Bella Cupcake Couture creates elegant wrappers for your baked treats
By Alison Brownrigg
NWsource shopping columnist
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RSS for Daily FindCarrie Middlemiss considered herself a "lifer" at Washington Mutual, having worked in their marketing department for 18 years before becoming a casualty of the mortgage crisis in June. While at WaMu, Middlemiss worked with many small businesses and was inspired by their entrepreneurial spirit which, she reflects now, "was always in me."
After noticing a surge of popularity in cupcakes, Middlemiss trusted her creative, entrepreneurial streak and launched Bella Cupcake Couture in March, before her time at WaMu was even up.
Bella Cupcake Couture are cupcake wrappers made with durable, heavy-stock recycled linen paper and soy-based inks. They're meant to gussy up cupcakes and mask the standard cups that they are usually baked in.
In the cupcake world, where frosting is king, Bella Cupcake Couture redirects the focus down to the wrapper itself.
Middlemiss worked with a local designer on Bella Cupcake Couture's designs, focusing on timeless patterns like damasks, swirls and florals in popular and contemporary color combinations. Her best seller is Lulu, a French damask pattern in black and white. Her other designs, featuring women's names, are swirly Olivia and floral Hanna.
With a focus on weddings and showers, the wrappers come in an array of bright color combinations, from citrus and bright pink to chartreuse and soft yellow. More demure options are available as well, such red and white and pink and gray. Custom printing is available if you're interested in a personal touch.
Bella Cupcake Couture wrappers come 12 to a package and retail for $12. They are available at Curtsy Bella and online at bellacupcakecouture.com.
If you have a shop, sale, event or great product tip you'd like to share, e-mail seattleshopping@nwsource.com.
Copyright © The Seattle Times Company
Comments
Post a commentIn this economy, who in the heck is going to pay a buck a pop for cupcake wrappers?? You have got to be kidding me..... great idea.... but silly given a lot of folks cant even afford to make cupcakes, let alone wrap them in cupcake coture.....
To omar2010, thats exactly what I said when I read about her story a while back in our local paper... like you said, great idea, but why are we spending more for wrappers that are not edible and only get thrown away.. maybe for ppl who oddly serve cupcakes at an elegant event.. maybe she'll make money with the Eastsiders.
I disagree with omar2010 and walocal – an economic downturn is a great time for the entrepreneurial mind and this product is serving a sector that is actually doing quite well in this economy. Cupcake shops are springing up in many neighborhoods, and are quite popular for weddings, showers, etc., which will always take place regardless of the economic state. Kudos to Ms. Middlemiss and her cute product!
"Cupcake shops are springing up in many neighborhoods"
Which screams "oversaturation". Most of these cupcake bakeries are trendy, vanity affairs with next to zero chance of long-term viability. Besides, these are meant for home bakers, anyway. A dollar per? Man, I'd have still flinched at half that price.
Wow- lots of negative people on such an happy post. By the responses of some, it sounds like we should ban greeting cards too. I mean $3-4 a pop? Why should we even bother? (insert facetious tone)
Honestly, I love the idea of decorating my cupcakes to look a little nicer for a special event. Especially since I'm not so great at cake decorating. Also it is nice to see someone in a bad situation (losing her job) trying to do something to survive on her own. Way to go, Carrie! Wishing you luck!
Are you kidding? Kuddos to her for getting out there and starting a business in times like these. You could pay for wrappers for about 1/3 of the price of a wedding cake. She is giving business to printers, designers etc etc. She is helping the economy. Thank goodness in these crazy time people will still get out there and TRY to make a living instead of me paying my tax dollars to support them. I wish you the best !!
I agree, people spend $4-$5 for a cup of coffee. I think she is doing a good job of trying to support herself after giving 18 yrs and then being shown the door. We need more people with her get up and go attitude. There will always be naysayers. Who are actually thinking, "why didnt I think of that".
Cupcake Royale is featured in a recent Stranger article stating their revenue in the millions, so this is hardly a fly-by-night industry. Opening their 4th store, this is hardly a fad, fly by night industry.
Echo 'Dora12' in the Negative Nelly mood in here. It's unfortunate that people read this and instead of thinking 'Maybe that product isn't for me' they believe it's open season to bash someone else's effort to launch a business. She seems to be onto something unique in a market that is expanding. What better time to throw your hat in the ring and open up shop!?!
Good luck, Carrie!
I can't believe how so many people are so negative about a local business women's idea. If you don't like it: don't buy it. Simple as that. No one is forcing you to purchase anything.
Carrie turned a potentially negative situation into a positive and her business is growing rapdily. Whether she succeeds or fails she made her dream a reality. I say CHEERS to Carrie for making something sweet just a little sweeter. We could all use more sweetness in our lives.
So while all the haters out there are complaining, I'll be eating a delcious cupcake in a gorgeous wrapper with a smile on my face knowing I'm supporting someone local.
Everyone has the right to comment. I feel those who are bashing the negative comments are just ending up being negative themselves and have proven nothing.
This is a wonderful idea, but its costly. It would great if the product was edible.
I read this article about pretty cupcake wrappers and just rolled my eyes. It would be one thing if this woman used her entreprenurial sense to start a business with a clever idea that actually provided a helpful product to consumers in some way. We do not need more waste on this planet, there are too many obese people out there who shouldn't be eating cupcakes, and people need to be more fiscally responsible about their futures. This was a stupid article about a stupid business venture. Let's see how successful this woman becomes with her overpriced, unnecessary cupcake wrappers.
I see a sharp, creative mind that analyzed current trends and filled a spot that was empty, way to go Carrie, what next? Matching napkins...maybe little doilies for the cup cakes to sit on...the sky is the limit to creative people like yourself. I'm sure if and when the cup cake popularity dies down, you will transition into something else and find another niche to fill. Good Luck.
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