Hi, everyone. I have to do a bridal shower cake this weekend and am lost on ideas. The wedding colors are cranberry and silver. I'm doing a standard 11x15 sheet cake and want to do something simple but nice. Here's my problem. I'm new to cake decorating, and I am terrible at making roses. What else can I do with those colors? Also, how do I get that color? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!!!!!!

The silver might be hard, it will turn out looking like gray. See if you can find any of the silver dragees. For bridal showers, I always have people ask for gift box cakes. They are great cakes for beginners like me!! You could use fondant to make a big bow with just two loops and then pipe cranberry flowers all over th cake using the silver dragees for the centers.

For your cranberry, start with pink and switch over to the red or cranberry color.

Good Luck
Karen

Okay, you say your roses aren't that great. How are your drop flowers?? If they are okay, you could use some of them with some leaves. Can you do a BCT? You could make one of a rose. Can you do colorflow? If you can make a fancy heart with it, and then just add a message in the center with the cranberry. I would try to find the dragees for some accents as any silver will look gray.[/url]

This isn't a very clear picture but will give you an idea of what i'm talking about. The heart is done with colorflow, you can replace the roses with drop flowers and the dots on the border could be done with the dragees.

Hi...I love doing the gift box cakes and think it is not difficult. I have used premade bows that I found at Michaels or Hobby Lobby. You could use a sheer bow with some silver and use silk flowers. I also do not like making icing flowers. I think the silk ones are nice for a bridal shower...and a lot of them even look real! Good luck!
traci

Here is one I did with a gold bow.

Lisha,
One thing that looks nice and is easy is to take your sheet cake and cut it in the shape of a 3 tiered wedding cake. Then decorate it to look like one! I have decorated with string work, or ruffles and have cascaded roses down the cake. Border each "tier". It really has been a hit and is so easy to do. Even if your roses aren't perfect, I bet others will think they are great!

I also like to make stacked gift boxes for shower cakes. Using 6 and 10 inch square, 2 layer cakes, ice smooth. Off set the 6 inch on top of the 10. Then I have used ribbon to make a loopy bow for the top and "wrapped" both boxes. Just place measured ribbon across each tier (+) and then tuck the edges under the cake (Do the 10 inch before you place the 6 inch. Can also add to the look with dots placed on the "boxes".

Silver ribbon and dragees and silk or live cranberry colored flowers would be my advice.

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions. I am going to try to do the present cake. Here is my question. If I use an 11x15 pan, can I cut it into the squares?? Also, is the top layer on a cake board or is it just placed on top? I was thinking that if I cut the cake into squares, I could stack two small squares together and use filling in between the layers. Has anyone done this before?

I always put my top cake on a cake board. I think it adds more stability and will make it easier to decorate. I think if you made a template you could cut the squares out of your 11x15 cake.
traci

Lisha,
I am sure you could do this with cutting the squares. Yes the top cake is on a board with dowels to support. Hope you find this to be as pretty as I have!

Thanks to everyone for all your suggestions and help. The shower was a success and everyone loved the cake. As soon as I get pictures I will post them. Thank again !

Can't wait to see the pics of it Lisha .. I'm glad it turned out well for you