fake Chocolate Truffles Ornaments. Perfect to sweeten your Christmas tree this coming Holiday Season.

Tutorial (PDF) Available on ETSY.

Do you like Strawberry Parfait?

2011-11-10T10:45:00.000-08:00

... so, do you like strawberry parfait?

I made this today! It's not edible, though! ...as usual! :p

Yumminess is back for the Holidays!

2011-11-09T06:47:00.000-08:00

Yes it's back, to sweeten your Christmas trees this holiday season! Faux Oreo Ornaments are now available on my ETSY shop. Now made with resin, a better, hard and durable material that will definitely last a lifetime.

Faux Cupcakes as Business Card Holders

2011-11-06T11:46:00.000-08:00

The faux cupcakes I have sold from my Etsy shop were used in various ways by my customers. They gave them out as gifts to friends. Used as decorations in their homes. Some used them in their shops to hold the prices for their items. Or used as displays to show the flavors of the real cupcakes they sell. Some ordered to hand them out as party favors for weddings and baby christenings or even birthdays. Others used them as place/name card holders in their table settings for their dinner parties.

Recently, a another happy customer sent me pictures on how she used the faux cupcakes she bought from me. She owned a cupcake shop! And she used the faux cupcakes to hold her business cards. She plans to leave these fake cupcakes with her business card in certain establishments as a marketing effort for her cupcake shop. It's a clever idea, don't you think?

For REAL and yummy cupcakes, please visit So Sweet Cupcake Boutique at www.sosweetonline.com!

And for fake ones that looks good enough to eat, you can always visit my ETSY shop www.creativeabubot.etsy.com.

New Faux Cupcakes Up on Etsy

2011-09-19T22:52:00.000-07:00

I have posted some new faux cupcakes on my ETSY shop.

These cupcakes are PRE-ORDER, and will be shipped on OCT 5, 2011.

Each design/flavor is of limited quantity ...so check out my shop now, and get your faux cupcake! :D

These are just some of the new ones. More faux cupcakes on my shop!

PRE-ORDER!

Will ship on Oct. 5, 2011

Get the LOOK for Less!

2011-07-03T09:10:00.000-07:00

Ok, this post has nothing to do arts & crafts. But I found this amazing site and I thought I'd share it with you.

The site is www.wholesale-dress.net and they sell clothes, shoes, bags, and accessories. Their items are all up to date in terms of style. And they are in super low prices. I plan to buy a pair of shoes from them (perhaps in a couple of days...just waiting for my paycheck. hihi!).

Fish Mouth Leather Boots [item#: U10081610] ONLY $10.27

They are also having a video contest right now. You may submit a video about their product/s, if you have already purchased from them. If not, you can make a video about their website.

Here is one entry. Please view and feel free to comment and share it! :)

Get the LOOK for Less!

The contest runs from June 18- Aug. 18th 2011. And the best video will awarded $1500.00.

If you're interested in joining, please visit the site for the contest rules and details.

Fake of the Day: Ice Cream

2011-03-18T01:32:00.000-07:00

...Actually it's still a work in progress. I've been experimenting on materials and in creating the ice cream texture. I remember back in art school (circa 19-kopong-kopong), they use mashed potatoes as ice cream for food photography (not sure if they still use the same trick these days!). Well, I can't use mash potatoes or anything soft because I plan to use the fake ice cream for a different purpose ....like making a super cute bag chain out of it! :D

I'm miss messy Bessy! :p

Dang! I broke my ice cream scooper!

Still looks dry!!!

....looking good, yay!!! :D

Kinda looks like a melting yummy vanilla ice cream, don't ya think?

Faux Cakes Tutorial on SALE!!!

2011-03-13T21:49:00.000-07:00

Freshly Faked (The Cake Series) is an instructional e-BOOK I have written on crafting those delicious looking fake cakes.

And what are those fake cakes good for if you can't eat them? Well, they are great decors for your home, especially in your kitchen. They are also uni

que gift items. And aside from being a great home and gift items, they can also be used as photo props, stage props and shop displays.

The e-BOOK is in PDF format and is composed of 40 pages of well documented instructions (with photos).

You will learn how to craft faux cakes such as a basic white cake, mocha crumble, black forest, raspberry charlotte, strawberries & cream, plus other bonus projects.

And with the techniques presented in this eBook, you will be able to create fake versions of your favorite delicious cakes!

Freshly Faked (The Cake Series) is available on SALE at my ETSY shop.

Or buy it HERE with 40% off original price!

BUY NOW at 40% discount!

$15.00(USD)

~~Original Price: $25.00(USD)~~

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You will need an Adobe Reader (ver.5 or later versions) in order to view thi

s tutorial

Once you make your purchase, the file will be sent to you within 24-48 hours (due to time-zone difference).

The tutorial will be sent as a PDF file to the email you specify upon checkout.

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TERMS OF USE

(IMPORTANT: please read before purchasing!)

-Due to the nature of this material, it is non-refundable.
-This PDF tutorial is protected by Copyright Law.
-You may not claim as your own.
-You may not copy this tutorial for redistribution or reselling.-You may not translate this tutorial into another language for reselling.
-You may not post these tutorials on blogs or other internet sites as a free tutorial.
-You may not copy and sell any photos that are included within these PDF tutorial.
-You may not reproduce or utilize any part of this PDF tutorial, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission of the author.
-You may sell the items created from this PDF tutorial.
-By purchasing this PDF tutorial you have agreed in it’s Terms of Use.

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Payment mode is thru Paypal. Major Credit Cards are also accepted thru Paypal.

Paypal is a secured mode of paying online. For more information, please visit paypal.com.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BUY NOW at 40% discount!

$15.00(USD)

~~Original Price: $25.00(USD)~~

Cutie Poop: Freebie Winner

2010-11-22T21:24:00.000-08:00

Yay! We have a winner!

But first I want to thank all those who joined my first freebie contest, both from Blogger and Deviant Art.

My son helped in drawing the lucky winner.

...and the winner is (...drum roll...) englishmanslady!!!

I had fun doing this freebie contest, and so I decided to do another one (or perhaps on a regular basis!) So please visit my blog often, and check for my new freebies. Who knows, you might win something as cute next time! ;)

...and to Ms. englishmanslady, please don't forget to send me your details! :)

Cutie Poop Freebie

2010-11-06T22:29:00.000-07:00

***UPDATE: Freebie Contest officially CLOSED! The lucky winner will be announced later!

Aren't they the cutest poop? ...and I'm giving away one!

Crafted using plaster of paris.

Just leave a comment along with your email addy... re-blogging about this freebie is not required but will be very much appreciated.

DeviantArt members may simply leave their comments on my DA Deviation page.

The lucky winner will be drawn on the 20th of Nov., and will be informed through email.

