I had a request for a 3 tier cake that is to look like birch bark. I had made a practice cake a month ago with no problems (the weather wasn't 90 degrees and 80% humidity). So... I put the layers together yesterday, let them settle over night. All's good. Go to assemble today, wrap cake boards in plastic wrap (won't do this again). Put the tiers together. All is going well. Go to insert the final dowel through all three tiers. It gets about 1/2 way through the bottom layer and stops. I use my trusty hammer and start to tap. No movement except to the side. The cakes are shifting (argh!). I tap more aggressively. Still no movement. Tap a little harder, the hammer slips and bashes into the top layer. I get that fixed and notice the layers have slid a little bit. By this time I am so frustrated I don't know what to do or how to fix the little boo boos. I took a break and realised that probably no one will notice if I don't point it out. That's my hope anyway. Hopefully delivery goes off with a hitch tomorrow. Only have to travel about 10 miles. Oh, while I was doing this I had my 9 year old daughter bugging me to take her to a friends house because didn't I want the buttercream to crust? Thanks for listening. I feel much better now. [/code]

I'm in the process of making a wedding cake and i'm ready to tear my hair out. Never have I had such issues with fondant. I bought Satin Ice this time instead of making my own. Big mistake. Its been tearing cracking and everything in between. i'm about to cry it looks so awful! I'll be taking a good long break from cake making after this one.


Andrea

Sheila...I totally feel you on the humidity especially living in WI. Have you been taking your cake in and out of the fridge? I notice I get more condensation this way and it messes up the tiers. If you have AC maybe keeping it out will help. you're cake would be fine good luck!

Thanks for the support. No, I don't have AC. Right now I have 6 sheetcakes in out 5th wheel with AC on. I don't have room in my kitchen for that many cakes and a family to live. This weekend I had the wedding cake w/ 6 sheet cakes, and a party cake that had a gumpaste firgure on it. The humidity was so bad that the figurine was soaking it up and starting to break. I had wooden skewers every where for support. I'll post a pict. of that cake. I DETEST humidity!

here is the pict of cake with figurine. The girls is standing, pitching a softball. Looks good except for all of the support. Any tips or ideas on how I could have made her better please feel free to let me know.

Sorry, the pict. didn't load. Here is a link

http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1742768&done=1

I think it looks good! If I had to use support for the figure then I would prob. opt to not use sticks in the background...just too much wood in my opinion. I think I would try to do the guy in a different position first. and food safe wires for the stars.
All in all, for your conditions wow...your doing great. I cant handle humidity at all.

I didn't want to use wire due the humidity. Afraid everything would slip and slide too easily with everything so soft. Wood gave it a little grip. Although I do agree, it looks like a naked forest there. ; )

Thanks for the advice. I'll make sure I use that next time.

I delivered the cake today and the MOB was happy with it. It traveled fine (yeah!), and is now out of my hands. It didn't turn out exactly the way I wanted, but everyone was happy.

Here's a link to the cake -

http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1743732&done=1

omg that's adorable! really nice work!