Please Help Me! : Covering Topsy Turvy Cake

Decorating By teganmcc Updated 29 Apr 2007 , 11:20pm by teganmcc

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teganmcc Posted 22 Apr 2007 , 10:40am
post #1 of 7

Hello again, I posted a little while ago asking about covering a whimsical cake. Well i had a practice run of the bottom tear of what will be my wedding cake, and i am really happy with how it all turned out except for the covering bit.
I used sugar paste (rolled fondant) and when i tried lifting it over the cake (with my mums help) i had tears, so maybe it was too thin.
But then i am also confused how to do it without having any joins. Because it is smaller down the bottom than up the top there are folds in the covering, so i ended up cutting the exess bits but then the joining just didnt work.

Please help and give me some ideas, should i be using a different icing to cover it?

Ignore the purpleness and the dogy flower ontop, i was playing around with colouring ideas and my sister made the rose with left overs.
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6 replies
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SugarplumStudio Posted 22 Apr 2007 , 1:23pm
post #2 of 7

Looking at your pictures, the fondant does look at bit thin. All I can offer is to tell you how I cover my whimsy cakes:
I roll a piece much much bigger than I need. It seems to drape easier.
When I drape it over the cake, I immediately cut out an X with a sharp pairing knife in the cut out space on the top of the cake. Since it is a hollow space with nothing underneath to support the fondant, there is a huge amount of stress on the fondant on edges of the cake. The X allows me to smooth the fondant into the cut out and down the sides. It removes some of the pressure, resulting in no tears.
I hope that made some sense and helps a little icon_smile.gif

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teganmcc Posted 22 Apr 2007 , 9:49pm
post #3 of 7

Thats a good idea with the cross on top! Thanks for that.

I am still a bit unclear about how to smooth the sides when there is so much excess because it is smaller down the bottom?

do u fold it over and then just smooth with all your might?

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crumbscakeartistry Posted 22 Apr 2007 , 9:56pm
post #4 of 7

I have found that putting you cake on a cake plate or something like that helps. If the fondant is hanging it helps it stretch naturally while you are smoothing. Once you put the fondant one cut away the excess right away. Once all the extra fondant is out of your way start smoothing and it should be fine.

I never have tried cutting an x put that is great idea that i will try ou on my next whimsical cake.

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StaceyC3 Posted 22 Apr 2007 , 9:58pm
post #5 of 7

I just wanted to wish you good luck...I would roll the fondant a bit thicker, and then you just have to work quickly to smooth the pleats out at the bottom the best you can. Definitely have it raised up on something. I have a topsy-turvy cake on the last page of my gallery, and all I can say is...STRATEGICALLY PLACED FLOWERS hide a lot of sins! icon_lol.gif

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teganmcc Posted 23 Apr 2007 , 12:10am
post #6 of 7

Thanks for your help guys.
So i will try to:
Make bigger batch of sugar paste and roll it thicker
Put the cross on tip to release stress
Cut the excess and smooth the joins so u cant see them
Then strategically place the flowers icon_lol.gif

Thanks very much for your help, much appriciated, i'll post a picture of the final thing, i'm getting married on June 9 so still got some time to plan it out!

Thanks again

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teganmcc Posted 29 Apr 2007 , 11:20pm
post #7 of 7

Sorry i just wanted to double check/clarify something.

So is it ok to make a cut (cut away excess rather than fold in over) on the side and smooth the join? With the join smooth ok?

Might be a dumb question but i'm only new at this.

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