Don't forget to leave your email address and Good Luck!

***UPDATE: Freebie Contest officially CLOSED! The lucky winner will be announced later!

New Christmas Ornaments

2010-11-06T21:57:00.001-07:00

I finally finished my French Macaron ornaments and some Christmas Cookie ornaments. They're up on my Etsy shop. Oreo Cookie ornaments and mini Cupcake ornaments are also back for the holiday! ...so let's make another sweet Christmas! :)

Mr. Muffin Man pencil holder.

2010-11-06T21:35:00.000-07:00

...because I was bored, I crafted him ...out of plaster of paris! :p

Macaron Ornaments: Work in Progress

2010-09-24T22:18:00.000-07:00

This is what i was doing before I got sidetracked by my current obsession on miniature clay rice crafting. I hope to finish these ornaments before November.

I still need to add ribbons, and make other batches in different colors.

Got Kanin?

2010-09-24T21:09:00.000-07:00

Last night, I was sidetracked from working on my fake macaron ornaments for Christmas (...I'm way behind my deadline!) Anyways, I took a break and went to surf the net. As usually, I surfed for fake food crafts and miniature foodie. I found this works

by littlecatwhitewhite. She makes amazing doll house food miniatures. I'm particularly impressed by how she made the miniature rice.

miniature rice images courtesy of littlecatwhitewhite

After drooling over those creations, my A.D.D. kicked in. I have to stop whatever I'm doing, so i can start making those miniature rice myself. I searched for tutorials that have the same output quality ...alas, there's none. Those few I found where not so reali

stic, and others are even funny looking.

Littlecatwhitewhite offers such course which I cannot afford and I'm miles away. Also, she used Japanese resin clay which I don't have at the moment, and never have tried using before.

...But I have to make those! ...NOW!

So I settled for whatever is on my craft stash ...polymer clay! And here is my first attempt and what I've made so far (just last night):

Not bad for a first attempt, huh? Hehe. Anyways, there's still room for improvements and I need to get my hands on those Japanese resin clay.

Ok, back to my ornaments! :p

How to ice cakes and cupcakes!

2010-05-24T00:23:00.000-07:00

Whether icing real or fake cakes and cupcakes, the techniques in these videos are of great help!

S'mores Faux Cupcakes

2010-05-08T23:11:00.000-07:00

...This is all for now! :)

S'mores Faux Cupcakes available at Etsy.com.

PRESS: Romantic Homes Magazine April 2010 issue

2010-03-24T22:22:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! It's been a while since my last post. Among other things, I've been very busy with my work. My schedule is quite toxic and I have no days off, leaving me no time for crafting! :p

Anyways, I just want to share my excitement after seeing a couple of photos of my work in Romantic Homes Magazine. My work was credited in Romantic Homes Magazine April 2010. Yay! I only made it in the "Letters to the Editor" section. But what the heck! It's still is Romantic Homes Magazine after all.

Miniature Cupcakes Project

2009-11-28T12:53:00.000-08:00

I just finished my miniature cupcakes! ....Yaaaay!!!

I made both 1:12 and 1:6 scale.

I really wanted to concentrate on the 1:6 scale because I have a Pullip doll coming early next year. It's my first Pullip and I'm sooo excited.

More pics on my Flickr account.

I Eat Cookies ...in Winnipeg

2009-11-26T06:46:00.000-08:00

Anyone from the Peg City?

Watch out for the official launch of I Eat Cookies on Dec. 13, 2009. Lips are sealed until that date.

Drop by Park Theatre 7pm on Dec. 1st, there will be handing out of ads.

Yummy Ornaments

2009-10-12T13:48:00.000-07:00

We Filipinos are suckers for the Yuletide Season. As soon as it hits the "-BER" months in the calendar, we start celebrating Christmas. And it ends in January, after the day of the Three Kings! :)

Check out these yummy ornaments. These will add sweetness to your Christmas tree ....but are also great to sweeten your homes even if it's not Christmas! :)

Available on Etsy!

Miniature Cupcakes (Work In Progress)

2009-10-12T06:46:00.000-07:00

If it's not that obvious ...yes, I'm obsessed with cupcakes. I'm currently working on miniature cupcakes both in 1:12 and 1:6 scale.

Here are some work-in-progress pics. I haven't iced them yet, though. I'm waiting for some miniatures plates that I ordered online. It's been over three weeks now since I purchased those plates, and I haven't received them yet. I'm crossing my fingers that they're just delayed (...super delayed) and not lost! :p

1:6 scale W.I.P.

1:12 scale W.I.P

bottom diameter: 5mm top diameter: 7mm height: approx 4mm - 5mm

1:12 scale W.I.P

bottom diameter: 5mm top diameter: 7mm height: approx 4mm - 5mm

More Cupcakes...Faux, That Is! :p

2009-10-09T19:32:00.000-07:00

New faux cupcakes are up on my Etsy shop ....including Butterscotch, Salted Caramel, Rocky Road, Strawberry Cheesecake, a whole bunch of Sprinkles and some Christmas ornaments and many more.

Most of these are just limited in stocks, so do check 'em out! :)

Let's Help the Victims of Ondoy (Ketsana)

2009-09-29T00:34:00.000-07:00

...we were flooded inside the house, too. But only up to our ankles. It was nothing compared to our neighboring areas of Cainta, Marikina and other areas of Pasig City. Their houses were sunk in flood waters. Cars were piled up like that of a junk shop. People were lost, washed away by the strong current...and a lot died.

Let's help these areas recover from this tragedy.

How to help the victims of tropical storm Ondoy (Ketsana)

Ways to donate to the Philippine National Red Cross via the PNRC web site

DSWD donations drop-off points

1. National Resource Operations Center, Chapel Road, Pasay City
Contact: Mrs. Francon Favian

2. Quezon City Area Disaster Resource Operations Monitoring and Info Center (DROMIC) DSWD Central Office
Contact Rey Martija or Imee Rose Castillo, Tel Nos. 951-7119, 951-2435 or Assistant Secretary Vilma Cabrera Tel No. 0918-934-5625

3. Manila Area (DSWD-NCR)
San Rafael corner Legarda Streets, Quiapo, Manila
Contact: Dir. Thelsa P. Biolna, Dir. Delia Bauan Tel Nos. 734-8622, 734-8642

Manuel L. Quezon's blog: How to help (original on Quezon.ph | Tumblr.com mirror link)

Google Docs: Rescue InfoHub Central | List of Places where to donate (check out one nearest your area, or add a donation center that is not on the list)

Another list of where to donate goods via Bury Me In This Dress blog

Google Maps: Ondoy situation map for Metro Manila, by KaninLamig

Sahana FOSS Disaster Management System http://sahana.kahelos.org/

ABS-CBN HOTLINE
416-36-41

SAGIP KAPAMILYA
413-2667 / 416-0387
No 13 Examiner Street, Quezon City, Look for Ms Girlie Aragon

Bank: Banco de Oro, Mother Ignacia branch
Acct name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.
Acct no.: 5630020111

ABS-CBN Foundation Inc for overseas donation: 1-800-527-2820 or www.abs-cbnfoundation.com

Routing code for international cash donations
BNORPHMM ABS-CBN Branch

In kind donation:

Drop off sites are at 13 Examiner Street or at Scout Bayona in front of Rembrandt Hotel.

