Did this cake for a friend's 40th birthday - inspiration from a fellow CC member.

Used blue Satin Ice and was worried about using it as I had previously had problems with their black. But I read all of the threads about using SI and I had hoped that I would be ok. It rolled out fairly well - no problems but as soon as I laid the fondant on the cake and started to smooth it - yep it started to crack and get the elephant skin. The top tier was worse than the bottom tier. I quickly quilted each tier as soon as I was done smoothing and I didn't waste time getting it done.

The SI had started to dry already and I could not get the quilter to indent the fondant. In some places I had to push quite hard. I finished decorating it last night and when I got up this morning there is was staring at me - the BC had wicked through the lines of the quilting - GREASE STAINS all over my cake. I have never quilted on a dark color before and I don't think I will ever do it again. Always a lesson to be learned.

I wanted to cry and throw it in the trash and stomp my feet and scream and yell!!! It's bad enough with the cracking along the edges but now this too. Her birthday is on Tuesday and I was going to bring it to work today for her but when I saw what happened I just left it sit and left for work without it.

I don't know what to do. Should I still give it to her? Is it too ugly to give as a gift? The people at work know that I strive for perfection and now when they see this - what are they going to think???

I am too stupid to know how to paste a link in for my pics so will you please go to my pics and look at it. It is the turquoise one and let me know what you think?

Thanks.

I'm sorry to hear of your disaster kiddo -- but the cake looks fabulous!!! Cheer up!!! We all have days (and cakes) like that!

In the pic the grease stains look like shading to me, maybe you could brush on some dark blue luster dust to shade them all to look more uniform?

It really doesn't look that bad at all. I'd still serve it!

I was going to say the same as kitty2000. Maybe brush dark luster or if you have an airbrush, paint some darker blue along the lines like shading. It is a beautiful cake and I would be happy to receive that as a gift no matter what.

Oh heck yes, still give it to her. And don't start apologizing for anything on it. Remember, she'll see it as a whole, not as the sum of the problems you had. Just let her enjoy it. I love your colors and the flowers you chose to put on the blue. I know she'll love it.

Your cake is beautiful....definitely serve it and do it with pride! Go with the luster dust idea if you have time and that will draw their eyes away from any grease spot - that is if they even notice the spots! I guarantee you this is better than she would ever get from WalMart or any other co-worker for that matter.

Definately give it and I agree with the shading idea your cake is gorgeous and I would be thrilled to recieve one so pretty!

Pretty cake. Like it. Like the shading ideas everyone posted.

Also, weren't many people having problems exactly like what you just described w/ SI lately? They apparently made a bad batch after switching equipment and have been giving many people replacements.

and my first thought -- leave it to a guy -- was well why not trace the lines in gold.

a bit (ok a lot) over the top!

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i would venture to guess that if you don't give it to her and she finds out what a nice cake you made, you could easily have an EX-friend!!!

give her the cake!

Ummm... are you kidding!!!??? Who wouldn't love receiving that cake as a gift???!!! I wouldn't even mess with trying to add the luster dust to the quilting --that actually might make more of a mess. As I see it, it is "shaded." As someone else mentioned, others will see the whole, not the sum of its parts.

wow your really hard on yourself,, I thought I was bad. Your cake is beautiful. please share it with her. we see and know all we would have differently but they see the beauty and know how good it will taste.

Girl give her the cake!

I can't see anything wrong with that cake. It's lovely!

And yes, SI had problems in their manufacturing that reportedly have been resolved, so give them another chance.

Please, please, please give it to her. It's a beautiful cake. I can understand your frustration with what happened, but maybe you can put a little shading in those areas with luster dust or something? If not, it would still be beautiful and I am sure very much appreciated. You can tell a lot of time and talent went into making it. Please share it with your friend! If a friend of mine gave me a cake like that, I would be thrilled.

...and might I add that ALL your cakes are beautiful, Peridot, and anyone (including myself) would be thrilled beyond belief to receive one of your works of art! I always admire what you post and you have no idea how many of your cakes are in my favs!

Perhaps if you steamed the cake it would darken to better match the bc stained portions... just a thought.

you are too hard on yourself! this is a great cake. . . beautiful color combination. she's going to love it!

Are you serious?? I love that cake and I can see absolutely nothing wrong with it. The cake is beautiful and I have to agree with Win...have several of your cakes saved to favorites...including this one. Great job

I think it's a lovely cake, and you are waaaaay to hard on yourself. Hey sometimes it has a mind of it's own no matter what we do.

Of course you should give it to her. I like Doug's idea of painting or piping lines on it, but I think its pretty as is. I cover my mess ups with flowers, leaves, more flowers etc, no one notices but me.

Start patting yourself on the back, instead of kicking yourself in the gut. It's a great cake.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF THE KIND WORDS!!!! You have made me feel so darn good inside I can't describe it.

I did not do anything with the cake - I gave it to her the way it was. She was thrilled and got all teary eyed and said I made her feel like she was getting a cake from the Cake Boss that's how beautiful it was. She said she has never received such a beautiful cake in her whole life. The people in the department all loved it and no one even noticed the grease marks. They were just looking at the flowers and the great colors.

So now I am happy that I did not throw it out and that I listened to all of you and my DH who said GIVE IT TO HER - SHE WILL LOVE IT! And she did. And I got rave reivews on the cake itelf which was the Darn Good Chocolate Cake with Cookies & Cream Filling. So it's a good day after all.

Thanks to all of you who took the time to look at my cake and to respond. I appreciate it so much.

first -- just have to....

We all TYS!

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second -- just remember

perfection only exists in one place -- heaven -- and I'm not ready to pay the entrance requirement yet. Are you?

don't kill yourself or dreams by trying to achieve perfection.

PROfessionals are NOT perfect -- the are PROficient at what they do -- which includes making all the oopsies look totally planned.

You are definitely PROficient and therefore a PROfessional!

Thanks Doug - I need to keep those wise words in mind. And you are right, I am not ready to pay the entrance requirement at this time either.

Loved your post.

Thanks,
Barb

Glad you did it!

i would love to get that as a gift. its really nice

it's beautiful... a gift it should be

As all others have said your cake is totally awesome and so are the rest of your cakes!!!!!

I bake cakes and one thing i love is to eat a cake SOMEONE ELSE baked. The cake looks fine. she will love it and be proud to share it with everyone else. I would most defnitely show up with that cake and a huge smile. Don't beat yourself up or point out flaws to other people. Just hand her the cake, say happy birthday and smile really big!