And the Winner of the Spectacular Sandcastle Challenge is....

Mandy and her amazingly large sandcastle. While on vacation with her family in the Outerbanks she built this amazing sandcastle specifically with this challenge in mind. The pure scale of this sandcastle was very impressive. Great job Mandy (and your family).  She will receive a $10 gift card to Target, Walmart or Starbucks.

Thank you for all who entered and all who voted, we truly appreciate it.

TC

Spectacular Sandcastle Entries - Let the Voting Begin

We really got some spectacular entries for our Spectacular Sandcastle Challenge. Please take a moment and look through the amazing photos below and vote for your favorite. Thank you to all of the participants who took time out of there busy schedules to build these wonderful castles and submit photos.

Good luck to each of you. Voting Ends Tuesday, September 18th.


Entry 1:

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Entry 2:

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Entry 3:

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Entry 4:

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Entry 5:

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Entry 6:

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Entry 7:

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As always, the winner doesn't go away without some recognition and a $10 gift card to one of the following: Starbucks, Michael's Craft Store or Target!

THANK YOU FOR VOTING!

And the Winner of the Summer Fun Photo Challenge Is......

Christi and her "Run" photo! Throughout the summer Christi and her girls have done so many fun play dates and activities.  But this picture of her daughter Rose expressing pure joy running through the splashpark sprinklers topped the photos on her SD card. She changed it to black and white which really made Rose and her facial expression just shine.  Great photo Christi! She will receive a $10 gift card to Target, Walmart or Starbucks.

Thanks for all who entered. All the pictures really did capture pure summer fun. Now go build your sand castle and make your back to school cupcake. ;)

Thanks again to all of our voters. As always we appreciate your support.

TC

Summer Fun Photo Entries - Let the Voting Begin

We really got some great entries for our Summer Fun Photo Challenge. Please take a moment and look through the amazing photos below and vote for your favorite. Thank you to all of the participants who took time out of there busy schedules to submit these wonderful photos.

Good luck to each of you. Voting Ends Saturday August 18, 2012.


Entry 1: Full of Hot Air!

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Entry 2: Buried in Beach Fun!

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Entry 3: Rain, Rain...Stay and Play!

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Entry 4: Summer Sound Under the Stars

 

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Entry 5: Wait for Me!

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Entry 6: Mommy Duck and Babies!

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Entry 7: Bubbles in a fountain?

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Entry 8: I Pledge Allegiance!

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Entry 9: Airborne!

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Entry 10: Look Out Below!

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Entry 11: In Love With Parades!

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Entry 12: Run!

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Entry 13: Slip-n-Slide Joy!

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Entry 14: Beach Cuties

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Entry 15: Innocent Fun!

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Entry 16: Sky High!

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Entry 17: Hang Loose!

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August Summer Fun Photo Challenge

As you may already know our Summer Spectacular Sand Castle Challenge is already underway and we are excited to have entries rolling in, but TC Challenges is excited to announce yet another challenge. This challenge was also suggested by one of our followers and we thank you for the idea. This challenge is one that anyone can do. Without further ado, the August Challenge is........ "Summer Fun Photo Challenge."

When you think of summer what do you think of? Whatever you think summer means to you, snap a photo of it and submit to TC Challenges. It could be absolutely anything...water, sunsets, a boat, scenery, etc etc. Like we said, whatever summer means to you.

All entries are due by August 15, 2012. Please do not digitally alter your photos. If you wish, you may however change the tone of your picture to black and white or sepia.

All entries should be submitted to tcchallenges@gmail.com.

Thanks and Happy Photo Taking!

And the Winner Is...

The United States Constitution Cupcake made by Tami. She is the reigning Grand Supreme Cupcake Queen and will be awarded a $10 gift card.

This cupcake was piped using a #18 Wilton tip making individual stars in red, white and blue. The actual Constitution was made from a sugar sheet cut to size and was traced by using an Internet print out of the document. She then cut a slit into the top of the cupcake and placed the sugar sheet inside. 