ABS-CBN Foundation US Office Toll-Free 1-800-527-2820

Negros Navigation

from Mr. Edmund Gawchua, Manager

Negros Navigation is now accepting the transfer of relief goods from Mindanao to Manila for free for aid to victims of Ondoy.

Donations can be sent to Negros Navigation stations and offices nationwide.

McDonald NCR outlets accepts donations too.

Victory churches is also accepting donations please check for more details.

Blog Filler: Chowder - "I Believe You Can Cook"

2009-07-23T13:42:00.001-07:00

I just finished and shipped a bulk order, redesigned my blog, and thinking of some new craft projects to do. Other than those things, I have nothing else to talk about...

...so just watch Chowder singing! hehe! ....even if I didnt understand a word! On the wings of an eagle! =D

Wonderful Surprises From a Wonderful Friend

2009-06-27T10:19:00.000-07:00

Selling on Etsy did not just earned me extra cash, but I did get a lot of friends, too! Though miles away from me they do keep in touch, sending me their well wishes through emails and convos.

One of them is Marie Christine from France. She's been a good friend ever since our first Etsy transaction. She even surprised me one day, when I got this lovely cookbook from France in the mail.

And last Thursday, I received yet a nother surprise from her! My son and I were very thrilled when we got the package. It felt like Christmas opening the package....just loads of goodies inside. French biscuits, trinkets, postcards and whole lot more! I will definitely cherish all these wonderful items!

Thank you, Marie Christine...you definitely made my day! :)

Appreciation Photos

2009-06-07T07:31:00.000-07:00

It's been raining really hard for the past couple of weeks now. I believe that's what caused some interruptions on my internet connection. I failed to check my emails because I didn't have any internet connection the whole day yesterday. But today, the sun is back and so is my internet. And I'm very happy to receive some beautiful and lovely photos via email.

Marie Christine, a wonderful customer of mine from France, sent me a bunch of photos. Some of these photos are pictures of her garden. It's so beautiful it reminded of "The Secret Garden." How I wish I could smell those flowers and just run around the green grass barefooted! :) (click on the image to enlarge)

Along with her garden photos, she also also sent me photos of her table setting where she used the faux cupcakes I custom made for her. She setup a dinner outside on her terrace. She prepared her table, placing each faux cupcake near each plates. And using them as place card holders. (click on the images to enlarge)

(NOTE: all images used with permission of Marie Christine Estepa)

I'm so happy she was able to use them. And don't they look pretty? Even the cards she used are pretty...heck, her whole table setting is PRETTY! Yes, I love those plates and hand painted glasses, too...so chic! :)

Thanks again to Marie Christine for these lovely photos! :)

Those lovely cards Marie Christine used were handmade by Seasonal Delights. You may purchase her cards and tags (...and even have them custom made) at her Etsy shop.

Etsy
Buy Handmade
jarS

3 Parcels in Week!

2009-06-04T08:07:00.000-07:00

I've been doing some shopping online for some craft materials. And this week I have already received three parcels. Yay!

I have purchased a few new scents to incorporate on my faux cupcakes. These scents are raspberry, caramel, butterscotch, chocolate and cookies n cream. I only put vanilla scent on my Cookies n' Cream faux cupcake. So now that I have the real scent, my Cookies n' Cream faux cupcake will even smell more delish!

I purchased these fragrance oils from The Soap Farm. I am really happy with this purchase. It arrived really fast and well packaged. Miss Grace (whom I believe is the owner) is very easy to communicate with via text messaging. I will definitely buy again from her.

The Soap Farm makes delicious soaps. Not only these soap smells yummy, but also good for your skin. Visit the The Soap Farm for more pics of their delicious looking soaps!

(^Photo from The Soap Farm)

Another one I got from the mail is this small pack of micro beads I bought from eBay (I don't want to rub it in, but yes, eBay! This is before my eBay incident! harr harr!). I don't know why I bought this item, but I'm sure I'll put it to good use. I thought maybe I can use it as sprinkles on my faux cupcakes! :)

And just this afternoon, I went out despite the heavy rain to pickup a parcel at the post office. It's the package of La Doll clays I bought from Japan. I will use it to create and sculpt different embellishements for my faux cupcakes...sort of my fake fondant! Hehe! But I will also use it in creating different crafts as well.

Before, I use Creative Paperclay in creating my faux cupcake decorations/embellishments such as my fake Oreo cookies, wafers, and flowers. I really love using this paperclay, I can say nothing bad about the quality. But then I can only purchase them in the U.S. or Canada, which makes it a bit expensive for me. And not only that the shipping cost is also too costly, it takes a while for me to receive it.

And now that I can purchase La Doll in Japan, I don't need to worry about the costly shipping. And since it's within the Asian Region, I can get it faster than purchasing from the States or Canada.

All these craft materials that I just bought will surely keep me busy for a while! :)

Our Stolen Photos Completely Removed on this eBay Shop! Yay!

2009-06-02T13:07:00.001-07:00

As I checked this eBay shop just moments ago, all the stolen photos of faux cupcakes were completely removed. I believed that the original owners have taken action, reporting this violation as well.

I find it weird (and funny, and irritating!) that this seller, after removing my photos, would still have the guts to continue to use other people's photos. Are not my "friendly" messages (which they ignored) and my eBay report serve enough warning to them?...that they MUST remove all photos they stole from other people! And that they should NEVER use other people's images and claim as their own! I can't believe that they have to wait for the other original owners to take action, before removing all the rest of stolen images.

Anyways, all is good now! Our photos were completely removed. I hope all the remaining images left there are their own property.

Thanks so much to those who contacted the other owners.

**If you wish to purchase faux cupcakes, please purchase directly from the original sellers/makers. There are a lot of faux cupcake sellers/makers you can find on Etsy. Please purchase from us there.

Update on My Stolen Photos on eBay

2009-06-02T04:54:00.000-07:00

The two eBay (auction) listing that used my faux cupcake photos ended yesterday and today. However, the items can still be viewed and my other fear is that this particular eBay seller may re-list them again.

Despite the couple of "friendly" messages I sent them, they refused to reply and take the images off their shop. I decided to report them to eBay since they decline to cooperate in removing my photos.

