My Dad's 50th Cake... HELP!!

[poshBecks]

So I want to do this for my Dad's cake...

http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.designer-cakes.com/cache/products/image_298.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.designer-cakes.com/children--s/1/drum-kit.html&h=334&w=400&sz=115&hl=en&start=3&sig2=cT0XH0r_NCql8vMqEsH77A&um=1&usg=__RV0xkDSd7zneaM3LRsqttS-pYnI=&tbnid=LQ2ALwLccvTcCM:&tbnh=104&tbnw=124&ei=niC2SN2qKYWmsAOyoNSuCA&prev=/images%3Fq%3DDRum%2Bkit%2Bcakes%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den %26sa%3DN

I hope the link works...

I have never used fondant icing before.....

I did get a quote from a cake decorator & it will cost $150 for her to make it. Ouch...

Do you reckon I could do it myself? :o How hard do you think it would be?

AM I dreaming?

[subaruforestermum]

Not hard at all, just take a little time and patience...so maybe get rid of the kids for a day or 2 with family.....

I have faith in you....

[poshBecks]

ANy tips?

[NibbleCurlynBub]

I'm sure you could do it. :yes:

It does look very good at the end, but really when you break it down into each layer and piece, it will be easy for you. :)

[NibbleCurlynBub]

I'm not very good at that sort of thing.. But I would probably use loaf tons and just circle off the edge.

The man himself looks easy enough...

Red, grey..

Wait.. Where do you get grey food colouring from? :confused:

[poshBecks]

Wait.. Where do you get grey food colouring from? :confused:

Black :p I have black already.

[poshBecks]

The man's face is pale brown... how do I do that? Does chocolate work? Probably not...

[NibbleCurlynBub]

:) Neat!

It wouldn't be too hard.

Grey snakes, Red flat bits rolled around a piece of cake, some white piping. :yes:

You will blitz it.

Especially if you have black food colouring.

I didn't know that existed! :o

[NibbleCurlynBub]

pale brown.. I would think a little bit of cocoa would work.

Or possibly a TEEENY bit of black and a teeny bit of orange-ish..

Cocoa is probably the best bet. :yes:

[poshBecks]

yeah I would think that in normal icing, but fondant I am unsure....

[NibbleCurlynBub]

Pretty sure it is similar, you just have to knead it a bit. :yes:

[poshBecks]

ok cool....

Hmmm.... is it expensive? How much would I need?
I should probably do a practise hey?

Sorry just dont want it to be dodgy lol

[NibbleCurlynBub]

I'd honestly get a few boxes.. :o

But that's me and I would rather have tons and use the rest on a fruitcake at Christmas than have to run out at the last minute and get more..

I'd get around 4 boxes. :yes:

and I have no idea how expensive it is...
But its got to be cheaper than BUYING that cake from someone else, right?

[poshBecks]

Well true.. $150 is a lot!!

Can I get it from woolies? Sorry so many questions :o

[NibbleCurlynBub]

:yes: Usually.

Look up to though.. For some reason it always seems to be on the topmost shelf. :rolleyes:

[melbryan]

I am making my MIL a scrabble cake tomorrow for her 60th today I went shopping for some vanilla cakes and some fondant icing today. I usually use a drop of food colouring in the icing then knead it on a board until it reaches the colur you want. Then you can roll it out and start moulding straight over the made cake. I usually freeze the cake so it doesn't go crumbly. You can also get chocolate fondant as well maybe changinf the drums to chocolate fondant might be good. It needs to be quite thick so there is no creases in the icing. Use icing sugar to help smooth it around the corners you don't want it sticking to your hands.
Pm me if you want some specific answers remember you get better the more cakes you make.

[subaruforestermum]

I used 3 boxes of the Orchard icing which is similar to the fondant, for DS's first birthday cake. In which I made bees and letters as well..

You need pure icing sugar, and the boxes of Orchard icing are...around $5 maybe less...

You knead the food colouring into the icing, until you get the desired colour. For flesh colour, I have actually seen some stuff in SPOTLIGHT... for flesh colour....in with all the cake decorating stuff.

I would cover the entire cake in say red, if using the same colours as the pic, then add the other layers to it.

To get the orchard icing to stick to one another, make up some sugar syrup, equal parts water and sugar, bring to the boil, dont stir, and it will become thick, brush on with a paint brush....

And yeah for the circles, you could make any type cake, and then using a stencil, cut out the Circle shapes......

Orchard icing I cant get from my local woolies, can only get it from coles, but fondant I'm not sure, as I said they are very similar to work with!

[Reidymac]

Oooo nice cake PoshBecks:thumbsup: I think you will do a great job!

I have made a bunch of fondant/ character cakes over the last few years and they turn out great with a little patience. its just like Playdoh for grown ups:D

My tips would be.....
1. Consider buying the fondant ready made from a cake shop. They usually sell it in 1kg lots and it is very forgiving. Orchid is good too but could work out more expensive.

2. Borrow or buy a Debbie Brown cake decorating book. She is brilliant and breaks it down to realy simple steps (eg some of her castle cake instructions could easily be translated into a drum kit)

3. Do you like baking? the drums are all cylindrical shapes so you could use a simple jam roll from woolies cut to length for each of the drums. Fondant just needs to be rolled around the roll and 2 circles of fondant make the ends (or skins in the case of the drums). The trim helps to make it all look seemless. The person is easy to make from fondant or flower moulding paste (just like sweet edible playdoh that hols its shape and hardens)

4. Coloured gels are also great to use and can be mixed to make colours.

Good luck! cant wait to see how it turns out

[poshBecks]

Thanks so much for the tips!

Keep them coming :D

[reAllytee]

Also remember you have to make it a few days in advance to 'set'.

You also have to keep it somewhere it wont get warm.

I hated using sugar syrup it kept pulling chunks of cake off & if i made it so it was thicker it just oozed everywhere ! Hated it ! I prefered using standard icing sugar to make little sticky areas that it could stick to.

I couldnt get the Orchard from Woolies only my local coles had it. You can also get so i found later Fondant icing from S'Partys along with the colourings that are harder to make.

Colours are pretty easy you just start out using a drop & then see how light it is & then darken it as needed.

I just found making a 2 tier i needed help assembling it etc but this should be easy enough by yourself !

Tis very cute i like it !

[subaruforestermum]

I hated using sugar syrup it kept pulling chunks of cake off & if i made it so it was thicker it just oozed everywhere ! Hated it ! I prefered using standard icing sugar to make little sticky areas that it could stick to.

Yep sugar syrup will do that, I too dont use sugar syrup to stick it to the cake, I use melted jam....

Heat the jam and put it on the cake, then lay the icing onto it.

I only use sugar syrup to stick the icing upon the icing....and use a fine paint brush.

[poshBecks]

So the whole thing should be made a couple of days prior or just the man?

[subaruforestermum]

So the whole thing should be made a couple of days prior or just the man?

I would say the whole thing..as they icing, either fondant or orchard, helps to keep the cake moist and fresh.... I made DS's 2 days before