*****EDIT***** October 13th, 12:14 a.m.: THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED, AND I’M SORRY TO THOSE WHO DIDN’T GET A CHANCE TO.. BUT THE CONTEST IS OFFICALLY OVER. COMMENTS ARE CLOSED. WE’LL BE PICKING A WINNER SOON, SO CHECK BACK OFTEN 😀

“THEY SAY IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY… “

…

Today is the 2nd birthday of my baby, or my little blog here. Two years ago today I opened up the “official” blog at wordpress.com.  Of course, I’ve long since moved my blog to a dot com. But that groundbreaking post still exists on this server, and you can read it here. Of course, I no longer dye my hair black (I’ve been through a number of shades and cuts as well since back then)… but the rest holds true. I’ve had such a good time these past 2 years sharing recipes and anecdotes with you, and so I wanted to celebrate in a bigger way. Last year I baked some cupcakes for this occasion, but this year, there are gifts to be given.

So it’s Cupcake Rehab’s 2nd birthday, and you’re gonna get all the gifts!

That’s right. I am hereby announcing the mother of all giveaways… so get a cup of coffee, a glass of water, or a jug ‘o wine and get comfy, because I’m gonna run through the list of prizes and the rules. Here we go!

GRAND PRIZE:

• Cupcake pouch, handmade by Yoyo at Topstitch.org (view her Artfire store here) – valued at $10.00

• Cupcake Rehab inspired one-of-a-kind painting by artist Christine Comis – valued at $85.00

(Click to painting to view larger image, actual painting won’t be watermarked)

• Various cupcake/baking supplies & materials courtesy of Lyns at Sweet Cuppin’ Cakes Bakery & Cupcakery Supplies!!

FIRST PRIZE:

• Set of 4 cupcake coasters handmade by Yoyo at Topstitch.org (view her Artfire store here) – valued at $5.00

• A custom painting by Anna at Very Small Anna (you win, you get to choose the subject of the painting! A cupcake? A dog? A cat? A dog and a cat with cupcakes? Or no cupcakes at all- maybe a T-Bone steak or an elephant drinking a beer? You got it!) – valued at $30.00

• Various cupcake/baking supplies & materials courtesy of Lyns at Sweet Cuppin’ Cakes Bakery & Cupcakery Supplies!!

The prizes are completely and totally awesome, aren’t they? I’m kinda jealous of you all. That’s like $200 in prizes right there! Lyns alone is donating $100 dollars worth of items to be given away!

But before I get to the rules I just want to thank all of the above people for donating their time and materials to make this a really special event for Cupcake Rehab. You’re all amazing! And I also want to thank all my readers. You’re all amazing too!

Okay now, any good giveaway needs rules, right? I mean, you have to have a way in which to win these lovely prizes. So here we go:

1. I’m looking for the most creative, unique and humorous Cupcake Rehab-themed cupcake recipe. You can interpret that however you like; whether literal or figurative, with any kind of ingredients you like. Take a hint from Chrisie’s painting above, or maybe look through old posts and use my interests and likes and incorporate them into a fabulous cupcake! It’s up to you. You could also follow me on Twitter & that might give you some insight into my preferences.
2. You don’t have to actually make/bake it, but I’d really like to see the finished product (in pictures, duh).  And isn’t that part of the fun?
3. The recipe MUST BE FROM SCRATCH. You can doctor up a cake mix, but it can’t be a cake mix/canned frosting recipe. That is not inventing a recipe, that’s being lazy and cheating.
4. You don’t have to “invent” the recipe itself. For example, using Billy’s Bakery’s vanilla cupcake recipe or Amy Sedaris’ vanilla cupcake recipe is fine. What you DO with it after you use the recipe (i.e., decorating, color, etc) is the key. But of course, invented recipes are totally awesome and are definitely allowed too.
5. You can post the recipe & pictures in my comments section of this post (using HTML if you’re posting pictures), or post it on your own blog and just leave a link to that post in the comments here. Either way is totally fine with me. All I ask is that if you choose to post it in the comments, you only use ONE picture, and that the picture is no larger than 350 pixels wide and 200 pixels high (but please don’t make it too small either, I have to be able to see what it is). Otherwise the loading time would just be crazy. if you want to get around those rules, post it at your own blog. There you can use as many pictures you like as big as you like! But again, if you’re posting it on your blog, YOU HAVE TO LINK TO THE BLOG ENTRY FROM MY COMMENTS. Otherwise, I won’t see it.
6. You have to briefly explain why the cupcake is Cupcake Rehab-themed. For example, “I used vanilla because it’s your favorite flavor, and blah blah blah because you’re blog is blah blah.” (That vanilla info is a freebie right there- but please, I don’t want every single entry to be vanilla! I do have other favorites!)

Those are pretty much the only rules. The contest is open to anyone and everyone, experienced bakers to amateurs, fondant-experts to those who struggle with buttercream. You have until October 12th 2009 to enter. That’s a whole month- should be plenty of time. After October 12th, the comments will be closed and I’ll pick a winner (er, actually, two winners) within a week or so. You’ll be notified by e·mail if you’ve won, and I’ll need you to send me a mailing address (not a P.O. box). The most impressive two entries will win a prize, and there very well may be an honorable mention or two. The rest of you will not win anything. I’m sorry, it sounds harsh when put that way, but that’s just the way the cookie cupcake crumbles. You’re all winners, really. And by impressive, I mean like I said; unique, funny, creative, and Cupcake Rehab-related. Any questions? E·mail me and I’ll answer them best I can.

I CANNOT wait to see what you all are gonna come up with. So go forth and create! I’ll meet you back here on October 12th 😉

GET TO MAKIN’ THOSE CUPCAKES!