All's Well That Ends Well

Decorating By HollyPJ Updated 30 Aug 2005 , 2:13am by Cady

HollyPJ Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
HollyPJ Posted 29 Aug 2005 , 12:36am
post #1 of 36

Hello!

Friday night I was having a terrible time using Pettinice fondant (which I was trying for the first time instead of homemade) and posted asking for help. Thanks to all who responded. I ended up with some imperfections in the fondant, but the finished cake looked fine, especially if you didn't look too closely. lol

I had such a hard time on Friday that I didn't think this wedding cake was ever going to be finished, let alone look good, but I'm pleased with the results. I tried several new (to me) techniques with this cake: gumpaste bow, edible pearls, and painting with luster and pearl dusts. These were all so fun to do!


Here's a picture:
LL

35 replies
CanCakeMom Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
CanCakeMom Posted 29 Aug 2005 , 12:41am
post #2 of 36

beautiful!

irisinbloom Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
irisinbloom Posted 29 Aug 2005 , 12:49am
post #3 of 36

You did a BEAUTIFUL jobicon_smile.gif

crimsonhair Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
crimsonhair Posted 29 Aug 2005 , 1:34am
post #4 of 36

Oh my gosh Holly that is Beautiful!! It looks just perfect and all your flowers are so delicate looking. You did a fantastic job. I am inspired to try something like that..
icon_smile.gif Happy Baking
Liz

KATE39 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
KATE39 Posted 29 Aug 2005 , 1:36am
post #5 of 36

SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!

Sherryb Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Sherryb Posted 29 Aug 2005 , 1:42am
post #6 of 36

I love your cake...you did a great job!!
Sherry

Rexy Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Rexy Posted 29 Aug 2005 , 1:45am
post #7 of 36

I love the cake! How did you make the edible pearls? Thx!

stephanie214 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
stephanie214 Posted 29 Aug 2005 , 1:45am
post #8 of 36

Fantastic cake.

HollyPJ Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
HollyPJ Posted 29 Aug 2005 , 2:14am
post #9 of 36

Thanks for all your kind words!

The got the pearl instructions from earlenescakes.com--her website is a gem! Here's the exact link http://www.earlenescakes.com/prlinstruct.htm

I don't have a pasta maker, which she recommends using to roll out your fondant, so to get a uniform size for my pearls, I weighed the fondant using a kitchen scale. I took 2 oz at a time and rolled it out to fit in a circle I had drawn on a piece of paper. That way the fondant was the same thickness every time.

charlieinMO Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
charlieinMO Posted 29 Aug 2005 , 2:22am
post #10 of 36

Great job!! Your cake is very elegant looking!! I would never have guessed that you hadn't done some of these things before!!

Juds Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Juds Posted 29 Aug 2005 , 2:25am
post #11 of 36

Fantastic job!! You do beautiful work.

jscakes Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
jscakes Posted 29 Aug 2005 , 2:38am
post #12 of 36

I think the cake is gorgeous looking! Great job!

SquirrellyCakes Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
SquirrellyCakes Posted 29 Aug 2005 , 2:45am
post #13 of 36

Gorgeous and elegant, hard to tell you had any problems at all, haha, are you sure you did?
Great job!
Hugs Squirrelly Cakes

HollyPJ Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
HollyPJ Posted 29 Aug 2005 , 2:54am
post #14 of 36

I had to bake another 14-inch layer after one broke in half coming out of the pan. The worst trouble, though, was with the fondant. No matter what I did, it kept tearing when I tried to place it on the cake. I had to keep pulling it off and trying again! I finally had to settle for some "stretch marks" and even a couple of small tears on two of the tiers. I spent hours and hours on Friday night dealing with the fondant problem. I got two hours of sleep that night! lol. I don't know why I had such difficulty with this brand of fondant--I'd never had a problem with my homemade regular or MMF. So much for a timesaver! icon_smile.gif

My kitchen is such a disaster. I'm wondering how many days it will take to get it clean. icon_biggrin.gif I get really messy when I'm in a hurry. Maybe we could just move. lol

SquirrellyCakes Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
SquirrellyCakes Posted 29 Aug 2005 , 3:13am
post #15 of 36

