How to Fake Cupcakes

This tutorial was posted on my .mac account which I've allowed to expire so, I'm re-posting it here. Enjoy and please let me know if I need to clarify anything.

You will need…

• an old muffin pan
• cupcake liners
• plaster of paris
• toothpicks
• 3-inch styrofoam balls
• hot glue
• paper clay
• sand paper
• acrylic paint in desired cake and frosting colors
• lightweight spackling for frosting (1 1/2 - 2 cups per color)
• disposable pastry bags
• # 1 M decorating tip
• cupcake toppers/decorations (optional)

1. Put cupcake liners in pan. Mix plaster of paris following directions on box (I mixed 3 cups plaster with 1 1/2 cups water and had enough for 7 cupcakes). Fill lined cupcake pan with mixed plaster of paris. As plaster sets, place a toothpick in the middle.
2. Cut 3" styrofoam ball in half
3. Pierce the center of the ball with the toothpick you inserted in the base.
   Take the ball off the toothpick and squirt hot glue in the hole created by the toothpick. Put the ball back on the toothpick/bottom.
4. Cover the stryofoam with a thin & smooth coat of Paperclay. Allow the clay to dry thoroughly.
5. Sand
6. Paint dark brown or desired color
7. Put about 1 1/2 cups of spackling in a bowl and add acrylic paint to make it the desired color.
8. Stir
9. Place spackling in a disposable pastry bag and pipe on cupcake as desired (I used a # 1M tip and spiraled the icing on starting on the outside and working my way in). WASH BOWL, SPOON, DECORATING TIP, ETC. IMMEDIATELY!!
10. Adorn cupcake as desired and allow to dry
    

Faking It

Fake Cupcakes, originally uploaded by Flying Time Designs.

Cupcakes are cute. Cupcakes look adorable on vintage dishes and display pieces. Cupcakes lend a bit of color, sweetness and nostalgia to a room.

Cupcakes, are messy, mushy and perishable.

I wanted some fake cupcakes to display in my kitchen and to use as non-perishable samples of my work. So, after some research, trial and error this is what I've come up with.

See my directions here: how to fake cupcakes

or…

If you don't feel like making them yourself I'm going to sell them in my etsy store. (I'm still working on getting all the different varieties listed so please be patient with me.)

My favorite fake cupcake is the one with the vintage ballerina topper on it. I got it from The Plastic Hut along with some really cute vintage Halloween and Christmas toppers.

What I really want for that glass dome thing shown in the picture is one of these needle felted cupcakes from Merry Moon. (hint hint family…this would be a good birthday present)

As far as "real" cupcake business matters go…

The Kearney Area Artist Guild (organizers of Art in the Park) had their monthly meeting last week and I was told by a co-worker/member that my cookies and cupcakes were talked about quite a bit and that they were very impressed with them. PLUS… I have an order for some bridal shower cupcakes as a result of my booth at Art in the Park. : )

Have a great week!

NOTE: 8/17/08- I'm having trouble publishing the Fake Cupcake Directions. The text below the photos doesn't show up right (and it's just helvitica!). I'm working on it. For now… when I click on a photo it takes me to the slide show view and the text appears correctly there. Hope that works for you!