I want to share my experience with my first big 50th anniversary cake. I baked my layers and froze them. TOok out the big layers and put filling inbetween them while they were frozen (the 14) THANKS CAKERY FOR THAT TIP!!!! I had bought the SPS system and LOVE it (thanks LEAHS ) I made all the cuts to the dowelling system very even. Well it iced well and stacked well..>BUT...I have these little gaps inbetween the tiers. Should I refund money for this. They aren't as bad as in the pic ... just here and there but....makes me feel weird . So..... my ?? ... should I refund a bit of money. The cake was 320.00 they gave me half a month ago and gave me the rest of the money yesterday but it's not due till tomorrow . SOOO help me please...how do I keep from having gaps or at least covering them well...and refund money? Oh the details about the cake are as follows.....white chocolate fondant/gp mix bows, white chocolate fondant homemade pearls 14, 10 and 6 inch layers

Thank you for your input on this I truly appreciate it!!


((((hugs))))))

Christi

If this is the finished cake I don't see any problems with it that would warrant you giving back any money. I think the cake came out beautifully. Perhaps you're stressing over something that others can't see. I really think you did a great job.

Thank you ESQ1031, I just really don't know what is "allowed" flaws and what isn't I guess.

Don't refund!!! The cake looks fabulous. You see flaws that no one else can see. Even if you pointed them out to me, I say charge the full price. It's a beautiful cake.

Hugs,
Diana in VA

It's really beautiful and I wouldn't worry about charging full price for it!

Christi,

When I looked at your picture, the very first thing I thought was, That cake is gorgous! Then I scrolled down looking for the cake you thought had "gaps" on it.

Do not, under any circumstances, refund any money. Your cake is perfect. It is beautifully elegant, & finished! You may see what you consider an imperfection, but it is simply....stunning! (You sound like me. I think I see something wrong with the cake, and my family & freinds will ask me "Where is it? I don't see what you're talking about".

Great Job! Be satisfied in knowing that you gave your customer a wonderful 50th anniversary cake that will wow their guests!

Thank you Lori, Diane and Debbie. The stress is overwhelming. I can't wait till this cake is out of my life LOL. I loved doing the cake but I hate the wait . When I deliver this is when I guess I will feel better.

Anyways any tips on how to hide the gaps?

Thank you (((((((hugs)))))) to all!

Have a great fall day guys!

Christi

Gorgeous cake! I see what you are takiing about and you are being far too critical on yourself. No refund needed. You know the saying "We are our own worst critics." It applies here.

Thank you Pam

I do see the gaps, and I am worried that they will. I can't help it. STRESS where is my STRESS ball!!!

Your cake is BEAUTIFUL, and I would not have noticed any "gaps" until you pointed them out..... personally, I wouldn't have worried about it, but obviously it bothers you, so if you see a little "gap", throw a pearl in there and it will cover it up. You already have pearls on the cake, so it wouldn't look like an after thought........I would space them so it looks like part of the design, but it certainly does NOT merit a refund of any kind. I would probably just let it go... Photos pick up things that the human eye just passes over......

Leave the cake AS IS! If you try and fix it( I did one time and ruined it), then you may mess up something and make it worse! I learned also that others do NOT see our imperfections because they don't get into it like we do! I GUARANTEE that they will LOVE this cake like I do and look at the BIG picture vs the flaws! Don't stress and NO refund please! This is AWESOME! Next time, just overlap your shells like doing the reverse shell technique instead( wilton book). I would be disappointed in you if you try to refund any money, trust me! NOW, get rid of the cake before you go bonkers!

Christi If you are that worried you could put a dot of icing at the junction of each shell using a tip 7 or 5. or if those are pearls on your scroll work (which is perfect by the way) use the pearls. I hope you know what I mean.

I agree with everyone else i think it looks great. On the other hand i understand where you are coming from, if a cake does not make me happy i do something to it to make me happy. If you feel you need to do something you could do some over piping to your beautiful design.

do what makes you satisfied.

