My cousin asked me to make a cake for a commercial, she works for ShopNBC, which is kind of like a QVC. It's a cake for this woman's commercial and her birthday. My cousin says she want a 3 tier cake and very fancy. She says this woman's taste is kind of gawdy (sp?). The only thing she knows so far is that she wants a 3 tier, pearls and her logo on it. So if anyone has some ideas for me, I would soooo appreciate it! My cousin's calling me tomorrow for the final details so I'll update you when I hear from her.
I also need help with pricing, I've never charged for a cake before. The company is paying for it so I won't be giving a deal!!
My cousin wants it very professional looking, I'm sooooo nervous! I told her that I didn't think I could do it but she's insisting. Again, I'll let you know more details tomorrow, but in the mean time, if anyone has suggestions, I'll appreciated sooooo much!!! Thank you!!
Flavacakes,
If you look at my pictures on page 1, scroll down to a turquoise birthday cake. It's only a single layer but that could easily be made into three tiers. I think it might be the gawdy you're looking for. It has gold and pearls. Hope this helps.
Does she mean gawdy as in "really busy...alot going on" or just gawd awful ugly? LOL????
I have a cake that may be a starting point. First page of my photos at the very bottom left (Luster Dust...Princess...something or other). It is really busy and has lots of "stuff". Maybe you could revamp the idea.
For pricing, first decide what sizes of cakes you will do and what all the ingredients will cost you. Then multiply by three (you're worth it!). Then add on for extras like (gumpaste bows, ribbon roses, etc.)
Good luck! I am so green with envy....what an opportunity for you! You lucky duck!!!!!!!
-Michelle
Thank you guys soooo much for the encouragement!! I knew I could count on CC!!
I'll show my cousin those pictures to give her some ideas, if that's ok with you guys? I'll let you know what she says after I talk to her.
THanks again!!!!!
flavacakes~ you can sooo do this cake! Your work is beautiful!! Why have you NOT charged before????????
http://www.gateaux-inc.com/details/polkadot.htm
This is a link to a cake that my cousin wants me to do. But I won't do the whimsical or whatever, look to it though. Here are the colors she wants.
http://mailcenter.comcast.net/wmc/v/wm/45DF2944000C628200005CCF2207000953039A9C9C01000A9C9C0A06?cmd=Show&no=837&uid=248409&sid=c0
Try that link, if it doesn't work let me know.
So do you guys think those colors would look good for that cake? Also, how do you make the pearls? Do you just roll them and paint them with luster dust? Thanks again guys!!!!!
That last link didn't work, the colors are the pink on the top tier on the cake in that link and a dark cream and a almost royal blue. I'm not sure about those colors, what do you guys think?
Oh, and should I use fondant or buttercream? If I did buttercream, I still would do the polka dots in fondant. She said it didn't matter but I want it to look good.
The pink that is on the cake picture? I think that'll look fine. It def is gonna have a gaudy flair!!! LOL! But if that's what she wants then ya gotta give it to her...with style!!! 
The pearls are diff sizes, what if you make them diff colors too? Like to match the cream, blue, and pink. I think that would pull the whole color sceme together well. Can't wait to see it!!!
Haven't used luster dust yet so I can't answer that one.
As far as the fondant or bc go I think that is personal preference as far as what you like to work with the best. i think they would both look equally as good.
WOW, what an honor to be asked to do such a thing. Congrats!! 
Ok guys, I have ANOTHER question! Sorry to be such a pain in the butt!
I forgot one thing, I have to put a logo in black on the cake. I don't know what I should use or where to put it, my cousin thought maybe on the top tier. What do you think? I'll give you the link to a page with the logo on it, it's at the top by that blonde woman, the cake is for her, it says "The Find" I really need help on that one!!!! I couldn't do this without you guys!!
The pink that is on the cake picture? I think that'll look fine. It def is gonna have a gaudy flair!!! LOL! But if that's what she wants then ya gotta give it to her...with style!!!
The pearls are diff sizes, what if you make them diff colors too? Like to match the cream, blue, and pink. I think that would pull the whole color sceme together well. Can't wait to see it!!! Haven't used yet so I can't answer that one.
As far as the fondant or bc go I think that is personal preference as far as what you like to work with the best. i think they would both look equally as good.
Yeah, the pink that's on the cake picture. I know it will be so gaudy!!! lol I just can't imagine those colors together!!
I haven't seen the logo but what if you replace the flowers and stuff on top with a 3d logo? Or you could do some sort of plaque like out of choc or something that stands up with the logo on it.
