I posted this cake in the gallery but only got one response and no constructive criticism. I made this cake as a sample, but I wanted to get some feedback about the colors and style before I go ahead and show it. I couldn't get a picture of the sides or the depth of the bear but the bear is a separate cake about 2" high. The sides have more flowers like what's shown on top. Fondant covered 10" with fondant covered bear cake. Hand painted fondant accents. The ears don't show up well here, but they were my favorite part. Personally, I like the wood grain effect on the bear, but I'm not sure that it works well on a white cake. My dh suggested a panda bear instead.
Anyway, just looking for some feedback. TIA --
Sarah
Ok, here goes. I think the work you did was splendid, and the woodgrain on the bear is very nicely done, but the bear is too dark for my taste. Definitely not a baby cake.
I would be inclined to agree with your husband and go to the panda, or even a pastel bear to brighten it up.
Theresa 
beautiful cake, very neat, cute bear. but i agree, it's too dark, how's about a white bear? or pastel? 
I agree, I like the idea and the concept of your cake, but the brown bear does take away from that. I think a panda would be adorable - or pastels.
If you are like to get really adventurous, maybe you could try giving the bear a little texture - with some sort of a textured mat or rolling pin....kids toy...something with a rough pattern that might resemble fur.
Besides colors though - which I've been told is usually the hardest thing to do...this is a great cake. You've got a lot of tallent and skills working with fondant.
Hope that helps, can't wait to see your next cake.
Have you ever heard of bas relief? It is a technique that is used in sculpting, but has often been applied to cake decorating. It builds up your central character from underneath to give it dimension. That would make your cake more unique, and also give it a variety of techniques, which judges look for in show cakes.
Theresa
Ditto for me. I think the cake looks very beautiful but the brown bear takes away the "baby" look. Go with a pastel bear next time.
The bear is darling, and the cake is darling, but the two together are kind of 'jarring' to me.
That bear would be wonderful on a little boy's cake ... with an outdoor/camping/grass type theme.
Love the panda bear idea -- how about making it a Pink Panda? White bear with pink ears and paws, maybe lavender and orange 'spots'?
I really like the cake minus the bear. I personally think that maybe instead of adding a separate cake for the bear, maybe you could just draw one on top. I just think it sticks out. I also agree with everyone else. If its for a baby, a cute pink, yellow or blue bear would be great. My motto is never be afraid of colors!!! Asides from the bear, the cake is very well done and very pretty
Have you ever heard of bas relief? It is a technique that is used in sculpting, but has often been applied to cake decorating. It builds up your central character from underneath to give it dimension. That would make your cake more unique, and also give it a variety of techniques, which judges look for in show cakes.
Theresa
First of all -- thank you so much everyone for the comments! I will definitely change the color of the bear! I will make a few practice ones using the ideas from here before deciding on the final, but they are all such great idea! TY, TY, TY! 
tmirga, I've heard of bas relief, but I'm not sure how it applies here. I've never done it, and I wouldn't know it if I saw it, but when you say it adds dimension, I'm confused about how it would add more dimension to a 1-2" high bear? Could you elaborate on this a little bit? pm me if you want. Thanks a bunch!
Sarah
I agree with everyone else, the cake is really cute but the bear needs to be pastel or a panda to go more with the baby theme. Great job though!
Would it be over-the-top to suggest that maybe the bear was lighter in color/or a polar bear, wearing a pastel-covered diaper? Might be cute! A pastel-colored bear seems strange to me (maybe light yellow though?), and a white one tough to show on white background.
IMO, one part needs to stand out more, either the bear OR the letters. The responses about lightening the bear or using smaller letters is probably because each element (I'm thinking of the bear as one element and the ABCs together as a second element) right now is of equal visual weight on the cake. Maybe make it one or the other. I love the ABCs as the main attraction myslef. I think they are perfect!
The cake is super-cute as it is right now, this is being picky and artsy!
Would it be over-the-top to suggest that maybe the bear was lighter in color/or a polar bear, wearing a pastel-covered diaper? Might be cute! A pastel-colored bear seems strange to me (maybe light yellow though?), and a white one tough to show on white background.
IMO, one part needs to stand out more, either the bear OR the letters. The responses about lightening the bear or using smaller letters is probably because each element (I'm thinking of the bear as one element and the ABCs together as a second element) right now is of equal visual weight on the cake. Maybe make it one or the other. I love the ABCs as the main attraction myslef. I think they are perfect!
The cake is super-cute as it is right now, this is being picky and artsy!
What a cute idea for the diaper! I'll have to give that one a try. As I look at the cake in real life, I think that the elements issue is what's been bugging me, but I haven't been able to figure it out. I really like the bear, but with the letters, it just doesn't work fully. I'm going to go back to the drawing board and figure out how to combine both so that they compliment each other.
Thank you so much! I can't tell you how much I appreciate everyone's comments!
Sarah
I agree with what everyone has already said about the color of the bear.
