This birthday cake matched the party invitation which is ultimately my favorite lazy way of designing a cake. Invitation designs transfer so well to cakes it's almost ridiculous to claim the design as my own! I did use a madeira cake recipe and forgot (oh my) the simple syrup step and the blasted thing was dry dry dry. I thought so anyway. I now have a wedding cake to make for the same gal who ordered this one - so I it was a great success in the end!