It’s no secret that I’m completely obsessed with Pinterest.
For me? It’s more than a diversion. Or a social media tool.
It’s a way of life, friends.
I use it to cook. To decorate my home. To gather ideas for my garden. To plan The Cherubs’ birthday parties.
Case in point: As The Small One’s birthday approached last month, I turned to my dear friend Pinterest for ideas that would complement the Lego themed birthday party that I was planning. And I found this, courtesy of Martha Stewart Living:
I know, right?
So I went and re-created it. With an ice cream cake, because the child is insane doesn’t care for traditional cake.
And? Not to toot my own horn…but…pssssst…I’ve written a step-by-step tutorial on how I did it. I’m considering pinning it as well. Would you mind giving it a little look-see and letting me know what you think?
Ahem:
Martha Stewart Inspired Lego Ice Cream Crake – A Spin Cycle Tutorial
1. Three days prior to the anticipated birthday party, print out a color image of the cake that you wish to recreate.
2. Take it to the Dairy Queen on the corner and ask the lady behind the counter if she can do it for you. When she starts shaking with uncontrollable laughter, place an order for an undecorated Ginormous Rectangular Ice Cream Cake, muttering, “Whatever. I can decorate the thing myself. Please stop laughing at me.”
3. On your way home, stop at the grocery store and purchase marshmallows, icing, and food coloring. Congratulate yourself on how far in advance you are preparing.
4. On the day before the party, pick up the Ginormous Rectangular Ice Cream Cake that you have pre-ordered. Take it home, affix the marshmallows to the top, slice it into assorted Lego brick shapes, and return it to the freezer until the next morning. Again, pat yourself on the back for your foresight and planning.
5. The next morning, five hours before party time, mix your icing with food coloring to create adorably vivid Lego colors. Head to the freezer to remove the cake.
6. Clutch at your chest and grab the kitchen island to steady yourself as you notice that the door to the freezer is slightly ajar and has most likely been that way all night long.
7. With quivering hands, remove the cake from the freezer and find it nearing room temperature and looking like so:
8. Have a nervous breakdown followed by a hissyfit that wakes all of your Cherubs, your groom, and your dog, who vomits on your carpet in a show of solidarity.
9. Clean up the dog vomit, pull yourself together, pick up your phone and call every store within a ten mile radius who might have a replacement Ginormous Rectangular Ice Cream Cake. Get laughed at by everyone except for Baskin Robins.
10. Dash out to Baskin Robins, purchase your second Ginormous Rectangular Ice Cream Cake in less than 12 hours, hug the perplexed teenaged boy behind the register, hustle home, and begin the marshmallow-affixing and Lego-brick-shape-slicing processes. Again.
11. With time running short, forgo the return-to-freezer step and go right to icing. Discover shortly thereafter that the icing process is a royal pain in the arse which requires time and patience that you do not possess.
12. While spewing a wide variety of words that are not meant for your Cherubs’ delicate ears, make a huge mess of the icing process, like so:
I recommend using your fingers to spread the icing.
The green will take approximately twelve days to wear off of your fingers.
The marshmallows will attempt to slide off of the rapidly melting cake. Show them who’s boss.
13. When you are finished, you should have a Frosted Lego Ice Cream Cake that looks like so:
Contrary to popular belief, I received no compensation from Baskin Robins for writing this tutorial.
And that, my friends, is all there is to it.
I know what you’re thinking. You totally want to follow me on Pinterest now. Click here to make that happen.
Until next week…
OMGoodness! I have so been there. LOVE IT! And I hope the Small One loved his cake – imperfections and all, his Mommy made it and that’s what counts.
That’s the fabulous thing about children, isn’t it, Debbie? He thought it was awesome, and his friends gobbled it up with rave reviews.
LOL…I’ve made the Lego cake for Kiddo for the last two years. Both times I kicked myself and cursed my stupidity and frugality. It’s a PITA enough with regular cake (and yes, that icing tastes like pure food coloring) but an ice cream cake? You are just a glutton for punishment!
Wait…you made it two years IN A ROW? And I’M the glutton for punishment?
Oh Sue you are much more dedicated than I!!!! My second purchase would have been-in defeat-a store bought cake. Kudos!!! Thanks for the giggle! Hope the kid appreciated it!!
Kerri – He tried to talk me out of going out to buy the second cake after I had my hissyfit. I think he had concerns about road rage.
This made me laugh out loud! Great effort! So glad you have sooooo many other qualities and you’re soooo pretty….that will get you through times like these!
Oh, Tam…you’ve always been such the affirmer. Thank you, my friend.
ps – Does this mean that you *don’t* think that my cake rivals M. Stewart’s? Humph.
