I have pm'd the creator of this beautiful cake, but so far no response. Can any of you give me suggestions as how to achieve the embossed flakes? A stamp or a "branding" tool of some sort I think if I try to etch them in with a toothpick or straight pin it will "drag" the buttercream...
Thanks, and happy new year to you all!

oops... no attachment-I'll try again.

Show us the pic!

I am probably going to do a cake similar to this in a few weeks, and I am planning on making my snowflakes with Royal Icing and dust them with luster dust to give them a shimmery effect. I would guess you could also use white chocolate melts for the same effect, but my white melts aren't white enough to go with my buttercream frosting.

Sandi

Apparently I need to learn to read more carefully, you were asking bout embossing not how to do the snowflakes on the cake.

I have heard from my wilton isntructor that you can make you own embossing tools. Wilton.com has snowflake templates. You get a piece of mylar and use a glue gun to trace the design on the mylar. As the glue is non toxic it will be safe. when set and ready to use, dust with cornstarch and press into crusted buttercream or fondant and you get the 'look' you are trying to achieve. it does take a steady hand to make sure your lines are smooth.

I just noticed today that there are some First Impressions snowflake molds at Global Sugar Art. You could mold them out of gumpaste also and dust with luster dust. Just another option.

I'm pretty sure this cake was done with a PM Snowflake cutter - I think I saw them on the Global Sugar Art site.

Cookie cutters, gumpaste/fondant cutters, and cookie stamps (or just regular craft stamps) will work. I've also found some neat stained glass plastic craft pieces that work well for this type of thing. The detailing is nice and raised so it leaves a good impression.

Someone mentioned the glue gun on mylar... Wilton used to also advocate piping gel on wax paper... it has to dry for a few days, but it's completely safe and re-usable. (works great for "grout" for brick-work) It can also be piped into thinner lines for a more dainty pattern than a glue gun. It can also be wrapped around a round cake, rather than trying to work with wooden blocks or not bendable items.

Good luck!

I did a similar cake and used a toothpick to draw the snowflakes into the icing, and royal icing to make the 3-D ones. There's no need to use a stamp, that won't make a thin line like the ones on the picture. You could use a cutter, but in the photo they're just drawn on by hand.

Yep, I did that cake before and they are definitely just drawn in with a toothpick. I use SMBC and I think thats what the original creator did too cause it doesn't pull. Can you maybe do yours right away before it crusts? And warm up a wire or knife tip or something so it melts instead of drags? (Assuming you are using ABC)