Amanda puts the "pretty" in Bake It Pretty
A few years ago, trolling around Etsy with my first bit of Bake and Destroy shirt sale money burning in hole in my PayPal account, I discovered a shop called A. Bell Emporium and was instantly smitten. Plastic ballerinas, kitchy mushrooms and wee little deer all ideal for topping the weirdo cupcakes I’d been baking and destroying. It was one of – if not THE – first Etsy purchased I ever made. A few days later, a box arrived and inside, a sweetly-wrapped package of vintage cake decorations and special surprises awaited me.
Through the magic of the Interwebs, I got to know Amanda, the lady behind the emporium. I often referenced her colorful cupcake papers and fun cupcake toppers on my blog and I like to think that as she watched my little hobby turn into a big-time website I watched her Etsy shop transform into a full-blown e-commerce site.
A co-worker recently bought my a gift certificate to Bake It Pretty, which I instantly cashed in for gnome candy molds and other treasures and it got Amanda and I talking. I post a lot of Q&As with chefs, but what about the people who make life more fun for us home bakers? Amanda agreed to subject herself to my pestering and here you have it – a super official interview with Amanda of Bake It Pretty, complete with an amazing prize for one lucky reader! And if you can’t get enough Amanda, you can get even more on her blog!
What were you doing before you started a. bell emporium?
Like most young-ish couples with a toddler, I worked different part time jobs so I could mostly stay home with my kiddo. I was a nanny to two other kids in my home, and I picked up server shifts at an old restaurant gig, The Wild Monkey. (No, it wasn’t a strip club – just sounds like one.) I started blogging because it just looked fun, and I had always been crafty, and into baking, gardening, etc. Aside from making new friends, and having an interesting hobby, I didn’t really expect anything to come from it.
How did you find/decide on the items you offered for sale?
I never imaged I’d been in the baking supply business! I did a few blog posts for fun about some interesting cupcake toppers I bought from a local, old school cake and candy hobby shop. The emails inquiries were almost overwhelming; everyone wanted to know where I found my retro-style cake toppers and miniatures. I quickly realized that these old-fashioned hobby shops were few and far between, and that the Internet was severely lacking in unique, retro baking supplies. I had the quintessential light bulb moment: there was a need – and I could fill it. The rest is history.
Soda Pop Toppers
What were your best sellers back then?
Sadly, several of my best sellers from back in the day are now discontinued. I never give up hope that I’ll find them again someday, but it’s so depressing when something that people love is unavailable to me. Some of those toppers include: Boom Boxes, Retro Fawns, and Turntables (I actually may have been able to resurrect these, but I’m not sure yet so stay tuned!) Lots of the charm-like miniatures were actually purchased by jewelry makers and collage artists more than bakers. I always thought that was cool, seeing all of the crazy things that crafty folks were creating with these items.
How did having an Etsy shop prepare you for launching BakeItPretty.com?
I wouldn’t have known where to start if it wasn’t for Etsy. I had already been selling a few handmade things (tote bags, stuffies, and such) on the side and since crafting supplies were – and are – a part of the Etsy marketplace, I naturally felt comfortable opening a new shop just for the baking supplies. I learned so much. So. Much. From profit margin, to shipping policies, photography and marketing – I did it all myself, and all from scratch. Lots of mistakes were made too, believe me. The best part about using an online marketplace like Etsy is that you can give your ideas/products an audience with very little time or risk. It gave me the confidence boost I needed to realize that this wasn’t just a little idea – it was actually viable. It could really make money, and not just on a hobby-type scale.
What made you decide to close your successful Etsy store and open up an e-shop of your own?
After the launch and relative of the new website, it started to become difficult to keep both shops running smoothly and control the inventory. Etsy is not the perfect venue for selling large amounts of inexpensive items, I was always aware of that, but as my sales grew it became very clear that the per-transaction fees and structure of Etsy in general just didn’t jive with how my shop had evolved. Also, certain features I had come to need, like being able to establish a minimum order amount, are not available through Etsy. I actually do plan to keep the Etsy shop alive, and in the future I want to keep a much smaller and select inventory of special kits and samplers available on Etsy. It’s hard for me to give up my “post” over there, and I look forward to being able to keep the Etsy shop going, (but I probably won’t get to that project until after the holidays!)
How did you decide on the name?
Naming things is not my specialty. When we had our son, the registry nurse came back five times to our hospital room and finally had to demand that we, “Name this baby, already!” For my business, I never really liked the “A. Bel Emporium” thing I had going originally. It was an odd mish-mash of my name (Amanda Isabel,) and I just liked the word “emporium.” Nice logic, eh? I knew that I wanted to change up the shop name when I was planning the new website and I really agonized over it. I had no ideas. All I knew was that I wanted it to be short, snappy, easy to spell, relatively unique and hopefully a bit retro in nature. I came up with “Bake It Pretty” ….and I didn’t really love it, but it was the best I had and it was available legally, so we went with it! It took me while to warm up to it, and I actually like it a lot more now that I first did. It’s growing on me. I like that it’s a name and a statement. You can add a period to the end and it’s a sentence: Bake It Pretty. The end.
