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Courtnie Costa never set out to start a cake business. But when one Christmas cake led to another, and teaching by day wasn't quite enough to satisfy her creative itch, she decided to take the leap.

Now she's running Crumb de la Crumb, a rapidly growing business built on passion, determination, and a whole lot of late nights.

1. Can you tell us about when you first realised you wanted to start your sweet treats business?

I've always been a creative person. I'm a singer; I play the piano, guitar and drums, and I love sewing, scrapbooking, colouring and creating clay magnets. Honestly, if it looks remotely creative, I’ve probably convinced myself I need to try it.

So, when cake decorating came along, my husband wasn't exactly convinced. He'd seen this movie before. Apparently, I have a habit of discovering a new hobby, buying all the expensive equipment, becoming completely obsessed... and then quietly moving on to the next one a few months later.

So, when I announced I was buying a stand mixer, I don’t think he saw a thriving business. He saw the sewing machine, guitar, expensive textas, Cricut and 3D printer quietly shuffling over in the graveyard of expensive hobbies. He just smiled, said, “OK, dear,” and patiently waited for the novelty to wear off.

Nineteen months later... and I can confirm that he’s still waiting.

It all started with a Christmas cake. My husband’s family and I were heading to our shack for Christmas, and I volunteered to bring dessert. I’d seen a cute snowman cake on TikTok, thought, “How hard can it be?” ... and within hours, my kitchen bench looked like the baking aisle in Spotlight.

That one Christmas cake led to my dad’s birthday cake, then my nephews’... then my niece’s... then friends started asking... and before I knew it, I was basically operating a one-woman cake production line every weekend.

And then life shifted.

We unexpectedly lost a very close family friend, and not long after, we were involved in a boating accident. It often takes life-changing events like these to make us stop, reflect and truly realise just how fragile life is, and for reality to really hit home.

So, I stopped waiting and decided to pursue cakes, cookies and baked goods on a business level.

I think social media has a funny way of making it look like people wake up one morning and suddenly know how to do things.

That definitely wasn’t my experience. My Mum used to be a cake decorator, so I often tell people, `I got it from my Mama,’ but we all know that's not how genetics works.

I'm completely self-taught. There have been hundreds of hours of practice, countless YouTube tutorials, a lot of trial and error... and a few moments where I questioned every life choice that had led me to buttercream.

It hasn’t been all roses and rainbows. A lot of practice, persistence and a refusal to let buttercream win have gone into building my business.

2. Starting and running a business can be a wild ride! What challenges have you faced while building your business, and how have you overcome them?

Now, here’s the plot twist... I can’t cook!

So, when I announced I was starting a cake business, my nearest and dearest weren't exactly lining up to place an order... they were genuinely concerned for the well-being of the general public.

Eventually, with a bit of encouragement (and maybe a little guilt), I convinced people to try my cakes. To everyone's surprise, including mine, they couldn't believe something that tasted so good had come out of my kitchen. Because, historically, anything that came out of my kitchen usually ended up in the bin... or welded to the bottom of a saucepan.

Beyond overcoming this initial hurdle, my biggest challenge has been juggling my business with full-time work. I am a teacher by day and a baker and business owner by night... because apparently one job wasn’t enough!

So, I spend my days wrangling 8- to 9-year-olds and my evenings wrangling buttercream. I am yet to determine which is easier!

People often ask how I manage to do both. The short answer is... no sleep, lots of coffee, BakeGenie, a very understanding and supportive husband, and two Kenwood mixers who deserve a holiday.

But on a more serious note, it’s my long-term goal and dream that makes all the chaos worth it. My cake business has boomed in the last six months, and it alone could be a full-time job. Therefore, in the next six months, I have some very important decisions to make.

One day, I’d love to open my own cake shop, but for now, my husband and I are converting part of our home into a cake studio where I can bake and create.

3. What has starting and running your own business meant for you?

Starting and running Crumb de la Crumb has been one of the most challenging and rewarding things I’ve ever done.

On the surface, I create custom cakes and baked goods. But behind every order are late nights after a full day of teaching, early mornings, constant learning, problem-solving and a determination to always deliver something I’m proud of.

I’ve learned that owning a business isn’t about being perfect; it’s about caring enough to go back to the drawing board when something isn’t meeting your own standards, even if it means more work.

