It's hard for me to believe, but Owen's 6th birthday has come and gone. My baby is growing up so quickly! It seems that only yesterday we were welcoming that tiny, red, screaming bundle of happiness into this world, and now he's a big boy who can read and ride his bike and do arithmetic, and who constantly amazes us with the depth of his scientific knowledge.
He wanted a cake this year that looked like a clock that was set to 6 o'clock. This is what I came up with:
Since Owen enjoys white chocolate, I made a white chocolate ganache in lieu of frosting. Alas, I did not make enough, but I think the sprinkles hid my mistake well enough.
Chris and I continued the handmade theme for this occasion. Using fabric I already had, I sewed him a cape, and I bought a piece of brown felt and some elastic and sewed a fake beard, which I think looks pretty darn cute if I may say so myself.
To go with this, Chris made him a sword and shield set. The shield was made from some birch plywood he had, the sword from maple.
I'm glad that he made another smaller pair for Jasper, so the boys could play together. They were delighted with these toys, and set to work playing with them immediately.
What fun it is to create gifts with your own two hands. I'm so glad that Chris and I decided to embark on this journey of becoming more self-reliant and of purchasing less. The emotional satisfaction of self-sufficiency is, to me, a greater reward than the financial one.
what a great cake! love the clock idea!!
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Posted by: tonya lemos | December 30, 2010 at 01:36 PM
That cake is precious.
Posted by: Citysister | December 30, 2010 at 02:10 PM
The swords and shields are great! My son has almost outgrown his, but has played with it a lot over the years, just made from cardboard though, not quite as fancy but he had fun designing his own crest on his. For a helmet, we transformed a KFC bucket by painting it, cut two rectangular slits near the edge for eye holes, turn it upside down and voila, it looks very authentic!
Posted by: Andrea | December 30, 2010 at 02:37 PM
Oh Yummy...birthday cake, it looks so delicious. Love the handmade gifts, they all look fantastic. Makes me wish I still had young children.
Wishing Owen a belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Posted by: Tania | December 30, 2010 at 07:51 PM
They grow all too quickly. The cake is really clever! He looks like a very happy boy. What a joy.
Posted by: Leigh | December 30, 2010 at 09:44 PM
Happy Birthday little boy!
That shield and sword set is SO MUCH better than the plastic ones you could have buy! And the fake beard is hilarious! And cute :)
Posted by: Andréann | December 31, 2010 at 09:21 AM