Good morning, everyone!

My daughter's best friend would love this cake for her Sweet 16 party - I'm happy to do it for her, but am wondering what the numbers are made of... do you suppose they are gumpaste or do you think they are cardboard? I've never made stand up letters or numbers as I am still fairly new to cake decorating, so any suggestions you have will be most helpful and greatly appreciated!

Thanks and Blessings!

They look like they may be made with the austrian crystal beads, like so many of the wedding cake toppers that are so popular now. I wish I had a link for you, but if you Google crystal cake toppers or wedding cake toppers, I think you will find some similar. HTH

I don't know why you couldn't make them out of gumpaste. When dry brush with water and sprinkle with cake glitter. I haven't done it but I don't know why it wouldn't work.

They're probably gumpaste. Find a font you like and make yourself a template.

Roll out the gumpaste fairly thin and cut out the numbers. Let them dry for at least 24 hours, preferably longer.

You can either insert a toothpick (or skewer) into the bottom of the numbers before they dry or, as I prefer, glue a stick to the back of the numbers after they dry, using royal icing or melted chocolate.

Once dry, brush with piping gel and sprinkle liberally with cake glitter or sanding sugar or pixie dust or sparkle dust or whatever effect you like.

oooohhh I'd use Pixie and then do edible glitter over that

Also... if you don't want a stick to show or anything... take your gumpaste numbers... light a candle... take florist wire... heat up the end (stick it in the candle) and stick it up into the number as far as you can...the heat will allow it to go throught the gp easily AND will dry quickly ..meaning the lettering or numbers will not move around on the wire ...wrap the end of the wire and stick into the cake or a florist pic that is stuck down into the cake Easy peezy

awww you are making me blush... but I had read this a while back ... Just passing it along because I know it works

Thank you for the compliment

http://www.topperswithglitz.com/?a=gcmi&gclid=COP874rAp5QCFQObFQodIGGtsw

I had a fairly large gumpaste topper, and was having a problem with the wire wanting to bend and pull on the cake... I was told to put a "stir stick" or straw into the cake, and then the wire into the straw.

gumpaste or fondant with tylose will work, be careful not to roll to thin. when dry just wave the number over the steam from a kettle and then dust with the glitter. i like the idea of putting the stick on the back of the number for stability

I was going to suggest chocolate or color flow and then you can sprinkle them while still wet.

I was going to suggest chocolate or color flow and then you can sprinkle them while still wet.