One More Thing Goes Wrong And This One Is Hitting The Wall!
Decorating By DecoratingDingbat Updated 21 Apr 2007 , 1:32am by DecoratingDingbat
For Pete's sake!! I'm doing a Ziggy springtime theme cake, a practice cake for an order not due until May - thank God! I purposely kept the design simple because I wanted nice and easy. Well.... the design was the least of my problems! I even got a little excited at the start because the cakes came out of the oven almost perfectly level! Then the BC (dun, dun dunn...), for the first time I couldn't get it to it's proper consistancy. I beat the daylights out of it, and still it stayed in the 'curled' look stage. 
Into the fridge it went for the night. I started modeling my fondant/gumpaste Ziggy. I got my encourgement back, he turned out beatiful! 
Wrapped the cakes and off to bed, I should have stayed there!! 
In the morning I glanced at my Ziggy, expecting to the cute little guy I propped up the night before. 
He had developed a NASTY crack problem during the midnight hours! What the??? Bad, deep, long, crumbling cracks! Okay, I'll deal with you later young man. I took out the BC, and starting beating again - yahoo, it came back and turned out rather well! Crumb coated and time for the fondant coat, for whatever reason when I started rolling it out, it crumbled! Again what the ???? Crumbled, like peanut butter cookies. A new batch, covered cakes and stacked (8" and 6"), fixed Ziggy the best I could ... okay maybe I can turn this around. The top was to be airbrushed blue, the bottom green. I got the kids off for naps and set up my airbrush. The first 20 seconds of spraying was okay, then it starting 'pulsing'. ANOTHER what the ??? After pulling out my manual I realize a head seal was probably worn down (?) and it has a lifetime warranty because you cannot change it yourself - of course!! I'm going to get this base done anyway, 'pulsing' my way through I managed. Looks terrible, but it's coloured! Back to my buddy Ziggy - bloody - this time I didn't prop him good enough, his head and a leg are laying on the counter! Now I'm mad, your going on the cake if it kills you! Now it looks more like a science experiment, globs of glucose with toothpicks, tin foil, cups and whatever else fits to hold him up. I realized when I finished that I hadn't greased anything, so I'll probably pull him apart removing it all ...
2 nights, all day and a broken airbrush... it's still not done. I'm eating it tomorrow, even just for revenge! I just painted the house, or I would seriously consider it...
WHY does the fondant start okay and then crack during the dry time? 
Anyone?
Your question on the fondant: did you add any Tylose? That helps. Sorry your Ziggy took a nose dive. Good thing you have time to work out the kinks.
Your question on the fondant: did you add any Tylose? That helps. Sorry your Ziggy took a nose dive. Good thing you have time to work out the kinks.
I did ... because I needed the extra stability. Is it possible to add too much? If it is that's the first I've heard of it. Your not kidding about having time to work out the kinks! Something was telling me to give it go while it's a quiet week. Good thing, I have no idea how long it will take to fix the airbrush. Hopefully not long, I'm hoping no longer than a week. I calmed down when I reminded myself "this is practise". It would have been a different story if it was the actual order, once the spraying starts it's hard to turn back - even then I probably would have hand painted, still it looks terrible! I'll try to distract attention with flowers or something, it's not important on a practise cake, it would be nice if it looks reasonable though.
Glad you practiced and now have time to work out the issues. I have so far never had fondant figures crack (knocking on wood) and I don't do anything special to it. I did just get some Tylose to try out though. Good luck, I can't wait to see the finished cake 
Oh, I SO didn't want to laugh because I was feeling your pain...but the way you worded your post, you are too funny!
That poor Ziggy - going on the cake might just kill him after all.
I don't have any advice but just wanted to reply in sympathy. We've all had those days...well, at least I have! You'll have to post a photo of the cake when you're done - BEFORE it hits the freshly painted wall!
For the first time I really felt like chucking this cake into the street! After Ziggy decided to turn on me, and the airbrush soon took his side I just didn't feel like continuing with this one. Piping was WAY to much work for a cake I already hated so I took some really stupid short cuts. Coconut grass, dry brushed clouds that seem to just blend in with the rest of the airbrush disaster. I completely skipped the rainbow, words 'spring' on top and the fish pond that was going to be on the board. There are a couple of other details I skipped entirely, and what I did throw on was done without any enthusiasm what so ever!
I need a day away from cakes after this one, I feel like a chewed piece of bubble gum! I'm so ashamed of this monstrosity that I don't even want in my photos. The realization of my airbrush being broken is starting to hit me too ... 
! If I wasn't so tired, and the kids were in bed I'd be screaming profanities like a banshee at poor already broken Ziggy 
!!! On a good note the family said it tasted good... let's face it ... we all know they're just too smart and too scared to say different! Lord I hope I wake tomorrow laughing at this.
First of all, I have to say that your screen name is hilarious. I just had to read this post purely because of your screen name. So funny.
Second of all, I am CRACKING up at your post. You are a great story teller. I'm so sorry to hear of the aggrivation this little Ziggy has put you through but OMG I am still chuckling at the way you told the story. You must have your friends and family in stitches half the time.
Good thing this was a practice cake. It came out adorable and I can't wait to see the final product when you do the actual order.
Good luck and thanks for the chuckle. 
Thank you everyone for your replies, it's nice to have a support system that can understand the work and frustration involved. It's devestating to spend this much time and effort and have it turn out so hideous! I've been decorating for 20+ yrs, and this one turned out worse than some of my beginner cakes. I really thought this one would be a breeze, easy design for fondant! Yeesh!! I've had blemishes that were better looking!!
On a lighter note, I am starting recovery. I decided that I'm not old and tired enough that a little guy like Ziggy was going to kick my ... I'm starting a new Ziggy, with more tex this time. If he's not dry and perfectly hard by May ( 
I NEVER thought I would say THAT about little Ziggy - LOL!), then I think I'll take up Ice cream cones or something.
I really don't understand why he cracked up on me overnight? Even though I'm fairly new to fondant (trying to keep up with the times ...) I didn't think it could be too different than Marzipan, and it offers more options. It's amazing how it throws off your entire game when the main character walks out on you. I'll try to remember to post a picture of the final order, I'm a little absent minded when it comes to the camera.
Just a quick update... I guess it's REALLY good that I practised! I just found out today that I have to send my airbrush to the US (I live in Canada) for servicing! That shoots down the week I was thinking it would out of commission! I have no idea how long this is going to take, with delivery, servicing and then delivery back! Good thing I don't need it until the middle of May, still I feel naked without it.
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