Building Cake - Can I Do This And How Much?
Decorating By aandsmommy Updated 30 Mar 2007 , 8:57pm by caryl
OK, I don't know where to begin with this one...this is the email I received...
"My parents are celebrating their 45th Wedding Anniversary in June, and I am hosting a party here
for them. Rather than a 'traditional' cake, I want to do something a
little creative. Mom & Dad went to Williamsburg for their honeymoon and
had their first dinner together at the Kings Arms Tavern. Would it be
possible/realistic to create a cake that's a replica? I am open to
suggestions ... a cake that is the tavern sign; a "building" (it's
pretty much a rectangle) or a flat cake that has an emblem on it."
I have attached pics of the building (which looks simple, but I know when it gets down to it, it will be alot of detail)...the emblem and the tavern sign.
I need to give her a price quote and I don't even know where to start....
Thanks for ANY help!
Anita
ok...very doable.
after all that building is just a bunch of flat sheets stacked and then the roof carved -- and that roof shape is very simple.
what will be the killer are all the little dormers -- but those could be made out of fondant or gumpaste and placed on the cake ... in fact most if not all of the details of window, door, porch etc. could be done this way.
as for sign...that would be best done as an edible image attached to a fondant/gumpaste plaque. then attached to skewer made to look like the sign holder (at left in photo of inn)
now as for pricing...
well just how many does she need to serve.
and since this will be a lot of detail work I'd price at no less than $4 a serving and maybe even more.
after all....if only needs a small cake the detailing will be HARDER as have to make them so much smaller. a larger cake will be somewhat easier.
HTH
Thanks, Doug...I was hoping you would chime in. Yeah, it does not seem to difficult, I know it will just be the little details. She only wants to serve 12 adults and 2 children, so $4 a serving won't cut it. DH says $200, but I think that is too much for 14 people!
Also, I don't have a printer...so I guess the edible image is out. I was thinking some sort of chocolate transfer???
Anita
actually for a 3-D cake w/ that level of detailing...DH isn't all that far off.... I'd want at least $150
.....
so....since she wants such a small cake.
I'd do a sheet cake cut to look like building -- just blow up that photo, cut it out and use as template to get basic shape and then cut it up to get the templates for all the details. could still on many of them as fondant/gumpaste.
then I'd make a separate plaque for the sign to sit to side of main cake. this could be just chocolate transfer. trick will be to get a very clear image.
I've been to Williamsburg and those signs have tons of detail (and gold leaf) in them which I why I suggested edible image. Is there another CC member near you who has an edible image printer and could make/ship it to you?
yep! you can do it! pm me if you have any questions... i'll guide you thru! Just remember structure.... dowel, dowel, dowel.
Doug, I know nothing about the edible image. I think our grocery store can do it for me...but I need to double check. Can I get it any size? And then just stick it to a piece of dry gumpaste? And the scrolls on the side, do in gumpaste?
Alaskanmom, I saw your AMAZING castle...I know you would be able to help me 
!
OK, any more takers for helping me figure out pricing for any of the options? I need to get back to her today.
Thanks!
Anita
don't do it for less than $250. i did a post on CC about if i were to do this castle again to sell (it was for cub scouts) what should i charge... the answers ranged from $600 to $1200 but the average was $1000. Don't rip yourself off. I had at least $130 into the castle just in materials... and 35 hours of my time. I would be more inclined to say no less than $300.
accckkk. I am having a heart attack! LOL...DH will love you all because he is the one who helps me with all the architecture of my sculpted cakes and his time never gets accounted for. I will take your advice and see what she says.
Thanks!
Anita
If they're looking for that small of a cake you could do an image of the building on a gumpaste plaque and stand it at the back of a sheet or square cake and a plaque of the sign also.
Debbie
Debbie...that is a cool idea. How is that done exactly? Do I dry the gumpaste and then put hte image on and then carve around the image to the shape?
Can you tell how clueless I am about edible images???
roll your gumpaste out and apply the image then trim up and let dry. I use white chocolate to glue popsickle or lollipop sticks to the back to stick into the cake when dry.
Debbie
ahhhh...that would make much more sense...lol!
thanks.
You're welcome! Can't wait to see your cake!
Debbie
What if you did the cake in a loaf pan and carved it from there?? If it is torted and filled it should serve the fourteen people. Or you could also put it on a square cake to act as a yard, and also get more servings out of it.
Because of all the detail you would have to face i wouldnt go for less than 4$ a serving.
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