I reported the seller to eBay this morning, informing and directing them to my Etsy shop and Flickr account where they can find my original images uploaded. I'm very happy that eBay takes urgent action regarding such matter. This afternoon, I checked the eBay shop of this seller and I'm glad that my photos (and the listings where my photos were used) were completely removed.

However, this seller is still selling faux cupcakes using other people's photos. They did not remove those images. According to eBay, they cannot do anything about it unless the original owners will report it to them.

I'm still trying to find out who the other owners are so I can contact them and inform them about unauthorized use of their images.

Please check this eBy shop! And if you recognize any faux cupcakes or other items, or if you know the original owners of the images used in this shop, please kindly inform them!

An eBay Seller is Using my Photos without Permission

2009-06-01T09:32:00.000-07:00

I developed this habit of googling "faux cupcakes" just to see if my name would come up, or to see if there are people who blogs about my creation. I'm happy about the fact that there are a few who were nice enough to feature my creations on their blogs.

But just moments ago, after googling the words "faux cupcakes", I found this particular link

****FAUX CUPCAKES* UNUSUAL AND UNIQUE PLACE SETTINGS*** on eBay ...

And for some unknown reason, my finger just clicked on it. And to my horror, there I saw the photo on my faux cupcake creations. This eBay seller stole my photo and using it as their own. I did not gave permission to use of this photo.

Those faux cupcakes were from the first faux cupcake batch I've made. I made them as samples for my customers who were looking for wedding favors. And those plates are still sitting on my moms cabinet! See my original images here!

And that's not the only photo this eBay Seller stole. Here's another one stolen from me, my faux cupcake ornaments....which this seller would like to call **VANILLA SCENTED FAUX CUPCAKE FAB GIFT OR FAVOUR**

View my original ornament images here.

I reckoned these photos were snatched from my Etsy shop, my Flickr account or on other people's blog which featured these items. I don't really mind people using my images for blogging purposes. In fact I appreciate it. But to steal them, claim and use as their own...I'd like to call that hitting below the belt.

I already contacted this seller reagrding this matter, but I'm still waiting for their reply. If they don't wish to reply, I expect them to remove not just my photos but all the other stolen photos as well....otherwise I'll report them directly to EBay.

There are other faux cupcakes being sold by this seller, on which the images they used are not their own. Please pay this eBay seller a visit, browse through their shop and if you recognize any images or know the original owner...please, please contact them about this atrocity.

Macaron Chaos

2009-05-23T05:08:00.000-07:00

I have recently been obsessed with French macarons....like the same obssession I have with cupcakes. They're all mesmerizing to look at, and anyone can never contain themselves to devour one.

We don't have Ladurée or Pierre Hermé here in the Philippines. But I got my first taste of French macaron from Bizu Patisserie.

French macarons are very different from the macaroons that my mother loves to make, which uses desicated coconut as the main ingredient. And it is spelled with a single "o". French macarons uses "tant pour tant", or the combination of almond powder and powdered sugar, folded in whipped egg whites or what we know as "meringue". It is then baked until the "foot" comes out. Foot, you ask? Yes, a French macaron is not a French macaron without it's famous feet...it's a cracky ringlet surrounding the sides. I found this photo of the anatomy of a French macaron from Serious Eats:

Anyways, this post is about my chaotic trials of making these French delicacy. I've had about 4 tries so far...and I'm getting there! Yay me! :)

I've read tons of recipe and instructions on baking French Macaroons. And boy, how I thought it was as easy as 1, 2, and 3!

One of my Etsy customer (and friend!) Marie Christine, was sweet enough to send me a cookbook of French biscuits, with a macaron recipe in it. The whole book is in written French though, but it's not so hard to understand because there's a step by step pictures in it...and not to forget about Babel Fish online to help with the translation.

There are two ways to make French macarons, one is to use Italian meringue which requires boiling of sugar before adding to the whipped egg. The second one is using dry sugar on the whipped egg.

On all of my 4 trials, I used the "dry" way, because boiling of sugar needs to be precise and I don't have a candy thermometer for that. But I've read that using the "boiled" technique makes the meringue more stable than just using dry sugar.

1st Try: "Humidity" is the culprit?!

My first try making French macaron is a complete disaster. I swear I followed the instructions exactly and weighed each ingredients exactly...heck, I even used a digital scale! Folded the dry ingredients on the whipped egg until it can fall off down the spatula like a continuous ribbon. Piped it on parchment paper. Set it aside for 15 minutes. Baked it at 190C. And voila! It came out flat, no foot and became even flatter as it cooled. And not to mention it got stuck on the parchment paper. And it's funny that I blamed it on the "humidity". Some people here in the Philippines (and some others from Singapore) who also tried and failed, blamed it on the "humidity". So yeah, I thought "humidity" is the culprit.

2nd Try: I apologize to "humidity"...sorry! :P

Since I thought that "humidity" is to blame for my first failure. I brought all the ingredients and tools (except for the oven, hehe!) up in my air-conditioned room. (and this actually enraged my mother! LOL!) I mixed and prepared everything in my air-conditioned room. Set it aside, this time for 30 minutes. Brought them back in the kitchen to bake again at 190C...this time it's no longer flat, but alas, still no foot. So, I guess the "humidity" is NOT to blame this time! :P

3rd Try: The wonderful Silpat...and Calphalon!

I've got an email from my French friend and she said that I should let it stand or set aside for 1 hour ... not 15 minutes, not 30 minutes, but 1 hour. And that it's better if I use a Silpat.

A Silpat is a French brand of silicone baking mat you put on top of your baking pan/sheet. It helps even out the heat and it's non-stick.

I couldn't find a Silpat here in Manila so I settled for another brand that I found, Calphalon...it's not cheap! :P And guess what? After purchasing Calphalon, I passed by this shop that sells Silpat! And it's 600pesos cheaper than Calphalon, and also comes in different sizes. I still bought one, though!

So, on my third try, no more air-conditioned room just plain old kitchen...I either under whipped the meringue, or over folded the ingredients and the meringue, making everything a bit runny. (And I accidentally put a lot red food coloring! :p)
But I still continued and piped it on the silicone mats I bought. Let it stand for 1 hour. And then baked it on 180C. The recipe said to bake it for only 8-10 minutes, but it had passed already and I'm still not seeing any foot. So I baked it for another 10 minutes. And at long last, there I saw the glorious feet ...and I jumped for joy! Woot! Woot!

But my joy ended after I took it out of the oven. The outer shell cracked, the inside is wet and soggy, and all of it got stuck on both the Silpat and Calphalon ....non-stick, huh? blah!

4th Try: Never Say Die!

I still have some almonds left from my third trial so I might as well give it another shot. I'm getting there, I saw already them macaron feet!

