With my daughter’s first birthday party so recently behind us, I’ve had first birthday mania on the brain for months now! First birthdays are such a special celebration, marked by laughter, family and cake! So it’s only fitting that today’s post is all about birthdays and cake, featuring a precious first birthday cake AND a giveaway! A treat for everyone involved… I’m thrilled to share a cake created by one of my very favorite cake designers, you’re going to flip over this little guy, and someone will win a fab prize! Sounds like the perfect way to start off a new week!
Today’s post features THE most adorable first birthday cake, created by the uber talented Elisa Strauss of Confetti Cakes. Elisa created this cute and cuddly little owl for her daughter Sophie’s first birthday. With it’s corduroy-like textures and amazing stitching details, this cake is oh-so-darling! I’m guessing this is just the first of many extraordinary cakes for Miss Sophie… the perk of having an accomplished cake designer like Elisa as your mother! And while the rest of us strive to create cakes as flawless as this one, today’s giveaway will put you one step closer to that goal! That’s right, one lucky Half Baked reader will win a copy of Elisa’s book, Confetti Cakes for Kids! So many great design ideas and techniques to help you create THE most adorable cake for the special kiddos in your life.
Really, could Sophie’s first birthday owl be any cuter? The little flowered wings, corduroy pocket, pint sized bow and coordinating smash cake… oh my goodness! Not to mention those owl eyes, complete with flirty little lashes. Looks like Elisa’s months of planning paid off with a picture-perfect cake creation. Yes, that’s right. Months! A cake like this doesn’t happen overnight! Elisa shares with us some insight as to her planning process:
“Perhaps it’s only my fellow cake designers who can understand the stress (I put on myself) for my daughter’s first birthday cake. In fact, my husband jokingly reminded me TWICE that he ordered a sheet cake, NOT a sculpted cake (a.k.a. cake that will take days to bake, sculpt and decorate) but OF COURSE I was not going to serve a sheet cake at my own daughter’s first birthday party.
So the stress actually started months ahead of time deciding on a design. I finally chose an owl because we affectionately coined the phrase for my daughter “owl eyes” for when she should be sleeping in her stroller but we see her bright large eyes looking back at us.”
Leave a Comment below telling us how you’d put this book to good use! Earn an extra entry by doing any of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each of your entries. Maximum of 4 entries per person.
- Sign up to follow Half Baked on Facebook
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- Post about this giveaway on your blog – include a link to this post
- Post about this giveaway on your Facebook – include a link to this post
- Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter – include a link to this post
Giveaway ends Sunday, October 9th at midnight CST. A winner will be chosen randomly and announced on Monday, October 10th . The winner must claim their prize before Friday, October 14th or a new winner will be selected. You must be 18 years old and either a U.S. or Canadian resident to enter. Maximum of 4 entries per person. Â
Good luck everyone! Happy Monday!
I’d probably pass on some cute ideas to my kids for future grandbaby cakes!!
I would use this for new ideas, since making cakes for 3 kids for the past 4 years has got my imagination a little tapped out.
I follow Half Baked on Facebook and have for awhile, love all the ideas!
I love doing birthday parties for daughters and this would give me so new wonderful ideas!
Great giveaway – I posted it on facebook and on twitter! Have a great day!
I would use this for inspiration!!
I would use this to make cakes for all occasions!
Carla
cpullum(at)yahoo(dot)com
The sky is the limit..
I’ve been wanting Elisa’s books for soooo long! Would love to get my hands on one to learn some new techniques and ideas for my son’s birthdays!
I follow you on fb
I have two kids, this book would get lots of use for fun birthday parties!
I follow you on fb
I follow you on twitter
I’m a beginner cake designer and love to see what other designers can do and love to learn from them!
I love to get inspiration for cakes from books. Elisa always has amazing ideas!
This books looks amazing! I am always on the lookout for sheer genius and I think Elisa is just that.
Saw this great post / cake on fb. Fabulous! Love to have this book for inspiration, ideas and to share with my 2 little bakers in training! Thanks!
I am a google reader follower.
The book looks adorable. I am in need of some new ideas with 3 kids to make cakes for.
I follow on facebook, love when I see a new post from you : )
I would use this book as inspiration for my cupcake business!
i am alreayd a fan of half baked on fb! (docura doces americano)
i signed up for half baked via rss
Elisa Strauss’ cakes are so darn cute!!! I love her books – I check them out frequently at the library, but there is always a waiting list so I would love to own one for myself. My kids would adore a cake like this for their birthday.
I follow half baked via rss with google reader.
