Hi y'all,
I need help. My very first project is going to be of a black champagne bottle with gold label and medallion laying in a crate (that I figured I would make out of gingerbread) and lying on something that needs to look like green grass. My biggest question I have at the moment is how do I get the bottle black without turning everyone's teeth black when they eat it? Also, what could I use for the grass? I was thinking that I could make a sheet cake and edge it with the gingerbread to look like a crate and then maybe use green icing for the grass and shape another cake to look like the champagne bottle to go on top of the sheet cake. I think I can do this but do y'all think I am biting off more than I can chew? This is for my Manager's 50th Birthday and I want it to be real special. Please help me with any ideas you may have...
Thank you,
Susan

You can pipe grass with Wilton tip 233 or 234. A black color can be achieved by using a Black chocolate icing--use Black Cocoa Powder, available at gourmet food shops and online--it's what gives Oreo's their dark rich color. Tastes great too.

Thanks lotsoftots I'll definitely make the grass that way. Is there any way to use fondant on the bottle and have it colored black without turning mouths black?

Start with a nice dark chocolate fondant ... you don't need to add much black to get your colour!

Personally, I use www.creativecutters.com Mill Lane brand ...really yummy and quite a nice dark brown! Then I airbrush the black over it ... uses just a little colour!

For grass... you can also colour some rice paper green then cut it into strips & shred the edge (see my marzipan garden veggies cake with the picket fence...)

Thank you for the great ideas!!!

also for grass....

take coconut and put in big (gallon size or so) zip lock baggy, add several drops liquid green color then zip shut and shake vigorously (great for the kids to do)...if not green enough, add more coloring and shake some more. (hmmm....keep kids buzy real long....add just one drop at time???)