How do I get this look on a cake?

I met with a bride last night and she likes the gray on this cake. I was thinking it looked maybe like gray sanding sugar?? What do you think it is? (Her colors are ivory and gray, she loves this cake)

Thanks! :)

Yes... it looks like silver sugar crystals more than sanding sugar (which tends to be finer).  Like these http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001FXS8C8/?tag=cakecentral-20

Great looking cake. I checked Dessert Flair and they do not have blossom curls that color. It possibly may be gray spray food grade color, that may be a Cooks Speciality item, good look. Cake Mann

AI wonder how much I would need (sugar crystals) for an 8" & 12" cake? I hate trying to figure that out... I hate to be under or over by way too much. (Over is better obliviously ;) )

try it with uncooked oats or rice onto the side of a cake pan

it won't stick but you can get an idea this way

to get a guesstimate for yourself

get a thin amount in your hand as if that would be the amount that would actually stick

and just go 'round and 'round and measure how much you've used

or just go quarter way around and multiply by 4

then you can still of course 're-use' the oats/rice/quinoa

Can't tell ya exactly, but I am covering a 5, 8, and 11" round tiers with sanding sugar today, almost completely, and then not the tops of course except for the top tier. I plan on being two of those tall bottles from Wilton and I know I'll be fine, with some left over.

*buying*

Yes... it will be less than you'd think.  I did a 6-9-12 recently and it took 1.5 bottles of sanding sugar.  You should be fine with 2-3 bottles for extra insurance.  :)

AOh I'd love to know how much you end up using! I saw the sprinkles tutorial on cake central and for the 3 or 4 tier cake, they said 4-5 pounds of sprinkles... That's alot!! I'm guessing I'll need 3 pounds worth (which I figured out this afternoon is about 12 - 4oz containers. AZCouture, please let me know how it goes!

K8memphis, that's a good idea, I think I'll try that when I have some down time. (The wedding isn't until August. There should be enough time...)

A

How big were your bottles? And how tall were your tiers? Also, did you put your intoning fondant? Did you use piping gel to get it to stick?

Thanks for your help!

I'll be brushing on a very thin layer of watered down corn syrup. Very thin to where it's just tacky, not at all gooey.

I tried doing a cake with corn syrup, and it just didn't stay on very well.  Recommend you use a thin layer of piping gel.
 

AI used piping gel before and it worked great. A little goes along way and 99.9% stayed on.