Thank you for all of you who entered, the race was close. And Thank You again to all of our voters and all of the wonderful comments we have received about the cupcake entries. We will be back with more cupcake challenges in September or October.

We look forward to seeing all of your Spectacular Sand Castle submissions. We will also be announcing a new challenge soon for August.  This is one in which anyone and everyone can partake in.

Hope everyone is having a great summer!

Independence Day Cupcake Entries - Let the Voting Begin

The theme this month? Independence Day.  Please take a moment and look through the amazing patriotic entries below and vote for your favorite. We are using a new polling system that only requires you to click on a radio button found after all the entries. No need to be a Follower or send an email just click a button. It couldn't be simpler. Thank you to all of the participants who took time out of there busy schedules to submit these wonderful creations.  Good luck to each of you.

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Entry 1:

Flag & Fireworks

A flag and fireworks for your mouth.  That's right - Red and white multi-layered cupcake frosted in many blue stars with edible white candy stars, representing that grand old flag. And for the grand finale, this cupcake is sprinkled with red poprocks for a firework-like explosion in your mouth in every bite... POP! POP! POP!

Cupcake Contents:
Stars - mystery flavored Airhead candy
Red sprinkles - strawberry Poprocks

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Entry 2:

Constitution of the United States of America

Happy Birthday America! Now more than ever we need to remember our nation's history and how our country has come to be. With all the political governing conflicts, the deficit, the "changes", recalls, bills being passed, we put that all aside for this important day and remember that we are still a free country and so many brave individuals have fought for so hard and long to keep it that way. 

Cupcake Contents:
Constitution is a cut to size sugar sheet
Red, White and Blue Frosting for the flag

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Entry 3:

Ice Cream Cone

Beat the heat with a cool treat...OK maybe it won't cool you down, but it sure looks cool. :) The cupcake is cooked in an unconventional ice cream cone and frosted with tie-dyed frosting to look like a swirl ice cream cone. 

Cupcake Contents:

Frosting tie-dyed red, white and blue
Ice cream cone base

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Entry 4:

Rainbow Fireworks
Rainbow candy strips galore make this cupcake a true representation of a July 4th celebration filled with colorful fireworks.  The red, yellow, blue and green sugar candy strips burst out of this red velvet flavored cupcake.  Providing you with a sugary sweet treat on this Independence Day.

Cupcake Contents:
Red Velvet Cupcake
Rainbow Sugar Candy Strips

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Entry 5:

Uncle Sam's Hat
Fourth of July is a day we celebrate our independence.  A day we celebrate the United States of America.  What image says the United States best other than Uncle Sam of course!  Uncle Sam's image first appeared back in 1812.  Uncle Sam's hat was created by using a mold and filling it with creamy white chocolate.  Then placed a top a yummy blueberry cupcake iced with white frosting and then decorated with red, white and blue gel icing.

Cupcake Contents:
Blueberry flavored cupcake
White Chocolate hat with red, white and blue gel icing

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Entry 6:

Coconut Fireworks
Red and blue confetti fireworks make up this July Fourth Cupcake.  A celebration of America's Birthday isn't complete without a night filled with fireworks, streamers and sparklers.

Cupcake Contents:
White icing with red and blue dyed coconut.
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Entry 7:

Love for the USA
This cupcake is nothin' but love for the USA. The batter was tie-dyed red, white and blue, frosted with a pure white frosting and then adorned with 3 hearts cut from sugar sheets and frosted with red, white and blue glittered frosting. 

Cupcake Contents: 
Red, White and Blue Batter
Vanilla Frosting
3 frosted sugar sheet hearts

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Summer Challenge

This next challenge is something anyone and everyone can do. So if you are not a baker, but love competition this challenge is for you. It was suggested by one of our Followers and we couldn't be more excited. So here we go........

