Review : Cake Decorating at Home by Zoe Clark

We have quite a large collection on cookery books in our house and my husband and I both love to cook and bake, often with the children helping too.  As the children get older they request more complicated cakes for their birthdays, which led to us purchasing a copy of Cake Decorating At Home by Zoe Clark.  I am sure many of you will have come across Zoe Clark's designs before but in this book she shows the home baker how to create some amazing cakes. 

Having made her own wedding cake in 2005 Zoe Clark then turned her new love for baking and decorating into a new profession.  Cake Decorating At Home showcases her designs perfectly but allows us to learn how to acheive the details in creating them.  Each of the ten chapters have a central theme featuring a  a main cake which is accompanied by two smaller, complementary designs. 

In the opening pages of the book we are provided with a list of utensils and equipment that will be required, followed by basic techniques for preparing cake tins to carving cakes, aswell as assembling tiered cakes and making a piping bag.  After guiding us through the basics Zoe Clark then indulges us with basic cake and icing recipes to prepare us for the creating some delectable designs. 

Now the fun begins as Zoe Clark shows us how to make beautiful cakes covered in daisies or patchwork, chocolate with streamers or edible sand.  Aswell as providing us with a main cakes, cupcakes or minature cakes and cookies, Zoe Clark also includes a small section in each chapter with ideas to 'Celebrate the Theme'. 

The designs in Cake Decorating At Home are up to date and offer beautiful cake designs that are on trend including a three tier wedding cake decorated with lace icing, a birdcage cake and cookies which are perfect for a vintage inspired celebration and a Mad Hatters Tea Party cake, which my husband made for our daughters tenth birthday. So whether you are a novice or more experienced baker and cake decorator I am sure there is a design for you in Cake Decorating At Home and as we share a great name I can only recommend this book even more!!

Cake Decorating At Home by Zoe Clark  ISBN 13:978-0-7153-378-5

All images from Zoe Clark Cakes

Review - Papercrafting In No Time by Clare Youngs

Over the past six months I have broadened my fabric addiction to patterned paper and this in turn has led to a new interest in papercrafting.  I am always amazed at how a few pieces of pattrned or plain paper can be trnasformed into amazing decorations or cards, so I was thrilled to have the chance to review Papercrafting In No Time by Clare Youngs.

With 50 projects all crafted from paper in this book I was keen to see exactly what delights lay inside the inspiring cover.  Papercrafting In No Time offers projects for the novice papercrafter through to the more seasoned designer.  Starting with ideas and projects for our living spaces Clare shows us papercutting, the traditional art of Poland alongside creating an origami fan lampshade. Yet my favourite project in this first chapter is the wreath, offering so many potential colour and pattern combinations, which means this wreath becomes very versatile as a decoration for many occassions, or just because!

The second chapter offers ten fabulous projects for the little ones in our lives.  Boats, birds and bird boxes feature alongside sausage dogs, butterfiles and monkeys, which are all perfect deocrations for bedrooms or parties. The next ten projects found in the 'Gifts' chapter which of course includes beautiful gift boxes and bags, aswell as paper beads and dragonfly clothespins. 

The fourth chapter offers fabulous inspiration for card making.  Clare shows us how to create a tiered Russian doll card, fold out vintage flower card, beautiful patterned envelopes, bunting and owls, that all would be perfect cards for numerous occassions. Actually I have made a set of envelopes just to store receipts in, well I need pretty things on my desk! The final chapter of Papercrafting In No Time is 'Party Time' with clear instructions for projects to make including a vintage floral cakestand, cupcake toppers, paper roses and decoupage eggs. 

Papercrafting In No time offers 50 fabulous projects to inspire some beautiful works of art and more practical ideas aswell as a comprehensive list of tools and materials and templates.  For each project the clearly written step by step instructions, complete with photographs make every project accessible to everyone.  I highly recommend Papercrafting In No Time, whether you are looking for beautiful ideas to decorate your home, cards to make for friends or inspiring ideas for decoration your next celebration.

Papercrafting In No Time by Clare Youngs

ISBN 978-1-907030-81-9