Crying Now....really Need Some Encouragement!!!
Decorating By imaginecakes Updated 8 Jun 2007 , 6:54am by steffla
I have my first cake order...due this weekend. I am trying to make several things out of Fondant/GP, including an "easy chair", a man in a robe and slippers, a girl in a skimpy outfit, a side table, a six pack of beer on the floor, a few chicken bones laying around...and a wall with a window seperating the man in the chair and the woman. All three of my small children are cying...refusing to nap...my oldest WILL NOT leave any of my cake supplies alone...I couldn't get anything done last night because my husband came home from work super sick...so I had no help with the kids, my first two chairs and my first table are in the trash...I have no clue how to make little itty-bitty beer bottles to go into a six pack box...I can't for the life of me picture what a chicken bone looks like, let alone how to make one!!! I am just so frustrated right now!! When it's just practice cakes, they seem to come out ok, but now that I have an actual order...everything is a mess!!! I just want to throw in the towel and head to Siberia about right now!! 
Sorry this is so long, but how do you all do it?
I struggle too! I have a 3 year old and a 1 year old and they are always on me when I am making cakes! I have resigned to decorating at night when I can get some peace or early in the morning.
Just take a break....walk away and come back with a less stressed mind and it will come to you!
Stephanie
Oh, I am so sorry. I have felt this way so often it isn't even funny. I have 3 little ones too, and as I was reading your story I could so put myself in your shoes. I know how you are feeling and have no idea what to tell you. I haven't been able to figure out myself what to do when everything all of a sudden feels like it is too much, unless you can manage to get a nap, but it doesn't sound possible. I love naps. So even though I can't help I figure it will perhaps help a little to know you aren't the only one, and it'll pass. Small comfort, I know. Good luck!
Randi
ooooooohhhhhmmmmm.....ooooooohhhhhmmmmmm...sending some calming vibes your way!!! 
And here's a big **HUG**
I also can totally relate. I have 5 kids and one who always loves to get her hands all over my stuff. I usually have to give her her own piece of fondant to play with. She's 4. I tried just giving her playdough to play with, but she knows it's not the same. I can get away with giving playdough to my 2 yo though. Throw in some cookie cutters and their set! I also have to do a lot of my decorating at night after they go to bed. Hope it gets better for you...know that you are not alone...
Its hard with little ones! I used to complain about having to stay up until the wee hours of morning finishing cakes, but now I try to enjoy the uninterupted silence that seems so rare anymore!
i feel for you girl...i only have one in my hair and he's bad enough.
as for a little laughable advice....
1 put hubby to bed...one less wining body to take care of
2 you've gotta have supper right? take off to KFC in hopes that at least one or two will got to sleep on the way.
3 plop anybody not asleep when you get home in front of a movie with a box of popcorn chicken
4 eat a bite, but don't clean up after yourself
5 take a deep breath and remember how much you love doing cakes. look around at you mess from dinner for inspiration and dig in and conquer your cake.
and remember, we are all our own worse critic!
good luck, and can't wait to see the results
fromkimskitchen - KFC was an ingenious suggestion.
She's right a breather for everyone is what you need. I've found when my boys are driving me crazy, if I sit down with them for just 10 minutes and give them my undivided attention then they will usually be satisfied and give you your much needed space.
Don't worry too much about the cake. I know, I know - "yeah right" but I suffer the same problem. I can decide at 8:00 I'm going to play around and everything drops right into place, but give me expectations and a deadline and everything falls completely apart. As soon as one thing turns out well you'll relax and everything will follow suit.
for me 8:30pm is decorating time until 12:30am and I start all of my stuff a couple of days b4 so when its cake day i just throw it together.
its manageabe i'm playing single mom to a 3yrs old and to a golden retriever that thinks he's a puppy all b/c my husband is overseas
GL
Oh how sad. I hate that feeling of just wanting to give it all up.
Is there anyone who can help out and babysit for a few hours for you? If not, what about Benedryl? Just kidding on that one I'm trying to make you smile.
I think taking a break is the best for you right now. Then come back later and hopefully things will be ok.