Hi, your cake is stunning, absolutely beautiful. I agree with Pam, if it bothers you that much, and belive me, I know what you mean!, then put a little dot of icing. Keep up the good work!
Sandra

Your cake is beautiful!! I would not give a refund at all. I would do as the above poster suggested and use a small round tip and just put a little icing dot to blend it, I wouldn't even do that though - it looks GREAT as is!

I can't seem to see anything but a very beautiful cake in that picture.
but I do understand the worry of having gaps. I usually pipe a thin line of icing around the seam where the two cakes meet just before piping the border on. It helps to curb my fear of gaps.

We are definataly our own worst critics. You did a wonderful job on this cake and have nothing to worry about.

Sometimes we are to close to our cakes I think. I always have my daughter come nd look at my cakes to give them a second opinion because I feel I'm too close to it. (I used to ask my DH but he is TOO critical!)
When I explained my "too close" theory to my 13 year old who does my second opinions. She understood exactly and put it in terms she could understand.
She said, It's like when I'm looking at my face in the mirror and obsess about something that no one else can see because they aren't seeing it as close or like I am.
Your cake is gorgeous. I can see the gaps, but only because you pointed them out.
Did I read that right, that they look worse in the pic than they do in real life? Then really have nothing to worry about.
I agree that you could easily fix them with pearls or icing. You have happy with your art afterall...
Less is more and I too have made a cake worse by trying to "fix" it.
I wouldn't stress over it. I think I undercharge for all my cakes to eliminate that stress factor. No one's ever given me $320 for a cake yet so I probably have no idea what I'm talking about!
I know that they will love it!

Beautiful Job Christi

Your cake looks great. I know they will love it. I would not do any refund.

Oh, and I would definitely NOT offer money back on it...then they might assume something is REALLY wrong with it that you are not telling them!
You are probably still on edge from that one crazy old bat!

Your cake is lovely, you earned every cent you charged for it and definitely should NOT give a refund.

This is something I learned in culinary school and I thought everyone did it.

After you get the top cake stacked on top of the bottom cake, you always run a "bead" of icing to seal the two together. I frequently use a 104 tip, larger end down. That puts a line of icing in whatever gap there is. Sometimes there's more of a gap than other times. Then the border goes on top of the line of icing. Aldo gives that border something to stick to that's right at the "seam."

Leahs - thanks for the tip.

I know cross stitching isn't cake decorating. I would take out my mistakes and re-do until I met someone who said she leaves them in. I began to think - no one else knows I made a mistake so why not let it go.

No refunds. The cake is beautiful and everyone will enjoy it.

Beautiful cake with no need for refunds as the pps have said... tho I have one thought: if there are gaps between the tiers hidden by borders, will it travel well? That is are the cakes stuck together well enough? That is something only you can answer depending on the support system you used. Just something to consider so there are no surprises and REAL reasons for refunds

She used SPS. It will travel fine!

Thank you all for all the CC support

Thank you Leahs for the answer to my question about filling the gaps.

I took the cake to my mom's today 1/2 way to venue...down gravel roads up steep hills and the cake didn't budge VERY pleased with the system!!! I am however in the morning right before delivery going to use a small tip and try to "fill" in the gaps...taking my beads so I will see if I should use those or just the icing LOTS of great tips on what I should do! I don't know what I would do without you all!!!

I am so very appreciative for you all!

((((((hugs)))))

Christi

Yeah, SPS is da bomb!

Oh yes forgot to add....I didn't heed the advice...I took it totally stacked (I was scared I'd get nervous doing it in front of a crowd) BUT....this sucker is TREMENDOUSLY heavy....so heavy I have to have help...and I'm a big gal with muscles


Will know better next time...first time a mistake...secound time...stupidity LOL


Christi

That is an awesome tip Leahs on sealing the seam thanks. I also agree with tasteebakes, we're so close to the cake doing all the details etc. we see every flaw (believe me I have a lot!) When the customer looks at it they don't have their face 2" from it and usually take in the whole thing without seeing any "flaws" Christi I think the cake is beautiful, glad delivery went well, you should be very happy with this cake as I'm sure they were!

Sue