I’m already looking forward to next Thursday!
Bet your groom really did the icing and you are just covering for him??? Looks great to me (we guys always stick together) any left in the freezer????
Ahem. Did you look at the photos? That’s all me, dude. Also – Are you insinuating that I have man hands?
That you actually tried to do this? You’re my hero.
Also? If I tried this, I would have eaten half the cake in the process.
Alison! That reminds me of the untold bright spot of the story! I threw that first cake back in the freezer and enjoyed it in bits and pieces for a week after the party. Ugly or not, I NEVER let a perfectly good dessert go to waste.
Three words. Ice. Cream. Cake.
HILARIOUS! How about you and I start a Pinterest section for “underachievers” … you know, a section of “projects-gone-wrong” to make everyone else feel better. But no offense, I LOVE your Lego Cake. *wink …
Oh, and still laughing about the dog vomit.
Steph. Seriously. The wheels are already turning on this concept.
On a somewhat related topic, have you seen THIS board of mine? http://pinterest.com/SueCoates/things-i-well-never-do-ever/
And, yeah – Macy the Geriatric Weimaraner is my homegirl. She supports me like that. Not with words. You know…with excretions.
OH MY GOSH!!!!!! I am laughing so hard I’m crying right now. Only because this is something that would happen to me, even though you tried to be prepared early.
I think those giant Legos look awesome!!
So did the cherubs like it?
xo
Dude. We were simultaneously commenting at each other’s places. #BloggingSynergy
Yes, The Small One and all of his friends were thrilled. That’s boys for you…thank goodness.
Best. Tutorial. Ever..
Thanks, girlfriend. Xo
Macy puking on the floor is a total Sophie move, the anxiety in the room “Oh no moms mad, gotta throw up, gotta throw up, blah” I give you an A+ for effort, my mom would have given me said rectangular plain cake from Baskin Robbins for my birthday. Haven’t you seen the drive thru pictures, I don’t know about you but my food never comes out looking that pretty. It’s fake food they use I swear!
Yes. And the food dye and marshmallows that *I* used? 100% organic.
All I know about that cake is that my son ate two pieces. It was an 8 year old boy’s dream cake. Are you sure Macy didn’t hit the spicy corn dip ’round midnight? Just sayin’.
Yeah. Sorry about your kid and the multiple pieces of cake. How long did it take to wear off HIS face? A month? Also, for all I know, Macy could have raided our fridge while I was preoccupied with smooshing jumbo sized marshmallows onto ice cream the first time around.
OMG…totally nominating you for cake wrecks, Sue!
Ooooh…didn’t even think about that, Robyn! How awesome would THAT be? Another friend told me to submit Martha’s and my photos, side-by-side, to The Chive. #WeekendProjects
If I knew how, I would post a picture of the first birthday cake I ever made.
It was such a disaster. I had never heard of a “crumb coat,” an in my zeal to frost the stupid effing thing, I pretty much demolished it. I managed to frost a quadrant, on which I drew grover, and a BIG speech bubble coming from his mouth that said, “Oh no! This cake is a disaster! Happy Birthday anyway!”
…it’s all one long painful learning process, right?
Yeah…I suppose…but here’s the thing: I’ve been at this motherhood gig for ELEVEN YEARS. When will my hazing end?
OMG, laughing so hard AGAIN at the idea of your Grover cake!!!
Oh my, that is so funny! So glad to have found your blog! Yes think I will follow you on Pinterest
Jennifer
http://www.practicallyperfectprincess.com/
Nice to meet you, Jennifer! And might I suggest that you check out my favorite boards: 1) Sass 2) Yeah. I pinned that. 3) Things I will never do. EVER.
Thank you!! Sometimes I feel like I am the only one that can’t achieve the greatness that Martha puts out there. LOVE your cake and am sure the party goers did too!!!
You mean to say that I *didn’t* achieve greatness with that cake, D? I am hoping to get a contributing gig @ Martha Stewart Living with this post…
I’m scared of Pinterest. I already have too many ‘wasting my time’ hobbies on the go. If I figured out Pinterest, I might as well ship my kids off to an orphenage. FYI: I’d totally eat that effin ice cream cake!
Two things:
Girl, Pinterest was what allowed me to write this post. #NotAWasteOfTime
I totally effin *did* eat that cake. I just closed my eyes. No big whoop. xo
Hi, Sue. Your “spin” is fun. Just keep trying! This is actually my path to a Belated Happy Birthday to you and your twins. Thought about you on the 24th, but this is my speed of action lately. All is basically OK among we three seniors here. Martha is loving motherhood and John’s family is well also. Much Love to you and yours!