I like the way you think. Bake and Destroy. The end.
What were some challenges you faced when you were designing/launching the store?
Since we started small and grew so organically, there were not many problems. There was a lot to learn, but everything ran pretty smoothly. The biggest thing we struggle with now is growing too quickly. That may sound obnoxious, but trust me: growing too much too fast is really hard. Being successful is great… if you are prepared and can keep up with the demand. We received some amazing press a few months ago that really rocketed our business to a whole new level, a level that we had hoped to work up to much more gradually, and it was an extremely stressful and crazy time for us. Of course, we are immensely grateful for the surge in business, but it’s been a real wake up call for us: hiring employees, training them, setting up a payroll, reconfiguring our taxes (!) … this is all scary stuff. As Biggie would say, “Mo Money, Mo Problems.” I think many people (myself included) wish for success without actually thinking about the logistics that go along with it.
Stick 'em up.
Oh my god. Let’s do another Q&A where you just quote Biggie.
Your site is one of the cutest out there, tell us about your vision when you were working with the designer.
Aw, thanks! I was probably really annoying to work with from a designer’s point of view, because I didn’t have a super clear vision of what I wanted. I knew I wanted something” retro-vintage” in nature, and no cupcake images in the logo. Other than that, I was really open, and I’m still changing and evolving the site design as I go. I think most people think that’s bad for business branding, etc. But, the shop has already changed so much from where it as last year, or even last month! I’ve allowed myself, for at least the first year or so, to let the shop evolve until it feels just right. (And I think we are almost there…)
Who designed the site, by the way?
Hope Wallace did our original site design and logo, and I loved working with her. I also did many, many alterations on my own to the side design. Our site host, Pappashop, is great because even a novice like me can control and edit much of the side design and layout fairly easily. The downside is the lack of features and usability. One of the reasons we are doing a big site redesign soon…. I can’t wait!
I read you recently hired your first employee, what part of the business do you handle as opposed to your new employee(s)?
We love our new Team Bake It Pretty! Seriously, our first experience with employees has been great so far. We have one full-timer, and two part-timers. We are training them in every aspect of packing orders, shipping packages, restocking products, organizing inventory, assembling kits, and portioning products. Some things that I am still in complete charge of and are NOT being done by our employees include: sourcing and ordering new products, answering emails & phone calls, photographing new goods and adding them to the site, blogging & social networking, making tutorials, etc. I have a certain, special person in mind to help me on that end of the biz…more on that later!
Since you launched I’ve seen a few other quirky baking supply sites, what sets your store apart?
Since the beginning, I’ve felt it was important to not make the shop “all about cupcakes.” Gasp! Shocking, I know. Don’t get me wrong, I love cupcakes and I do not think they are just a passing fad. But, I knew from the beginning that I wanted to be so much more than just cupcakes, so much more than even just a supply shop, and I think that mentality is what sets me apart. I sort of went out on a limb with some of the party supplies, gifts, and vintage candy that I stock in the shop, but I figured, “Hey, if I love this stuff, there has to be other people who will like it too, right?” So far, it’s been working out pretty well, and customers are responding favorable to the wide variety of items we carry. Yes, cupcakes and cute baking decorations are hip right now and everyone wants to jump on the bandwagon, but trends fade out, and good ideas are always going to be replaced by the-next-big-thing. You have to be so ahead of the game, it’s not even funny. I’ll never be able to rest, I will always be scouting for new, and hard-to-find products, ideas, tutorials, etc. It’s exciting, and also kind of draining, but I know that keeping my shop fresh will be the only way it will survive.
Cute cupcake papers - they're like crack.
What is your best seller right now?
Cupcake liners! Wow, people really, really love cupcake liners. Actually, a lot of that has to do with Better Homes & Gardens doing a feature on our baking cups this summer. But really, you folks just can’t get enough baking cups, can you? Not that I blame you…they are pretty awesome.
Do you have any personal favorite items you carry?
I’ve been geeking out over the party supplies these days; it’s one of my favorite categories to expand. I think normal “party supply stores” are usually a disappointment. I really have fun searching for retro-style decorating supplies, and it so fun putting together orders and imagining all of the amazing parties that people are throwing with this stuff!
Is there anything you’re always on the look out for?
