Sweet Idea: Sweets Between the Sheets

This is the BEST way to pamper a mom-to-be. I mean, I would never turn down desserts in bed, but I have a feeling that a pregnant lady would really love to find this lovely tray of macarons, chocolates, and a chocolate-y drink instead of a mint on her pillow. Wouldn't a "desserts in bed" shower be a fab idea?

 I'm not pregnant, but I'm still thinking a sugar fest in bed is in order.

pics: JoieLaLa via 100 Layer Cakelet

Dessert Meets Design: Geometric Valentine's Dessert Table

Get your eyeballs ready for some geometric, Valentine's awesomeness, because it's coming at you full force today. Hopefully, yesterday's DIY candy necklace got you in the holiday mood, because it was just a warm up for today's spread. By now, you know that I'm also one of the head honchos (honchos?) of Confetti Pop, and we dreamed up a geometric theme for Valentine's Day. And, because we like to make every shoot a party, we invited a team of great local creatives to join the bash, including my husband, Darren of Well-Groomed, and photog team Jeff and Jessica of Jeff Loves Jessica. 100 Layer Cake was kind enough to feature the entire shoot as well, so thank you ladies!

Now, on to the pretty. I designed a gold, purple and pink geometric cake that mimicked Maddy's DIY table runner. Gold candy, custom truffles, and favor boxes with custom labels were fun additions to Rolos with printable wrappers. I lined the platters using this Confetti Pop set of printable papers.

Want even more eye candy for the day? Well, if you think you can handle it, be sure to visit Confetti Pop for more pics of the entire event, visit Well-Groomed for close ups of the groom, and check out 100 Layer Cake to see which pics their editors liked best.

styling/concept: Confetti Pop

printable invites: Confetti Pop Shop
images: Jeff Loves Jessica
venue: 514 Studios
florals: Prairie Fair
groom's styling: Well-Groomed
makeup: Asia Marie - asiaschulz@live.com
hair: Melanie Rivers
bride's wardrobe: BHLDN Feria dress, BHLDN Lambent shoes
groom's wardrobe: Old Navy shirt, Men's Wearhouse bow tie, Target pants, Target boots

Sweet Phones!

My iPhone 4 isn't even a year old, so I'm definitely not plunking down cash for an iPhone 5. I am feeling a twinge of phone envy though, so I figured a great new case might be just the thing to perk up the 'ole hardware. Here are a few of the sweet options on my radar.

ice cream sandwich: Case Sera Sera, Hostess cupcakes: The Curious Case, truffles: Case Sera Sera

DIY Pinata Cupcakes

Here's another great twist on traditional pinatas. These cupcakes from La Receta de la Felicidad via Rachel of Handmade Charlotte are adorable, and probably a lot less messy than a giant Dora the Explorer full of confetti and candy.

Simply add a chocolate dome to your cupcakes or brownies, and voila! You have a sweet little hiding spot for candy.

images via Handmade Charlotte

Sweet Brands: Happy Lab

I love this geeky branding by confection shop Happy Lab! Test tubes, beakers, and other science-y dodads pose as candy containers, while the employees wear lab coats.

If you can't make it to the Australian-based shop, consider adding candies to beakers and giving them to a child who just mastered a Chemistry test. I would have loved to get these after every Organic Chem test.

Chocolate Letter Placecards

These chocolate monograms are big. No, they're huge. Any choc-aholic party guest would love to see one of these big beauties on their plate. Jordan of Oh Happy Day! created these sweeties as part of a DIY project. Want to make them for yourself? Simply grab a chocolate mold, melt your chocolate, and start creating!

I love the scale of these chocolates. They're definitely more than one serving, and the little bags mean they're already wrapped and ready for the inevitable leftovers that the guests will take home.

images by Jordan Ferney

Dessert Table: Chocolate Overload

If you love chocolate in all its forms, then this dessert table is for you. Milk, dark, and white chocolate treats are everywhere including cupcakes, macarons, dessert shooters, and a great leaf motif on the cake. Simple white plates sit atop various glasses and vases. Remember when we talked about framed dessert displays here? Well, Green Wedding Shoes featured this design, which uses  golden frames to make the display visually interesting.

This design

Edible Ice Cream Bowl Tutorial

There's a lot to love about this tutorial. The idea of an edible ice cream bowl is pure fun, and I'm a big fan of sprinkles. But, what I love most is that this tutorial is so simple, there are no words needed. No complicated steps, just four easy-to-follow photos. Enjoy!

Who knew balloons were so versatile? In the last few weeks, we've found several dessert-friendly uses for them. Which balloon-dessert DIY do you like best? Today's chocolate bowls, these mini pinatas, or these papier mache eggs?


via Simple Song

Classic Cookies with a Twist

Nothing is more classic than chocolate chip cookies. Many childhood tantrums and dreams center around them, and even now a fresh one straight from the oven makes me extremely happy. These simple twists on the classic are easy enough to try on your own.

