karthurs's Cake Central Gallery

Cat In The Hat

Cat In The Hat

I baked 5 6" rounds. Split them. then built 3 mini cakes. Each had 3 half layers, cake-SMBC-cake-Ganache-cake-SMBC. Then I stacked the three mini cakes. Each with its own cake board. Each layer had four straws to support the next layer. then I buttercreamed the entire stack. I should note that there is a significant internal structure as well. The cake board is reinforced with a sheet of masonite underneath. Then with holes drilled in the center I screwed a metal flange under the base. first is a 5inch long 1/2" diameter PVC pipe threaded into the base. then I added a threaded PVC coupler to the top of the 5 inch PVC pipe. The head is RKT built around the 5" pipe/coupler and then sculpted to the shape. I then frosted the head to get as smooth a surface as possible to then Fondant. Next, is the brim of the hat, I cut an 8" circle from the masonite board. Again drilled a 5/8" hole into the center of the board to have a tight fit on the center structure. If I were to make this cake again I would add another 1/2 to 3/4" to the size of the brim. I then threaded a 10" pvc pipe into the coupler. The brim is supported by the coupler which is wider than the pipe, therefore there is no downward pressure on the head. I had an extra pipe I used to stack the three mini cakes and then crumb coat the whole thing. The very top of the hat (the sideways peak) is also RKT. The whole thing into the fridge for several hours until very firm. To Fondant the hat I rolled out a sheet and then wrapped around the outside of the cake. Then I added a circle to the top and smoothed the seam.

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Basketball Cake

Basketball Cake

The score board is rice krispy treats covered in black fondant with fondant, royal icing and modeling chocolate for letters and numbers. Secured to the vertical cake board with white chocolate. Backboard is white fondant trimmed in red fondant. The basketball is chocolate cake covered in dyed burnt orange fondant with black fondant for the stripes. Net is white fondant, need to work on this technique...the net lasted exactly two minutes after this photo was taken before disintegrating. Would love some suggestions on this from fellow decorators here. I tried it with a thick rolled fondant and the weight pulled it down...this version was very thinly rolled out to counter the weight issue but still just tore apart. Floor boards were made by combining three colors of light to brown fondant, rolled out to a wood look, and then scored to create the look of boards. Thanks to many friends for suggestions on the structural elements. And thank you to the guys for giving me direction on the type of wood to buy for the base and how to position the vertical cakeboard on the base for the greatest stability. Made a hammock type structure to support the cake to the vertical Cake board. There are two dowel rods coming out from the board, I have mesh netting covered in fondant strung between the dowels. The dowels and net are supporting the cake and the cake board is tilted back at an 80 degree angle to assist with keeping the cake to the board. And thank you to Zoe for always being a great helper and confidence builder.

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