Royal Icing Umbrella

The 2012 Olympics sure have had their share of rain! When I drove from California to the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002 I don't even think I had an umbrella in the car. Tonight's post is a tribute to all those spectators standing in the London rain, who refuse to let some uncooperative weather come between them and the games. All you'll need to pipe umbrellas are stiff consistency royal icing in any color you like, round tip #10, petal tip #101, round tip #4, parchment paper squares, a glue stick, a flower nail, a Styrofoam block to rest the nail in, and a dusting pouch filled with a 50/50 blend of cornstarch and powdered sugar. Start by sticking a parchment paper square to the flower nail with a dab from the glue stick. 

 Hold the #10 tip just above and at a 45 degree angle to the surface. Pipe until a ball forms, then slowly move the tip along the surface while continuing to pipe. Gradually decrease pressure, then stop and pull the tip away. Neaten the tip with a fingertip that you've touched to the dusting pouch, if need be. Pipe one of these shapes for each umbrella, and allow them to firm up a little.

 Switch to the #101 petal tip and pipe the ruffle at the wide end, holding the narrow end of the tip outwards. Move the tip up and down as you pipe to form the ruffle.

 Here's another view of it:

 Now is a good time to switch to a contrasting color, unless you're going for a monochromatic look. Using the #4 tip, pipe the ferrule (pointy end) by holding the tip against the narrow end of the umbrella shape. Squeeze briefly, then stop pressure and pull the tip away.

 Tuck the tip into the ruffle and pipe the curved handle.

  Don't wait until a rainy day to pipe these umbrellas; they'd be perfect cupcake toppers for a shower of any sort!

Royal Icing Rubber Ducky

For me, nothing inspires new ideas for cupcake toppers more than seeing ones made out of plastic. You know they're probably all going to wind up in landfills! Today's post is the result of my seeing a whole tray of cupcakes topped with (not very cute) duckies at a bakery this morning. Rubber duckies are always a sweet choice, but probably most appropriate for adorning cupcakes or other small desserts served at showers. All you need is stiff consistency royal icing in yellow, orange and white, parchment paper squares, a black Gourmet Writer by AmeriColor, round tips #12, #10, and #3, oval tip #55, and a dusting pouch filled with a 50/50 mix of powdered sugar and cornstarch. Start by piping the body. Hold the #12 tip at a 45 degree just above a parchment square. 

 Squeeze until you've formed a ball, then draw the tip along for a short distance to make the ball into an oval. Stop pressure and pull the tip away at an upwards angle to form the peak that is the tail.

 The body should be shaped like a chunky teardrop. Allow them to firm up for a while; speed this process along by placing them under a desk lamp.

 Switch the tip to the #10. Hold the tip just above the round end of the body, again at a 45 degree angle.

 I never do a good job at piping a ball on the first try in a circumstance like this; invariably I wind up with more of a cone…

 …which can easily be tapped into a ball gently with a fingertip after touching it to the dusting pouch.

 Allow the heads to firm up while you get the orange icing ready in a bag fitted with the oval #55 tip.

 Pipe the bill by holding the tip against the head, squeezing briefly while moving the tip away, then stopping pressure and pulling the tip away completely. Round the bill with a fingertip (it will probably be pointy like a bird's beak when you pull the tip away). You can pipe either one or two of these shapes; two will make the bill appear to be open. In the final photo, the center duck only has one.

 Pipe the white eyes with the #3 tip; hold the tip just above the surface, squeeze out a tiny amount of icing, and pull the tip away. Flatten the eyes slightly with a dusted fingertip; this will help adhere them to the head.

When the white icing has dried, add dots for pupils with the Gourmet Writer. I'm sure these duckies will be happier once I've gotten around to piping them some bars of royal icing soap.