This time though, I tried David Lebovitz recipe of chocolate French Macaron. And this time I didn't fold the ingredients into a "continuous ribbon, runny consistency." I just made sure that it is smooth, folded well so that no egg whites is showing. Piped it on the silicone mats, and let stand for 1 hour. Baked it a 180C for 18-20 minutes.

I made an experiment with this trial. I took out the upper rackof the oven, and placed my Silpat (with the piped macaron meringue) directly on top of it (no baking pan/sheet), then placed back in the oven.

In the middle rack, I place the baking pan/sheet. On top of that baking pan/sheet is the other silicone mat with the piped macaron meringue.

At 180C, after 8-10 minutes the feet already showed on the macarons at the top rack. On the middle rack, however, there's barely any feet and started to crack. I let them stayed in the oven for 10 more minutes.

(^Macarons baked on middle rack at 180C: cracked and no feet.)

After that I took them out and let cool a bit. The macarons seemed to be stuck on the silicone mats.

(^Macarons stuck on Calphalon and Silpat.)

So I poped them right back in the oven for another 15 minutes at 170C. Took them out of the oven and let cool completely. Now it's easier to lift them off the silicone mat, although some still sticks a little specially on the middle part.

(^Macarons baked on a Silpat on the top oven rack.)

I filled them with chocolate ganache. And, tadah!....My "I-almost-got-it-right" French macaron! :)

The outer shell looks perfect and smooth. The feet is there (yay, me!) even though it's not that high or evident. The outside is crunchy and the inside is soft and chewy, almost-meringue like texture.

Making French macaron is not so easy at all. For those who got them right on the first try, are either geniuses or just plain lucky. The temperature and baking time alone may vary depending on the size of the macaron. And not all ovens are created the same. I only have a small oven and it's nothing like those industrial ovens that professional bakers use. I guess, if one should fail the first time, they should try again with a different temperature or baking time until they get it right.

I'm quite happy with my last try. But I will definitely try making these macarons again until I get it perfect and right!...Never say die! Tomorrow is another day! =D

Here is a link of Macaron recipes from Tartlette (that I also have yet to try out!):
http://tartelette.blogspot.com/search/label/macarons

I Got My First DD!

2009-05-02T12:24:00.000-07:00

I've only been a member on deviantArt for only a month, and this one (photo above) got me my first Daily Deviation!

At first I thought it was just a glitched on the deviantArt's system after seeing messages by the thousands! And then I read messages giving me kudos on my DD!

Heck, I didn't even know what a DD (or Daily Deviation) is! LOL! :p

According to deviantArt, The Daily Deviation is a daily feature chosen from the galleries on deviantART.

A small assortment of submissions are chosen each day by a select group of staff/volunteer members who wish to showcase an image which they found impressive or otherwise interesting enough to deserve being brought to the attention of the community-at-large.

The staff/volunteer members responsible for selecting submissions for the daily feature often are open to suggestions and individual community members may direct their attention by noting the appropriate gallery moderator or staff member with a direct link to the deviation which you are suggesting and a brief description about why you think the work in question should be featured.

So I guess, those faux cupcakes of mine were interesting enough to be featured on Daily Deviation. Hehe!

So there, my first DD! Yay, me! :)

And since I got a DD last April 23, my DD is included in this month's feature news article Artisan Crafts DDs for April 2009. Yay, me again! Hehe! :)

Super thanks to oliverat for her suggestion!

And super thanks also to Kitten-of-Woe for DD feature!

A Poor Man's Makeshift Studio

2009-04-26T08:24:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am poor. I don't have a fancy studio which I still dream of having one someday. I only own a lousy, obsolete model, point and shoot digital camera. I do own a manual Nikon camera which I still love...but in this day and age, we need to work fast. And digital is the answer! ...plus it'll save us more money since there is no need to buy film and have it processed. I wanted to buy a new Nikon digital camera, and I am drooling over D90. But school will open again in a few months and I have to pay for my son's tuition fee. (I'm not just poor, but also a single mom trying to make ends meet! :p)

So here is my setup:

- colored vellum sheet to use as a background
- desk lamp
- white tissue (japanese) paper to diffuse the light from the desk lamp
- styrofoam board to bounce some light
- sturdy table
- a wall (...ehehe) to stick the vellum onto
- scotch tape (...ehehe) to stick the vellum on the wall
- metal ruler to use as a weight on the vellum, because it keeps on curling! LOL!
- and a digital camera :)

...I'm pretty amazed with the ouput! It's not that bad at all! =D (click on the images to enlarge!)

Coolest Kitchen: Le Patisserie Style!

2009-04-05T07:52:00.000-07:00

This is the coolest kitchen I've ever seen so far. My eyes just went big with envy watching this on TV.

I've been meaning to post this after seeing this on Rachel Ray...but I got caught up with some orders that I needed to finish.

Anyways, this kitchen was featured on Rachel Ray Show's America's Coolest Kitchens. And the kitchen's theme...Le Patisserie. The whole kitchen is painted in yummy colors of pink, brown and white. And everything screams "FRENCH"! Faux or fake cakes were even used to accessorize the kitchen.

I would love to do something like this on my craft/work space! :) ....if I have the budget! :p

To watch the whole segment on Rachel Ray Show, here's the link: America's Coolest Kitchens: Le Patisserie

Freshly Faked...Now Available!

2009-03-22T05:34:00.000-07:00

Here are some of my freshly bakes...errr... fakes!

Now available on my Etsy shop.

Please feel free to visit my shop.

Etsy
Buy Handmade
CreativeAbubot

Freshly Faked!

2009-03-17T10:40:00.000-07:00

Here's a peek at my freshly faked cupcakes. These are just pics of my new faux cupcake bases, no frostings and decorations yet.

They look more realistic now, and comes in three flavors...errr...colors! LOL!

Butter, Red Velvet, and Dark Chocolate.

My New Faux Cupcakes, Coming Soon on my Etsy shop!

For Crafters: Tools To Help You Price Your Handmade Products

2009-03-17T07:24:00.000-07:00

I'm not a business person and I've always hated dealing with numbers...perhaps that's one reason why I took Arts! :p I love crafting and last year I've decided to sell some of my handmade faux cupcakes online. It was hard for me, as I don't know how to price my items. I asked around my friends on how should I price my work, and they would just reply "just double the material cost!" I would cringed by thought of it, I worked hard for one faux cupcake and then..."just double the material cost!?" :p What about my labor of love? I worked hard for it didn't I? :p

So, yeah, I still sold each for just twice the cost of all my material costings and totally forgetting the labor cost, indirect/overhead cost, the Etsy listing fee, transaction fee, PayPal fees, handling fee, etc. I know I'm such a terrible business person. I barely made profit from my first few sales. But I'm very much thankful for them because they gave me my first positive feedbacks, which gave me some more sales! ;)

It took me a while to fix my pricing. I had to calculate everything right (materials, labor, tranction fees, etc.) Once I got my price, I compared it to others who sell the same items. I pretty much have the same price (some even have higher). So, I guess I calculated right. :)

For other crafters out there who don't want to get all crazy getting you pricing right, here are some free tools to help you get them right:

Free Spreadsheets for Pricing your Work by a great jewelry designer/maker Chris Parry

Etsy Seller Inventory Worksheet - this is and Excel Spreadsheet which helps Etsy sellers track down their inventory and profit.

