I'm new to all of this, and as I have mention in other posts, I'm learning from practice and reading on the internet. So far I made a practice cake, a cake for my mom, and now a cake for my wife. It's really fun.
I wanted to share the third cake with you all. It's Jack Skellington and I made it for my wifes birthday tomorrow. the base is 2 layer 12 x 14 chocolate that was originally going to be a tombstone, but I never cut due to how much cake would be wasted. His body is 4 layer 4 x 8. His neck is actually a Scott towel roll wrapped in Saran Wrap, buttercream and then fondant. For a head I used the Wilton ball pans. Base is buttercream, everything else is fondant with icing details. I custom made the stand to support his body. The tie is gumpaste tinted black.
So if you have any ideas or comments for me I would love to hear what the professionals think! I could use some good tips so that the next Jack is 10x better! Thank you all!
Shannon
thats really wish i could do something like that.....
I love that movie!!! I think that he looks awesome! You did a great job!
I just love Newbies who think outside the box!
Great job on Jack.
Now, as you construct these characters, you may consider getting the digital camera out and taking step-by-step photos, that can be posted as a tutorial on the site.
Welcome to the forum!
Theresa 
Very Nice you have talent my daughter loves Sally!!!!!!!!!
tmriga:
On my first 2 cakes I have been pretty good about taking digital pics with my progress, but my wife takes them for me. Since this was a surprise I was all alone and too sticky to pic up the camera. I think I may make another to enter in our county fair next month or for Halloween. When I do I'll take more detail and see about that tutorial! 
cakes47:
About the ball on the tube.... you can't see everything underneath ( I guess that is the point haha!) I put down a piece of plywood for a base and covered it in heavy black paper. I bought a 7/16 in dowel rod and drilled a slightly smaller hole in the plywood. I put the sheet cakes down and then hammered the dowel firmly in. The body was made with a cardboard base and was supported in the sheet cake by 4 dowels. The Scott towel roll was big enough to slide over. Next I cut a smaller piece of plywood about 3 in x 3 in and drilled a hole in it. It was tight but I worked it down about 3 inches on the dowel. When the head was buttercreamed, I added rolled fondant chunks to make eyebrows and a nose, set it on the top dowel, put the fondant on, and finally painted the face. So the head is actually resting on a rounded 3 in plywood piece.
Overall I think 7/16 was fairly sturdy, but it wouldn't hurt to go a little thicker or make a nice slim and sturdy metal version, especially knowing I will probably make another of these.
Thank you all for the compliments, I would be more than happy to answer more questions if anyone is trying to make something similar.
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