This cake was so much fun to make, but a great dissapointment in the end. It never made it to the customer. I finished it and left. My boss later tells me that the sides fell off and that there was a crack in it? I don't know how or where it happened. She ended up giving it away. I was so depressed after hearing that. The ball is stirfoam, and the pins are fondant. I used melted chocolat for the writting and wood lines.