Cupcake Trees and Carousel Cake

Well, the carnival graduation party is over, and I lived through the carousel cake.  It did, however, reaffirm my love for the cupcake. They are so much easier, and cuter--in my opinion. I had more fun making the cupcakes, with way less stress.  But everything turned out, and everyone was happy with the outcome.  I, on the other hand, still have two inches of frosting on my counters to contend with--it was a very, very busy weekend!  I made the cupcake tower myself--it held mini cupcakes with vanilla buttercreme and stars, clown cupcakes and vanilla cupcakes with the salted carmel popcorn  buttercreme and cotton candy buttercreme.   The carousel was a 12" vanilla cake on the top tier, and the bottom was two 14" chocolate cakes!  It was a HUGE cake!   Here are a few pictures of the end products.

Once I get my kitchen back in order, I have an "Iron Cupcake" challenge from a co-worker--they want me to incorporate bacon into cupcakes.  This should be interesting!