Thanks, Aunt Dixie. Love back to you.
Love you getting your bake-on!
Ahem. You love LAUGHING at me while I get my bake on…
This was hilarious. I would never attempt such a thing, but it was mighty fun to read about it. Good for you. Anyone with 1281(at the time of this writing) pins on Pinterest deserves a follow, so I did that too… Fun..
Wait…you’re *not* going to attempt it? This wasn’t enough inspiration for you to give it a go? Hmmm…well…in any case…thanks for the follow…
That is the “prettiest on the inside” cake I have ever seen. Funny post, I hope you pinned the tutorial!
Prettiest on the inside. I quite like that. Thank you.
I love your baking! I hope the rest of the family did too.
They dared not turn up their noses at it after what I went through. Thank you.
LOL and waking up the baby!!!
This is THE BEST tutorial ever!!!! so glad you linked up today!!!! I’m pinning it too, hee hee hee hee!
Emily
http://www.weakandloved.co
Nice how neatly it slid into your link-up, huh?
I’m not the only one! I attempted a Crayola box cake I found on Pinterest for my son’s second birthday party this past April. GIven the fact that I was a fondant virgin, I decided to do a test run before the big day. After it was finished, I though it would be best to let other novice fondant users in on some of the important lessons I learned. Here’s the link if you would like to check it out!!!
http://www.texangrowsinbrooklyn.com/2012/04/fondant/
Oooh…I can’t wait to see. ps – Fondant terrifies me.
It should! I must confess that after the test run with the bi+@# queen from he!!, I chickened out of doing a cake completely covered in fondant. The one I tossed together for the actual party was MUCH EASIER!!!
http://www.texangrowsinbrooklyn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DSC_0756.jpg
That is hysterical! My kids are famous for asking for impossible cakes, and I’m crazy enough to try to accomodate their requests. I can’t believe Baskin Robbins didn’t compensate for that post!
Seriously. Why do we put ourselves through these ordeals? And WHY wont BR fork over the dough, yo?
Some of the funniest shizz-nit ever! It turned out gorgeous, all things considered.
You are so sweet, Missy. But not a very good liar. xo
The dog vomiting in solidarity make me laugh out loud. And the green food coloring taking 12 days to wear off your fingers? Exactly. I made a princess cake for my daughter’s 3rd birthday and had blue fingers for days and days.
Love your blog! Found you via Finding the Funny, BTW.
I love meeting fellow Finding the Funny gals! And yes, my dog has got my back like that. She’s really great. As long as I have plenty of Resolve on hand.
It sounded like such a swell idea. But I started thinking, as I was reading, that the frozen cake wouldn’t stay frozen for long….. What a nightmare. And you were so well prepared! Found you at finding the funny.
The best laid plans, right? Oy. At least I got some funny out of the ordeal. Nice to “meet” you!
Apparently beauty comes from within … and I think it might be the case with your cake! My recommendation would be to buy a pre made lego cake looking all gorgeous but then again where would the fun be in that. At least when you little one is bigger you can have a good old laugh about this. Fab sense of humor .. bet you don’t sweat the small stuff. Great blog!
Cheers from New Zealand
Yes. From within. I quite like that philosophy. And you’re right…It’s laugh or cry about the small stuff, right? Always choose laughter. Always.
I am cracking up. This is hysterical. lol
Way funnier now than it was at the time, let me tell you…
Nailed it!
You were one of the most-clicked links at last week’s #findingthefunny. We’re featuring you tomorrow – and I’m pinning this!
How fun! Thanks, Anna!
I’m laughing so hard!!!! Ha!!! The pictures, your words, your attempt, the outcome- so hilarious. It’s that dang temperature thing God has going on. It’s not your fault that ice cream melts in warm conditions! So glad you linked this up to #findingthefunny last week.
So thankful that I had the warped thought to grab the camera when it really started to hit the fan. Actually, I had my groom grab the camera. My hands were a little…ummm…full.
[...] – Ten Daddy Tid-Bits 2U, Love Mom. #3 – Fifty Shades of Red Pink Owl Momma #4 – Martha Stewart Lego Cake: A Spin Cycle Tutorial The Spin Cycle #5 – Why Is My Laptop in the Oven? The Mom of the [...]
O.m.g!!!!
You are going to be so jealous of the Lego ninjago cake I just had for my sons birthday…..
http://lgoogoogaga.wordpress.com/category/lego/
The trick is, to be FRIENDS with people who are crafty and clever and then TAKE THE CREDIT!!!!!!!
