Her dream may have been short-lived, but for Candy Repsher Knappenberger, the ride was still pretty amazing.

A cake decorator and sugar artist, Knappenberger was invited to be a competitor on the Food Network's "Cake Wars: Christmas," which premiered Monday evening."Getting onto Food Network was awesome," said Knappenberger. "I've wanted to be on ever since I saw the first cake challenge that my friend Colette Peters won. And to be asked was a miracle to me. But it happened and I met my big goal."Unfortunately, her team was the first to be cut. The winning team will walk away with a $50,000 grand prize.Knappenberger's journey began in April. As the person who handles social media for the International Exploration of Cake Societé, she was contacted by someone from Super Delicious Productions, producers of the "Cake Wars" shows, and asked to post on the ICES Facebook page that they were looking for cake decorators, sugar artists and food carvers."After I posted it on Facebook, I kind of looked at it and thought, should I or shouldn't I," said the Lehighton woman. "I felt like I needed a boost, so I bit the bullet and filled out the application."With her dream of appearing in a Food Network cake competition right at the tip of her fingers, she found being patient pretty difficult."Every time the phone would ring, I would freeze, thinking it was them calling."Knappenberger tried to stay positive. And busy.To keep her mind off waiting, she took a trip to New York and a cake show where she met up with friends. While they were at lunch, her cellphone rang."It was one of the girls from the talent/production company, asking if I wanted to come to California and film a new cake show. I wanted to freak out. I did a happy dance."Back at home, she received an email with the names of her teammates: Jon Price and Teri Tarbox."It was set up so we could talk on the phone. We were given themes with a storyline that we had to use for inspiration," says Knappenberger.With a plan in mind, Knappenberger began gathering her equipment and supplies for the full six-week shooting schedule.It was agreed she would be the sugar sculptor, Tarbox the cake decorator and Price the master vegetable carver."Normally I would be doing cake, but I decided to do the sugar, just to do something different. I hadn't done sugar in five years."She flew to California on May 11. After meeting up with her teammates, and shopping for whatever couldn't be shipped or carried with her, they checked into their hotel and went to dinner."Then we rested up, because the next day, we had our work cut out for us."After two days of filming, her team, "Elves with Attitudes," came up short. But while they were the first to go home, the judges, which included design expert Charles Phoenix; master baker Sherry Yard; and guest judge Chris Buck, co-director of "Frozen;" were clearly impressed with her work."The element that really makes me happy," said Phoenix when discussing the challenge, "is the blown-glass fruit," which Knappenberger had created.His comment elicited a roar from the crowd at Cousin's II Cocktail Lounge in Mahoning Township, where Knappenberger gathered with friends and family to watch the show, and two fists in the air from Knappenberger.While the yellow team was the first to be sent packing, Knappenberger was satisfied with the work she produced."When we were eliminated, of course I was sad, but I was OK with it because I knew I did the best work I could possibly have done. Hearing the judges saying they liked it was all that mattered to me. I knew I would sleep that night and I could hold my head high. I had absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. Period. I was really OK with the decision of elimination."Although her daughters were sad, and even cried when she came home early, they're both very proud."It's really an amazing experience," said Dortie-Mae. "I'm very excited and proud."Daughter Abby-Rae also sang her mother's praises."I think this was the best opportunity she could ever get in her field. It couldn't be better timing," Abby-Rae said. "I'm just so proud of her, that she got this far with her talents. She's such a creative and brilliant woman."Knappenberger and her husband, Kenny, also have two sons. Ken Jr., who lives in Tallahassee, Florida, and Shawn, who lives in Palmerton.By the end of the evening, Knappenberger had lost her voice, but she did express her appreciation for all of the support she's received."I would like to thank my friends, family, Lehighton and the surrounding residents for giving me all the support in the world. And coming and celebrating this ultimate goal in my life!"