Well, since baking cups are in hot demand these days, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get a thrill every time I sourced a new style…especially one that I really had to dig deep for. You would not believe how hard it is to find these suckers! Aside from that, I’m really into scouting for unique packaging supplies, especially for the holidays when I know everyone likes to gift their baked goods to friends and family.
The photography for your store is adorable – do you have any tips for shooting small things with such detail?
Thank you! You know, I bought a fancy, new camera a year ago and I’m still learning how to use it. Photography doesn’t come easily to me, but I do enjoy it. I guess I have the same tips that everyone uses: turn off the flash, natural light only, and use a tripod (though I hate wrestling with my tripod and rarely use it, so there you go.)
What do you use for the background detail in the photos?
In the very beginning, I used vintage fabric from my personal stash. I loved the patterns, but I hated ironing…so I compromised with colorful scrapbook paper from the craft store. I’ve always liked having bold colors and patterns in my photos. These products are so fun, and picturing them floating in a plain white background just doesn’t do them justice.
Do you have any advice for someone reading this who is considering making a big decision about his/her career?
Don’t make the jump unless you are 100% confident. You don’t have to necessarily know how everything is going to work out, but you have to truly believe, not just hope, that you can do it. You can’t fake confidence. Your gut will tell you what to do – listen to it.
Tell us about your home life – who do you share your home with?
My husband Mike and I have been married for 8 years now, and we both run the business together. Mike quit his 9-5 when we sold our house last year, moved to North Carolina, and launched the new business. We have a son, Max, who is almost seven years old. We are currently home/unschooling – and we also run the business from home, too. It’s pretty nuts. But we love the flexibility of working for ourselves, and being able to spend our days together. We figure that Max will either grow up and be inspired by our family entrepreneurship, or totally annoyed by it and run screaming to a 9-5 job.
Cocky cupcakes
How do you balance a growing business and your responsibilities to your family? I’d imagine you have some supportive people behind you.
Oh yes, the family support has been huge. But I have to give a major shout out to my dad, our head accountant. We knew from the get go that we would hire an accountant for the business, and we were so grateful when my father offered to keep our books free of charge! Not only is he totally trustworthy, but it’s also good for him to have a hand in our business and see that we are actually making money and able to support ourselves, and that we are paying our taxes properly – it makes him feel a lot more confident about our future.
What is your favorite thing to bake?
I really, really, love to make pies. My homemade piecrust is pretty insane (if I do say so myself.) Since Mike and Max don’t have much of a sweet tooth for pie, I usually eat them all myself. And gain 5 pounds. Hence, I don’t make pie very often. It’s so sad.
What’s your favorite baked treat?
It’s a tie between my Grandma’s homemade cinnamon rolls and rice pudding. I’m all about the carbs.
Do you have a favorite local bakery? What about one you love to visit away from home?
We are still exploring Asheville, but Short Street Cakes has some of the BEST cupcakes you’ll find around here. And whenever I can find an excuse, I’ll drive down to Charlotte and go to Amelie’s French Bakery – that place is a dream come true. They have the most unbelievable pastry selection, including the illusive French macaroon! And the best part? They are open 24-7. You can go buy a pain au chocolat at 2 am…. and there will probably be a jazz band playing. I think the last time we were there Max spent 20 minutes talking to the lead singer of the Black Crows, (but that’s just what the lady at the counter told me, because I have no idea who that dude was.)
What are some of your favorite places to shop online?
I just bought a ton of candy from Have It Sweet Confections and it’s all amazing! I highly recommend the salted caramels. I do love shopping on Etsy for gifts and treats. I don’t really buy clothes online, I’m a strange, tall body type. I buy lot of books and such on Amazon. I spend so much time online working on the shop, and ordering things for the shop…I always think that I want to get out in the real world when I shop for myself. Which sounds good in theory, but then just leads to me wandering around the mall bored. Yep, online shopping is the way to go.
What’s one album you could listen to over and over?
Any Tom Petty album. I’m a big fan, in a borderline creepy kind of way.
Oh my gosh! Me too! I mean, not creepy – but I loooove Tom Petty!
Whose magic is more powerful, a gnome or a unicorn?
I think unicorns are more powerful, they just don’t know it.
Magical magic from Bake It Pretty
But which one makes a better cupcake?
I’m gonna go with the gnomes on this one, since they have opposable thumbs. You can’t make a decent cupcake when you’re all hooves and horn. Sorry, Unicorns.
What’s next for BakeItPretty.com? Any new items or ideas we should get excited about?
Oh man, lot’s of new stuff coming up. Most importantly, a big site redesign and a new ecommerce provider. Lots of great bells and whistles like customer accounts, wish lists and registries, easier checkout, automatic email shipping updates, and lots more…. I am so stoked! Basically, these are all things that “real” websites have, that we have had to do without. I feel like Pinocchio did when he became a real boy – “We’re going to be a real, live website now! Yippee!”
