I really don't like any of my cakes but this one is really bothering me. Maybe it's the theme (which would of been fun if I would of let it LOL). Maybe the colors I chose.. or the bows that I used...


For some reason the site won't let me put my cake pic right on this page.. says it's too big . I know it's not though

It's the gold one in my pics.

What looks off about it? Is it too busy? Tell me what I could of done different...

And please spare no details on what I could of done... I don't care I need to be critized on this cake!!!

I'm gonna try to put a link now to the cake..
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1232612


Thanks for your input.. because right at this moment I am questioning my cake skills and am thinking of cancelling a wedding cake because of it

what are you talking about?? i love the melting snowman. it's awesome, not sure what you're seeing in that I'm not...

I think the design is great; nice crisp ribbons and bows, (and the snowman is very cute!)
The only thing if you wanted to 'scream' Christmas, you might have had a more bright red-and-green ribbon, and maybe some holly or a poinsettia.

Cancel that wedding cake, and we'll pelt you with melted snowballs!

Okay, if you quit, I definitely quit!!! I would love to have my cakes turn out like your "worst" ones! I see nothing wrong with your cake whatsoever! I love how you dressed up the board. And the theme is really cute! Quit being so hard on yourself and keep turning out those fabulous creations!

OK, first of all, I could never make anything close to how gorgeous your cake is so you cannot quit, because I'm not quitting either.

Gorgeous cake - I love the look of the dark grape with the aged gold, totally cute with the melting snowman and his message. Sounds like you had a great client with a fun sense of humor.

Ok, if there is absolutey one thing I could suggest (and let me tell you, this is a stretch), the bow loop on the left looks a little squishy. But that is totally the only suggestion I could give and who am I to talk - I've never even attempted a fondant/GP bow.

BTW - your cake just went into my faves so no more talk about how you hate it!!!

I love it!!! I agree the only thing I'd "maybe" add is some holly..

Oh I am not going to quit doing cakes.... just don't think I am WEDDING material yet LOL... too much is at stake doing them.. if I can't get a birthday or other celebration cake right why should I even think of a wedding.. were I could possible make someone upset on their beautiful day.

The cake is unbelievable! I wish I could do that good of job! We are always our worst critics! Remember; custom cakes wow people no matter how bad you think you did. (trust me I know)
So go get some good self-esteem (maybe it's tucked away in your closet. ) and make that wedding cake!
Jen...

You are completely ready to tackle a wedding cake. Your clients will love the finished product. You can do it!

Oh, Christi, it's adorable. Don't beat yourself up about it! It was exactly what he was looking for, which was a very unusual theme. Great job!

First of all, that cake is gorgeous!! Your bows are perfect, and your boxes are soooo square!! I love it!!

I see what you are saying about something being off. I don't think it has anything to do with the cake though, it's the theme. Maybe poinsettias as the flowers (although the ones you did were beautiful! ), and a few more Christmas-y items would have solidified the theme a little more.
I think that it's great as is though, and I'm sure he will love it.

Ughh I agree.. I made that bow a week ago.. I knew after I made it I should of redone it.. but didn't (tooooooo lazy LOL)

The reason I picked those colors were because it was for a man... The gold I was kinda pleased with ... and I did a gold on gold design because I love the Christmas paper you see like that...I also had problems with the placement of the diamonds .. which also made me think .. How in the heck do people make them look perfect???

I think I should of left the flowers off of it... I think now it looks to busy maybe?

I think the cake is cute, and I love that board. The only thing I think might be a little off about it is that the colors give a more wine and cheese feel rather than Christmas.

I see nothing at all "off" with that cake! It is beautiful! Do not DARE think of cancelling the wedding cake or any other cake for that matter!

Christi...I love this cake!!! You are so talented and creative. I don't think you have a bad cake in your collection. I would hate to see you turn down a wedding cake. Maybe you are getting a case of the burnouts? Your work is beautiful!!!

I thank you all for your help.

Maybe it is burnout? Maybe I need to go lay by the pool? LMAO

I just like to hear from other cakers what they would do different

I also agree.. the colors give it more of a wine and cheese feel...