Make sure that the price is right! ;)

Coming Soon!

2009-03-13T12:39:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty happy with my faux cupcakes. I guess I can say that I'm 99% satisfied with the way they look....but there's still this 1% to fill. So, I made some changes!

I change the way I make my fake cupcake bases. A lot more work, but they are now more realistic...and yummier!

I also experimented in using other different materials to embellish my faux cupcakes.

There's also a change in my packaging!

I'll be posting them on my Etsy shop really soon! ...so watch out!!!

P.S. ...yeah, that's a new faux cupcake I made on the photo above.

Girl Goumet Cupcake Maker

2009-03-12T19:00:00.000-07:00

I brought my son to Toy Kingdom last weekend. As usual, upon stepping inside the store, he ran to the boys' section...and I, to the girls' side of the store. Yes, I still love toys.

While checking out the MyScene dolls, I glanced upon this shelf with boxes of pinks, browns (which are my favorite colors by the way). I walk towards the shelf to check out these products....and oh my, I was surprised to see boxes of cupcake makers. (They also have Ice Cream Sandwhich Makers!)

The packaging and colors alone are irrisistable. And to know that it'll help you make and decorate cupcakes, it makes me want to take out my credit card and ran to the nearest cashier. But I had to contain myself. I need to check out the internet first if this thing actually works. (I bought a few stuff already that didn't do what the packaging says it can/will do! hehe!)

The Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker includes: Cupcake Maker, Microwave container, Mixing Bowl, Cupcake Holder, 4 Cupcake mixes, 4 Frostings, 1 Pack of Sprinkles, 1 Spoon/Spreader, 4 Cupcake Cups, 4 Recipe Cards. All food made in the USA

Here's the link to the Girl Gourmet website: http://www.mygirlgourmet.com/

There's a video there that shows you how to use the Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker and Girl Gourmet Ice Cream Sandwhich Maker as well. It sure looks so much fun to use these cool toys. But I doubt that the cupcakes and cookies (...and even the frosting) that come in with the package will taste good. Their cupcake and cookie batter looks nasty to me. :p The lady in video doesn't look quite convincing that those cupcakes and ice cream sandwiches actually taste any good.

Well, I don't think all this will matter to little girls who will have fun playing with their Girl Gourmet toys. And as for me, I can just bake real cupcakes, make real frosting and use the Girl Gourmet as a fun tool to decorate my cuppies....if i ever get one! :)

And yes, I still want one! :p

Faux Cupcake Tutorials

2009-03-09T08:52:00.000-07:00

Ok, I've been getting a lot of emails about my faux cupcakes...like how do I make them. I've been always asked what is my secret recipe....and the secret recipe to my secret recipe is... a secret recipe! LOL!

Actually, it's no secret at all. My recipe is just "almost" the same as with the other faux cupcake makers out there (refer to the link list below). Although, I figured out mine by myself because during the time I fell in love with this craft, tutorials about making them were scarce. I guess we just vary with our process in making them, and how we wanted the output to be.

I like to work in "stages" and I don't try to finish a faux cupcake in a day. I spent a lot of time making just the base of the cupcake. And it can take me two days or so just making the base...I make sure that they're completely dried. My "process" kind of evolve during this whole time until it got this tedious! I always get ideas in my head and I always try them out. Although I'm trying to come up with a simpler method with the same output...because I get tired too sometimes, and I sleep with a wrist splint! hehe!

Anyways, here are somes links of tutorials I found online that uses "almost" the same materials as I use. Try the tutorials in these links and just add a little of your own creativity! :)

1. this is the first one that I tried - http://gardengoose.blogspot.com/2008/03/how-to-make-faux-cupcakes.html

2. Here's another great idea to on faking cupcakes:
http://lisatutmanoglesby.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/08/almost-good-enough-to-eat.html

3. I've been searching for the simplest (and quick) method that is closest to mine and these are what I found so far ...it's from Crafty Avenue and another one from Zizooyou:

http://www.craftyavenue.com/school/articles/entry/9/94/

http://zizooyou.blogspot.com/2008/09/more-faux-cupcakes-tutorial.html

ENJOY!

(image: custom made faux cupcakes for Marie Christine Estepa of France)

Mango Crepe on a Hot Day!

2009-03-05T08:50:00.000-08:00

Ok, this has nothing to do with faux cupcakes!

It's just soooo hot today (summer here already!) that I thought I'd make myself a mango crepe to cool me down. This is a super simple and yummy dessert...perfect for hot sunny days! :)

Super Easy Mango Crepe

you will need:

-hotcake mix, your preferred brand (I use Pillsbury)
-water or fresh milk
-sweet ripe mango slices
-vanilla ice cream
-chocolate syrup
-optional: whipped cream, chopped nuts, strawberry syrup (too bad I don't have any of these at this time)

Direction:

1. Mix the hotcake mix according to it's package. Thin the hotcake batter with water or milk (I use milk), until it is not thick anymore.

2. Cook your hotcake/crepe on a pan or skillet on a low heat. I use the smoother side of a stove top grill to cook my crepes. You may use the back of a spoon to spread the batter thinly, and a long spatula to flip it over and cook the other side. Do not over cook!

3. Let your crepes cool.

4. Once cooled lay it on a plate. Then you may add scoops of vanilla ice cream and slices of mangoes. If you have whipped cream (which I don't have at this time), you may add some as well!

5. Drizzle chocolate syrup.

6. Fold your crepe. Drizzle with more chocolate syrup. Add more slices of mangoes....then voila! You've got a yummy dessert which will be gone in 60 seconds! LOL!

Oh, yeah, you may also drizzle some strawberry syrup and sprinkle some chopped nuts if you have any available. But it's still fine without them! YUM!

And yes, you may substitute other fruits if mangoes are hard to acquire in your part of the world. Strawberries and peaches are great alternatives, too...of course it won't be called mango crepes anymore! LOL!

Etsy Front Pagers on Flickr!

2009-03-03T10:16:00.000-08:00

One of my faux cupcakes was on Etsy front page last 12-10-08. Someone actually convo me about it but I didn't get to see it. Good thing there's Etsy Front Pagers on Flickr. They always upload the screenshots of Etsy front page.