Heading over to check it out now…and yes, I love my crafty-clever friends something fierce.
[...] The Spin Cycle (Martha Stewert Inspired Lego Ice Cream Cake). I sat and starting laughing at this post and the [...]
I don’t see what the problem is–it looks perfect. Screw pinterest–I think it’s time for you to become a professional cake decorator…;)
Meredith. You obviously know hidden talent when you see it. A wise woman, you are.
I’m laugh-crying at the finished product, I’m sorry but I can’t help myself.
If it helps at all, I spruced up the top of my son’s birthday cake with the craftiest “8″ made from stenciled powdered sugar – I thought I was soooo clever. It erupted in a GIGANTIC plume of sugar that settled all over the table and guests when he blew out the candles.
Awesome. You take the…ummm…cake.
[...] The Spin Cycle – Martha Stewart Inspired Lego Ice Cream Cake. [...]
OK I can’t resist. When daughter number 2 had an Easter Birthday I (brilliantly) decided that she should have the Wilton designed cake that was a basket with a bunny sitting on top. I, like you, planned ahead. I made the 2 9×13 in. cakes that comprised the basket and the bunny cake in advance and froze them. Since this cake was to be a surprise I did not begin assembling until daughter number 2 had drifted off to visions of birthday parties past and future. The basket was the 2 oblong cakes frosted with a basket weave pattern. That only took several hours. Groom bailed on me and went to bed. It was after he left for dreamland that I realized I needed dowel sticks placed inside the basket cake to support the bunny. (The bunny was baked in a special pan so that the cake is actually a 3 dimensional bunny.) So down to the basement I go, find the wooden dowels and try to cut them to the correct length – no luck. Up 2 flights of stairs to wake groom to cut dowel. Somehow he managed to wake up enough to get it done without cutting off a finger or hand and I inserted the dowels in the basket cake, placed the bunny on top and began icing the bunny, which required a star tip on the pastry bag and about a hundred million little “stars” to make the bunny’s fur. I think I rolled into bed around 4 AM (I’ve actually blocked it from my mind). Cake and party were a great success and No I’ve never made the cake again. Anyone need a special bunny cake pan???
[...] jotting down the items that I’d need to purchase. I take pride in the fact that, though I’m no Martha Stewart, I am able to prepare and serve an almost entirely home-cooked meal, from the stuffing to the [...]
Hahahaha…..(pause to catch breath)….. Hahahaha!!!
Phew Sue I just love this post. We are def sisters from another mister!
This was hilariously awesome! I have to commend you for even trying to make the Lego cake, because I would have just purchased the first ice cream cake I saw and called it a day.
Yeah. I learned my lesson for sure, Stacey…it’s been store-bought ever since.
You get so many points just for attempting this cake. I wouldn’t have even gotten that far.
I’m sure it was yummy.
You’ve inspired Moms everywhere to finally abandon the delusional idea that you can make your kid’s cake. Every year I think I’m going to do it only to decide at the last minute to buy it. Then, I kid myself that I could have done a better job. You have definitely proved otherwise.
Thanks!
Thanks, Brenda…I think.
LOL! That was hilarious!! I hope alll went well with the Little One’s birthday party
. Thansk so much for sharing your post with us @ My Favorite Posts SHOW OFF Weekend Blog Party!
Jessica
The Wondering Brain
Sue,
Just wanted to say “thank you” for linking up on my Bloglovin Blog Hop!
Take care,
Meg
Happy Kids, Inc
LOL!!! This is so funny! Our creations never look as good as they do on Pinterest, do they?
I’m dying because I was googling Lego cakes and your blog popped up!!! Hahah! Love you and your talent. Google thinks you’re #6 page worthy
OMG!! this is hilarious. I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard
It’s my son’s 6th birthday this Sunday and I was googling Lego cakes in an attempt to make my own (stupid idea, don’t really know what I’m thinking as cakes are NOT my thing). After reading this I am leaning towards buying one haha!! Best cake tutorial I have EVER read, I laughed so hard I had tears!!! Thank you 
My pleasure. Truly. Hope the wee one’s bday was a hoot!
it’s rare
that i actually laugh out loud
at a blog post
but this
this
was awesome
mainly because i too
attempted a lego cake
for my cherub’s birthday
only to have it not look
exactly
like the one on Pinterest
a curse be on you Martha Stewart.
Alison
Nancherrow
I just went back and read this piece again. You are hysterical. I couldn’t stop laughing !
[...] Sue’s entire hilarious 13-step Lego cake tutorial on her blog, The Spin Cycle, then visit her on Facebook, Twitter and the Pinterest, where she will [...]
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