I'm making a cake for SIL's bridal shower on Saturday. I made a practice cake, and want to know what you think. This is a 6 inch, while the real one will be 10 inch, 2 layers torted and filled.

I did the swiss dots (crooked) around the whole cake, and then decided to try cornelli lace on the side of half of it, so that's why there are random dots mixed in on that side.

The luster dust painted pattern matches the wedding invitations.

Which side do you like better? And what type of border would look best for the bottom? I'm not completely happy with the shell border I did, I'm thinking maybe the bead border like I used on top? Also, this is the first time I have tried cornelli lace on the side of a cake, and it was about midnight when I did it, so I'm sure I can do better with practice, if that's what I decide I want to do . . .

Be honest, I can take it!

Thanks!
Laura.

I love the hearts and spirals on the top. My vote goes to cornelli lace with a bead border instead of the shell border.

Your cake is lovely! Very elegant. I like the middle pic with the cornelli lace. I like that your cake has the lace the same color as the background (no dark squiggles). Fabulous job and I'm sure your SIL will love it.

Very nice cake!!! The cornelli lace has my vote too!!

I agree with Tiramisu! Love the painting on top and the cornelli lace with the bead border would be best. Great job though!
Heather

I like the lace but I would probably only do lace on the sides and then the hearts on the top - no lace on the top. A bead border would like better I think or you could do the shell border just not with the star tip...Use a round tip like the #12. Great cake - I am sure the bride will be very happy.

I really like your cake. I also like the cornelli lace with a bead border

Very nice, Wow!!!!

I like it!!! Nice job.

I would also suggest doing a bead border. It would tie in with the top of the cake.

PICTURE #2 GETST MY VOTE
the cake looks very elegant

I agree that the lace and beads would look the best, good job!

I am a fan of beads. I would keep the top the way you have it but put beads on the sides and the bead border instead of the shells. The small amount of cornelli lace on top, to me, is the perfect touch. Some of your beads are pointy so you'll need to make sure your tip is in the bead before you pull it away to the side for the nice round shape. I think your cake will look fabulous! Please post a pic of your final design!

I love the corneli lace. Cake number two with a shell border.

Very pretty cake, you did a nice job. I really like cornelli lace, but I also like swiss dots.

Wilma

I will be honest but not rude.... I am not a big fan of Cornelli lace because I don't like the look..and I think it is old fashion looking (not ugly)..How about putting a Lace Wrap around the cake using a Fondant Lace Mold ? it is very quick and very fitting to wedding cakes or bridal cakes, then painting the Lace part w/ Super Pearl Lustre.. that's what I'll do if it was my cake..but it's your cake, so do what you wish..

Corneli lace and bead border get my vote, you did a beatiful job. I am sure it will be a big hit.

I like it, I would go with the cornelli lace and bead border on the bottom, it would tie the cake together better with the cornelli on the top with the beads.

I like cake #2 with a bead border, good job!

i like the cornelli lace idea too seems that it is more cohesive in design.

either one but try with a smaller tube your dots are too big for dotted swiss and your corneli lace is very nice but again needs to be with a smaller tube (did you use a 3) try a 1 or at least a 2 and put them closer together You will be happier with the look. Either one looks good with the shell or bead border so do the one you are most comfortable doing

For me I find my shells look better than my beads.

also try a smaller tip for the border on top and see if you like the look

I agree with cakecre8tor. I love the lace on the side. (Great Look) I also prefer the beads over the shells. I also love the hearts on the top of the cake but not the lace. The hearts look good all by themselves.


Just my 2 cents.

Over all Great Job.

I like the corneli lace with bead borders... looks very elegant to me

I think it's very cute! You've done a great job. : )

Wow, thanks for all the responses!

I've been practicing today, and have gotten better at doing the cornelli lace on the side of the cake, so that's what I'll go with. Would love to do the fondant with lace press, but I've never worked with fondant before (it's on my list of things to learn, LOL!) so that will have to wait for another cake.

I'll do the cornelli lace in the center of the top, with a (smaller) bead border around it. Pearl dust hearts and swirls around the edge of the top. Cornelli lace on the sides, with a larger bead border around the bottom.

I could use more tips about not getting the points on my beads. I know the icing I used last night was too stiff, so I tried it again with thinner icing (with some piping gel mixed in). They're better, but still not quite what I'd hoped for.

THanks again everybody!

Laura.

My tips on the swiss dots would be mostly the same...smaller tips ...move inward slightly and completely release pressure on deco bag before pulling it back when making the dot... then also using a small damp paintbrush to pat down the points after finishing them.