My good friend is having a CD release party and I wanted to do something cool for him and create a cake from the picture on the album cover.

I am including a photo of the album cover and also a rough sketch of the idea I have for the cake.

In addition to any suggestion or ideas people may have, I am also looking specificly how I should approach the fondant, oh yeah and possibly cake stacking.

As you can see I am looking to basically duplicate the album cover by having the guitar stand upright with the Christmas lights wrapped around it and Christmas ornaments. I am planning on doing the neck of the guitar with Rice Krispy treats. In my drawing I forgot to include the Star on top, but I have plans to try to duplicate that as well.

The sketch just shows the way that I was looking to carve the stacked cakes with the large base at the bottom.


Any help is very much appreciated! : )

1) don't use rounds for the guitar, use slabs of sheet cake stacked (ala this tombstone diagram: http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_1424092.html ) --- less wasted cake.

2) as in diagram -- typical two layers, cake board, two layers, cake board stacking with appropriate internal supports for stacked tier construction.

3) for base of guitar -- avoid doing the under cut -- rather make it look like it's sitting on bunched up fabric or there are presents or something hiding the undercut -- avoids support issues, gives stronger base.

4) central dowel the cake using the the dowel screwed to base board method and tiers lowered over the central dowel http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_1420079.html -- BUT -- make the dowel EXTRA long -- long enough to be the internal support for the RKT neck and tuning head.

5) drill small hole in top end of dowel to accept the wire the star will be on -- much stronger and more stable esp. if do the dowel screwed to base board method.

6) piece the fondant together just like a guitar is actually made from wood -- note in pic how the seam between the front piece and the side pieces is clearly visible to the eye and is a part of the design element of the guitar.

Thus would have front piece, back piece, two side pieces for body of guitar. Seam could be black or dark brown royal icing. Neck would just be wrapped in separate dark brown fondant.

Separate piece of fondant to be the fabric guitar sits on.

Pieces of fondant for front and back of guitar could even be painted to have wood grain and left to dry until stiff before applying.

I'd paint the inlay work around the sound hole (which is just a big black painted circle)

HTH

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ps -- double do(u)g dare you to do a duff and use real lights!

Only thing about real lights is that lots of them have lead paint on the wires! So read the warning labels and make sure they don't have it.

PPS on real lights -- use LEDs -- brighter, cooler, less power needed. should be able to find battery powered strings of them.

Thanks Doug for taking the time to write all of your great suggestions. (Also great to hear from you once again.) And Texas Rose for pointing out the lighting issues.

I'm really excited to try this. I've been a musician for a while and I think I'm going to be very particular about how this guitar looks. The good thing about making this is that I own a Martin guitar and will be able to use it as a reference.

It's funny that you mention using real lights... I was thinking about using real lights, but I also wanted to possibly challenge myself and make the entire cake edible. We will see... it would look really cool all lit up though.

I also wouldnt mind trying to make some ornaments out of blown sugar, even though I've never tried it before.

One big issue I have is refrigeration space. There is no way I'm going to be able to all of this on the day of the event. Uhg!

Doug is most definitely the go to guy for structure questions. He most definitely seems to think it through pretty carefully. I would have never thought of LED lights, and I was thinking the same as Texas_Rose (that it would be nice to have real lights on it if there weren't safety issues with it.

Just thought I'd let you know that I was able to pull off the idea I had. It ALMOST made me cry and I wanted to throw it out the window. lol. Check it out. Thanks again for everyone's help and suggestions.

Doug - I took on your dare head on (Real non lead battery powered lights- even used a battery powered flickering candle.

http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1536513

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well, well now....if that isn't one GREAT 1st attempt at a major 3D work of art!

Love the idea of the Dunkin Donut munchkins for ornaments.

Those lights look great too -- right down to that flicker candle.

Be proud of your efforts.

Looking forward to your next adventure in caking!

Thanks man...That means a lot coming from the "forum SuperStar." (heh heh I just noticed that)

BTW... When I told my wife that I had to use real lights cause Doug "Double dog dared me" she thought I lost my mind. LOL

Not gonna be taking on any major projects like that for a little while. I need to start looking around where I can buy cake flour..etc in bulk. It cost me a lot to make this cake.

BTW... anyone else having problems with their personal photo album? I can't see any of my pictures or cakes that I put into my "favorites."

Cliff notes version....

http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-661952-.html

http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-662043-.html

http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-662111-.html

HTH

Cliff notes version....

http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-661952-.html

http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-662043-.html

http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-662111-.html

HTH

Thanks. I was getting a little nervous. : )