I have three as well, and I can relate because I also have my first real paid cake due this weekend! I started making my fondant figures (in my photos if you are interested) yesterday, and I already had to redo two bodies, and a head three times 
dry cracking and design problems i guess, live and learn. A few tricks I've learned over the past few days is to use dry spagetti like edible toothpicks. Don't put in too many or Loonette's face will come off, but that's another post! 
also, using wilton's paste colouring as paint for fine details is great. I would think that you could do a chicken bone with white gumpaste with a larger textured brown ball of fondant on one end, and a smaller one on the other end. as for the table, can you do a cube coffee table? that would be waaaay easier than trying to get one to stand up on four legs. if not, back to spagetti 
you could try doing the six pack of beer as cans of beer with one of those plastic thingys that kill seagulls attaching them as for the people, take a look at the works of aine2: http://www.extra-icing.blogspot.com she's greaaat! and she has a tutorial on her website. HTH!
Hugs!!!! Kids can be, well, kids... and loving them all while wanting to strangle them is okay. LOL
If you need inspiration, check the galleries here or search google images. I am sure someone has made fondant chicken bones and beer before and it might help to get it visualized. Good luck! 
I feel for you all I raised mine and am trying to start up baking again after about 15 years 10 of which I'm helping my son raise his two sons in my home. Needless to say I know the feeling 2x over and it's not any better the second time around. Good thing they are 9 and 11 and are moving out with Dad this fall to their new home. I can't imagine baking in silence. The youngest one 9 wants to bake all the time with me and I let him unless it's for an order and he doesn't understand why he can't help then. Good luck ladies and let me know if and when anyone comes up with anything that works. I had to laugh at the one that tried giving the 4 year old play dough, yep, they sure ain't dumb. 
KNow your pain.....I have 3 BIG ONES....a dh and 2 dks! 
....and they all leave the house when I start decorating....they know the drill. 
Hang in there...deep breaths......
Thanks everyone...I really appreciate the support!! It helps to know that I am not alone!
I too feel your pain. When I attempted cake decorating for the first time I had 3 kids under the age of 4. I first started with my kids bday cakes, and I remember while doing them, if they were awake, my house would look like a tornado hit, not to mention the stress of trying to watch them and decorate cake. Well, I gave it up for several years, and I have taken it up seriously after they are all almost grown. However, I have done daycare in my home for 21 years, and I do alot of things during naptime, it is a beautiful time of day!!! So, I guess what I am trying to say, is hang in there, it does get better, and don't give up decorating like I did!!!
I've been there. Now, when I have an order due, dinner is takeout pizza...no one complains, and I don't even try to clean up anything until I'm done and the cake is out the door. My 6-year-old always wants to "help" so I give him a bag of white icing with a fancy tip, some cookie cutters and some flour or powdered sugar and just close my eyes. It always turns into a mess, but it keeps him quiet and out of my hair. Last time I baked I pinched off a little fondant for him and he was very content. As for the other kids, I don't know their ages but maybe some Elmo or Boobah or whatever works. Junk food? Benadryl? You'll get through it. Don't give up.
Mickig
I know that you want to hand make it all, but I wonder if it would make your life any easier to use some dollhouse minatures. The AC Moore in our area sells minis and I'd bet that they have at lwast maybe some beer cans and the little details and that way you can focus on the major components. I don't think anyone would think any less of you and I'm sure your cake would still turn out great.
I know how it is with kids. I have a 2 1/2 year old and a 4month old who does not believe in napping! Good luck and try to make things as easy on yourself as possible!
Triptophan (sp?) makes kids sleepy. The best source is turkey, ever wonder why after Thanksgiving dinner everyone is ready for a nap. I heard they even add it to cookies they sell to daycare providers. ever wonder how they get all those kids to nap at one time???
wow I only have one dd and I thought I had it rough, lol! She is 21months and loves to help, usually I let her help me mix the icing before she goes to bed, she thinks she is such big stuff. I don't start decorating until she goes to bed about 8:30pm. It makes for some late nights but loads less stress for me and she loves seeing the finished product in the morning! Hang in there you will find a way that works good for you!