Thanks so much to Amanda for taking the time to let us in on what it’s like to say, “fuck it, I’m doing what I want!” I’m psyched that your shop is doing well and I hope I’ve turned a few new people on to the cuteness that is Bake It Pretty. And now for the prize – check out Amanda’s shop and leave a comment on this post about your favorite thing she carries. I’ll choose one random commenter (on Oct. 3, 2009) to receive a $50 gift certificate to Bake It Pretty! (Also thanks to Amanda for that!) Now get to browsing!
Wow – this was a record-breaking post! I actually had to upgrade my server due to all the traffic! Thanks a lot to everyone who commented and congrats to Lindsay, comment #40. Looks like we’ll need to team up with Bake It Pretty again soon!
Great interview! Thanks soo much, it’s pretty inpsiring.
My favorite thing besides the leopard print baking cups (I always think I’m immune to decorative things like that and think “what makes one better than another!?” until I see a leopard print number, doh!) is definitely the lighting bolt cookie cutter! And the unicorn too… okay I can’t decide. But that would be a pretty awesome mix to bring to a party, I’m thinking.
I love the cupcakes 101 baking and decorating kit! i must have that 🙂
I cant pick just one. I love the 7 deadly sins grinders, colored white chocolate melts, mr. pickles bags and wonder woman ring toppers. Such cute stuff!
Oh my goodness, your doillies are making me swoon! I could spend the $50 giftcard just on doillies! I’m officially a fan!!!
I’m planning a DIY wedding for next fall (yes, planning to bake 200 cupcakes). Needless to say I love the paisley cupcake liners, the cupcake stands, and the wee gnome toppers. Also, we are planning on chocolate covered espresso beans for favors and I love the vintage print bags and all the various tag options. Needless to say I’ve bookmarked her store!
Awesome interview. I drooled over her etsy site for a long long time. I’m loving just about everything on the site – but would love to get my hands on some of the cute packaging stuffs.
That is sum interview. Good job.
Now my favorite thing? Thats a tuff one cuz she has way too many things I just gotta have.
The cute owl candy molds (I have a mild owl obsession), Almost all the lovely designer baking cups, the cupcake bandaids are too cute (where does she find this stuff?) and I have to try those grinders!
I’m sorry But I cant pick just one. Please dont exclude me because I have love for it all. xoxox
Natalie – excellent interview! Amanda’s answers are entertaining and so inspiring! What a GORGEOUS shop Bake It Pretty is – now I’m in trouble!
LOVE the Dotty Baking Cups…the Honey Bee Cutter…Creeping Spider Toppers…Sweet Server Cupcake Display Tower…Striped Bakers Twine…German Cotton Mushroom Decorations…Handy Mushroom Clothespins…oh look, I spent the $50! 🙂
The flavoring oils look fantastic!
I LOVE Bake It Pretty! A better question would be: “what don’t I like?” If I have to narrow it down to one item I’d pick the 3D Ghosts given the time of year and my excitement for Halloween.
Shoot! I gotta go with the baking cups. Specifically the Tilt-a-Whirl Baking Cups in 4 Colors. I have the orange one and it reminds me of an Orange Creamsicle! Thanks for the fabu giveaway Amanada and Natalie! I hope I win!
/Clara
So many adorable things! The zombie hand cake toppers are definitely my favorite!
Totally awesome interview… you turned me on to this shop when it was on Etsy and I bought tons of cupcake liners. And those are my favorite, specifically the tulip cupcake liners. I got so many compliments on the tulip cupcake liners this spring! My cupcakes are already delicious, but presenting them in a beautiful wrapper is even better!
I love the deer cupcake toppers 🙂
It is 2:49 am here and I have been looking at the website since 12am.
I can’t decide what I like best but I am definitely buying some of those adorable popcorn and pickle bags!!
I love love love the Bento lunch boxes but they are all sold out! 🙂
Beautiful stuff!
Thanks for the great interview and a new baking supply utopia!
I love the bake it pretty site! Right now I’m digging the Garden Rabbit toppers and the Retro Rocket Party Straws!
I love the animal print cupcake liners!
I LOVE THIS SHOP!!
everything is so cute! i want all of it in my kitchen NOW!
The assorted Lambs chocolate Mold are my favorite thing in the shop because they are exactly like the vintage one my grandma used to make on Easter.
I love love love Bake it Pretty! my favorites are all the colorful liners and the miniature vinyl records. also, I can’t bake cupcakes without using the large frosting tips- they make the perfect swirl!
How could I choose just one thing from Bake It Pretty! As of right now, I really like the Halloween cupcake toppers, I think the 3D ghosts are my favorite!
