Cupcake Bouquet

This would make a sweet Mother's Day gift!

BONUS - it was easy and inexpensive. The biggest cost was the strawberries and they are on sale

Here is how I made it...

Obviously I had to make cupcakes first.  I used Lemon Cupcakes (I seem to be on a lemon kick right now), but you can use your fave. Be sure to refrigerate them before assembling your bouquet so the icing can harden.

 You'll also need a cute vase or pot (If you don't have one on hand, you can pick one up relatively inexpensively - mine was only $1), Styrofoam, toothpicks, and strawberries or tissue paper.

Be sure the Styrofoam fits snugly in your vase or pot - try it out at the store before you bring it home! Now place the Styrofoam into the vase/pot like so...

Next you put your toothpicks into the Styrofoam.  This vase has a square opening just big enough to fit one cupcake on each side, so I put two (2) toothpicks in the center of each side.  Place them so one cupcake will fit over both toothpicks.  I also placed a cupcake in the center, so I needed 2 toothpicks there as well

Now that all of your toothpicks are in place, pop on those cupcakes!

Be careful not to smudge the icing!

One on each side....

And one smack dab in the middle - right on top!

Next, place 1 toothpick where ever you see an empty spot that needs filling, and this is where you will put the strawberries.  1 toothpick will be enough to hold 1 strawberry, so no need to get all crazy with the toothpicks!  I put the toothpick in the Styrofoam first and then stuck the strawberry on the toothpick.  Try to get strawberries that are on the smallish side...the bigger ones (like many of the ones I have) make it difficult to push them down in there to fill the empty spaces.  Your bouquet will look better if you get all those spaces filled up nicely! Chocolate dipped strawberries would be good too!

You can also use tissue paper to fill in the spaces.  Pick your favorite color that coordinates nicely with your vase/pot, and cut it into wide strips; fold each strip into an accordion and pinch the bottom and then just shove them into the spaces.  If they don't want to stay on their own, you can use double-sided tape to hold them in there.  Mine stayed just fine without any tape... I really like the added color

Once it is all assembled, place it in the fridge to let the icing harden again, and then you can use cellophane to wrap it up and tie a ribbon at the top for gift giving.  These are perishable, of course, so be sure to gift them within a day or two of making them - you don't want mom eating stale cupcakes!!