My customer wanted a birthday cake for her mother's 65th birthday. Her mom likes a lot of things, especially gifts, gardening, Bruce Springsteen, and the colors red, orange, and purple.
(Note to self! She is not a pink girl.)
So the first thought was to make a gift cake, square, with a simple ribbon, bow, and tails. But I wanted to add something garden-related. I decided to add a garden trowel and garden gloves, and make the trowel a gift, with a small bow and name tag. I thought that if I added a rose or two to the cake "gift," as well as some roses on the cake board, I could make the ideas work.
It was easy enough to put in some of the mother's favorite colors. (Too bad I couldn't work in a Bruce Springsteen reference! And believe me, I tried to think of something!)
So I needed:
ADD RIBBONS (FONDANT)
ADD TAILS (FONDANT)
ADD TROWEL AND GIFT CARD (BOTH GUM PASTE)
ADD GARDENING GLOVES (GUM PASTE)
ADD PIPING
(but I should have done this step in the step right after I added the ribbon)
Let me know if you have any questions. Email me at CakesoftheHamptons@aol.com. I'll be happy to help you!
(Note to self! She is not a pink girl.)
So the first thought was to make a gift cake, square, with a simple ribbon, bow, and tails. But I wanted to add something garden-related. I decided to add a garden trowel and garden gloves, and make the trowel a gift, with a small bow and name tag. I thought that if I added a rose or two to the cake "gift," as well as some roses on the cake board, I could make the ideas work.
It was easy enough to put in some of the mother's favorite colors. (Too bad I couldn't work in a Bruce Springsteen reference! And believe me, I tried to think of something!)
So I needed:
1. Cake that looks like a gift
2. Garden trowel
3. Garden gloves
4. Name tag
5. Large bow for cake, small bow for trowel
6. A cool cake drum
7. Roses...
Here are the steps that I took to put this project together.
COVER CAKE DRUM
I covered the cake drum with this gray fondant, used a long dowel to make the grooves while the fondant was still soft; after it dried, I dusted the "lines" with dark purple dust.
GLUE RIBBON ONTO DRIED CAKE BOARD
ADD CAKE
ADD TAILS (FONDANT)
ADD BOW (GUM PASTE / MADE NIGHT BEFORE)
ADD ORANGE ROSEBUD TO CAKE
ADD GARDENING GLOVES (GUM PASTE)
Using my hand as a pattern, I cut out a pattern then used the pattern to cut the gum paste. After the gum paste was dry, I painted small red roses with dark centers, added gold trim, and a little stem. I glued black fondant strips around the wrists with edible gum glue.
ADD PIPING
(but I should have done this step in the step right after I added the ribbon)
ADD ROSES AND "DIRT" (crumbled brownies)
Let me know if you have any questions. Email me at CakesoftheHamptons@aol.com. I'll be happy to help you!