I need a cake for a party I'm attending tomorrow evening, so I made the WASC cake (two layers) and Sugarshack's BC frosting - and raspberry jam filling in the middle.

My house is air conditioned. This is the third cake I've decorated. The first cake looked like my first cake, but the second cake turned out quite nicely.

I copied the design of the second cake since I'm really pressed for time this week, and it seemed easier than figuring out something new when I have no time.

It went poorly from the start. I obviously didn't wait long enough for settling after filling and crumb coating. (about 2 hrs is all I waited). I put the frosting on, and this morning there was a large air bubble on the side. It wasn't at the spot where the two layers meet, but was on the side of one of the layers. I was able to pop it and smooth it out.

I decorated it today, and used my pearl border mold to make fondant pearls. I must have pushed them too hard into the icing, as it pushed out the frosting on the side of the cake. The flowers are already on, so repairing it would be rebuilding it. Now, I don't want to go to the party and take this.....

(((HUGS))) I have SO been there! UGH! All I can say is "more flowers?"

oh no! I am so sorry! As my husband always tell me.... you are seeing how bad it is but to me it looks fine! LOL..... he is trying to be nice..... really!!

But what he means is that we are often really hard on ourselves but to the uneducated it is just cool. Hopefully this works out for you and remember that it is ONLY your 3rd cake! It will get better. And hopefully your friends will recognize that too!

Oh, man, you should've seen my third cake! (In my defense, it was before the wonderful world of CakeCentral!) Just remember: It might not be your best work, but it's still better than any of them can do. And at the very least, it will taste good, right?

Thank you! Well, I'm HOPING it will taste good, as it's a great recipe. I know you've all been there - it's just so ANNOYING....

My 3rd cake looked like poo. I'd never even heard of a pearl border mold lol . You are able to point out every flaw, big or little, but the people at the party will most likely not notice all that you do. Take your cake, hold your head up, and prance in there like you're Duff lol !!!

And look on the bright side...you've learned a couple of lessons on this cake. Always let your cakes cool completely before you even attempt to fill/ice. Also, I let my filled cake sit overnight before I ice. That way I make sure it's not going to settle and smoosh up my BC. The bubble on the side could be the result of moisture/condensation. Did you let them cool completely?

Sorry this happened, but again...it's a learning experience. Bet it still tastes good!!!

Sigh... many lessons learned.....

Absolutely no reason to be worried about that cake. I looks wonderful. No one else will notice the flaws. Hold your head up high and smile when you take it to the party. They will love it.

I think it looks great. Don't stress about the details, your friends love it.

Your cake is lovely! Your flowers and leaves are beautiful! THAT's what people will be paying attention to for sure!

By all means hold your head up high! I, like yo,u would still be hard on myself, so I will add what crazy idea would be running through my head...

You definately don't want to mess with the portion directly aboove your flowers, but you may be able to smooth the section to the right a little without causing any damage. If you have ever used the small paint roller (aka the Melvira method) that will fit between your borders, I would do it ever so lightly! If it's gentle, it won't skew the beading on the top.

If youo have mever used this method before, don't challenge yourself. This has corrected a few of my "blow outs" before... or I would never be recommending it. Whatever you decide, I agree with the others... your friends will be impressed!

Yes, your cake is lovely. I saw the cake before I read the posting and replies, hardly noticed the small imperfections. Take your cake to the party and (like my instructor-long ago, drummed into our heads) DO NOT EXPLAIN YOUR MISTAKES. Your friends will love the cake.

I think it looks great!! Honestly.

But I'm like you and will not take it in if I can see the imperfections. I brought a cake to a moms breakfast the other day, the BC cracked on the way to town. these are all dear friends of mine. and I wouldnt take it in.

One of the hussies not only stole my keys and went and got it (I had told them I was bringing a cake) she showed it off to other customers, AND to the owner of the resturant, gave him a peice and told him to reccomend me!! I was mortified! LOL (they were amazed by the pattern on top- )

If you are not comfertable taking it in, do a 'non smooth' finish on it, like drywayll, or ceiling plaster. that makes the slight imperfections WE see look like they are supposed to be there!!

my favorite is to take a non viva paper towell and press it on a plain old sheet cake that I am taking to places, just to amaze people with my intricate piping skills (I cant pipe a dot.... ROFLMAO!) Thats what I did with the breakfast cake.

But honestly, I think it looks fine!! I'd take it in!

Your third cake?? You are definitely heading for cake stardom.... I've done a hundred (or more) cakes- and at least half of them did not turn out this good!

I agree......if you don't point out what you think is wrong.....nine times out of ten....no one will notice... And your cake is lovely...show it off proudly....good work..

hon, after seeing those flowers.. I am telling you right now that NO ONE is going to pay attention to anything else on that cake. Those flowers are fabulous !!!

I am sorry that your cake didn't hold up to your expectations, but it is still a beautiful cake. I love those flowers !!

That is a totally respectable cake. The flowers look great. Whenever I get to cut my cakes, my first cut is always at the point of whatever little boo-boo I didn't like so I can destroy the evidence as soon as possible!

I bet there wont be one person at the party who can do this, its very nice.....they will be impressed......nice job......you know trying to hide our booboo's is a BIG part of cake decorating

I've had customers PAY for cakes that look worse than yours!

I think it looks great. Is the butter cream a crusting frosting? The recipe I use crusts so when I can't get my cakes as smooth as I want or I have a ripple I take a printed paper towel lay is up against the side and either run my fingers acrossed the paper towel or use a fondant smoother. This leaves a beautiful imprint and smooths out any imperfections.

You guys are all GREAT! Thanks for the support! This morning I looked at it to see if there were any new problems,and it appears to be the same. You convinced me to attend the party and take in the cake. Honestly, I would have pointed out all the imperfections with it, so I LOVE the advice to keep my mouth shut about them! Thanks, again!!!

PS - I don't have that small roller to try to smooth it out. I did use a fondant roller at the one point where I could, and it helped a little. It is what it is!

Good for you!

KayMc, I have a small sign over my workspace that a fellow cake buddy gave me a long time ago, as I too was getting upset that my cakes were not looking "perfect".

My DH points at it whenever I'd reached my augh! point.

Its simply says..

"No one else knows it wasn't supposed to turn out like THAT!"

That cake looks great! Really! And don't you dare go to the party and start telling everyone how badly it went for you! When someone says "Lovely cake" (as they will), you hold your head up, smile, and say "Thanks! I'm glad you like it." (Can you tell this is a lesson I'm still learning?!)

I have to agree with everyone else. Your cake is beautiful, and shows a great deal of talent. Talent can't be controlled...even the greatest singers in the world hit off keys sometimes. That doesn't make them less of a singer...it makes them more awesome to come through it and move ahead. That's what you are doing by taking that cake in, smiling, and saying "I am so pleased to be able to bring this cake today!"

Nobody ever can see the "picture" in your head anyways...

it really looks fine. I think if you smooth it carefully with a VIVA papertowel, you will "erase" some of what you are seeing. It's not half as bad as you made it sound.

That little "puff" right there at the top...i would just gently run a hot dry spatula over it (going downward away from your border) and gently smooth with a small piece of VIVA papertowel. I think you can get rid of that in no time. That's just to satisfy you, because no one else will really notice it.