Cake Beginner - Xbox 360 Cake, Fondant ?s

I'm new here, and new to baking or decorating anything other than muffins or cupcakes lol, but my girlfriend's birthday is coming up (July 1st), and she really likes playing Xbox 360. I've gotten her a couple of gifts to go with her xbox and some things having to do with her favorite game.. but I saw a few pictures of Xbox 360 themed cakes and started asking around how I could make one.

So far I've learned to make my own fondant, here:
http://whatscookingamerica.net/PegW/Fondant.htm

Let me know if that should work, or if anyone has any input about that specific recipe.. I've never made it before so please let me know

I've already traced my Xbox onto a piece of cardboard and cut it out for the basic shape, also cut out all the small patterns for the buttons/plug slots, etc.

Here are some pics of what I'm going towards:




Here are some ideas I've read, but I'm looking for any better suggestions..

- Use rice crispies treats to shape the controller,
- Candy for the controller buttons,
- Upside down Hershey's Kisses for the joysticks,
- Food Coloring 'Paste' rather than liquid?
- Pizza Cutter for cutting fondant

I've never worked with fondant before, but I'm kind of a perfectionist when it comes to working with my hands so I think I could get the basics down. I'd like to have the sides gray like a real Xbox 360, so I was wondering how I could do that.. maybe cover the entire thing first with the gray, then lay the white over the top/front/back then trim any excess off the sides? Any suggestions on tools/supplies? I'd also like the cake to be sitting on something that looks nice as well.

Also, the top and sides have a TON of air holes for cooling, I was wondering if anyone has tips on getting straight lines to poke multiple rows of indentions/holes.

Sorry if I asked a ton of questions all at once, but I have a couple weeks now to practice and get ideas and all the supplies together I think she'll love it, even if it turns out nowhere near as great as I'm imagining haha. I think I'm going to use an actual game case and put white paper inside of it to make a custom card to sit next to the cake, any ideas are welcome! Thanks everyone!

I forgot to also ask how long the fondant can last being stored/ready to use, and the best way to store it?

Also, once I have the cake completely done, how long is it safe to store and the best way.

I'll stay up all night the night before her birthday if needed, but if possible, It would be less frustrating to make it a day or so in advance just in case I mess up, and in case I have to work early the morning of her birthday.

I still need to pick up some candy/coloring/rkt.. hmm.. trying to remember if I had any other questions lol, I've been watching videos on YouTube on covering square cakes with fondant, they use some sort of square block to smooth it out, would I be able to use something similar?

I might go practice making a little bit and just see how it turns out..

Thanks a lot!

Well I just made my first batch of fondant, MESSY!

Got it all mixed together, sprinkled a little cornstarch on the counter and rolled it out.. kind of in a hurry so I didn't put enough corn starch, so a few little spots stuck, but I can tell that once I'm taking my time and be a little more careful it'll turn out better.

I sat a Swiss Roll snack cake box down on the counter and laid the fondant over it, it barely took any work to get even the corners and edges looking better than I would have imagined lol.

One corner messed up though, I had the fondant too thin

That was a smaller scale, so I'll need a larger counter/more corn starch next time, and be more careful on the thickness.. then the cake will also be 3x the size of that box, so I'll need to roll it over rather than picking it up and just laying it over it probably.

Balled it up, greased the outside of it, wrapped in plastic and put in a ziplock bag with as little air in it as I could.. it's in the fridge ready for when I need it

Going to make one more batch, if I make a batch next week, would it be fine to mix it in with this batch for a larger amount?

Thanks!!

Oh yea, I meant wrapping it not actually rolling.. just it was kind of a large area of it and I didn't have anyone to help me lift it all at once. I'll have someone help me pick it all up when I get to the actual cake though.

i'll definitely check the oldest batch before mixing in a new batch, if it seems too dry i can add a little water correct? or just make a new batch?

Thanks!

thanks for the help!

gotta figure out what kinds cake she even likes now lol

A while back I was with her and her sister and they were looking for a cake to buy because they were just hungry for cake, and I kept hearing them say how they didn't like buttercream.. at the time I had no idea what that even was, but now that I'm doing my research and all to make a cake, I'm wondering what other cheap/easy alternative there is to buttercream that I could use, any suggestions?

Oh also.. trying to figure out what kind of cake she likes.. I asked her sister, waiting to hear back.. but I had this idea, that if she doesn't like any specific kind of cake, would it be possible to stack Swiss Rolls snack cakes into a rectangle and use it as a cake? She loves Swiss Rolls just not sure if that's possible, or would even taste good haha..

i think im gonna try using a thin layer, should be ok.. i think as long as it looks even slightly cool.. she'll love it LOL her sister said chocolate cake though. i need to go pick up the cake, some coloring, and some sort of icing/coloring pen things with a thin tip for writing. hopefully in neon green and black, for the xbox theme. also some more marshmallows and powdered sugar.. on a budget now though, so im trying to get it all ahead of time so i can still get her the gifts i really want to get her. really appreciate the help everyone!

Well I worked on the card today while she was at work..
I added the party hat on the soldier, the balloons in the background in front of the helicopters, and the Happy Birthday..
Got it printed on card stock and cut it to fit.. cut out the little round thing that holds the disc in place so that I could hot glue a color cd for looks, and hot glued (2 small dabs, so she can peel it off) the 1600 live points card in the center. Cut a piece of white card stock for the opposite side so that I can write something to her.. I like how it turned out.




It's going to be laying next to the cake.

got a problem!!!!

she doesnt have to work monday or tuesday, which are the 2 days i was planning on doing all of this lol

i have nowhere to hide the cake if i made it earlier

so i'll have to wait till she leaves tuesday night, 11:00pm, and i'll only have up until i have to work at 6am

i do construction so i need a little sleep if possible, it's HOT here in FL.. but i will stay up the entire time if needed, i want to get it perfect

going to bake the cake in advance and cover it/hide it, already have enough fondant made to use for the sides and the little pieces that will be cut out and such.. but for the main white fondant to cover the entire thing, i'll make a fresh batch.

need an opinion though, for the gray sides.. would it be better to just spread gray frosting, or cut out gray fondant? ive only practiced that once with laying fondant over the cake, but not just sticking a piece to the side

thanks everyone!