Back with a New Logo and a Clearance SALE!

2009-02-27T21:25:00.001-08:00

Look up at my header, I got a new logo! Well, I lost my old files so I need to make a new one! :p But I'm quite happy with this one. I made it in just a couple of hours, because I need to get some stickers and tags done by my printer. And I got them already and they look fabulous! :)

And yes, I'm back from my hibernation and my Etsy Shop is now OPEN once more. Actually I wasn't on vacation. I was working (...really hard) during this whole time. I did a freelance gig for this local TV Network Company (I'm a VFX/Compositor artist by profession), and it rerquired my full concentration, time, and effort! :p I worked for 12 hours a day (or more), no day-off's, and always on call...which left me no time for crafting. But now, that my contract has ended, which means no job for me in the next couple of months, it's crafting fiesta for me!

I need some space for new stuff, so I'm having a Clearance Sale! Please visit my Etsy Shop!

Bobby and Mildred's Wedding

2009-01-25T09:39:00.000-08:00

Last Dec. 5, 2008 my cousin Bobby got married to his fiancée Mildred. The wedding was held at the historic place of Intramuros in Manila.

I was asked to create the wedding souvenirs for their sponsors. It was a bit of a rush work (I was asked a few days before the wedding!) ....but I had fun making them as always! :)

Sale! Sale! Sale!...for one whole day!

2008-10-26T01:03:00.000-07:00

I'm having a faux cupcake sale...but just in a day!

All single faux cupcakes on my Etsy shop will be sold for only $6.95 each. And all set of 3's will be $18.95 per set.

The sale will be on OCT. 28, 2008, and will start at 3:00pm (GMT+08:00) and ends on OCT. 29 at 3:00pm (GMT+08:00).

And what's the occasion you ask?...it's my 30th birthday! :)

So save the date!...and I'll see you all on my Etsy shop!!!

New Faux Cupcakes Now Available on my Etsy Shop

2008-10-11T19:41:00.000-07:00

Okay, I know I promised a lot of you that I'll be posting my faux cupcakes on Etsy by mid-September. I'm very sorry to disappoint you all. I just got this new freelance job which requires me to work for long hours...which means lesser time on crafting.

Anyways, the long wait is over! I just finished posting some new faux cupcakes. Although I only made a few pieces of each design.

Please visit my shop at www.creativeabubot.etsy.com ... and I hope that you'll find something you'll like!

Simple Cupcake Pedestal Tutorial

2008-09-01T08:46:00.000-07:00

I made these simple but elegant cupcake pedestals this weekend. I made it to display my faux cupcakes...but of course you can use it for REAL cupcakes, too!

Materials:

plastic coasters - make sure they're thick and sturdy as these will be the base of your pedestal/s.
plastic saucers - make sure the size will fit a standard 3oz cupcake
Wilton 5" Grecian Pillars
clear epoxy adhesives (or you may also use a glue gun)
old newspapers
piece of old cloth or rug
quick drying spray paint (white)
gauze/face mask (for protection while spray painting)
pencil

Instructions:
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Step 01 - Make sure that the coasters, saucers and pillars are free from dirt and oil. Clean them by wiping with a piece of cloth or rug.

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Step 02 - Find a well ventilated place to do your spray painting. Line the floor with old newspapers. Place the plastic coasters and saucers on the newspaper, line them together with spaces apart. Don't forget to wear your mask!!! Now spray paint the top part first (according to paint instructions). Once the paint is dried, spray paint the bottom part. You may coat them a few times to cover them fully in white....that's if your coasters and saucers are of colors other than white.

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Step 03 - Once the paint has dried, you may attach the pillars. Position a pillar at the center of a coaster. You may mark this lightly with a pencil.

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Step 04 - Mix the clear epoxy adhesive according to packaging instructions...skip this step if you'll be using a glue gun (hot glue).

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Step 05 - Apply epoxy at the bottom of the pillars...or hot glue if you're using a glue gun.

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Step 06 - Press the pillar firmly on your marked coaster.

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Step 07 - Place the pillar upside down at the bottom of the saucer. Center it and mark it again with a pencil.

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Step 08 - Apply epoxy or hot glue at the top of the pillar.

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Step 09 - Press the pillar firmly down the marked bottom of the saucer.

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Step 10 - Do steps 03-09 on the rest of the coasters, saucers and pillars. When you're done at this stage, you can already use them, but....

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Step 11 - ...you may want spray paint them one last time. And don't forget to wear your mask!!!

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Voila! Whether for fake cupcakes or real cupcakes, these pedestals are perfect to display them!

You may also experiment on different spray paint colors...I tried chrome with this one!

Hot glue some huge and gorgeous artificial flowers at base of the pedestals and they make wonderful and elegant centerpieces!!!

Well, that's it for now...I hope you enjoyed my tutorial! :)

P.S. Those faux cupcakes are coming soon on my Etsy shop! ;)

My Faux Cupcakes on a Canadian Photographer's Blog!!!

2008-07-03T11:30:00.000-07:00

I was...or rather my faux cupcakes, were featured on a Canadian photographer's blog.
Eternal Reflections Photography specializes in wedding photography. They take really beautiful wedding pictures.

Radelle, the owner of the photography studio, found my Elegant Faux Cupcakes while browsing Etsy. She said on her message to me via Etsy's convo, that she fell in love with my Elegant Faux Cupcakes and that she featured them on their blog.

A lot of brides-to-be visit their blog for ideas, and featuring my faux cupcakes will help give my handcrafted items some exposure. I hope this will give me the break that I needed (...and actually make a sale!...Crossing my fingers).

If you live in Canada and in need of a great wedding photographer contact Radelle of Eternal Reflections Photography!

If you need a unique and elegant wedding favor.....contact...ehem!....me!...at creativeabubot@gmail.com!

Finally........

2008-07-02T02:33:00.000-07:00

.....I can now load Etsy on my PC. Yeeepeee!

I used to load it on a proxy server, but flash don't run with it though. But I thought that's ok than no Etsy at all. But now I don't load it on a proxy server, I can now load Etsy normally on my browser. My brother fixed my connection. I think it has something to do with our router.

See ya on Etsy!!!!

I wanted to list my faux cupcakes...and I couldn't load Etsy!!! Arrrrgggg!!!!!