Whether it's a deep-dish version, a sandwich presentation, or a cookie dough cupcake, I think any kid (and most grown-ups) would love 'em.

deep dish cookie, chocolate chip cookie sandwiches, cookie dough cupcakes

Dessert Table: Gimme S'more, Please!

As you can see here and here, I like including gourmet marshmallows on dessert tables. If you've been a follower for a little while now, then you probably also remember this and this S'mores post. Today's post via Cookie Creative combines both dessert tables and s'mores to create a veritable smorgasbord of gourmet marshmallows, chocolates, grahams, and other toppings.

Dessert Meets Design: Ribboned Romance Dessert Table Pt II

As promised, I'm back with a few more pics of the Ribboned Romance table I shared with you earlier today. These pics were taken by some of the photography students that Emily Steffen was instructing. I think you can agree, they did some lovely work.

Jennifer George shot these pretty images. She really zeroed in on the buttercream's texture and the pearlized pink and antique blue sprinkles on the cupcakes.

Jessica of Jeff Loves Jessica got a lot of great pics of the cake toppers. I created the flags, while Potter + Butler created the poms. She also focused on the textured white chocolates I made.

It's easy to see that these photographers are both well on their way to successful careers. Thank you both for sharing your images with me and the Sweet Tooth readers!

Homemade Cakes Get Festive

These homemade cakes featured on Once Wed are perfect for a simple party or DIY wedding. Add in some colorful garland and coordinated risers to elevate each chocolate-y cake. Here, it's all about the presentation, not about creating perfect desserts.

Three small cakes means there's something for everyone to enjoy. Here, guests are treated to chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry cake. Ashley Meaders of The Flashdance styled this shoot, while Meagan Gibson photographed each beautiful image.

Week In Review & Polka Dot Cake

This week, I was busy prepping for a couple of different photo shoots, researching candies, and designing several dessert tables.  We also had a lot of great posts that got you guys talking, which is great. Many of you have become regular commenters here, on Facebook, and on Twitter, and I'm thrilled to here your thoughts about the posts and about what's going on around the SYDT office. Thanks so much for joining the discussion!

On Sweet Tooth:

We toured a creamery that specializes in liqueur-enfused ice creams .
These "stitched" cakes from the latest issue of MSW were inspiring.
I shared a collage of flag cake toppers that you all loved.
A reader submitted this enchanted dessert table.

On The Sweet Life:

I shared a pics of a local restaurant's fried dessert.
Facebook followers weighed in on this ice cream trend.

Have a great weekend. I'll see you back here on Monday.

Want to stay in touch over the weekend?  Follow me on Twitter and Facebook.


image via Pinterest

"App"etizing Sweets

This past Valentine's Day, my husband surprised me with an iPhone hidden in a box of chocolates. Needless to say, I was thrilled. My newfound gadget is on my mind throughout the day as I play Words With Friends, download flash card apps for my little one, and answer business emails. When I came across these two iPhone desserts on the same day, I just knew I had to share them with you.

Aren't these app chocolates awesome? Look at the detail, and the phone is aptly named iChocolates.

These cupcakes are creative app displays, too.

I know, I know. I'm probably showing my nerdy side here with the Scrabble and tech-y phone love, but hopefully you can at least appreciate the desserts.

images via Pinterest

The Best Box of Chocolates Ever

Look closely, these little wonders look like traditional bite-size chocolates. In reality, they're small cakes! Sweetapolita designed these sweets to look like giant versions of boxed chocolates, and the results are fabulous. Gold lustre dust is used to create faux-foil wrappers, while sprinkles and nuts enhance other varieties.

Here's the inspirational box of real chocolates.

If you loved this Kate Spade glitter cake as much as I did, these golden chocolate cakes will make your day. Simply brush a fondant covered cake with a luster dust/extract solution to achieve the look.

Just like with traditional chocolates, it's hard to choose just one. Which little cake would you try first?

Chocolate Cake Day!

I thought the holidays were over until Valentine's, but someone told me that today is Chocolate Cake Day. I know, it sounds like something I just made up to serve my own chocolate cravings, but it's true. So, in honor of Chocolate Cake Day I rounded up some gorgeous, gooey pics for us all to enjoy.

Be sure to follow some of your favorite local bakeries today. Many will offer discounts and freebies to followers. Happy Holidays!

If you missed the XOXO dessert table I designed for photog Emily Steffen, be sure to check it out here.

image 1: Gourmet magazine, image 2: Martha Stewart, image 3: Cannelle et Vanille, image 4: The Women's Room