I love planning kid parties. This would sure help
I just added you on facebook
This book is adorable! I’ve had my eye on it for a while. Great job, Half Baked, I love you’re stuff
With 2 toddlers and over 10 nieces and nephews, who are also toddlers, this book will definitely be put to good use. Thanks!
I love the creativity and colors in this book, would love to use for baking up special cakes for the kiddos! (but adults could appreciate too!)
I follow your blog on RSS!
This cookbook looks so cute! I would love to win it to learn more about making these fun cakes!!
I like you on my personal facebook and my dessert facebook page!
I also posted a link on my dessert facebook page so everyone can check out your blog and enter to win!
I just followed you on Twitter!
I love cake books of any kind. I look at them over and over.
I follow your blog
I follow you on FB
how cute! I think I’d use your idea and try and do something fun for my niece’s first birthday.
I am the resident pastry chef in my family and among friends, this book would definitely be put to good use! And, my mom’s birthday is coming up!
i like Half Baked on facebook
i follow half baked on twitter
I follow Half-baked via RSS
i talked about this awesome blog and post on facebook
I am actually doing an owl theme for my daughter’s first birthday coming up! would put the book to good use for sure!!
I like Half-Baked on FB!
I’m a mother of 4 children, so this book would definitley benefit my household!!
Recently I’ve had the desire to learn to be more creative in the dessert department. I’ve always just bought a cake, afraid of attempting something in my own kitchen…but now I am at a place where I would love to learn or have help attempting to make a fun creation. I also have 3 little kids who I will enjoy including on this new adventure.
I have Elisa’s other Confetti Cakes cookbook, so this would go well with it.
The details in this cake (stitching, embossing, and those precious eyelashes) are what set Elisa Strauss apart from the rest! Truly Amazing!
Love the idea
Oh how I would put this book to good use!! Love her cakes!
Well, my daughters second birthday is coming up and I have a new little one on the way!
I’ve been wanting to have this book for a long time!! Her cakes were awesome!!
loving you on facebook
First of all I love the 1st birthday cake and I stress over every cake I make so I feel your pain for it to be perfect. I would put this book to good use. I already follow half baked on Facebook
Love it!!
I love Confetti Cakes and would love to have this book…it would come in very handy as I have 4 children!!
I already follow half baked on Facebook
I follow Half Baked on FB
I follow Half Baked on Twitter
I have 6 nieces and nephews, so this book would come in handy!
I checked this book out from the local library and renewed it as many times as allowed. I would love to make everything in it!
I love making Kid’s cakes! They are my fav. and with a 2 year old at home and one on the way I am sure to put this book to good use!!!
I love making cakes especially for kids, I’ve always done my nephews birthday cakes and can not wait to make my own kid’s cake.
I make cakes for my little girl’s birthday every year and this book would help me come up with new ideas.
I will put the book to great use. I have 2 kids and lots of birthdays to plan. it’s also something I can hand down.
I also shared your link on facebook
)
I am an infant and toddler teacher for early intervention and a mother of 2 – I would put your book to excellent use!!!
This book has been on my Amazon wishlist for months and months … Now I have grandchild number one who is moving from Canada to Texas to be close to his Nana. Lots of fun cakes will be coming out of my kitchen!
I am a long-time follower of Half Baked on Facebook!
I am following Half Baked on Twitter – @mbt4955.
I am already receiving Half Baked RSS feeds.
I tweeted about this giveaway! @mbt4955
I posted this giveaway on my Facebook page.
I always try to make a social cake for birthdays, so this book would be a great help to me.
I follow on Facebook.
I follow via RSS
I follow Half baked on facebook!
I follow by RSS too!
I have been dying for this book! My nephew’s bday is coming up and would love to make a cake out of this book for him!
Omg love this book bc I’m somewhat new to cake decorating. I love trying new things.
I follow on Fb. By the way this owl is adorable.
I would use this book for inspiration for my precious Goddaughter’s future birthdays.
I follow on facebook…I love you!
Between my nieces, nephews, and my daughter, and considering my family throws a party for EVERYTHING…I would use this book pretty much all the time!
I love Elissa!!! she has inspired me with her endless creativity and I will put this book to good use as I will be attempting an owl cake in January, this will come in handy for inspiration!!!
I love the owl cake! The book will help guide me in creating more edible art.
I’d like to take it to my cake club and start a group to trade off donating birthday cakes on a monthly basis to the local children’s hospital!
Following you on FB now!!
Since I’m a new aunt I’d love to have this book to fix cakes for my sweet nephew. Also, for my future children someday.
