I want to do a "35" topper for my parents 35th Wedding Anniversary cake and I was wondering if I need to use wire as the following link from the Wilton instructions suggests or is there an easier method. I tried shaping the wire last night but I had a real hard time. If anyone can offer any suggestion it would be appreciated, the cake is for Saturday.
Here's the wilton link: http://www.wilton.com/decorating/basic/monogramtopper.cfm?pf
wire = strength as royal tends to be very fragile.
what gauge wire are you using? Floral #22 would be more than enough.
needle nose pliers help getting sharp bends
and bending wire around a form helps too -- in this case small cans or jars for the curves (like tomato paste can or narrow glass olive jar)
and if what to get fancier still ---
go to craft store and get glass bangles, baubles and bead (crystals) and thread those over wire.
I would use 2 pieces of gumpaste and sandwich the wire. That will make it really stable. I will also add a wire pick on the bottom so the numbers can stand on their own inserted on top of the cake. Use plastic coffee stirrers so the wire does not directly touch the cake.
at least 2 points of contact per numeral, wire long enough to hook into board.
OR
if doing in gumpaste -- create extensions that are wide and flat and go into cake to support the numbers -- in which case, put on at last minute before the cake is seen by anyone.
I would do 2 picks per number, as Doug suggested. Push coffee stirrers on top of the cake, as if you're doweling, and put the picks inside the coffee stirrers. That will make the number stand on top of the cake. Make the pick long enough (I'd make it the height of the cake), so it is more stable.
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