Do you fancy yourself as a professional sandcastle builder or just love playing in the sand with your kids?  If so, this summer, build your best looking sandcastle and take a picture and submit it to us for our Summer Challenge: Spectacular Sandcastle!

This challenge will run through the entire summer.  So if you are loading up your minivans and heading to the shore on vacation this summer or just going to the beach for the day, be sure to take a picture of your Spectacular Sandcastle. Remember your buckets and shovels and camera. 

Once you've completed your masterpiece, snap a photo and submit it to us via email at tcchallenges@gmail.com. Entries are due by 8:00pm (CST)/9:00pm (EST) no later than September 15, 2012.  Rules? Guidelines? Pfht. Who needs rules and guidelines?  There are no rules for this one. Just build, build, build and enjoy the bonding time with your family!  Voting will begin September 16th through September 18th.  Winner will be announced on September 19th. 

As always, the winner doesn't go away without some recognition and a $10 gift card to one of the following: Starbucks, Michael's Craft Store or Target!

Happy Building!

And the Winner is....

The Beer Bottle Cupcake, made by Tami. She is the new Grand Supreme Cupcake Queen and will be awarded a $10 gift card.

Thank you for all of you who entered.  We look forward to seeing all of your July Independence Day submissions. And Thank You to all of our voters, it is great to see how much support we are getting on our new cupcake adventure.

Happy Baking!

July Theme - Independence Day

Although our June challenge is still underway, we are announcing the July theme now due to time constraints. The July theme is Independence Day and it is coming up rather quickly so we wanted to give you some time to get your creative juices flowing.

Entry Guidelines:

• You may only create one single cupcake design. One cupcake top is your canvas. However, you may enter more than one cupcake with different designs if you wish.
• All designs must be original designs, thought up in your own head. Feel free to use the Internet for inspiration, but please make your own version of it, no copycats.
• All components of the cupcake should be edible.
• Entries are due by 8:00pm (CST)/9:00pm (EST) on July 4, 2012.
• Voting will begin July 5th through July 7th. Winner will be announced on July 8th.
• Email a picture of your entry along with a sentence as to why you created it and the materials used. Email your entry to: tcchallenges@gmail.com
• Winner of the challenge will receive a $10 gift card to one of the following: Starbucks, Michael's Craft Store or Target

Happy Baking! TC

Father's Day Cupcake Entries - Let the Voting Begin

Well, our first challenge under our new website is officially underway.  We are pleasantly surprised at the entries we received.  We thank everyone that took the time out of their busy busy lives to have some fun in the kitchen.  We have been receiving comments that husbands and wives are having cupcake duels by each utilizing a half of the kitchen, some are getting their kids involved and others are just having a great time with the challenges.

The theme this month?  Fathers Day.  We asked that each person submit a brief description of their cupcake as well as reason why it "speaks" Fathers Day to them....Please take a moment and look through the entries below.

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Entry 1:

Beer Cupcake:
What man wouldn't want a nice cold beer while relaxing on the lake with the smell of the charcoal grill in the air? I know my husband does. And that is exactly what we gave him for Father's Day (along with this delicious cupcake).

Cupcake Contents:
A chocolate molded beer bottle with a label made from edible sugar sheets.
The ice is clear rock candy

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Entry 2:

Camouflage/Deer Antler Cupcake:
This Father's Day themed cupcake is for all the hunting dads out there. What a fun cupcake to send with your husband for hunting trips with the guys.

Cupcake Contents:
Multi-colored frosting for the actual camouflage
The antlers are made free-hand out of melted chocolate onto some wax paper, then hardened and put into the cupcake.

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Entry 3:

The 3-Bacon, McGriddle, Bacon, Maple, Bacon, Cupcake Deluxe

On this“manly” day - Father’s day; I present to you the only cupcake manly enough to be considered worthy of this festive occasion. 