What a nightmare! Sometimes the humidity causes these problems. I tend to always roll out on a Crisco barely smeared countertop. But I do find some of these fondants are not elastic enough, no matter now much you knead them, sounds like this one wasn't! Anyway, you really couldn't tell you had any problems at all, it looks amazing!
I am with you on the moving part, haha! I am a great believer in hand washing a floor, but I broke down and bought a Swiffer Sweeper system for the times when a customer picks up the cake and I want the appearance of a clean floor, without spending the time, haha! My floor always ends up a mess, sticky and all with icing and such, even if I am careful.
The cleanup is not the fun part!
Hugs Squirrelly Cakes

amberlicious Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
amberlicious Posted 29 Aug 2005 , 3:34am
post #16 of 36

Looks FANTASTIC!! Did they love it??
Amber

gibson Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
gibson Posted 29 Aug 2005 , 3:39am
post #17 of 36

Absolutely gorgeous! icon_biggrin.gif

crimsonhair Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
crimsonhair Posted 29 Aug 2005 , 4:24am
post #18 of 36

Squirrelly Cakes I had someone send me an email concerning the swiffer wet , apparently the solution is harmful to pets.. I have one and now I make sure I lock the cats in a bedroom when I do the floor so they don't walk on it at all when it is still wet. Just thought I'd share this with you as I know you have a kitty too..
I know what you mean Holly about the messes getting worse when we are in a hurry. I could very easily get use to having a maid..LOL

SquirrellyCakes Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
SquirrellyCakes Posted 29 Aug 2005 , 4:33am
post #19 of 36

Thanks Crimson Hair,
Funny you should mention that, they both have a bad habit of walking across a wet floor. So I tend to try to keep them out when I wash the floor, but now I will be extra careful with them.
Hugs Squirrelly

crimsonhair Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
crimsonhair Posted 29 Aug 2005 , 4:33am
post #20 of 36

My gosh Holly I just read those instruction on Earlenes site.. How long did it take you to make all those pearls? It must have taken you forever. You do have patience girl..
icon_smile.gif Happy Baking
Liz

tanyascakes Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
tanyascakes Posted 29 Aug 2005 , 4:36am
post #21 of 36

Holly, your cake is beautiful!! I guess you have to look pretty hard to find any imperfections-because I didn't see any. Your bow is so perfect! I am highly impressed by this one. Kepp up the good work!

Tanya

crimsonhair Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
crimsonhair Posted 29 Aug 2005 , 4:37am
post #22 of 36

Well a few of my friends had heard that about the swiffer wet too so I think better safe than sorry huh. I do like using it as its fast when you just need a quick clean up but sure don't want to make my kitties sick either .. They are like yours and love to walk across a freshly washed floor and leave their little paw prints all over it..LOL
Gotta love them though..
Liz

HollyPJ Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
HollyPJ Posted 29 Aug 2005 , 4:38am
post #23 of 36

Liz- I have a confession. lol. I made about 1/3 of the pearls myself, but after running short on time, I enlisted my mil to help. She didn't think she could do it, but I taught her how to make them in about 5 minutes and she did just fine. I was so grateful for her help!
I'm not sure how long it took to make all of them. I made them while I watched TV and wasn't really keeping track of the time.

crimsonhair Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
crimsonhair Posted 29 Aug 2005 , 4:47am
post #24 of 36

Hi Holly,
So if I attempt to make the pearls I will have a pearl making party and invite some friends over.. LOL
Your MIL sounds like a sweetie.

BJ Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
BJ Posted 29 Aug 2005 , 4:44pm
post #25 of 36

Cake is just gorgeous! Great job. thumbs_up.gif

Calejo Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Calejo Posted 29 Aug 2005 , 6:13pm
post #26 of 36

I love your cake too! It looks beautiful!

mommymarilyn Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
mommymarilyn Posted 29 Aug 2005 , 6:44pm
post #27 of 36

Your cake is just beautiful! You did such a wonderful job! Congratulations! I just recently bought a mold for the edible pearls, and can't wait to use it!

traci Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
traci Posted 29 Aug 2005 , 7:12pm
post #28 of 36

What a gorgeous cake!!! The clean-up part is a nightmare!!! I destroy my kitchen every weekend!!!! icon_smile.gif
traci

alimonkey Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
alimonkey Posted 29 Aug 2005 , 7:15pm
post #29 of 36

I think it's beautiful too. It really makes me want to try out some pearls!

HollyPJ Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
HollyPJ Posted 29 Aug 2005 , 7:23pm
post #30 of 36

The pearls are surprisingly easy! If you can roll playdough into a ball, you can make a pearl. lol. Coating them with the pearl dust is kind of messy, but what part of cake decorating isn't messy? icon_smile.gif

Quote by @%username% on %date%

%body%