In hindsight, researching a National Cupcake Week (September 15th-21st, 2014) printables post when on an enforced fast due to a pregnancy glucose tolerance test probably wasn’t the best of timing if I had wanted to stave off hunger pangs, but it does mean I can definitely attest to the fact that many of the ideas below are mouth-wateringly appetite inducing.

It also might explain why The Tomkat Studio’s Nurses Cupcake Toppers linked to from ABC and 123 Learning’s National Nurse Week & Nurse Appreciation post was one of the first to catch my eye.  And, having sat opposite a breastfeeding poster for the best part of two hours, it’s also unsurprising that Keeping Abreast’s Booby Cupcake Week also stood out.  That promotional week was held in March and was actually raising money for the breast cancer reconstruction support group but you can still download their recipe suggestions for chocolate cupcakes and vanilla cupcakes from the website.

But don’t worry, for all of you not currently obsessed by all things bump-related, there are also lots of non-medical or pregnancy related cupcake printables ready for you to download and click print on…

You obviously can’t really celebrate National Cupcake Week without cupcakes so recipes should definitely be your first point and click.  As well as Keeping Abreast’s chocolate and vanilla suggestions, you could have a go at whipping up some vegan chocolate cupcakes courtesy of Quotables (where you can also find Eddie Izzard and Hitchcock inspired printable toppers as well as a handy idea for a DIY cake stand), try out some of the 25 different recipes The Cottage Market links to including strawberry cupcakes from Better Homes and Gardens, Colorburst Cupcakes from Our Best Bites and even a special cupcake recipe for dogs from Dessert First’s PastryGirl, or you could let some little-fingered helpers have a go at Usborne Publishing’s Tiny Cupcakes that it takes from its Little Cakes and Cookies to Bake book although they might also be rather taken by the idea of making Kermit Cupcakes as suggested by The Mom Maven.  And, if you have your own recipes, why not download The Cottage Market’s Cute Cupcake Recipe Cards to record your ideas and share them with friends?

Baking done and on the cooling tray?  Now it’s time to source your decorations and you’ll find quite a range of cupcake printables at The Purple Pumpkin Blog from Mickey and Minnie Mouse toppers and army toppers to rainbow wrappers as well as for every occasion from Easter to Halloween and from St Patrick’s Day and Mardis Gras to the Olympics.  If you have a Minecraft fan in your house head over to The Party Animal for your wrappers and toppers, A Beautiful Mess offers fun moustache and speech bubble toppers, Country Charm by Tracy provides baseball, basketball and American football toppers, Childhood 101 has numbers 1 to 5, Cute-Owl.com has a range of (you’ve guessed it) cute owls, skip over to Skip to my Lou for Lego Star Wars, click on Printable Party Kits for three princesses and visit WordPlay for polka dots, vintage butterflies and ladybugs and strawberries.  And if it’s a cupcake push-pop wrapper you’re looking for then head to Tonya Staab’s blog for a Despicable Me 2 themed printable – who doesn’t love Minions?!

Turn your bake into a Fortune Cupcake with wrappers from 52 Kitchen Adventures or present it as a gift with Simply Nabiki’s Cloud Treatbox.

And if you’re still looking for more then don’t forget we linked to some School Rules cupcake wrappers in our Back to School post, Doctor Who toppers in Searching Time and Space and both pretty DIY cupcake liners and superhero toppers in Bitten by the Baking Bug.

Now you’re ready to eat!  But if you’ve baked one too many to consume guilt-free by yourself, why not invite some friends round and make it into a real party occasion? The National Cupcake Week website itself provides downloadable bunting, an A3 poster and A3 special board poster and Erin from How to Nest for Less offers an invitation, table food cards, birthday banner, water bottle labels and cupcake/favour bag tags in her Cupcake Themed Birthday Party with FREE Printables post.

Or, if you’re searching for a calorie free alternative way to celebrate the week organised by British Baker and love the imagery, take a look at Kath’s Blog which links to some craft projects she designed for Sizzix which were featured on Mollie Makes online magazine and include cards, bags and some 3D cupcake creations that will have a lot longer shelf life than their sugary relations.

And, for anyone picturing me raiding the fridge until it was bare on my return home, don’t worry, I treated myself to this cute little hedgehog cupcake on the way home from the hospital.

Hope you enjoy National Cupcake Week!

Do you love finding printables on the internet?  Do you have particular favourites?  Or have you featured some on your own blog?  Email karen.malpass @ inkfactory.com with your links and we may be able to feature them in a future post.