Herre's a link to making pearls http://www.earlenescakes.com./prlinstruct.htm Once they are dried put them in a ziplock with some lusterdust and shake then store in an airtight container. HTH
I do my pearls like Tiggy suggested. Just gotta love Earlene!!!
What kind of logo is it? When I look at this cake, I was thinking if there was some way to incorporate their logo onto the largest of the polka dots it could look less pronounced, yet visible from any direction they video from. It would be PERFECT if it was like a single letter or something.
Talking about filming, is the cake going to be sitting under hot lights for a long period of time? I would prefer to do a cake in B/C with fondant accents, but if it gets hot the dots may go "slip, sliding away". You may have a better chance of it withstanding some heat if its fondant. Has anyone ever discussed the possibility of a dummy cake to play it safe? Just a thought.
Keep up posted.
http://www.shopnbc.com/SearchM/Default.aspx?page=LIST&prop=Special%20Collections|916&prop=The%20Find|916&BreadCrumb=prop|prop&sc=1&cm_re=redirect-_-The%20Find-_-The%20Find
OMG! The link didn't paste, I'll try it again. The logo is "The Find" toward the top by the blonde lady in the green.
I would do the cake in the ShopNBC colors, which are pretty much primary colors (orange, red, yellow, blue, green and purple). If I were to make the logo, I would either do it in gumpaste (prolly paint with dust to make it sparkle) if I wanted it to stand on top of the cake. Now if I were to put it on the side of the top tier, I would either do it in fondant or chocolate transfer. IMO, I think I like the idea of it being on top since the tiers will be too busy with colors.
HTH
Ok guys, I desperately need help with the logo!! I don't know how to do it!! I traced the logo with royal in black but I have no clue how to make it stand up. I was thinking making some kind of a plaque but with what? I'm afraid it will be too heavy? If anyone has any ideas or a completely different idea, please let me know. I could just make it out of fondant and lay it across the top but I thought it would be neat if it stood up. Help!
Is the RI dry already? If not, is it thick enough that you could insert some toothpicks into the bottom of each of the letters?
If it is dry, could you add some more RI to the bottom that could act like a spike down in the cake? (Am I making any sense?)
or maybe attach the RI letters to a piece of gumpaste that has mini skewers to stick down into the cake....(kinda like the road signs on my Robban cake in my gallery)
Well I'm not sure yet what I'm doing with the logo, but I have another dilema. I can't personally deliver this cake so I can't put it together at the site. I need to assemble it before the transport. Is that possible? It is a 3 teir, do you think it'll be alright if I really dowel the heck out of it? If I put a dowel through all three teirs? I can't sleep because I'm so worried about this darn cake!! 
If anyone has advice on this PLEASE let me know!!!!!!!! Thank you all for helping me with this!!!!
I delivered a 3 tier cake completely assembled and it was fine. I had dowels in each tier and then one bigger dowel right down the center of them all.
Good luck.
Thank you!!!! That makes me feel soooo much better!!!!
Tiggy2, I forgot to thank you for the link to make the pearls! I used it and they turned out great!!
I'm glad it helped. I used that method and was very pleased with the finished product. Still time consuming but at least they were all consistant. I just turn on the TV in the kitchen and it seems to make the time go by faster. Be sure to post a photo of the completed project.
Here is what I have done so far. I am not too happy with it. Please tell me if there is anything I should change or fix. I promise you won't hurt my feelings! I just need this thing to look good and I don't want to be embarressed if it looks bad. Do you think some of the pearls are too big?
I don't know how to attach pictures on here so it will be in my photos if you could please take a look? I'll also put a pic of the logo in there so you can see it to help me figure out what the heck to do with it. I tried to transfer royal letters and they all broke so this is the only thing I could come up with. PLEASE, if you have any ideas, let me know. I just piped it on a slab of fondant and now I don't have a clue what to do with it! THANK YOU!!!!!!!
I think you did a great job on both! Can you paint the fondant with luster dust to match the pearls? Not the letters, just the background? Can you cut it into an oval and let it dry really well and then attach skewers to the back with RI and then just stick it into the top of the cake? That all sounds great in my head but since I've never done anything like this I don't even know if it will work..... 
I love it though!!
Oh thank you Michelle! I will try to see if that will harden enough. I HAVE to have it done by the morning so I don't know if that's enough time. You dont think it needs something else?
Oh, also..what would you charge for this cake? All teirs are double layer, 6, 8 and 10 in.
I think they look great Flav!! Michelle has a great idea with cutting the logo into a circle to match the circles on the cake...I love that idea! The colors turned out beautiful and it really all comes together!! You did a awesome job girl!!
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%