Hi Everyone-

I'm new to posting but wanted to see if any of you could help me out with a cake for a family friend. She is turning 50 and is known for her love of animal prints- leopard, tiger, etc- and her birthday party is centered on exaggerated and crazy animal prints. However, since I'm pretty new to cake decorating, I'm unsure of how to pull off a animal print cake. If anyone has any suggestions I would really appreciate it. This is a great site and I love reading all the information in the forums and looking at all the great cakes in the galleries- there is a whole lot of talent out there!

Thanks in advance!

Just bumping you up!! Good Luck!

well, if you can get some poly-urethane sleeves or sheets, you could trace some prints, and cut them out using an exacto knife (creating a stencil). Lay them on top of the cake and put some flower nails on top to weigh it down and then airbrush them on there, or use them for a guide for your BC. Up to you! Have fun with it either way!

Another newbie here!

Wow, I actually need some help with this too! Calejo, I like your suggestion. I'm going to need to make a cake with either a leopard on it or leopard print. I was thinking of maybe using the bear head shaped pan and making it into a cat---and then putting that on top of a sheet cake? Any other ideas? I'm kind of stumped!

Thanks a ton, everyone!

check in your local paint store for animal print stencils
or maybe diluted food coloring (with vodka, to evaporate faster) and a sponge, since a lot of them are fairly random patterns.

Thanks for the help so far, I really appreciate it.

I just had an idea and wanted to see if it would be possible since I've never worked with candy melts or chocolate. Would it be possible to melt chocolate and/or candy melts and form leopard spots that way? Possibly using two different shades- a tan and brown since leopard spots are usually two toned? If I did this, could I make the "spots" on wax paper and then let them dry and apply them to the cake?

Let me know if anyone thinks this would work or wouldn't work!!

eaprice--

I found some thin plastic stencils at Hobby Lobby with the animal prints already cut out. Bought them to use with spray or airbrush. Thought about frosting cake in BC then put stencil on cake and spray. Or another thought, you could lay stencil on wax paper/parchment and spread melted chocolate over it and then lift stencil up carefully. Allow animal print-shape to set then peel off and place on cake.

Here is a picture of the finished Leopard Print Cake. I experimented with color flow but was not happy with the results so I decided to use leopard print ribbon as an accent instead. It was very well received and I was happy with the results. Thanks for your help!

Cool cake!! You did an excellent job! I hope the birthday girl liked it?

I've had this one in my Favourites for a few years now!

Many regrets....not sure what company/baker did it, so I can't give credit where credit is very due!!!

antonia74...that is a really neat cake!!! Also...I like the way you used the leopard ribbon on your cake...it added a nice touch. Good job!

Sorry I can't find the artist who actually did it!!

eaprice's leopard ribbon is certainly awesome!!!!

I think the cake turned out beautifully! Classy too

But I can't resist asking this...(since the bday girl, Jane, likes animal prints and all...)... is her husband's name Tarzan?? hehehe I know - it's lame...I'm in a lame kind of mood tonight...lol. Please don't hold this comment against me in future posts!

Thanks for all the compliments! This was only my fifth cake and my first stacked cake so it was a bit nerve wracking! It was frustrating when I wasn't having much luck with colorflow making the spots but then it was like a lightbulb went off in my head and I realized it would probably look a LOT better and be a LOT easier if I just used a leopard print ribbon.

The birthday girl loved it- she was very surprised- and ha ha, no, her husband's name isn't Tarzan but she'd probably get a good laugh out of that!

That safari cake is awesome too- I'm just getting started in the whole cake world and I've got to say that this site and everyone on it have been so much help in learning all the "tricks of the trade!"