Sweetness Sundays – Cupcakes Forever

It’s official, the love affair with cupcakes is here to stay. They are the perfect indulgence, smaller and more affordable than a cake, so very pretty to look at, portable, sweet, and they remind us of those home-made birthday parties of the past. Do you remember those days? As a child of the 70s, I pine for a time when mothers had the time and inclination to create party magic in our very own homes. We actually played Pin-the-tail on the Donkey, we sat around a table covered in paper or fabric, we wore those silly paper hats, and we ate home-made cakes and cupcakes with a side of ice-cream. We didn’t know how good we had it.

When did we decide that those parties were not enough for our modern kids? Or is it the change in lifestyle and economy that leaves parents with little time to plan a home-made from scratch party. I am not a parent, and in no place to pass judgements, but I know from my own siblings and the parties they throw their kids, that somewhere along the line things moved out of the home and into a “planned activity” space, like an indoor play park with a ball pit. Kids are dropped off, run ragged with activity, and then plied with a cringingly sweet bakery cake the size of a mattress, that’s why they call them “sheet cakes”. No wonder adults are craving real cupcakes. The joy of cupcakes however lies in the visual appeal as much as the taste. In fact, I am willing to bet there are very few cupcakes that live up to the promise of their looks. This I can speak on with some authority, before settling into my Nursing career, I actually attended Culinary School.

So what is my point here, and I promise I am getting to it. Every sweet and heavenly cupcake in this post is in fact a fake. That’s right, these are not edible delights that are quickly forgotten once they are consumed. These cupcakes are all props, decor, and display items that you can use to sass up your kitchen, your work place, or vacation home. Created by 12 Legs Curiosities, perhaps the best of the cupcake fakes I have seen on Etsy. There are many creators making their own versions of fake food props, but the details and realism in the ones make by 12 Legs Curiosities in their CUPCAKE LAND are my favorites.

These are the cupcakes you can use as models in your own artwork, or as props in a photo studio. Have them around as decorations for a party or bridal shower, or set them up on your vanity to sweeten up your boudoir. Personally, I would use them as a reason to pull out some of my grandmother’s cake platters or pastry tiered pedestals. You know the ones I mean, the ones that have multiple levels of plates. like a tower, but seem hopelessly destined for the back of the cupboard because they aren’t practical. It’s time to put the spotlight back on those family antiques and put out some luscious looking cupcakes that make it not only a modern centerpiece, but a nod to tradition and family keepsakes

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If any of these realistically styled cupcake dreams catch your fancy, you simply have to see some of the more fantastical and whimsical items that 12 Legs Curiosities is famous for, a few of which appear below. You can really see why these are more than mere fakes, they are works of art. Each one is made by hand and some can be modified to be used at hanging ornaments. Sizes vary, as do the number of items per lot, so please read the listings carefully. Wander over to CUPCAKE LAND by 12 Legs Curiosities on Etsy and check out the beautiful, sweet, and kitschy cupcake fakes that look good enough to nom, but let the good retro memories linger on.

Image Details with Links:
1. Fake Cupcakes Mini Cupcakes Set – 6 Sunshine Day Collection
2. Fake Cupcake I HEART Sundae Cupcakes Collection
3. Fake Cupcake Polka Dot Retro-Inspired Collection Set 5 Hot Pink Mini Cupcakes
4. Fake Cupcake “Red Butler Red Velvet Cupcake” 12 Legs Original Concept Your Choice
5. Fake Cupcake Standard Size I Heart Polka Dots and Cupcakes Collection Turquoise Frosting Your Choice
6. Fake Cupcake “Under The Big Top” Carnival Collection Turquoise Frosting/Hot Pink Cake Funky Standard Size Cupcake
7. Fake Cupcake Black Swan Lake Tribute Cupcake 12 Legs Original Concept Cupcake – Movie Collector Series
8. Fake Cupcake Lovers String of Lights 12 Legs Orignal Concept Design 10 Mini Assorted Cupcakes
9. Fake Cupcake Breakfast At Tiffanys Insp. Cupcake Audrey Hepburn Tribute 12 Legs Classic Movie Cupcake Collection Limited Ed.
10. Fake Cupcake Candy Shoppe Classic Swirl Ed. Glass Jars Set 4 Original 12 Legs Concept – Often Imitated, Never Duplicated

LINK: CUPCAKE LAND by 12 Legs Curiosities on Etsy.
[NOTE: All photographs, concepts, and cupcake designs are products and copyrights of 12 Legs Curiosities. No infringement is intended.]

Teeny Tiny Tuesdays – Wee Patisserie

I am the kind of girl that never says no to a great cheesecake. I never kicked a cookie out of bed, and I have never tossed a cupcake wrapper without making sure I got every last crumb of yum. Yes I love my sweets. Sweets rank right up there with my other loves, such as fun fashions, cheeky geeky goodies, and itty bitty joys. When I this eye-catching creation by DIVINEsweetness on Etsy came up in a recent search, I knew I had to share it with my fellow Fab Foragers.

This amazing Crimson Red French Macaron Ring is just one of the amazing hand sculpted polymer clay accessories created by Ciara of DIVINEsweetness. It measures just 3/4″ in size, but is big on style and would make the perfect gift for your Valentine, priced well under $20 USD. Macaroons are all the rage with the fashionable set, they are stunningly attractive to look at, and divine to eat, and what better way to show your appreciation for this member of french pastry royalty than by wearing it on your finger for all to see.