What a fantastic interview. I love reading about people doing and succeeding at what they love. Makes me hopeful! LOL
I am absolutely in love with the happy baker tags….what a great way to label your goodies….and I do give away alot of goodies.
Now I can dream about what I would spend the $50 on in case I win! Awesome! If not, you can count on some business from me for the holidays! LOL
Take care,
Tania
I really like the happy baker round tags – those are ADORABLE!
Thanks for the inspirational article – that is so cool. 🙂
Cupcake papers! I need a twelve step program, and here you are leading me to one of the best pushers. Delightful selection. I’m doomed. 😉
I have to choose just one thing? It’s all too cute. But if I have to pick, I’d say the toast stampers. My kids would go nuts for those, especially the tic-tac-toe one which is perfect for their PB&J sandwiches!
I just discovered her shop a few months ago and totally went crazy w/ the cupcake liners. The ones that are calling me now from her shop are those animal print liners. Those are too friggin cute.
Totally impossible to pick only one favorite thing from that minbdlowingly amazing shop! The magical forest cupcake topper sampler makes my heart hurt with its perfection, as does anything called “Luster Dust”. Thank you so much for this totally inspiring interview! Makes me want to quit grad school and…do anything else.
Love, love her stuff! I trying to narrow down my favorites on the cupcake liners so I can get my hands on some.
i love all baking cups :DD i want it :))
mini loaf pans and all cupcake cases!!! :))
I like the sewing machine cookie cutter!
I love the Holiday Cupcake Stand-so festive for your cupcakes!
I love all the different cupcake wrappers! So many to choose from! SO hard to pick which ones are my favorite!
oops! I forgot to mention what I want… EVERYTHING! I am ordering the carmen designer cups right now with the turquoise coloring for my icing, can’t wait for my daughter’s birthday to make them!
Awesome interview! I cant believe they still make those candy buttons and cigarettes!!! Want! Want! Want!
I’d have to buy cupcake holders. There are so many pretty options!!
What an awesome interview and WHAT AN AWESOME PRIZE!!! I love how generous Amanda is. I think that is a part of what makes her so successful. She’s so real and just a darn good person. :O) I am so happy for Amanda and her family that her business has been growing and growing and making more and more people happy everyday. I am a HUGE fan of Amanda and her shop (I even purchased from A. Bel Emporium when it was running!!! So proud!!!) and have a favorite item from every section on the site. My all time favorite right now, though, would have to be the peacock picks that she hasn’t even listed yet. They only made a short appearance on her little video. FROM the shop I would say… The retro happy birthday paper bags in that gorgeous tiffany blue color with the little boy and girl on the front in party attire. I want them for my 30th birthday party. Can someone please throw me a party based entirely on those bags??? Purdy please??? Crossing my fingers and saying my prayers to win!!!
hooray for amanda and her fam! i’ve been a fan of hers for years now (i love that i can say that, haha) and i’m so happy, excited, and totally inpsired (what a cheer!) seeing how her business has grown.
first off- whoa, amanda that is soooooo amazing that you have a 24/7 bakery near you. your whole interview was awesome, haha, but i seriously did not know something like that existed outside of my dreams. wow..
i’ve gotten so many special things from a.bel emporium / bake it pretty.. i love the cupcake liners and cake toppers.. my current favorites might be the sweet little chicks with sailor hats (super cute, i just found those tonight) and the disco glitter that i am dying to try!
so happy to have read this piece!
You gotta be friggin kidding me with the toadstool bento boxes! I gotta get a second job now!
Great interview!! It’s really hard choosing just one thing… My favorites Snow White & Gnomes Cake toppers and Petite Rainbow or mini hearts Quins toppins!!
‘favourite thing she carries?!?!?!?!” i love it all!!!! i am currently attending film school and i am doing a documentary on cupcakes. i came across ‘bake it pretty’ and fell in love! i would love to order everything so i can bake away and feature them in my documentary, but i am broke (as most college kids) *fingers crossed*
what a fun interview! i love her shop and recently went on a little spending spree 🙂 next on my wishlist is the Magical Forest Cupcake Topper Sampler. thanks for sharing!
I love of the pretty liners. Also, i have a lot of fun with beer can toppers!! I love Bake It Pretty!!!!
I drool everytime i visit the ‘Bake It Pretty’ website. How could you go wrong with those delicious cupcake papers and mustache cookie cutter?
I love her site and have bought things from her when she was on Etsy and on the new site. I really like the squirrel bags and the deadly sin toppings. I have one and it is really good.
I absolutely love everything at Bake it Pretty. I ordered a bunch of the royal icing roses for some wedding cupcakes I made and they were the perfect touch.
zombie hand cupcake toppers.
What a great interview! And I love the Sweet Candy Cutter. Aww so adorable!
Thanks.
I love the great selection of things and bookmarked this site! I love the robot chocolate mold. Thanks!
