Here Is My Ugly Cake

Decorating By TPDC Updated 1 Dec 2006 , 5:30am by dolfin

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TPDC Posted 25 Nov 2006 , 4:27am
post #1 of 37

So, this was my cake that was for a woman that wanted a cake that combined fall and Christmas. She also wanted the inscription to say "Happy 22nd Birthday Tony and 78th Birthday Grandpa O. All our love, your family."

This is what I came up with, but I do not like it. What would have you done differently?

All right, can't figure how to post it on here. It is the one in my gallery with the pumpkins and writing on the side.

Thanks for your opinions.
LL

36 replies
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patticakesnc Posted 25 Nov 2006 , 4:29am
post #2 of 37

I think the cake looks nice. I can see those themes being hard to combine. Especially for men!

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ShirleyW Posted 25 Nov 2006 , 4:44am
post #3 of 37

I don't think it's as bad as you think it is. It's just a little busy looking with so much writing. I would have made a fondant plaque and either done the writing in very fine piping, or easier yet, I would have typed out the greeting in "Word Pad" printed it out on the printer, cut it to fit the plaque and attached the paper to the plaque with a very thin layer of clear corn syrup. Then I would have set the plaque at an angle on the top of the cake and propped it up with a small ball of fondant behind it.

Something like this, but with the plaque on the top of the cake.
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=coppermine&file=displayimage&meta=allby&uname=ShirleyW&cat=0&pos=22

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playingwithsugar Posted 25 Nov 2006 , 4:55am
post #4 of 37

I like the snow on the pumpkins. It is very representative of this time of year.

I agree about there being too much writing. I realize that this is what the customer wanted, and you obviously pleased her, but I would have gone with a plaque instead. I think it fits better with a scenic cake like this.

Theresa icon_smile.gif

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jamhays Posted 25 Nov 2006 , 5:12am
post #5 of 37

i think it was a lot to ask for to combine all those different elements on a cake.

Considering all the items to include, I think it looks great & I'm sure the customer liked it too.

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LukeRubyJoy Posted 25 Nov 2006 , 5:12am
post #6 of 37

I think you did a nice job. The writing on the side is neat and uniform. It isn't too busy that way. I initially thought all that writing was going to be on the top. This is a pretty cake.

Not ugly at all in my humble opinion. I really like the little fence behind the pumpkins. And the snow is nice too. Good work.

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TPDC Posted 25 Nov 2006 , 6:22pm
post #7 of 37

Thank you everyone for your kind words. I never even thought about doing a plaque. Next time I will remember that idea.

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misterc Posted 26 Nov 2006 , 3:08pm
post #8 of 37

What a strange request! I think you did an awsome job with the instructions you were given, I worked retail for years so "the customer is always right" is ingrained in my head! Good job!

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Wendoger Posted 26 Nov 2006 , 3:19pm
post #9 of 37

For what they wanted, looks great to me.
icon_wink.gif

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Luby Posted 26 Nov 2006 , 3:26pm
post #10 of 37

I don't think your cake is ugly at all!

You did what the customer asked for and that is the end result. Personally, it's not something I would have picked but she is the customer. Considering what you had to work with I think you did an excellent job.

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all4cake Posted 26 Nov 2006 , 4:02pm
post #11 of 37

You did a fine job with the requests of the customer.

Drives me nuts when they incorporate a greeting card with the cake!

Happy 16th birthday susie. may all your birthday wishes come true! love mom, dad, robbie, jane, spot, aunt bonnie, uncle james, cousins john and addie.

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TPDC Posted 28 Nov 2006 , 6:20am
post #12 of 37

Haa Haa! I agree with you all4cake! icon_biggrin.gif

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janbabe Posted 28 Nov 2006 , 10:23am
post #13 of 37

all4cake you are a scream!

I think the cake looks fine, love the snowy pumpkins in the field.

Good work, hope your customer was happy.

cheers
jan

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ValH Posted 28 Nov 2006 , 10:48am
post #14 of 37

I think you are too hard on yourself. icon_smile.gif With the combination the customer wanted, I think you pulled it off very well. It wasn't an easy combination!

Val

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cncgirl00 Posted 28 Nov 2006 , 11:14am
post #15 of 37

They must have thought that you were a cake magician! You did a great job with an almost impossible request.

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MomLittr Posted 28 Nov 2006 , 11:17am
post #16 of 37

This is a neat cake......how did you write on the sides of the cake without it fallng off? Now that is talented!

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bonniesido Posted 28 Nov 2006 , 12:59pm
post #17 of 37

I think you did a great job with a really odd request! I'm not that fond of writing on cakes, but you certainly did a good job, and I bet it was hard to get the writing to stick to the side like that! thumbs_up.gif

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bethola Posted 28 Nov 2006 , 1:09pm
post #18 of 37

Okay, FIRST of all let's get this straight. Your post is incorrectly titled. It's NOT an ugly cake! It's a creative way for your customer to get what they ordered. Was the customer pleased? If so, no problem. In fact, IMHO no problem anyway!

