This cake was for my son's 5th birthday and he chose a gumball theme. The base of the cake was made up of three 8"x 3" round cakes and one 6' x 2' cake. I torted and coated the cakes with buttercream, covered in red MMF, used six wooden dowels and one plastic dowel in the middle for extra strength. I attached a grease free cake board to the cake with royal icing which held the gumballs. I put two pounds of gumballs in a fishbowl and secured it to the grease free cake board with Gorilla Glue tape. Its kinda like duck tape but 100 times more sticky. My dad had some for me to try. I was so impressed with this tape that its now on my shopping list! How did I get thru life without this tape!?!?! Anyway, I made a red MMF top for the gumball machine and put extra long trick candles in the topper. I made a yellow plate on the front which had a spot for a coin and knob (made from 50/50 mix of MMF and gumpaste) that actually turned. I attached the knob to a sucker stick and stuck it in the cake. It was in far enough that it didn't come out when the kids turned the knob. This was a hit at the party! I had to point out to people that the gumball machine was the actual cake. Some of the guests thought it was a "favor" that I had bought or rented due to the party theme. I thought that was a huge compliment!