Slice open a typography cake for a surprise – Yay!

Birthday cake with words inside when you cut it up - Yay!

!!!!

Quirky birthday cakes are nothing out of the ordinary around here. This is such a simple concept after you see how it’s done, though, that I’m surprised I’ve not seen it splattered all over the internet constantly.

Before I clicked over to A Subtle Revelry to see the tutorial for it, I assumed that it was going to involve using long pieces of ‘something’ that went from one end of the cake pan to the other, like what’s required when making sushi or panda bread.

But it’s not nearly that complicated and I wouldn’t even mess this up! Well, I’m sure I could, especially if I tried to step too far outside the box and create large bunnies or something inside, but the basics are pretty…well….basic!

The satanic rituals of birthday parties

birthday parties, birthdays, humor | January 22, 2013 | By

"If you think about it, the process of singing the birthday song and cutting the cake is extremely satanic." "No, but seriously, imagine it this way: A small gathering of people huddle around an object on fire, chanting ritualistically a repetitive song in unison until the fire is blown out and a knife is stabbed into the object."

So I hadn’t really thought about it that way before, but it is, isn’t it? O.o

And now I can’t get the image of a snuggie party out of my head. Everyone is wearing the cult-garb, swaying and chanting their birthday well-wishes, waiting for the fire to be taken out by the youngest member of the cult….the child turning 2 who is tempted to eat the flame or spit on it instead of blowing it out like every member before him has.

Watermelon Birthday Cake & Party

Watermelon birthday cake with chocolate chips, ants, and picnic basket 

One of the great things about having so many girls is that it means even more birthdays. More birthdays mean more excuses for parties and cake!

Sometimes that means wondering what the next theme will be, but somehow, a comment is always made or a picture is seen or personality trait is shining….and suddenly, all the pieces start coming together. Before we know it, the cake is planned and an entire party theme has been born.

This party was no different. Instead of being “just a special cake,” it turned into a full fledged “picnic party.” There’s a picnic basket, picket blanket/tablecloth, watermelon trays for chips, sandwiches, bubbles, and watermelon…both of the real and cake varieties.

So the page doesn’t take forever to load, check out the summery flower collage below. As usual, mouse over them to pop up a larger version or see all of them in their full-sized glory in the QuirkyCookery PB album.

Here are some of my favorite moments, stories, and pictures of the day:

My mom is going to hate me for posting this picture. And yes, hate is still considered a “bad word” so I’m going to surely get in trouble for that, too, but she’ll agree as soon as she catches wind that I had the nerve to post it:

Icing mess Licking icing off fingers

Totally worth it. The left is cleverly posed so that her face won’t be shown, but the look of sheer shock and disgust as my sister licks the icing ‘mistake’ of her hands is one I can’t possibly censor with black bars. Golden.

If it makes you feel any better, I do often take the time to edit pictures so that nobody is left looking bad. I mean, like this gem:

Bad pictures of ice cream bubbles and kid

Who would want that posted publicly, right? Oh wait…. ;)

Anywho, I’m this far into a birthday party post and you haven’t even seen the birthday girl yet! This is N from 2009, pre-party:

Dirty kid holding ears

Yes, covered in dirt, holding her ears, and waiting patiently for someone to come and retrieve her for cake time. You haven’t forgotten our tradition, right? Note to self…I have a video of this tucked away that I should upload, too.

Covering eyes for surprise Photobucket

And in case no one believed me that the cakes and party scene are kept a complete secret, there’s an example of a (very ugly) covered doorway to prevent peeking, too.

Child getting ready to blow out candles on watermelon cake

Even she doesn’t want to peek, and she’s sitting at the table! The anticipation is a wonderful thing. <3 Oh, and to the far right of that picture is an example of a themed present, too….watermelon scented body wash and shampoo.

Kid scowling while eating sub sandwiches

^ The “sweet innocent one”….until she gets food. :P

And in case you don’t click through to the rest of the pictures like you should, here’s the inside of the cakes.

 Watermelon cake with red inside and chocolate chip seedsCovered end of watermelon cake with chocolate inside

White/red cake for the chocolate haters and chocolate for the rest of us, mmm. Take note of how realistic she made the rind icing, too….it’s squiggly/wavy/textured all the way down like the lines of a real watermelon.