Ugghhh I need to learn what manly colors are LOL

" ...I also had problems with the placement of the diamonds .. which also made me think .. How in the heck do people make them look perfect??? "
The diamonds look fine to me, but I think most people use an impression mat....... I couldn't free hand anything and make it look as good as your s!

Christi--that cake is beautiful!! You are totally ready for a wedding cake. The colours are beautiful!!

Go put your feet up, watch some tv and have a martini--okay it's only 6:30 in the morning over here but somewhere it's lunchtime lol

That cake is GORGEOUS! I would LOVE to have it in my galleries as mine. Of course, I can't because I am not as good as you.

The only thing that seems a little off to me, is the flowers. I don't think that they seem busy, but seem to summery to share a cake with a snowman. I love the snowman, and the flowers, but not necessarily together. I think maybe some burgendy poinsettas or something would look a little more in season.

I LOVE it though. Totally inspiring.

The only thing I would have added was some forest green to compliment the gold and burgundy. I always make sure I have three colors on my cake to balance.

I think that the cake is beautiful! Very well done.. and the snowman is so cute.

The only thing that seems 'off' to me is the cake board. It is decorated very nicely but having the board the came color as the cake makes the cake blend instead of pop.

I think the only thing "off" are your eyes! LOL! That cake is perfect.

Christi, you really want my opinion? I think that you are a special kind of nutz (thankfully, the good kind, but still nutz)!

I agree with MissMeg that only thing I see is a 3rd color missing. How about removing the flowers and either replacing them with drk green holly leaves or add the green as an extra border around the bottom of each cake. This will help with dinas27 response of the cake and board being the same color. You know - think along the lines of what Cakery does with her cute border trims!

But I also agree with everyone else -- the cake is just as cute as it can be -- leave it as is or change it up a bit -- either way it looks great!

Suze

Thank you all for your critiquing

I truly believe that is how we learn from our mistakes... I delivered this cake on Sunday. The man did love it. I just didn't . I know now to break up the cake from the board. I LOVE to decorate the board and truly believe that the way you display your cake even improves the look of the final product.. but the same color board and cake doesn't work and I see this now LOL..


Thank you all SOOOOO much for your kindness and honesty

ok so i have studied the picture and i think i have worked out what is putting you'off' as you said. The cake is fantastic I think the only issue that is kind of throwing everything else off might be the top bow? I think if it was bigger and fatter the cake would have been absolutely perfect, I mean this could totaly just be me as i have a thing for big bright and beautifull things and i do make an overstressed effort with my gift ribbons being over the top so if this is not to your liking just ignore me!
but yes in my opinion the only thing i would change is the very top bow -which if you look in my cake photos you will see a mad hatter with one VERY BIG bow and you will understand my love for the over the top hehehe but as I said that is just my opinion and other than that it is a gorgeous gorgeous cake and you would be fantatic at wedding cakes stop putting yourself down right now!!!!!

Okay, okay....you're just fishing for compliments, right? Because that cake is wonderful!!! I love the masculinity of it. The bow and the colors are great! I think you did a fantastic job on it!!

We're all our own worst critics! For myself, if I don't like the cake, I don't even take a picture of it!! I just pretend it never even happened!

Great job!!

Robz I take a picture of EVERY one of my cakes even if I don't like them. Then when I don't like what I see I ask.... Like this time.. Something was throwing the cake off to me. Now I come to realize... not enough colors and the board being the same color didn't help ... so if I don't ask then I don't know right?

That is why I love this site.. it has helped me grow and realize what doesn't work and what does

I love the cake I especially love the board I really love your style.

I think the reason this cake does not settle well with you is maybe because you decorated it as if it was a cake and lost the package-ness of it. All of your elements are outstanding. When you put them all together you have a stunning cake that at one time looked like a stack of packages.

I mean of course it still looks like packages--and most stacks of packages might have a melted snowman by them but not the flowers like that. Do you get what I mean?

And so yes, the board being the same color makes it look more like a cake than the illusion you meant it to be. So you do have two themes running there--stunner package cakes decorated like a fantastic tier cake.

I mean your work is so clean and good this minor point pretty much doesn't matter. But I was wondering if that was it?