Hi all. I need help. I am so new to cake decorating especially working with Fondant. I was recently asked to make a Chanel Purse/Handbag cake. So here are my questions

1. How do i make the chain link shoulder strap?

2. This chain strap is usually gold and black/white in colour. How do I achieve a realistic effect? Especially with the gold?

3. Prior to this, everytime I cover a round cake with fondant, it tears on the top edges and also around the bottom close to the board. What am I doing wrong?

Please help. I look forward to hearing from all of you. Thanks.

1. I use a clay gun with the circle hole to extrude a string, then cut them all the length I want. Then I "glue" the ends closed with tylose glue. After a few links have hardened, I connect them with fresh, soft links, gluing them closed. So you'll start out with a pile of single links, then have piles of three links, then piles of seven links, then piles of fifteen, etc...

2. I colored the links gray when I wanted them to end up silver, and then painted silver on it. I would start out with grey (or black) gumpaste then paint the finishing color on, and yellow gumpaste, and paint gold on top.

3. Sounds like maybe you're rolling it too thin.

HTH

BTW, here's a necklace I did... it had about thirty links, I think. It was a HUGE pain, so know what you're getting into!

Thank you so much for your reply. I really appreciate the fact that you took the trouble to reply and post pictures. wonderfulwork and attention to detail you've shown. Thanks again.

Hi, I have attached a picture of one of the chanel bags I have made. This handle is a chain I purchased from a fabric store and I then threaded black ribbon through it. On the top of the cake, I made a round indentation with one of my round cutters and then coloured the circle with gold dust and vodka. The label string was done with my fondant gun and the label was edible icing printed.

Hope this helps.

With regards to your icing tearing, it could be too thin or too heavy and when you are smoothing it on, you are smoothing down rather than in an upward motion. Also make sure that when you drape your icing over the cake, that it is not hanging off the edge of something like your decorating wheel if you are using one, this will also tear the icing.

If you need any other info, please let me know,
Best of luck,

Hi Kim thanks so much your info it really helps. I would just like to know if it's not too much trouble, how did you cover that in fondant. This will only be the 5th cake i've done covered in fondant. I imagine that i'd have to cover the sides and back in separate pieces of fondant then make the front flap, right???

I covered it in two pieces - front and sides in one piece and then the back and the flap were one piece - so essentially the back came up and over to form the flap on the front. The side pieces were rolled around the back slightly so I did not have any gaps when I added the back part.

I hope this helps, let me know if you need any other info.

Wow Kim,
I had a look at your website and you're amazing. Thanks for the info again. So happens the request i received was for a pink bag. And your pink bag is amazing!!! The black one looks easier for me to attempt though. I hope....
Did you use a real zip for the pink one?

Just wanted to say that the Channel bag looks so real, I think I want to try doing one for my birthday. lol

Lomikesa

Kim I need help. My client has come back with a request to the exact looking pink cake you did. Could you please tell me how you

1. covered the cake?
2. did the detailing?

Looking forward to your reply.

God Bless

God Bless you Kim. You are so kind. Thank you so much for all your help. I pray that The Good Lord will prosper you in all ways.

I am going to be making this tomorrow. Will post the pics.
Thanks again

Awesome instructions! Thanks for sharing!!

fabulous..thank-you for the details!

Yes Kim thank you for sharing with us.

Hi Kim, heres a picture of the cake I did. It's not as perfect as yours but it's a start I guess. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge

Also do you have a recipe for fondant. I tried making mmf but it didn't quite turn out right. I usually use bakels pettinence but was thinking of making my own.

Pree

Thanks also kim

Makeitmemorable

That cake is freeking awesome!! Thank you for sharing.

Thanks for sharing..

Fanominal job!

Thank you Kim for the instructions, I am going to try them too, as my first purse cake was a total disaster.