I think your cake is very, very nice. I love the pumpkins (only WISH I could do them that nicely). I had a customer order a SMALL sheet cake (I used 11x15) with a picture of daughter and father using the theme of horses and fishing! The picture took up most of the cake so I improvised and put "horsies" on the side with the daughter and a fishing reel and chocolate "sinkers" on dad's side. I thought it was the absolute WORST cake I have ever made. The family LOVED it! The little girl was excited that half of the cake was "hers"! LOL See? You never know!

Anyway.....GREAT cake! Keep on...Keepin' on!

Beth from KY

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cakegirl0315 Posted 28 Nov 2006 , 1:14pm
post #19 of 37

I think you did great for what you were given! Those customers can have some really strange requests! I like how you did the snow on the pumpkins icon_smile.gif

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sinderella Posted 28 Nov 2006 , 1:21pm
post #20 of 37

ok, so i searched through your gallery, looking for an ugly cake and i couldn't find it.!!

What i did find was a very pretty cake with pumpkins, but no sign of an ugly cake!!! Awesome job!!

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MrsMissey Posted 28 Nov 2006 , 1:38pm
post #21 of 37

(Pic should be there now!)

I think you did a great job including everything that your customer requested!

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rsaun Posted 28 Nov 2006 , 1:40pm
post #22 of 37

I think you did a great job! That is a tough order to fill. I did a cake one time that was for a couple -- she wanted pink cornelli lace and a white rose, and he wanted a t-rex. You can see it in my gallery. Very weird, but they squealed with delight when they saw it! icon_biggrin.gif

I've also had the "too much writing" issue. Someone wanted a 6" round cake with about a paragraph of writing. It made me laugh, but I talked them out of it...upsized to 8" and cut down the writing a bit. It was still too much, but better.

Kudos to you for pulling off this somewhat strange order!

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CakesBySandy Posted 28 Nov 2006 , 1:51pm
post #23 of 37

I think your cake looks great!!!

ShirleyW...love the idea about the plaque. I will use that in the future since I am hand writing challenged.

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daltonam Posted 28 Nov 2006 , 1:55pm
post #24 of 37

wow--i like your cake--is it iced or wrapped?? i think you did a great job--i also love the plaque idea--i'm going to have to remember that one too

i also agree with the greeting card comment-lol

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DiscoLady Posted 29 Nov 2006 , 5:15pm
post #25 of 37

Love the pumpkins, but where's the Christmas?
I had a request for a going away cake for their daughter that was moving to Hawaii for college (imagine!!). Common sense tells you (well me anyway) to have a full-blown luau for her going away no? Well, they had a fiesta theme icon_confused.gif DOY! "Oh could you please make a fiesta cake with a Hawaiian theme?" HUH??? icon_eek.gif I was like WHAAAT??? Well this is what I came up with but I felt stupid making it and I think it looked stupid and I felt angry at them for making me make this stupid cake icon_mad.gif . (amI overreacting just a tiny bit icon_rolleyes.gif )
LL

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tiptop57 Posted 29 Nov 2006 , 5:37pm
post #26 of 37

Okay my bakers hat really goes off to you TDPC! icon_biggrin.gif You gave them what they wanted! And Discolady and Bethola you both are saints in my eyes and all of your cakes - whew.........you all gave the client what they wanted........

TDPC when they started in on the writing thing, I would have sent them to Hallmark! Who started that tradition in the first placejust plain stupid. Just dont see it on pies do ya? icon_confused.gif

Okay now Discolady and Bethola I would have been like, "You want what??????????? icon_eek.gificon_eek.gificon_eek.gif You want a T-Rex and Rose icon_surprised.gif You want a Fiesta Luau??????? icon_surprised.gif Whats with that???????? icon_confused.gif And then I would tell them that I dont create weird themes or write on the cake lolbut ugly cakes I can do --- see Medusa if you dont believe me icon_wink.gif

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DiscoLady Posted 29 Nov 2006 , 5:41pm
post #27 of 37

Oh tiptop you almost made me pee icon_lol.gif
But I would she is ugly in an adorable way!!

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subaru Posted 29 Nov 2006 , 5:43pm
post #28 of 37

I think your cake looks great!!!

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minchan Posted 29 Nov 2006 , 5:45pm
post #29 of 37

My, what a request!

Happy birthday, Discolady!

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nglez09 Posted 29 Nov 2006 , 5:49pm
post #30 of 37

How the writing goes off of the cake at the bottom is a very interesting style. thumbs_up.gif

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