go for it.
it's a fun and easy cake to make (my variation was fondant covered -- and the little rug-rat, my nephew ate the fondant and tossed the chocolate cake in mommy's lap! -- gotta have a talk w/ that kid about chocolate not wasting good chocolate!)
when the galleries are back up, you'll be able to see all kinds of variations.
Thanks, Doug! I already saw all the incredible cakes in the Gallery. I'm just not sure I can pull it off. I want to do alternating "caterpillar" mounds of pink and green. Then some grass around him, with candy molds of ladybugs and butterflies. (lady bugs were on the invitation)
sure you can...
it's just humps of cakes hiding under BC or fondant.
coconut tinted green makes great grass (just ask my sister who INSISTED it had to go on the one I made) (tint by putting coconut in big ziplock baggie, add green food coloring, then shake it until evenly colored)
How do I make the pieces touching the cake board as smooth as the top-facing pieces?
not sure I "follow"...
if doing BC...could ice the cake while raised on a tuna can and that way get all the way to the edge. or ... use a crusting BC and then do either the VIVA paper towel method or Melvira's roller method.
w/ fondant, just keep smoothing it.
and of course, coconut grass will hide the very bottom edges.
Here are some smoothing techniques that you might find helpful:
The (Viva) Paper Towel Method for faux fondant look (on b/c):
http://www.cakecentral.com/article10-How-To-Create-Faux-Fondant-The-Paper-Towel-Method----Viva.html
The Melvira (sponge roller) Method for B/C:
http://www.cakecentral.com/article83-Quick--Easy-Smooth-Icing-Using-a-Roller-Melvira-Method.html
How to Make & Decorate with MMF:
http://www.cakecentral.com/article47-How-to-Make-and-Decorate-with-Marshmallow-Fondant-MMF.html
Another photo tutorial:
http://www.pastrywiz.com/wedding/wedding19.htm
MMF tips:
(Read before making MMF.)
http://forum.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-101181-.html
HTH
I'll attach all five "humps" with buttercream. I'm just not sure how to attach them without "smushing" them together. And my fondant skills are lacking. How can I make the little caterpillar's antennae? I'm thinking licorice?
a little "smooshing" will only make them look connected like on a real caterpillar.
(and a BIG offset spatula helps to position them)
fondant on this shape is super easy! NO edges!
just roll out like a big pie dough, lay over the shape, smooth w/ hands and trim off the excess (pizza wheel is great for this).
(and thanks JanH for the links!)
Thank you so much JanH. I come here for advice and to look at all the pictures, but sometimes I get so intimidated! I get a tiny bit overwhelmed! I am going to make my caterpillar cake now and possibly even post the pictures of my daisy petit fors. I'm not sure if I'm going to make the petit fors icing or the white chocolate melt dip.
If you have not tried the Wilton classes, give them a whirl. They were a big boost in the confidence for me. It is also where I learned that cookie cutter trick. They take what you know and expound on it and teach you a lot in easy format. You will love the class. It helped me to do my first baby shower cake.
Mary
Oh! My Wilton instructor is the only reason I'm even here, LOL. She told me about this site. She is so nice; I've had to work through my past two class nights. She just called me and invited me to finish up at one of her other classes.
Cake people are so nice!!!!!
I agree I would do the stars... the star tip that has the 3 openings on it to make 3 at once makes this cake super quick to ice. Just buy one for every color you are going to use. I have done a few Caterpillars and they are always a hit. I like the fondant look but most people don't like fondant taste. Also, someone on here used cookie cutters to cut the name of the person the cake was for and put them on top of the caterpillar, SUPER CUTE... I just stink at cookies, so I didn't attempt it! Good luck, can't wait to see it, I know it will be great!
I will certainly post the picture. Thanks to everyone for the advice! As a small aside, I said to my DH, "this cake [caterpillar sketch] is for 16 ladies. I'm not sure about the size". I was thinking it was monstrous for that small number of people. He says, "You're right. Maybe you could make a cheesecake so you'd have enough".
each 1/2 sports ball easily serves 4 really big UN-healthy servings -- closer to normal would be 8 servings a 1/2.
so .....for 16 ladies -- 4 humps = 16 mongo servings (and just remember what that does hips and rumps!)
don't think you really want only a two hump little fellow.
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