My suggestion is about the writting on the bears belly, I think it may look better if you had the bear holding a banner with the writting on it.
But other than that and the color of the bear it is a very sweet cake. Great Job!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I like the color of the bear . It's bear color!
BEAR COLOR is what it is ... but children don't play with real bears, they play with teddy bears ... which come in all colors!
However, I agree that the bear could remain brown if you added a diaper, booties, a banner, even a ruffled bonnet! Thus breaking up the brown.
Sarah, how do you have the time to make "practice" cakes? Who eats them?
Ok, I love the cake but the bear was far too dark for the rest of it. Perhaps a creme colored polar bear would have gone better with the light colors
I like the color of the bear . It's bear color!
BEAR COLOR is what it is ... but children don't play with real bears, they play with teddy bears ... which come in all colors!
However, I agree that the bear could remain brown if you added a diaper, booties, a banner, even a ruffled bonnet! Thus breaking up the brown.
Sarah, how do you have the time to make "practice" cakes? Who eats them?
First, just want to say that these ideas for the bear are great! I think it would be a great challenge for me to make a banner, booties, etc. If I were to try these ideas, the I think I might even keep the bear brown, but much, much lighter. I dunno, I also like the idea of pastels. But, then again the ABC part is something I really like too...need to figure out how to keep both elements. I think I'll draw out my design first this time!
As for the time -- well, I don't really have it. Definitely not as much as I'd like. With a 3 year old and a 6 month old, I'm pretty strapped for time. I don't sleep a lot. My DH is very supportive, and gives me time when I need it. My practice cakes go to his work, or neighbors, or to a local homeless shelter. When I was practicing for the last wedding cake (I'd never done fondant, let alone on square cakes, let alone 5 tiers!) I donated them to the shelter, and they were so appreciative! Cake is just such a passion for me that it really is my only creative outlet right now. I think I'd perish without it. Okay, enough babbling.... Thanks again everyone.
Sarah
Beautiful Fondant work! Personally, I like a 3-D bear standing up on a baby cake. It really stands out. I agree with the shade of brown comments. Try using buttercream for fur using your grass tip in a light brown or peanut butter.
Beautiful Fondant work! Personally, I like a 3-D bear standing up on a baby cake. It really stands out. I agree with the shade of brown comments. Try using buttercream for fur using your grass tip in a light brown or peanut butter.
Hadn't thought of making the bear buttercream on the fondant, but it sure would be a neat look. I'll definitely have to give that one a try! Thanks!
Sarah
I love your design!
I would put the "welcome Ariel" on the cake board in orange or pink and add a pink or purple bow around the bears neck.
I would stay with brown for the bear but I would colour the fondant first rather than painting it. I would stick white eyes on top and stick on pink feet and ears. (the bear does need to be a bit lighter in colour)
also centering the cake on the board would make it look better!
I drew up a couple of designs based on you original design two girl and two boy variations!
I like your boarder conecting the cake to the board, you could even make it pink or purple (on a girls cake!!!)
I hope I have been some help to you!
I like the cake, it's adorable. I don't really think a brown bear would be bad, but I think you could soften the look by making him furry. Use the grass tip and make him look fluffy and huggable. Then the "bear" color wouldn't seem as much a contrast, and would fit the baby theme better. Maybe tie a "ribbon" around his neck. Just my opinion. But if using fondant, I agree, pastel is better. But you obviously have some skill with fondant, the cake is great.
I love your design!
I would put the "welcome Ariel" on the cake board in orange or pink and add a pink or purple bow around the bears neck.
I would stay with brown for the bear but I would colour the fondant first rather than painting it. I would stick white eyes on top and stick on pink feet and ears. (the bear does need to be a bit lighter in colour)
also centering the cake on the board would make it look better!
I drew up a couple of designs based on you original design two girl and two boy variations!
I like your boarder conecting the cake to the board, you could even make it pink or purple (on a girls cake!!!)
I hope I have been some help to you!
Oh my! This is wonderful! Thank you so much for all the work you put into the sketches. They are so great! They really help make it easier to visualize too. Oh, about the cake being off center on the board -- that's kind of funny. I just got the Wilton tilting decorating stand, and, yes you guessed it, the cake slipped because I didn't glue the board under the cake to the bigger board beneath it. I actually almost lost the cake entirely! Once it had moved, and I saved it, I decided not to mess with it and left it where it was. Glad it didn't happen on the real thing! THe funniest part was that I had just read about someone doing this and thought, "Oh, I'll never let that happen." Anyway, thank you again!
Sarah
I happen to like brown bears, but on this cake, I agree that a pastel bear would be a better fit. The diaper idea is very cute, I might "steal" it 
I made a golden brown bear a long time ago, it was wearing a sleeper and holding a blanket. Perhaps the picture will give you some small inspiration:
http://sugarfrosted.com/albums/baby/normal_0329-TeddyBear%26Blankie.JPG
Anna, I see the sleeper on the bear softens the brown. That was cute.
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