How would you approach making butterflies like the ones on this beautiful cake?  Thanks much!

plan A -- i would want cutters 

plan B -- i have a collection of little bitty random cutters (eyelet cutters, snowflake cutter) that i could employ to get that look and probably make a cutter or two --

those really look hand cut to me -- or the product they used dried so that it looks hand cut --

it's very pretty

by snowflake cutter, i mean it has the little extra cutters to cut out the little bits

AI think this is what you are looking for:

http://sweetwise.com/videos/lacy-butterfly-by-www-sweetwise-com.html

AIt wouldn't look quite the same, but if you didn't want to buy cutters, you could print out a template, cover it with wax or parchment paper, and pipe the wings with candy melts, tempered chocolate or royal icing. Then when the wings are dry, prop them up and pipe the butterfly's body.

I think Cricuit also cuts that type.

Here is a site on you tube for making chocolate butterflies. You could also use white chocolate to make the same butterflies like the white ones shown in the picture you posted. Good luck!! I see Drea88 and I are on the same wave length. You can at least see the videos of what the chocolate butterflies look like. They are very pretty!!!

I have the cricut cake and have used it to cut the smaller butterflies I think they are on the cake basics cartridge,but definitely from the cricut cake. 

Thanks everyone for the help!  Unfortunately I don't have a cricut machine or much money to spend on special supplies.  So I think I will have to go with the idea of piping them out using royal icing.  I'm just worried they might break easily.  I'm guessing the ones in the picture are made of fondant....?

Also, what would you expect to pay/charge for, a smaller version of this cake - to feed 15 people?

Thanks much!

ARoyal made from egg whites is stronger than the kind made from meringue powder -- adding cream of tartar or gum arabic strengthens it more-- you could pipe chocolate too -- just make extra pieces to allow for breakage-- royal is stronger than you think -- people make buildings out of it (decorations not real ones :)

AI would charge a small fortune to make a three tier hexagonal cake to serve 15 people with those petals & butterflies