Love your work!!!
I’m following Half Baked on FB now!
Following you on Twitter now!
Following you RSS with my google reader! Yay!
I would user book for insperation & techneques
I’ll use it for inspiration but I’m sure that just looking at the amazing photos will be enough to make me happy, I’ll spend hours with my nose in that book.
I’m sure this book would be a HUGE inspiration for my cake baking fun!
I’m an RSS subscriber!
I like Half Baked on Facebook!
I’m a Twitter follower!
i would use this book as inspiration for the two nephews and five nieces birthday cakes, as you can tell the book would be put to great use. I would also use it to learn great ways to enhance my cake decorating skills
101st comment? 101 ways to utilize this book:
1. Did you really think I was going to list 101 things? You’re nuts.
I can totally relate to the stress of creating the perfect birthday cake. I just did my daughter’s 3rd birthday: a mad hatter tea party. I decided to do “eat me” cupcakes for everyone and a teapot cake for her.
I would love to get Elissa’s book for inspiration, not only for my child’s parties, but for the themed cake orders I receive from my patrons as well. The owl is too precious.
I would attempt to recreate her beautiful creations!!
I follow on FB
I have three crazy boys at home and LOVE to make their birthday cakes. Kids birthday cakes, in general, are my absolute favorite to make, and I would love to try some of the ideas in this book!!
I follow on Facebook too
The owl is adorable. I have so many nieces and nephews, would treat them to a personalized cake.
I would love using this book for new ideas for cakes for my children, nieces, nephews, and friend’s children! Such a fun hobby!
I have grandchildren and nieces and nephews, oh my! The things I would do with this book.
Just began following you on Twitter a few seconds ago.
And, I just liked you on Facebook!
I love doing 3D cakes. I would use this for inspiration on future cakes. I already follow you on RSS.
Thanks,
tmyers109 at gmail dot com
I would use this book to make desserts and cakes for my nieces for birthdays
I am following Half Baked on Facebook
I am following Half Baked on Twitter
I am already following Half Baked via RSS
I would use it for my own practice. I would love to have a copy of this book so I could practice cake decorating for my family and friends. It’s time to get rid of the old sheet cakes from the local grocery stores and get creative!
What. All parents at my daughter school will envy me because I will just make cake for no reason.
I’m following you via RSS now too!
I would certainly get use of this book by making my 40th birthday cake for myself pretty special!
here is the link to the post on my facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/DM-Cakes/110413772389438
Following you on facebook!
I absolutely love her cakes! Would love to have this book to add to my growing collection. I crave anything cake!
I taught myself cake decorating with the help of Confetti Cakes first book! Confetti Cakes for Kids would teach me how to make beautiful cakes for all my handsome little nephews!
I have so many friends with little ones, this would definitely have great ideas for me to make cakes for them!
I would use her designs as inspiration to create fun & cute cakes!
Following you on Facebook!
I would really like some inspiration. I have twin boys and need help with new birthday cake ideas.
Inspiration can come from many resources (believe me when I say I am addicted to so many different cake decorating site
It is nice to have a wonderful book like hers to look at and see different techniques 
With so many kids, adopted kids and grandbabies, this is truly the book for me!
I shared your link on facebook
I decided to make my daughter’s first birthday cake and the frosting melted off and was a disaster! I would love to have this book so I can make up for her first birthday cake disaster!
I signed up for RSS feed! I love all of the cute ideas and would love to get new ideas!
I shared on facebook! Such a cute book I hope I win!
I shared on my blog!
Elisa’s book, a true inspirational step by step guide
I follow you on Facebook!!!!
I follow Half Baked on Facebook.
I would love a copy of this book. Would be very helpful for my Childrens birthday cakes. The owl cake would make a really cute baby shower cake too!
I follow you on Twitter!
I’d love to have more fun inspiration for children’s cakes!
I follow you on facebook
Oh boy would I put this to good use
I love Elisa’s style! I am a hobby decorator and I make all of the birthday cakes for my son and all of the neighborhood kids so I would most definitely get tons of ideas and inspiration out of this beauty! Thanks for the chance!
I already follow Half Baked on Facebook! Thanks
I already follow you on Twitter too! Thanks for the chance to win!
I tweeted about the giveaway https://twitter.com/#!/LoveInDetails/status/123209626295599104
Thanks for the chance to win!
I would love to have this so I can make wonderful cakes for my nephew and niece. This will also go well with my collection of baking books.
I would love to add this book to my collection! Always looking for new ways to expand my cake baking/decorating repertoire! Thank you for such a great giveaway!!!