I have a shower to do for in 2 weeks. This is the final design I've come up with. At first I was going to do it 2 layers each of 10", 8", and 6" as they want a tiered cake. Now as I am starting to make some of the decorations, I'm thinking maybe making the tiers 1 layer and torting them. Reason being that it will be a shower with about 20 to 30 attending. So...what do you think? 2 layer or 1? I think I'm more concerned about too little cake as opposed to too much. Is the design ok? They did not want anything too-too babyish. The bears and the blocks will be made of gumpaste. Thanks for any suggestions!

I love the design....I'm thinking maybe the single layer torted would be OK for the number of servings you need.

If your tiers are not going to be as high, I would definitely make the fondant stripes a bit thinner, or else it will look fat and chunky.

Please post a pic when you're done!

1 layer torted:
10X10 cut to 2x2 servings = 25
8x8 cut same = 16
6x6 cut same = 9

or 50 servings total....

you're already at 41 w/ just the 10 and 8 in squares 1 layer torted.

so... PLENTY of cake

and the design is very cute -- tho' traditionalist here -- where's the pink or blue or yellow???

I just don't get the "modern" color schemes -- like sage green -- must be the irish in me that wants Kelly green

The Mommy is having her 3rd boy and her SIL is the one giving the shower. The colors are green and white and she really stressed a stylish, no frills cake. I agree, I'd like to see some "baby colors" being a bit of a traditionalist myself, but at least I have freedom to design .

I think the idea of thinning the stripes is good. They will be of white chocolate rolled fondant (yum!) so at least I won't be doing those right now, just the blocks and the bears.

This is the only food item at the shower. That is why I was concerned with the layers.

i love the design... its very cute. but like has already been said, i'd prefer more traditional "baby" colors... but that's the mommy's choice. i'm sure it will look great. can't wait to se it!

The cake seems really lovely, but really wanted to comment on baby shower for third child! Up where I am at, that is just not done.

For the German and Norwegian descendant groups in my neighborhood it is the first baby only as this is extremely extravagant for the third child and peoples mouths would be wagging. LOL.

Funny how things are so different even with just a few miles separation.

P.S. Remember to post your cake!

We have always done a shower for the baby even if it is the 4th or 5th. Babies are a gift from God and every one is special and should have a special party just for them. On a practical level, the hand-me-downs start to get a little thread bare so some new things are always needed and welcome! I've never heard anyone complain when it comes to a baby shower. We love them!

tiptop57 - I'm with you. Showers are for first babies when you have to buy everything. If you're close to the mother, you go to see her when the baby is born and take a gift.

However, I love the design of the cake.

I had a thought. What if you used a dummy for the base tier and then just made cake for the middle and top and did double layers? I don't know off hand how many servings, but just an idea I thought I'd throw out there if you were worried about the height of the layers and such.

I love your design and your colors. I do like the proportions of the design the way it is. Could you throw a dummy tier in instead of doing single layers?

I'm so sorry..... I meant to add how much I love the design and colors (even without the traditional colors). I can't wait to see the actual cake photo.

Hadn't thought of a dummy as I'm not real fond of them. Nothing wrong with them, it's just my personal feelings...I like cake!

I'm really suprised about the 2nd and 3rd baby shower issue. Just can't imagine not having a shower. Gee, the Mom could sure use a special day herself. Sometimes the showers are baby but for her also, little things that she might need, even things like bubble bath, candles, relaxing CD's or a get-away at a day spa.

and weighing in on showers are for ???

oh heck -- any excuse to P A R T Y ! ! !

after all --

why not celebrate a new life?

and on a practical note:

and if previous baby was a boy or girl
and the next is of the opposite sex?
hmm....don't exactly think the "hand-me-downs" will work completely! -- need new clothes

and...

what if there is a sizable gap between previous and newbee? hmm -- what hand-me-downs? all gone, given away is very probable. this would/could also apply to all that baby hardware (seats, strollers, cribs, etc.)

and even if no gap and same sex...
well nothing lasts forever! -- still will need replacement clothing and upgrades (well we do want the baby to be "fashionable" don't we???


and as for car seats....they DO have an expiration date... NO they should not be used child after child and especially if damaged/showing signs of wear/tear, or having been in a car accident.

---
so...bring on the party -- pamper the mommy (who at #3 or more is certainly deserving and needing it) and shower her w/ good wishes, yummy to eat dishes and all that "stuff" the baby is going to need.

if soooo worried about giving unneeded clothes -- how about a gift certifs that can be used for baby food? $$ always helpful.

Thank you, Doug! When I had my first born 31years ago, you didn't even need carseats, I brought him home from the hospital in my arms. By the time the 3rd came along 5 years later, I couldn't even get out of the driveway without her strapped into a carseat. As for clothes, Annie wore some of her brother's hand-me-downs like OshKosh's and t-shirts (I put bows on them) but the dresses I got at her shower were very welcome!

My church gave me a shower for each of our children and every one was wonderful!

Sorry to offend - just my opinion and one that is shared by many I know. Where I live, it isn't done.

IT LOOS VERY CUTE

Is a very cute design..A lot more cake than for 30 people there...
Edna

pennysue - what program did you use to create the design?

I think the cake design is great...I look forward to seeing it done.
Here where I live many do not have a shower for each child but every baby needs diapers and we all like cake why not???

What if you mixed it up and did the bottm 2-layers and the middle and top 1 layer torted? It might give a nice variation.

On the baby shower note, I'm throwing a double shower for two friends in a few weeks. One is having her 3rd, (7 years after the second, so she needs almost everything, having gotten rid of it all!) and the other friend is having her 7th (yes, I said SEVENTH). She has only asked for diapers and wipes. Every mom can use those!

It will be avery cute cake...i least where i come from Puerto Rico it doesnt matter how many babies she already has we always make them a baby shower like some one said its a new life to celebrate and the mother gets a lot of help with those presents

That is a great design PennySue; very clean and contemporary. I absolutely love the colors too. May I ask what program you used to "draw" your design?

I'm not offended at all by any of the comments concerning the baby showers! Goodness, we are intitled to our opinions. I'm enjoying reading what everyone has to say.

I use Microsoft Publisher to design my cakes. Maybe cuz I'm too cheap to by that design DVD, or who knows...I just might still try it. MS Pub is pretty easy to use and I can try different colors and sizes. I also import pictures, clipart, like the teddybear so I can get an idea of what I'm doing.

PennySue, could you please let me know which design DVD you were referring to?

thanks

i have to chime in....

I really like the cake but do have to admit that besides the colors I do find it very traditional and baby-shower-ish. If I asked for something like what you described in the first post i would not feel you had met my desire. (Please don't be offended--and nobody else flame me.... she asked..... and I really would have loved it for any of my showers but I love baby themes!!)

On the other subject... I had a small shower for my third and I was so pleased that my girlfriends decided to do it for me. I was really hurt by my church not doing one because to me it felt like nobody cared about this baby. It made it really hard to think about what she would see missing from her baby book and scrapbook! No wonder 3rd kids have that syndrome!

UMMMM....I love your design first of all,and the colours....I googled MSpublisher,and it shows something like $160.00...am I looking at the wrong thing? We have the XP media Center 2005....

ms publisher is a part of the MS Office suite of software.

depending upon which version of MS Office you have, you may or may not have it.

yes, it can be purchased separately, but it's better to get it as part of the Office suite. You have to get at least the small business version to have Publisher included.