Perhaps cupcakes are more your pastry of choice, well Ciara makes a toppling plate of those as well, aptly named the Marie Antoinette Cupcake Ring. Named for the Queen associated with lavish excess, you can have your “cake” and wear it too. Handmade from Polymer Clay with decorative touches of pink sugar dragees, sculted roses and flowers, displayed on a ceramic look plate on an antique serving tray. the total height of the tray is just 1″, and the ring is adjustable to fit practically any finger.

Beyond her delightful selection of rings, Ciara also crafts some downright sinful looking earrings, like these Cherry Cheesecake Frenzy Earrings. Beautiful in their bright Cherry loveliness,these handmade sweets are made to look like the real thing, and they do! Sugary sweet cherry sauce dripping over lovely white New York Style Cheesecakes with Graham Cracker Crusts, and all packed into the size of just 1/2″. Gold hooks let them hang just over an inch from your delicate earlobes.

For the man in your life, or for yourself if you wear French Cuffs, DIVINEsweetness offers not only your morning pastry fix, but also your morning caffiene fix with her lovely cufflink sets. Snap up a pair of Croissant in the Office Cufflinks, or the equally charming Coffee To Go Cufflinks. If I were buying them for myself, I would be just as likely to snag both pair and make a mixed set for an instant chic breakfast. One to keep, one to gift – WIN WIN!

While Ciara’s DIVINEsweetness Etsy Shop offers primarily food related jewelry and accessories, she also has some lovely miniatures of tiny animals, nature scenes, and other whisical items. Every piece is handmade, making them all one-of-a-kind [OOAK], and having slight differences in color and design that add to their charm. I personally am partial to the wearable sweets, like this great Just a Spoon Full of Ice Cream Sundae Necklace, but all of Ciara’s minature work is exceptional. Tuesday really is the perfect day to appreciate the little things.

Link: DIVINEsweetness by Ciara on Etsy.

Strange Stuff Saturdays – Kooky Creatures

It’s hard to define what makes something truly strange, or at least strange enough for a Strange Stuff Saturdays post. What I might think of as strange may be quite ordinary to someone else, and knowing when something goes beyond strange and into disturbing territory is similarly a personal perspective. I am willing to bet, however, that we can all agree on the items in today’s showcase. These are truly odd in the most fabulous sense; they are whimsical, creative, upcycled items that rarely are found outside a child’s toy box. The circus has come to town, so to speak.

Decorative figure Boxer – The Strange Planet created by The Good Machinery, in Rimini, Emilia Romagna, Italy. These bright and whimsical animals will bring a punch of color to any room or work-space. Check out this Etsy Shop for some truly stunning upcycled toy animals and collect a menagerie of fabulosity.

Bring the prehistoric back to life by snagging yourself a Run 2 The Wild Live Dinoterrarium. These uniquely upcycled dinosaur toys feature glass mini-terrariums with live Kentucky Moss inside. They can be opened for watering and include full care instructions. Berea, Kentucky resident and Etsy Shop owner Kourtney has created a truly Green use for these colourful dinosaurs.

Even though it is just past the holidays, some ornaments can be displayed year-round and this shimmering hippo is one of the above. Meant to adorn your festive tree, and tied with a ribbon, yarn, jingle bell, and star charm Little Plastic Menace offers this Bronze Plastic Hippo Ornament and other wonderful decorative beasts. Just one of Barbara Hart’s Etsy Shops, you just have to see what this Buffalo, New York artist is up to.

LizAArt, another Etsy Shop, offers necklaces, wall-hangings, scarves, folk art and more in a variety of styles from the ridiculous to the sublime. This Leaping Lizard Necklace features three plastic wrigglers, and a bounty of beads in Jasper, Unakite, and Howlite. Definitely a statement necklace if I ever saw one. I am just not certain what that statement is exactly. And speaking of Jewelry, check out the images and shop lists below to spot more of this quirky wearable strange stuff.

Gold Fishey Go Earrings by Pussycat [Hot Chick Psychics] on Etsy.

Gold Crush Dinosaur Necklace by Lapineau on Etsy.

Camel Brooch by Plum August on Etsy.

Puppy Necklace by Ultra Horse on Etsy.

Purple Turtle Ring by PURPLEGUN on Etsy.

Half a Bandit Earrings by Uncle Fun on Etsy.

The final fab item for this Saturday is really attractive, and that is a scientific fact considering it uses magnets. Upcycled plastic animals become magnetic photo or memento holders with the help of Gallivanting Girls Vintage Home on Etsy. Check out this The Wolf Vintage Animal Magnet Photo Holder and others like it and bring new meaning to the term “Animal Magnetism”.

While we have all likely all spotted a little boy walking his toy dinosaur through his mother’s garden or been *cough* entertained by the little girl trotting her rubber horses up the arm of your chair as you wait in for your doctors appointment. Maybe you have watched your own children toss around plastic sea creatures in the tub. The genius here is turning these items from toss-away plastic or rubber toys and thinking fabulously outside the box, instead turning them into sculptural art, functional and funny terrariums, or terrific and whimsical wearables. It may just make you think twice about passing up that 25 cent plastic giraffe at the next yard sale or swap meet, and there is nothing strange about that at all.