This is likely the last year I can do my own cake and do a style from my cake bucket list so here it is…my Steampunk XLIV Birthday Cake!

XLIV is 44 in Roman Numerals which I think is fitting for the Steampunk genre as a lot of clocks and time pieces use Roman Numerals. And fitting too because this design ended up being so time-consuming – over 30 hours just on making the decorative elements and decorating the cake. This does not include the time to bake and make all the fillings, fondant & ganache, nor to fill and ganache the tiers.

I used Jo Orr’s (from Ciccio Cakes) edible sugar lace recipe & tutorial that is available at Operation Sugar Ltd to support a worthy cause. It was AMAZING and SO easy to use! LOVE it as it stayed so flexible even after a few days so will be doing lots more lace now!

Of course I had to use purples and I chose Pantone which is the Colour Trend for 2014, mixed with some darker hues to stick with the Steampunk look, however the colours show up a bit grapey or plum in the pics.

Hand painted all the gold detailing with lustre dust and the filigree lace molds and key and lock molds were from Way Beyond Cakes by Mayen. Also used the Marvelous Molds Damask Onlay for the bottom tier and the cakeboard. Gears were handcut.

TFL – Violet =D