I made this gumball machine cake for my little boy's 8th birthday this weekend. Thanks to all the fellow CCers who gave me some awesome ideas!

I know that prices vary by region, but I'd like to get a general idea of what to charge for a cake like this. I'm not in business, but I have been doing more and more cakes. It started just for family and friends, but as I get more experience, I get more requests. (I've been decorating for eight years now.) I'm just not sure how much something like this is worth. Of course, I think it's priceless, simply because I enjoy doing it, and I only decorate cakes because of the satisfaction I get out of the finished product. ...but anyway, I have a feeling I may be doing another of these in the future, so what do you think?

Oh, and it's five layers of WASC, iced in buttercream, with fondant details.

This is also posted in my photos.

Awesome! Hard to tell the size exactly and how many it would feed... but I would charge $200 at least

I have to agree with KoryAK. I'd get at least $200.00 for it.

I agree, $200 minimum.

that is just amazing. around these parts I would guess upwards of $200.00+

Ditto to the others..........$200.00 MINIMUM but I would personally put a 250.00 price on it.

kinda off topic, but is there a tutuorial on how to make that cake.


PS - It looks awesome!!

Wow! Best one I've seen yet!!
I agree as well, 200$

Yep, definately charge a lot and a tutorial would be fantastic, pretty please?

Thanks for the compliments everyone!

Wow! $200? Really? I don't know if I'd have the guts to quote someone a price like that. It seems to me that people look at me like I'm nuts when I charge $45 for one of my bigger birthday cakes, kinda like the Lilo
and Stitch one in my pics.....(Here's the link to that.)

http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=756623

They just don't realize the hours of work it takes to make something like that.

If I do the gumball machine again, I'll take pics as I go and post a tutorial. Should I do the tutorial anyway, even without pics to illustrate? I did take a few pics the first time, but not pictures of every step.

I know what you mean about people looking at you crazy about a price. I just told a couple 50 Euro for a small wedding cake (9in & 6in) and they told me they thought it was kinda expensive. I just said, ok, let me know what you decide, because in my opinion it was SUPER cheap! Anyway, they didn't hesitate and agreed.....I think most people are just trying to the get the best price possible, but you have to keep in mind

"How much is YOUR time worth?"

Not to mention supplies, etc. That cake is amazing!! And $200 is a DEF. minimun!!! Good luck in the future!

That is one of the best gumball machine cake I have ever seen. Upwards of $200.00, maybe $250.00. Your work is wonderful.

oh yes, a tutorial without pics is great too!! then if you do another one, you can update us.

Thanks so much for sharing..

lilmansmum, I love this cake! I have it in my favorites because I would love to try something like this sometime. I know it's a lot of work, but I would really love a tutorial on this cake! I'd be very, very grateful!!!

By the way, could you tell me how you cut this and how many did it serve?

Thanks,
Kathi

This cake was five layers. I baked four 8 inch layers and one 6 inch for the very top. Then I carved it into the shape I wanted. It was about a foot tall. To cut it, I took the globe off the top, then cut it once down the middle (in half). Then I laid half of it on a cookie sheet and cut smaller servings from it. It had about 25 servings, I'd guess...maybe more...I'm kinda generous with my serving size. Here's a picture of what it looked like after I cut it.

Thanks so much for your instructions! Your cake is awesome! I feel the same as you, btw, if I told someone $200 for this cake , I think they would laugh at me, but then, I'm pretty much a dumb cake pricer! I just did a 3-D tractor on top of a field that would feed 35 people, and I sold it for $35. I know, not real smart, hun??

Beautiful cake, it looks so real!

You did a wonderful job on your cake!! It's so lifelike!!! Yes, definitely at least $200!!!