My business has taught me resilience and how to back myself. Every new skill I’ve learnt has come from believing I could figure it out with enough persistence. There have been moments of self-doubt, posts that barely reached anyone, customers who disappeared after quotes, recipes that didn’t work the first time, and countless hours that most people never see. But those moments have never outweighed the joy of seeing someone’s face light up at their birthday cake, reading heartfelt customer feedback or being trusted to create something for life’s biggest celebrations.

More than anything, Crumb de la Crumb has given me a community. What started as a hobby has grown into relationships with loyal customers who continue to support me, recommend me to others and genuinely celebrate my journey.

Every order is more than a cake; it’s being invited into someone’s milestone, and I will never take that for granted. My customers mean the most to me; I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.

I’ve also been incredibly lucky to meet one of my best friends through the cake world, Sabrina, who is an incredibly talented cake maker herself. She understands the highs, the lows and everything in between. Having someone who truly gets it has been such a gift. I honestly don’t know what I would do without her.

If there’s one thing this journey has shown me, it’s that success isn’t measured solely by numbers. It’s measured by the trust people place in you, the community you build and the pride you feel when you hand over something created with genuine care.

That’s what Crumb de la Crumb means to me, and that’s why I continue to pour my heart into it every single day.

4. You purchased an edible ink printer earlier this year; what motivated this decision?

When I first started out in the cake world, I would see cake designs adorned with photographs, intricate images and personalised details, and I was always in awe of how the creators achieved them. A quick search revealed that many of them were using edible images to bring their creations to life.

I located a store nearby that offered edible images and began incorporating them into my own work and offering them to my customers. Before long, I found that almost every second order I booked relied on edible images. It quickly became an essential part of my cake business, so I decided it was time to invest in an edible ink printer of my own.

After spending months researching the available brands and models, what initially seemed like a straightforward purchase quickly became overwhelming. I found myself going down a rabbit hole of TikTok videos, reviews and recommendations, with different creators advocating for different brands and models.

I also discovered that finding edible ink for certain printer models could be surprisingly difficult, particularly when it came to identifying reputable suppliers that offered food-safe, consumable products. With so many options available online, I wanted to be confident that I was purchasing from a trusted source.

That’s when I came across Edible Image Supplies. Their ready-to-go starter packs, positive customer reviews and extensive range of products immediately stood out to me. Having the ability to purchase everything I needed, from edible paper and ink to other essential printing supplies, all in one place, made the decision much easier. So, I added everything to my cart, and a couple of days later, I had an edible-image printer sitting on my desk, ready to bring even more of my cake ideas to life.

5. Can you explain the advantages of incorporating edible images into your sweet creations?

One of the biggest advantages of incorporating edible images into sweet creations is the level of creativity and personalisation they offer. They allow you to transform a simple cake, cookie or dessert into something completely unique, whether that’s a personalised photo, company logo, character, pattern or a design created specifically for the occasion.

I also love how versatile edible images are. They can be used across a wide range of products and celebrations, from children’s birthday cakes and milestone celebrations to weddings, corporate events and seasonal treats. They provide a professional-looking finish without necessarily requiring advanced decorating skills.

Another major advantage is the time they can save. Creating intricate designs by hand can be incredibly time-consuming, whereas edible printing allows you to reproduce detailed images, colours and designs accurately and efficiently. For anyone running a cake or baking business, this can be particularly valuable when working with multiple orders or tight deadlines.

Ultimately, edible images give bakers and cake decorators another creative tool in their toolkit. They make it possible to achieve highly personalised, professional-looking results while still leaving plenty of room to add your own creativity through piping, fondant, modelling and other decorating techniques.

6. We're curious: what design gets your creative juices flowing, and why is it your favourite to work on?

For me personally, the more creative elements a design has, the more exciting I find it. While I can appreciate the beauty of a simple, minimalist cake, my own creative style naturally leans towards designs that are bold, detailed and a little bit “out there”.

I particularly enjoy working on cakes that incorporate multiple elements, both edible and inedible. I love the challenge of bringing together different textures, colours, shapes, and details, and finding a way for everything to complement one another within the overall design.

A big part of my process is planning the layout before I start decorating. I use Canva to map out my ideas and position the different elements, which allows me to experiment and make changes before I begin creating the actual cake. It’s a useful way for me to visualise how everything will come together and make adjustments along the way.

