I started decorating cakes a few years ago as a fun hobby. A friend of mine is getting married and I offered to make the wedding cake as a gift. I have been emailing his fiance about the specifics and asked her to send me any pictures of cakes she liked. The picture she sent is of a more detailed cake than I have done in the past. The picture is not of the best quality, I have asked for a clearer one, but so far I have not received one.
She would prefer butter cream icing on the cake but I think the cake in the picture is fondant-am I right?

Judging by the variations in shading...I think it may be painted on the fondant. But then again, it looks like cutouts on the top edge of the top tier too.

I agree - the shading of the design makes it look like it's painted onto fondant, but if you look closely at the top tier, it looks like it might be piped on. So.... that in mind, it might be a combination of piping and brushed embroidery which would give it that shading affect. If they can't get you a clearer photo, then I'd just do what's easiest for you. If YOU can't tell what it is, than THEY definitely can't! )

It looks like stenciled buttercream to me but not sure if on buttercream or fondant. I saw a tutorial on how to do it somewhere on CC-I think it was Edna from designme a cake.com (with no spaces) that posted it but not sure. If you search in the forum section, you may be able to find it. It looked pretty easy (with a little practice!)

It does look like a stencilled design and though its not very clear. it could be done on either fondant or buttercream,just scroll thru the cc tutorials, its a cuurtent topic.

Lol!! Typo Error! I meant 'Current Topic'!

My first thought was stenciled by airbrush over fondant, then handpainted the red parts. But not sure.

that looks like a picture from a book or magazine....if so, maybe you could go to the book store and look at it...........if that's not the case, it looks to me like it's stenciled on and I think you can do that over buttercream if you're careful, obviously easier on fondant........but it could be done.

I think this is one of the cutters:
"Double Leaf Scroll Cutter by Stephen Benison"
This is the precise name of the cutter for sale on an international website. Just google this name, and the website they continually block here on CC will show up.
The design is from thinly rolled fondant, I suggest using a pasta machine (an electric attachment is a plus!) for ease, speed, and even thickness. I've seen many other cakes like this, using a variety of cutters, even the old green ones for flower making from Wilton. Colette Peters did a demo on this at the Mid-Atlantic Cake show last year. She emphasized just fooling around with some leaf and petal cutters to make a pattern on your own. Stephen Benison also has many other great cutters for this purpose, but a little pricey. Look for some less expensive flower and leaf cutters, looking at their design rather than what they are supposed to be. I'm sure it will turn out great, and will be your own creative design!

I agree with sweetiesbykim... I actually have that cutter, and used it on this cake: http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_1338079.html

oops, forgot to mention, I got mine at www.globalsugarart.com

Hey cakesbyLJ, why didn't the website get blocked on your post? Mine always do. That's what I meant to write above.
P.S. I love your cake! Another one added into my faves

It looks stenciled, if you look close the flowers are very if not identical when the patterned is duplicated. Find a design you like get the blank stencil plastic, trace your design and cut it out. When you color with buttercream have to colors (one darker and the contrast or a lighter one) . Stencil the majority with the darker color then take the contrasting color and mix it lightly with the darker one. You kind of want to have 1/2 and 1/2 and then stencil the unstenciled parts. It's kind of when you make buttercream flowers with two colors.


Well I'm can't say it's how it is done but, this is how I would do it.

Good Luck!!!

That looks like a Martha Stewart Weddings magazine.

Yes it does. i have her wedding cake book but this one is not in it! Sorry.

To me it looks stenciled. It's really, really beautiful.