Awesome interview! everything on her site is super cute but I absolutely love the polka dot cupcake wrappers. 🙂
I love these Cicada molds!!!! I can just see them at a fancy tea party. http://www.bakeitpretty.com/item_163/Cicada-Mold.htm
contact@liquidambarstudio.com
I love the polka-dot cupcake liners. But then again, I love everything in their store!
I recently bought the “Magical Forest” cupcake topper and cookie-cutter sets. they’re amazing! I love love LOVE Bake it Pretty 🙂
Such a hard thing to choose between all of her great items! However, I just got some peanut bags from her with the cutest little squirrels on them – those will be my pick!
The Halloween sections makes me extra happy! I love the Brain Molds – but so many fund goodies!
I love her cookie cutter selection. My favorite is the gnome and the mushroom. I have this thing for gnomes 🙂
I adore Amanda’s products. She does such a great job! I love when i place orders, she always fills them with some extra sweet goodies that just make the whole sale worthwhile.
Its hard to pick a favorite off her site!! But i love the simplicity and cuteness of the polka dotted baking cups! They go with everything and arnt boring nor plain!!
I love all the new fall items! My favorite must buys right now are the Camouflage baking cups and zombie hand toppers!
i love the “spooky silhouette ring toppers”!
I love the fluted floral cupcake wrappers. Also love the gingham ones. So fun.
I love the cupcake cookie cutter! 🙂
Love, love, LOVE the mushroom doilies!!!
The baking 101 kit is my favorite. In fact, it just occurred to me that it would be a fab Christmas gift for all the people I know who are in the midst of setting up new homes!!!
I love the baker’s twine, it makes me want to package up a pie in a box and tie it up with a bow.
baking cups are like crack! but sadly i am obsessed with all things baking these days- for some reason mostly stuff that you can only use a couple times a year like holiday stuff- but when that holiday DOES come around i am totally ready to rock it! candy molds. i loves me some candy molds.
I love love love all the cute cupcake cups. I can never pick a favorite b/c they are all so cute!
I hope they get restocked – I love the Pink Polka Dot Stitched Suitcases!
So many choices! I think my favourite is the Chelsea Sweets Gourmet Candy – Rose. The only thing I usually eat that’s rose-flavoured is rose petal jelly.
I love the tilt-a-whirl cupcake liners. The orange remind me of candy corn and would be so fun with any of the halloween toppers!
My favorite are the spaceboy straws…As one of the best things in the universe, as far as I’m concerned is the 50s version of “the future.” And I’m pretty disappointed that more things aren’t currently shiny.
I’m in love with the Skull cake cases – Or anything halloween-themed, really 🙂
I love kits. The cupcakes 101 kit is my fave! But I could buy up half the shop! love love love
I like the baker’s twine. It would be fun to to wrap with and tie up cupcake boxes for gifts.
id love to get some of the Chocolate Cordial Oils
I think I want one of everything! I really love the fleur de lis pan and the little gnome candle a lot
I’m in love with the Sugar Buttons Edible Toppers 🙂
I love this: Picnic Plaid Cupcake Carrier
$6.95
Oh, I love Amanda and Bake It Pretty! Been a huge fan for a while now. Thanks for the interview!
The thing I am wanting is more gel icing colours! I have the black, and some other cool ones, and they work so well! Thanks for the opportunity 🙂
I love the mushroom doilies!
Best thing ever? The Cupcakes 101 Baking & Decorating Kit. Anytime I browse a seller with oh-so-cute stuff, I get overwhelmed with wanting everything. This kit has awesome stuff and it’s an easy way to start out on a path of overspending and/or obsession! Thanks for the great giveaway (both of you).
Picking just one thing at Bake It Pretty is impossible! I love the Madeline cupcake liners, the vintage halloween toppers, and the Pride and Sloth sugar grinders.
my favorite item is the magical forest cookie cutters, though your shop has many amazing cooking items! i love all your molds!
I love her huge selection of cupcake papers. I like the tops to be classic, but the paper to be really wild!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Amanda & Bake it Pretty!
Thanks for the awesome interview with some insight behind her amazing lil business!
I absolutely love Bake It Pretty!! And my favorite thing Amanda sells is the Cupcake 101 kit. I love to cook but baking is a whole nother story and I love that everything comes in one place.
I love the zebra mini cupcake liners.
Toppers!!!! Especially the magical forest kit.
Oooh, I could do a lot of damage with $50 from Bake It Pretty! I adore the purple cupcake liners with white polka dots. And the Butterscotch and Vanilla Sugar…and pretty much everything on the site….
I love the Heart Egg and Pancake Shaper!!!!
I love Bake It Pretty’s chocolate moulds! In particular the vintage button set, which doesn’t appear to be available any more, unfortunately. 🙁 The range of doilies they have are also kind of awesome.
