Handbag Cake

Handbag Cake for my friend Anju's Birthday!

I used a Vanilla cake mix from Trader Joe and followed directions. I baked this cake in a square pan and cut the cake into the shapes I wanted and patched it with homemade buttercream icing mixed with food colors and decorated with M&M candies and dried blueberries.

Recipe for Butter cream icing:

• 1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine softened
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
  
• 4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar (approximately 1 lb.)
• 2 tablespoons milk

In large bowl, cream shortening and butter with electric mixer. Add vanilla. Gradually add sugar, one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl often. When all sugar has been mixed in, icing will appear dry. Add milk and beat at medium speed until light and fluffy. Keep bowl covered with a damp cloth until ready to use.