Ok one thing you can do with the lil ones is to tell them they are all spoilt lil brats no really seriously lol tell them mommy needs to work now and they NEED to behave and sit down and watch cartoons/movie/tv like good little children and stop ruining the day lol. Or send them outside to play 
and tell them if they keep on you're going to tie them to the chair and make them watch old movies until they pass out
I have 4... 15, 13, 11, & 8 plus dh and 3 nephews 10, 8, 4 and they ALL know how to bug me when the time comes to do a cake. I tell them all unless they are helping they don't belong in the kitchen. I tell them they have permission to destroy their bedroom/play room but they are not to disturb any other area in the house! (more mess for me to clean up later if they did lol)
Normally I will wait until it's bed time (8:30ish) to start decorating but those times I can't and the kids are home I just send them outside on thier bikes or scooters or down to thier friends house lol. My daughter is the only one we have full time 24/7 so she's easily taken care of "go outside and ride your heely's or draw with chalk or ride your bike anything just go on outside with daddy and play" and she loves it!
Chicken bones....... easiest way to find stuff you need visuals on is Google!!! Go to google and click images and search for what you need and it'll bring up what ya need
I'm with BlairsMom...I have a 2 year old and I usually will bake the cakes in the morning while she is eating breakfast, maybe make the icing and fondant too...and then I will do all the decorating after she is asleep. I wouldn't be able to let her help yet because it would be all over the house!! Stay strong and don't give up!! Hugs!!
my son is now 27 and he calls to ask if today is a baking day so he and his girlfriend can come over for some batter. they never leave you alone when your baking, i don't care how old they get.
do some wishbones. they sound like they would be just right for your cake. try using a straw to punch out some beer cans in just plain gray fondant. put the straw in corn starch first punch out the fondant and then blow out the plug. good luck.
I'm sending good thoughts your way. I only do very simple cakes and with a 3 year old and a 2 month old, even those are a challenge! Oh ya, if Hubby has that stomach flu, banish him to the bed room! That bug is just horrible, we just got over it here.
Best of luck and I can't wait to see pictures!
And if you go to KFC then you will know what a chicken bone looks like and get something to eat too!
That was my first thought too!!!
And if you go to KFC then you will know what a chicken bone looks like and get something to eat too!
That was my first thought too!!!
That is EXACTLY what I did!!! Mine still look more like Dog Bones, but Oh well!!
Ok one thing you can do with the lil ones is to tell them they are all spoilt lil brats no really seriously lol tell them mommy needs to work now and they NEED to behave and sit down and watch cartoons/movie/tv like good little children and stop ruining the day lol. Or send them outside to play
and tell them if they keep on you're going to tie them to the chair and make them watch old movies until they pass out I have 4... 15, 13, 11, & 8 plus dh and 3 nephews 10, 8, 4 and they ALL know how to bug me when the time comes to do a cake. I tell them all unless they are helping they don't belong in the kitchen. I tell them they have permission to destroy their bedroom/play room but they are not to disturb any other area in the house! (more mess for me to clean up later if they did lol)
Normally I will wait until it's bed time (8:30ish) to start decorating but those times I can't and the kids are home I just send them outside on thier bikes or scooters or down to thier friends house lol. My daughter is the only one we have full time 24/7 so she's easily taken care of "go outside and ride your heely's or draw with chalk or ride your bike anything just go on outside with daddy and play" and she loves it!
Chicken bones....... easiest way to find stuff you need visuals on is Google!!! Go to google and click images and search for what you need and it'll bring up what ya need
Thanks so much for the pics...They really helped!!!
I'm sending good thoughts your way. I only do very simple cakes and with a 3 year old and a 2 month old, even those are a challenge! Oh ya, if Hubby has that stomach flu, banish him to the bed room! That bug is just horrible, we just got over it here.
Best of luck and I can't wait to see pictures!
Not the Stomach Flu...Thank Goodness for that!!! It turned out to be food poisioning!! 
( And I did not give it to him!!! Thank Goodness for that too!!)
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%