One tier for every year. I was able to use my airbrush a little on the bottom tier for this cake. All buttercream with fondant accents. The lids are styrofoam covered in gumpaste and fondant for the "tissue paper." I am sooo sorry I forgot the name of the person I got the tiara idea from. Her pattern is on here. I didn't use it but it was her instructions I followed to make it out of RI.