Hi!  I have been asked to create a cake to a 'hat's off' theme.  I want to make the hat suspended above the main cake, like it's being 'tipped' if you know what I mean.  It's a zoo-themed cake, so an elephant trunk would be holding & 'tipping' the hat.

I've searched & searched, & I've found lots of topsy-turvy & wedge type tutorials, but I don't want to have to hide anything under the hat.  I want the support to be in the elephant trunk & the cake to have nothing under it.  Am I making any sense here?  I'm trying to copy the picture of the invitation.  It's for a big honor that our zoo director won, so that's why the 'hat's off' theme for the awards ceremony.

So I'm thinking some kind of L-bracket? Ugh---I wish I'd gone to school for structural engineering.  Who knew it was necessary for cake decorating?!?

think pvc pipe for plumbing--endless configurations can be made--secured into the bottom cake board with a flange screwed into the bottom board--pvc reaching up from that to form the trunk and disguising the platform for the hat--however you need it to be--draw a skeleton of the cake--make the skeleton out of plumbing parts--then place the cakes onto the structure--you can get your hands on lots of plumbing products at a home store like lowe's or home depot to get the feel for what you can do--you're right it's quite an undertaking--good luck

Thank you so much, K8!  Yes, I had planned on using PVC, but my quandary is how to attach the plate the cake will sit on.  I can't go through it like with a topsy-turvy cake.  The support has to be all to the side & yet be strong enough to hold the weight of the hat.  It won't be very big or heavy.  That's why I was thinking L-bracket, so it would be almost like a shelf protruding from a wall, but I don't know how that would attach to PVC.  I'm going to Home Depot today to try to get some help.  

i would just cut a hole toward the edge of a plastic cake plate and slide the hole onto an appropriate pvc fitting--glue, screw and fasten it all secure

however--you're gonna have to watch the balance of this--the hat will probably need to be suspended over the bulk of the cake

in other words i think you will have a much greater degree of difficulty if the hat tips over away from his body toward the left of the picture--if you have it suspended over his head back to the right--i think it will be much easier--it's own weight could pull the whole thing down if you're not careful--

take a little artistic license and my suggestion is keep it balanced over the bulk of the cake--

best of the best to you--sounds like fun

CAN YOU POST THE INVITE PICTURE SO OTHERS CAN REALLY HELP YOU

You guys are awesome---thank you for helping!  Here it is:

I did it!  LOL!  Had to figure that one out.  

All I want to do is the trunk of the elephant, not the whole head.  I am doing a 10" round cake with zoo scenes on it, & want the hat to be hovering over it, held by the trunk to the side of the cake.  Here is a PITIFUL sketch. I STINK at drawing, so please go easy on me. I am embarrassed for anyone to see one of my sketches!  The top is my vision of the finished cake, & the bottom is what I was thinking with the structure.

I went to Lowe's today, & bought some L-brackets, flat brackets & screws.  I was thinking of driving the bottom of the L-bracket down into the top of the PVC, & then screwing a masonite cake board to it, reinforced by a flat bracket on the top side.  Does that make sense?

i'd recommend a plastic or foam core board-- masonite is heavy

l-bracket might be fine--i never used one--

i think i'd have a foam piece ready to substitute for the hat cake just to have that back up plan in place if needed

and watch the balance--you should be great

and when you say  'driving down' the l-bracket do you mean screw it down?

Thanks K8!  I was thinking I would drive one end of the L down into the middle of the PVC & then screw it in to secure it.  Good idea about the foam piece. Worst case scenario, I'll just put the hat on top of the cake, as I discussed initially with the client, but if I can pull this off it will be an epic surprise!  I just don't want it to be an epic fail!  LOL!

i think you have a solid game plan -- you should be golden

and one always learns so dang much doing these out of the (hat) box creations ;)

not to mention that only an epic risk has the potential to bring an epic success too

love to see a picture if you like your results--no pressure--

best of luck and positive epic-ness

Thank you K8!  I love your positive vibes!!!  I need all the good vibes I can get!  :-)

Here's the finished cake  It worked BEAUTIFULLY!!!  Thank you for all your help & suggestions.  It turned out even better than I hoped!

AGreat job! That's a cool cake!

w.o.w.

brilliant work, rocky--i love it--you did a great job

epic

Thank you!  I am proud as a peacock!  This was a HUGE challenge but it turned out well.  It was a total surprise & the zoo staff went BONKERS!  The whole party setup stopped as every staff member gathered around to take pictures!  :-)  The zoo is near & dear to my heart, so it did my heart good to make them so happy!

epicness

so happy for you

nothing like a sweet cake high

you nailed it

A:o WOW ;-D

WOW That is an amazing cake!!!!

Thank you!  

AYour cake looks great! Fun design.

Thank you!  cute name, Secret Agent!  

Awesome!

CC is a great team!

That is pretty awesome! Did you happen to take a pic of your support structure before adding cake?

I remembered just after I started wrapping it with modeling chocolate, but here are a couple!   I used a metal flange to bolt to the board (screws pulled out, had to go get bolts!)  Then I used a PVC adapter, & the 3/4" PVC with 2 45-degree joints, & I created a 'curve' in the top of the trunk with RKY because I didn't like how straight up & down it was.  I screwed an L-bracket to the outside of the PVC, driving the screws all the way through.  I then screwed another support bracket on top of the masonite cake board to 'sandwish' it & create stability.  I hope that makes sense!

So cool! Thanks for posting that. The zoo folks must have been positively thrilled.

Aoh my goodness That cake is adorable, and the work behind it is awesome! :)

Thank you so much!  

Great Cake! 

Gorgeous cake.