My favorite is the vintage button chocolate mold, and the cute labels Amanda made for them!
Great interview! Thank you for sharing your love for Bake It Pretty. I love all the varieties of cupcake liners that they have to offer. I can’t wait to go nuts when I plan my wedding reception.
Yayyyy I loved reading this! Amanda is the best. Gotta say my faves are the cheesy vintage-inspired party favors. Mustaches, anyone?
I want the Cupcakes 101Baking & Decorating Kit.
melodyj(at)gmail(dot)com
Great interview! I love being introduced to new sites via Bake and Destroy. I know I’ll always enjoy what I find! I absolutely love the Button Sucker Hard Candy Mold. Hilarious!
Thanks for the Q&A – I am currently in love with with all the halloween stuff she has. makes me want to plan a halloween party!
Love everything….especially the noir cupcake liners with black and red; all the Halloween items and the Cupcake 101 Kit. I get hungry just thinking about it!
Love the cupcake dental floss!
clicked onto bake it pretty & found you natalie! wow! great site…
i *heart* amanda’s bake it pretty & was sooooo happy w/ q & a!
i think the vintage village cupcake decorating kit is great as well as
all of amanda’s wares….how about the wonderful floret baking cups!!
🙂
I love the folk cutter cutters, especially the tree and gingerbread man ones. I’d love to have the whole set and create a delightful little scene.
What a great behind the scenes interview! I love their candy molds but the best are the gem shapes! So cute.
OMG The choices! I love the Retro-Spot-Lace-Doilies! Cute!
Vintage Village Cupcake Decorating Kit!!! I just can’t wait for Christmas so that I dive right in!
i love love love bake it pretty!
my favourite would probably be the pale turquoise pearlized sugar pearls
great interview! amanda and i used to be neighbors in va, and i have to say she is as sweet as she sounds. i am so happy her business is rocking, and this is an excellent interview you did with her! we live in the land of a thousand pot lucks and i love to use her toppers as decorations anywhere on my pot luck dishes… even men have complimented my deers and trees! 😉 i am totally digging the dotted doilies, the mushroom liners, the gnome, polka dotted and tie dyed candles and the dollhouse big topper! p.s. i love your blog and am so happy to have discovered it through amanda! thanks so much
Oh, the cupcake liners are the best. Today I pick the brown floret baking cups and the folded paper baking cups. So different and unusual.
I think my favorite is the Pretty Magical Forest Cookie Cutter Set; it has a gnome!
My favorite changes every time I look at her shop…. currently I’m in the mood for the darling vintage looking Halloween cupcake toppers! I’m sure I will be ordering the soon.
Truly. Amanda’s cupcake liner selection is the best. LOVE them!!!!
I just got my first order full of leopard & zebra print cupcake liners from the site. I was highly tempted by the polka dot doilies and I may have to reorder just for the adorable Halloween goodie bags.
I really want some paperboard mini loaf pans for gift giving this holiday!
I love the Blue Polka Dot Stitched Suitcases Set of 3.
I can’t pick one…
How about, the owl candy molds, or the cupcake band-aid or any of the cute packaging options, or all the designer baking cups or the honey bee cutter or the sweet server cupcake display tower or the striped bakers twin, or the deer cupcake toppers or the mini loaf pans (imagine the mini food party you could host) or the magical forest cupcake topper sampler or the robot chocolate mold. or the best ever cupcake icing kit I’ve been begging, really folks begging all friends and relatives to purchase for any holiday occasion.
the magical forest cookie cutter set is for sure my favorite! mushroom and acorn cookie cutters–nothing could be better!
I can’t decide what I like most from this wonderful site. Thanks so much for putting me on to it. Sign me up for one of everything!!!
It would really take me days to decide how to spend the certificate! It would be a process of elimination to decide on which special things had to come to my house. Anything with mushrooms, butterflies, flowers, cute little animals.
Ohhhh the agony of indescision!
omg! love the skull doilies! ee!!!
I WANT WANT WANT those standard size metallic damask cupcake liners!!! (and the huge frosting tips!)
I really like the zombie hand cupcake toppers! They are frickin awesome and I desperately need them.
Thanks for the interview. I have salivated over Bake It Pretty for a long time!!
Oh I want the Cupcakes 101 – Baking & Decorating Kit. I still own a couple of ballerinas like the ones included from one of my birthday cakes when I was a kid. Also 2 Picnic Plaid Cupcake Carrier.
Holy contest, Batman! Amanda is SO awesome & nice, she emailed me info that she totally didn’t have to share, she rules!
My favorite thing she carries is VEGAN SPRINKLES! Those suckers are rare & she has candy crunch sprinkles I’m dying to try!
