Hello,

So I have a 60th birthday cake coming up and they want a cracked antique look on fondant which seems entirely possible somehow but i just don't know how lol. Anyone have any suggestions/tips/ideas on how to get that type of look? I ordered an airbrush that should be coming this week so I'll have that before I have to start on the cake, I'd prefer the easiest method possible of course, I just don't have the time or patience (or probably even artistic ability) to spend hours or days freehanding this look, but I'm definitely up for the challenge of creating an antique masterpiece! Also if there isn't a way to get that cracked look then any advice on just making a fondant cake look like it is centuries old is much appreciated

Thanks!

Why don't you actually tear or crack the fondant as your putting it on?

Wait, are you talking about the cracked look paint gets when it gets old? Like cracked paint on the side of an old house? In that case, I'm not sure. Perhaps white chocolate panels? Make a big sheet of tempered chocolate, break it up then start piecing them together on the sides?

It all depends on what you're trying to 'antique'. I'm not sure I would tear/crack the fondant as I was putting it on, I would be to afraid that it would tear more than I wanted it to. I'd probably score it w/ a knife afterwards, & use a darker color in the 'cracks' to give it some depth. I've used vanilla extract before too, it gives enough of a streak color to actually look sort of real.

What about an impression mat?

not sure if this is the effect u want but u could let the fondant dry out a bit after it's rolled (the dreaded elephant skin), cover cake then give a light wash with ivory colour mixed with vodka. Hope that make sense.
Please post pic
HTH

Thanks everyone for all the great ideas, dunno for sure yet but i think I'm headed in the direction of trying the impression mat idea. We're supposed to discuss the design in more detail this weekend, cake not due till beginning of May, I'll definitely update the thread and post a pic when finished. If anyone else has any ideas though please post, I'm open to anything

aha! that impression mat idea sprung another idea in my head - image transfer sheet! i can just do a google image search for antique paper or whatever and transfer it onto the fondant, only i don't have an edible ink printer lol. anyone know of a service that creates icing sheet images from your own images?

Not crackled, but I was going for antique http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1209442 I just lightly brushed on some lustre dust w/ vodka. Perhaps you could lightly score the fondant with an xacto in a crackle pattern before lustre dusting?