Ultimately, I enjoy the creative freedom that comes with a more detailed design. Being able to play with different elements and see an idea come to life is one of my favourite parts of creating cakes.

7. Have you received any wild or wacky image requests that still make you smile? Do tell!

I wouldn’t say I’ve received too many wild or wacky requests, but there are definitely a few that still make me smile!

One of my favourite examples came from my Mother’s Day cupcake packs, which included an edible Polaroid-style image, usually a photo of Mum or Mum with her loved ones. I had one customer send through a photo of Mum dressed up in a scary nun costume for Halloween, which certainly wasn’t the typical Mother’s Day image vibe, but was a personal joke between my customer and her mum.

Another customer sent through photos of their family dogs for the cupcakes. I remember thinking, “Aww, cute! Dogs!” so I asked her to tell me a little more about the photos. Her response made me laugh: “Mum loves our dogs more than she loves my siblings and I, so can we put them on her cupcakes?” Of course, we absolutely could! ?

These both were such sweet and funny requests, and I loved that both knew exactly what would make their mums smile. It’s those little personal touches that make custom orders so much fun.

8. Looking back, what advice would you give to someone keen to purchase an edible ink printer for the first time?

JUST DO IT!

Hands down, it’s one of the best pieces of equipment I have purchased since starting my business. The possibilities are endless, and it will honestly take your cakes to another level.

9. Do you have a favourite cake flavour?

Pandan with Biscoff.

I have been guarding this with my life, but I feel that through this blog, it is time to share it with the world! Just remember, you saw and heard about it here first!

Absolutely ELITE!

10. Self-care is crucial! How do you take care of yourself while running your business?

Self-care is something I’ve learned is important when running a business and working full-time. Outside of my business, I enjoy reading, playing instruments, singing and crafting, as I mentioned earlier, but I also love shopping, watching football (I’m a football freak-GO PORT!) and, most importantly, spending time with my family. We are originally from the UK, so our family unit here in Australia is quite small, which makes our time together even more important to me.

When you run your own business, it can be easy to feel like there is always something else that needs to be done. Making a conscious effort to put the business aside, be present with my family and engage in things I enjoy outside of baking and teaching is important to me.

I also really enjoy hosting monthly giveaways. My love language is gift-giving, and being able to give back through my business is incredibly rewarding. My recent giveaway acknowledged the hard work of first responders, and my next giveaway will involve donating a cake to a child via Camp Quality. I can’t imagine what life must be like for some of these families, and if my cake can bring even a small smile to a child or their family during what may be an incredibly difficult time, that means so much to me.

For me, self-care is about finding a balance, knowing when to step away, making time for the people and things that matter to me, and reminding myself that it’s okay to take a break from the business. Ultimately, taking that time allows me to come back feeling refreshed and ready to give my best to both my business and my family.

11. What business-related achievement are you most proud of, and why does it hold a special place in your heart?

Oh, there are so many- where do I even begin!?

I’m incredibly proud of the opportunities that have come from building my business and the relationships I’ve been fortunate enough to develop along the way. From working with a local café to provide weekly baked goods to creating cakes and cupcakes for high-profile people and local businesses, each opportunity has felt like a significant milestone in my journey.

As my business has grown, so have the opportunities. One achievement I’m particularly proud of is being added to the preferred supplier list for a function centre here in Adelaide. Knowing that my work has been recognised and that I’m trusted enough to be recommended to their customers is a huge milestone for me.

As the business has grown, I’ve also had the opportunity to expand my offerings and explore new ways to share what I do. Adding fondant sugar cookies to my range has allowed me to develop new skills while offering my customers another personalised option. This naturally led to another exciting milestone: hosting my first cake-decorating workshop. Stepping into a teaching role outside my day job and sharing my cake-decorating knowledge with others was a completely different experience, but one I found incredibly rewarding. Watching participants take what they had learned and create something of their own was particularly special.

And, of course, being invited to contribute to this blog is another achievement I’m genuinely proud of. Having the opportunity to share my journey, my business and some of the experiences that have shaped it is something I’m very grateful for.

Each of these achievements holds a special place in my heart for different reasons. They’ve reminded me how far I’ve come, while also showing me just how many possibilities there are when you’re willing to put yourself out there, embrace new opportunities and continue learning.

And the exciting part is that I know there’s still so much more to come!