I am loving this site! Thanks so much for introducing it! I have to get the gnome toppers, I love love love them, then there are the bandaids….. I have to say though my favorite is the cupcake 101! I love that she customizes it, and I think that would make an awesome birthday gift!
I really love the royal icing roses. I wish I knew how to make something like that look so pretty! Thanks for the giveaway!
I love her cupcake liners! The ones with the pink paisley looking things (elizabeth) are my fav. They are so cute!!!
Though I totally love everything from the fun baking cups to the clever baking kits, right now, I’m loving the sugar eyeballs for Halloween! Definitely must get some for ghost cupcakes!!!!
I am in love with all the different lolly molds – the chocolate mustaches and hard candy buttons have to be my favorite
This was a great read. Awesome interview!
All of the designer baking cups make me drool excessively. I wish to purchase them all.
So I found your site a bit ago and have been enjoying it very much! I read the Bake it Pretty post and visited her site even before I realized there was a giveaway. There are so many things I would like but I guess my favorite would be the cupcake liners. Boring, I know, but they are very stylish!
Thanks for the great post, so much fun and I’m so happy to be introduced to a new (for me) bakers’ supply site.
These polka dot suitcases are just so gorgeous!!! I love them to bits.
http://www.bakeitpretty.com/item_310/Blue-Polka-Dot-Stitched-Suitcases-Set-of-3.htm
I like the Clasen Spring-Green Mint Chocolate candy melts, since mint flavored candy melts are hard to get at any stores near me. I also like the variety of candy molds she has, the Gnome Lolly Mold is especially cute.
I’ve purchased from Bake It Pretty recently–the service & packaging are A+
At the moment I like the Brown Floret Baking Cups & Brown Scalloped Tiny Loaf Pans.
The polka dot baking cups are so cute! I love all the colors
The mustache cookie cutter is my current favorite, but I want everything!
I love all the different shapes of cookie cutters! How cute!
:o)
I’ve ordered picks and toppers from Amanda…love the kitsch. Great product and wonderful customer service. Best to you.
Oh my gosh- what a wonderful website! I have to say I’m in love with all the various cookie cutters. Dangerous website… I already hear the change falling out of my wallet 🙂
OH! I’ve just discovered Bake it Pretty! I was about to order some things (what about hose lovely little suitcases?) but I think I’ll wait in case I’m the lucky winner ^-^
I love the doilies… I think I could buy all of them!!
(In general, everything in the packaging section is just pretty pretty pretty!!)
Thanks for such a great interview, very interesting and inspiring!
I would chose some cookie cutters, like the teapot cookie cutter… Brilliant!
*fingers crossed*
Awesome! I’m psyched to have found this shop – thanks so much for introducing me! I’m going bonkers over the wicked Halloween stuff: LOVE the Skull Cake Cases and the all the toppers…and a MUSTACHE COOKIE CUTTER!! omg, where have you been all my life?? Hahaha!
What a fun shop, she offers such unique products! I love the cute Magical Forest Cookie Cutter Set. The Tilt-a-Whirl Baking Cups are also so cool, I’ll have to get some for my son’s birthday party =)
I love the cupcake toppers. The Retro Halloween ones and the Christmas ones. So many to choose from!
The Heart Egg and Pancake Shaper is so sweet!
OOh, I love a lot of things. The owl cookie cutter, the fun cupcake liners, the sprinkles – I want it all!
Oh, I love the magical forest cupcake topper assortment! Also the printed paper bags are fun (what a great presentation!). I would pick out a little bit of everything. What a cute shop!
I’ve just discovered Bake it Pretty! It’s so cute ! I love everything ! Retro-style peanut bags are so nice !
I looove the mustache cookie cutter!
Luster Dust! Makes everything look so much more delicious!!
thank you for just a wonderful interview! she does an excellent job and definitely desires to be note-worthy.
BUT, how do you choose a favorite, everything is just so *fabulous*!
i do however, love the cookie cutters, especially the folk house, the muffin, and the teapot. 🙂
i also can’t skip mentioning how freakin’ cute the deer cupcake toppers are!
The cookie cutters, obviously! They’re so unique, then again, everything pretty much is!
Awesome site. Immediately I like the zombie hand toppers, the brain, day of the dead and mustache candy molds. The mini fruit cutters remind me of the old refrigerator magnets my grandparents had in their kitchen. I’d probably get those just for that reason. 🙂 Lots of good stuff here!
I LOVE Bake it Pretty! I hate to be boring & predictable since Amanda said right in the interview that everyone loves the cupcake liners… But I really love the cupcake liners! Pretty & unique ones are hard to come by in stores, so it’s awesome that so many great ones are offered through BIP!
Edible glitter, DiSCO & luster dust! Bake It Pretty = /swoon.