2008-07-01T01:50:00.001-07:00

I've already finished taking pictures of my handcrafted faux cupcakes. I'm ready to list them on Etsy. Etsy is a great site for people who wants to sell their craft products. However, for some unknown reasons, I suddenly couldn't load Etsy.com both in Firefox and Explorer. I thought that it could be a firewall thing, and that it's blocking Etsy. But even though I turned off my firewall I still can't seem to load that web site. I searched the internet for what could possibly be the culprit. I found out that there are people who are experiencing the same problem...and not just on Etsy, but also on some other secure sites. Some says it might be viruses like Malware that's preventing me to open the site. I did ran a scan to check my computer for viruses and potential attacks, and it's clean. So to be sure, I even reformatted my computer! But the problem persists. Some says it has to do with random DNS ....which I have no idea about!!! For three days I longed to see Etsy. And it's killing me. I ended up listing my products on other sites like DaWanda and SilkFair (which is not a bad idea!....and DaWanda is a great site for crafters, too!).

And now is my day 4 without Etsy, and no reply from my ISP!

Last night, out of my frustration, I went out to surf the net in a cafe! So there, I get to list my stuff on Etsy. Yeeeey!!!!

I just hope my ISP would call me anytime soon and help me fix the problem. :p

My Faux Cupcake Story

2008-06-26T03:00:00.000-07:00

These past months, I've gone gaga over cupcakes. I've spent countless of hours surfing the net for recipes and tricks on baking that perfect cup. I've cried over my over baked cupcakes, and over my frostings that have gone bad. It's been quite a while since I started my quest on making my perfect cupcakes. And now, my cupcakes, though not perfect (yet), are "o.k."...and my son loves it. But due to the non-stop increasing prices of almost everything...including gas (and LPG which I use on my oven)... I have taken my cupcake baking addiction to a halt.

^One of the first batches of cupcakes that I have made.

I've since then diverted my attention to faux cupcakes instead, after stumbling upon few websites which create such fake treats. They looked so yummy for something that you cannot ever eat... and such an eye candy, too! And since I'm a crafty person myself, I wanted to get my hands busy creating some of those fakies. I think it's a great project idea to make and give out as gifts to family and friends. And as a single mom trying to make ends meet, I thought I could sell these (...if I even succeeded in making one), and create extra income. But how do you make one?

I have searched all over the internet for instructions and tips. I only found a few suggestions like to use "this" and "that" materials. What the heck? I might as well give it a try! So, I rushed to and rummaged my dad's garage for some left-over materials that I could use. I was really excited to create my first faux cupcake. Alas, I ended up with a very heavy, uninviting, sad looking cupcake. It's so heavy that I don't think it would be a great idea to even sell it. And darn, the fake frosting ran down like a mud slide after piping and cracked after drying.

I still have it, my first awful faux cupcake. I poked it with pens while still drying (...out of sheer frustration!) Now, it's sitting on my desk, posing as a pen holder.... an ugly one, that is! Yeah, I know, it's not just a fake cupcake...it's also a fake pen holder! LOL!

After my first attempt on making a faux cupcake, I still tried... and tried... and tried!. But to no avail, I still ended with same sad looking cup. I never thought that it would be this hard to create one that looks like the real thing. I couldn't sleep for weeks, trying to figure out how to do this. And the hardware store has been my favorite hangout after work. I would stand in the aisles and stare at different products. Would this one work? Or maybe that one? After trying out a handful of different products and materials, I have finally came up with my own formula (... and it's still a secret! Sorry!) My first faux cupcakes with this formula is way, way, way much better looking than my sad cupcake pen holder. And it's a lot lighter, too! Each faux cupcake is approximately 43 grams to 45 grams, while my sad looking faux cupcake weighs 135 grams (or even more!). And yes, they now look yummy! ...and no longer are they pen holders, they're now photo holders! Haha!

I have kept on polishing and perfecting my faux cupcake formula. I want my faux cupcakes to look as real as possible. I don't want my fake frosting to look dry, like those cake displays on cheap bakeries. I'm still experimenting on different materials. But for now, I'm very happy with my secret formula and I really enjoyed creating these fake sweet treats. I have already created different designs (or flavors...uh...whatever you call it!) of faux cupcakes. I remembered back in college, I have a package design class ....and I enjoyed creating the mockup or fake foods more than the packaging design itself!

Maybe for now, I'll be selling faux cupcakes on a "made-to-order" basis only. I'll take more pictures of the rest of my faux cupcakes and post it here next time.

But if you are interested in my faux treats, please email me at creativeabubot@gmail.com.

And for my next assignment... create a listing on ETSY ... and also, pimp my sad cupcake pen holder! :)

Creative Abubot

SWEET STUFF!

Yummy Magnets!

Tutorial: Fake Parfaits + Frozen Yogurt

Chocolate Truffles Ornaments Tutorial

Do you like Strawberry Parfait?

Yumminess is back for the Holidays!

Faux Cupcakes as Business Card Holders

New Faux Cupcakes Up on Etsy

Get the LOOK for Less!

Fake of the Day: Ice Cream

Faux Cakes Tutorial on SALE!!!

Cutie Poop: Freebie Winner

Cutie Poop Freebie

New Christmas Ornaments

Mr. Muffin Man pencil holder.

Macaron Ornaments: Work in Progress

Got Kanin?

How to ice cakes and cupcakes!

S'mores Faux Cupcakes

PRESS: Romantic Homes Magazine April 2010 issue

Miniature Cupcakes Project

I Eat Cookies ...in Winnipeg

Yummy Ornaments

Miniature Cupcakes (Work In Progress)

More Cupcakes...Faux, That Is! :p

Let's Help the Victims of Ondoy (Ketsana)

How to help the victims of tropical storm Ondoy (Ketsana)

Blog Filler: Chowder - "I Believe You Can Cook"

Wonderful Surprises From a Wonderful Friend

Appreciation Photos

3 Parcels in Week!

Our Stolen Photos Completely Removed on this eBay Shop! Yay!

Update on My Stolen Photos on eBay

An eBay Seller is Using my Photos without Permission

***FAUX CUPCAKES UNUSUAL AND UNIQUE PLACE SETTINGS*** on eBay ...

Macaron Chaos

I Got My First DD!

A Poor Man's Makeshift Studio

Coolest Kitchen: Le Patisserie Style!

Freshly Faked...Now Available!

Freshly Faked!

For Crafters: Tools To Help You Price Your Handmade Products

Coming Soon!

Girl Goumet Cupcake Maker

Faux Cupcake Tutorials

Mango Crepe on a Hot Day!

Etsy Front Pagers on Flickr!

Back with a New Logo and a Clearance SALE!

Bobby and Mildred's Wedding

Sale! Sale! Sale!...for one whole day!

New Faux Cupcakes Now Available on my Etsy Shop

Simple Cupcake Pedestal Tutorial

My Faux Cupcakes on a Canadian Photographer's Blog!!!

Finally........

I wanted to list my faux cupcakes...and I couldn't load Etsy!!! Arrrrgggg!!!!!

My Faux Cupcake Story

****FAUX CUPCAKES* UNUSUAL AND UNIQUE PLACE SETTINGS*** on eBay ...