Cupcake Contents: 

This homemade cupcake (no box or envelope mix here, ladies….) is made with real maple syrup and the drippings of maple cured bacon. As you may notice, the cake contains two layers of deluxe American cheese and both Hickory and Applewood Smoked bacon. This combined with the maple flavor from the cake provides a taste similar to that of the McDonalds McGriddle sandwich, only sweeter - and much, much better…BECAUSE THERE IS MORE BACON!

It is served in a cupcake cup that is not made of your typical paper. NO! It is served in a cup of WOVEN HICKORY BACON; and is topped with homemade buttercream frosting (to look like plain butter) made of sweet cream butter, maple syrup, maple granulated sugar, powdered sugar, and other unhealthy ingredients.

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Entry 4:

Superman
When I think of Father's Day I think of my husband. In our house, he quite frankly is our Superman. "Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Its a bird, its a plane, no, its my husband!" There also may have been a time when he was a kid, when he actually thought he was Superman.

Cupcake Contents:
This superhero super-powered cupcake was done using frosting the perfect colors to represent Superman and his logo.

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Entry 5:

The Owl
I have always looked up to my Dad as a wise one, he always seems to have the answer. And my husband, well, full of wisecracks! Just kidding. But really, the important men in my life are full of wisdom, a characteristic usually given to owls - hence I decided to send this in :)

Cupcake Contents:
Wings & brows - chocolate cookies
Beak/mouth - banana runts
Eyes - pupil: eye candies, rims - jelly rings

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Entry 6:

Fishing

Father's Day is....Daddy, please take me fishing...their son's one request for this summer!

Cupcake Contents:

Pretzels and licorice for the fishing rods

Teddy grahams representing daddy and son

Goldfish used for the fish

Mini Pop Tart Crisp used as the boat

 

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Entry 7:

Camping
Father’s Day is…camping with your little amigo. (Careful buddy, that Nutrigrain bar can get awfully hot.)

Cupcake Contents:

Chocolate licorice as the cupcake surround
Teddy Grahams representing parent and child
Pringle Cracker Sticks and fruit roll-up is used for the tent
Cut up Nutrigrain bar used as the fire
Green sprinkles for the grass

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Entry 8:

Pepper

When Fathers Day comes to mind, I think of my husband and his crazy culinary skills. He loves to cook and he loves spicy food. Peppers are a main ingredient in most dishes.

Cupcake Contents:

Red and green icing gel and white frosting

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Now...its time to vote.  You can vote by leaving a comment or submitting an email.  Thank you for your participation.  Winner will be announced June 22nd.

June Theme - Father's Day

The theme for June is going to be Father's Day. Obviously Father's Day is right around the corner, June 17th. So all entries will be due by then.

Entry Guidelines:

• You may only create one single cupcake design. One cupcake top is your canvas. However, you may enter more than one cupcake with different designs if you wish.
• All designs must be original designs, thought up in your own head. Feel free to use the internet for inspiration, but please make your own version of it, no copycats. 
• All components of the cupcake should be edible.
• Entries are due by 8:00pm (CST) on June 17, 2012.
• Voting will take place June 18th until June 21st. Winner will be announced on June 22nd.
• Email a picture of your entry along with a sentence as to why you created it and the materials used. Email your entry to: tcchallenges@gmail.com
• Winner of the challenge will receive a $10 gift card to one of the following: Starbucks, Michael's Craft Store or Target. Winner will also be declared Queen or King Cupcake Grand Supreme.

Happy Baking! TC

Welcome

We are excited for the launch of our new blog and monthly cupcake challenges. Last month we hosted our first cupcake challenge themed Memorial Day on our personal blogs. Congrats to our reigning champion Johnny. It was a ton of fun and we got several entries and a lot of positive feedback. Some even expressed intent of joining in on the fun the next go around. Well, the opportunity is here. We started this blog to host monthly themed cupcake challenges. We hope you enjoy and join in on the fun as often as you can. Please tell your friends to join in as well. The more entries the merrier.

Happy Baking!
TC