Cake Drapes Tutorial

Decorating By travelingcakeplate Updated 29 Aug 2006 , 1:04pm by cashley

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travelingcakeplate Posted 22 Aug 2006 , 2:33pm
post #1 of 14

Can someone PLEASE post a detailed tutorial with lots of pictures on how to make those beautiful, life-like fondant drapes that I see on so many wedding cakes.

I would like to know everything from how to create them to placing them on the cake. Do they need to dry like the fondant bows before attaching them to the cake? What is the secret to making them look silky? How can I make them flow? etc.......

Thanks in advance! You all are WONDERFUL!! icon_wink.gif

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13 replies
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dodibug Posted 22 Aug 2006 , 2:50pm
post #2 of 14

I would love to know the secrets too! I haven't been able to try to make a cake with them yet!

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chaniliz Posted 22 Aug 2006 , 3:00pm
post #3 of 14

Yes, if anyone can shared that info, it will be GREAT for a newbie.
Thank you

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cakesbyjess Posted 22 Aug 2006 , 11:50pm
post #4 of 14

I'll share my tips for how I did this cake a couple weekends ago(with some great advice from CC'ers).

For the swags that went across the tiers, I rolled the fondant out quite thin (a lot thinner than you'd roll it to ice the cake) and then cut pieces that were maybe 9" long and 2-3" wide. I laid a piece flat (horizontally) on my vinyl fondant mat. I took two dowels and laid them horizontally under the fondant, one in the front and one in the back. Then, I put a dowel on top of the fondant, between the two dowels that were underneath. I trimmed the fondant so there was no excess on the outer sides of the dowels. Then, I removed the dowels, leaving the impressions they made in place. Then, I picked up the now formed swag, pinched each end, dabbed a bit of water on both edges of the cake where I was going to place it, and just attached it to the cake.

For the drapes that hung down from each corner, I again rolled the fondant quite thin, and cut pieces that were about 5-6" long and 3-4" wide. Then, I just pinched them together at one end so they resembled the folds of a drape and attached with water to each corner.

I don't think it would work well if the fondant was left to dry, so I attached them as soon as I made them. It actually ended up being a lot easier than I had anticipated.

I hope this makes at least a little sense. It's hard to explain, but I read about the dowel technique in a recent issue of American Cake Decorating, and it REALLY worked!!!

Let me know if you have any questions! icon_smile.gif
LL

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Momof3boys Posted 23 Aug 2006 , 12:02am
post #5 of 14

Wow! what a lovely cake and a great detail description on how to make the fondant swags and drapes. Thanks for that! Maybe someday I'll be brave and try more fondant!

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ps3884 Posted 23 Aug 2006 , 12:12am
post #6 of 14

Thank you for sharing!! What a beautiful cake! I've been wanting to try this. I printed out your post so I'll have it readily available when I do. Hopefully, I'll get a chance soon. So many things I want to try, so little time! icon_cry.gificon_lol.gif

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dodibug Posted 23 Aug 2006 , 1:21am
post #7 of 14

Thanks Jess! I was going to pm you to see if you would respond to this thread because i remembered that beauty from a couple of weeks ago! icon_smile.gif

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cakesbyjess Posted 23 Aug 2006 , 1:26am
post #8 of 14

You're very welcome, everyone! I was really nervous about doing that cake, but like I said, it ended up being easier than I thought it would be. It was actually very fun to do (and would have been even more fun if I hadn't had to do 4 other wedding cakes before it and didn't start this one until about 1 AM!!!)! So, to those of you that would like to try drapes but are scared, just do it! With a little practice, they can look great! icon_smile.gif

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travelingcakeplate Posted 23 Aug 2006 , 2:04am
post #9 of 14
Quote:
Originally Posted by cakesbyjess

You're very welcome, everyone! I was really nervous about doing that cake, but like I said, it ended up being easier than I thought it would be. It was actually very fun to do (and would have been even more fun if I hadn't had to do 4 other wedding cakes before it and didn't start this one until about 1 AM!!!)! So, to those of you that would like to try drapes but are scared, just do it! With a little practice, they can look great! icon_smile.gif


Thank you soooo much. I plan to try it very soon and will post my results. I will also give Jess all the credit!
Have a SUPER day!

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Samsgranny Posted 23 Aug 2006 , 3:36am
post #10 of 14

Thanks Jess for the great tutorial!

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chaniliz Posted 23 Aug 2006 , 12:16pm
post #11 of 14

thank you Jess for sharing that info. your cake is lovely. I'm going to try it on this weekend. I print your instructions.

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CarolinaBelle Posted 28 Aug 2006 , 9:27pm
post #12 of 14

Thanks for posting the instructions. Beautiful cake.

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tabs8774 Posted 29 Aug 2006 , 12:57pm
post #13 of 14

perfect instructions!! thank you for the info!! it sounds so much easier than the way i have done it on my cakes so far!! thank you again!!

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cashley Posted 29 Aug 2006 , 1:04pm
post #14 of 14

Here is another tutorial on swags
http://www.mccalls-cakes.com/drapes.html

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