I Need Some Feedback On A Very Special Cake...please
Decorating By jenny1shoe Updated 10 Aug 2007 , 3:24am by LadyBugMom
Ok, so my father in law passed away 6 months ago from pancreatic cancer. His birthday is on Saturday and we are having a pretty big get together. My idea is to make a sheet cake with a purple ribbon (the color for pancreatic cancer) on it. I did get an edible imagae of a great pic of him.
So those are my very basic ideas...run with it ladies and gentlemen and give me suggestions....maybe his photo inside the ribbon? Ribbon of Fondant or gel?
Do I write anything on the cake and if yes, what???
I realize this is a little out of the ordinary...that is why I need your hel 
I am not a cake decorator, only do my kids' cakes but this thread caught my eye. I was thinking maybe the photo in the center of the cake, a purple ribbon in each corner? Just thinking here....you could write something like "we love you" or "we miss you" or maybe a favorite saying he had - or just his name and birth and death dates? I'm not really sure of your audience here - would depend on who's going to be there and their feelings I think.
I'm sure it will turn out wonderfully.
Lara
This is a very thoughtful thing you are doing. I like the idea of the purple heart. I'm not sure about the photo only because it may be hard on the family to see him cut in a cake.( But I don't know your family) I do like the idea of the saying. Something he said alot or even a poem of quote, that remindes you of him. With a dedication to him, and the dates.
Just my thoughts
cCc
You could do the image right on the cake or maybe on a plaque of gum paste or white chocolate.... and then kind of set it easle style on the cake with perhaps the ribbon on a lower edge of it... then maybe some icing flowers... maybe something you know he enjoyed flower wise... guys like flowers too... or like suggested above some sort of saying or something.... since it is his b-day.... maybe just Happy Birthday! Obviously, a celebration of his life... right... Just my thoughts...
Hope you and your family have a good time remembering the good things...
Stacey
I think the purple ribbon sounds nice and the picture would probally make it a beautiful tribute! I like what Lcarey suggested with the ribbon in the corner and picture in the centre. Sounds like this will be a pretty emotional cake to do. My heart goes out to you. I hope it turns out very special for you and your family.
Thanks everybody great feedback
What do you think of the photo in the middle of the purple ribbon...and the words
An angel no longer among us but above us?
Why put the purple ribbon? I think it might conjure up negative memories rather than positive. My family celebrates death by the great memories we have. Maybe write a couple of words that the family will understand that will remind them of a funny story to share?
What a fantastic idea with the photo and his picture inside the purple ribbon.
Okay here is my 2 cents on writing on a cake for any occasion, especially the innocuous "Happy Birthday"....who thought of this and why has it become a tradition? Isn't a yummy and beautifully decorated cake enough for events? Leave the writing to Hallmark.
Now for your particular cake, everyone knows why you are having this event. Your cake will be a huge gift in honor of him. Let your wounderful design speak for itself. If you are worried about filling space, make the ribbon to fill the length of the long end.
HTH
I've seen the Wilton pan shaped like a ribbon, you could just bake that cake and ice it in purple? Then maybe use the edible image for a plaque that looks like it has been framed. Also, you could write your message around the ribbon, although I agree that no words are necessary for this occasion. Hope this helps!
HMMMM...so many good thoughts!
Ok so if I were to change the idea....I had a nickname for my father in law, it was McGyver. I used to always joke he could fix anything even if all he had was a tampon string, a toothpick and a match. LOL
Any ideas with that???
I guess I got to thinking what I want to do is celebrate his life...and maybe not harp on the death so much.
Thanks soooo much
HMMMM...so many good thoughts!
Ok so if I were to change the idea....I had a nickname for my father in law, it was McGyver. I used to always joke he could fix anything even if all he had was a tampon string, a toothpick and a match. LOL
Any ideas with that???
I guess I got to thinking what I want to do is celebrate his life...and maybe not harp on the death so much.
Thanks soooo much
First off let me say how sorry I am for your and your family's loss.
Then on to the subject at hand: I really like where you are going with this possible change of direction. As someone who's lost a father, although I would surely be appreciative of any cake celebrating him at a memorial event, it would hold so much more meaning if the cake actually celebrated something about him rather than just listing his death date etc. I love the McGyver idea! (Well without the tampon part LOL!!!!) Maybe look up some father's day or tool cake ideas to get some inspiration in that direction. I kind of agree with courtneyscc about the pic...I'd only do a pic if you used the edible image on a removable plaque. I wouldn't want to cut into my dad's face. Are there any McGyver tribute pages on the internet where you could cull some ideas or phrases? Oh also just to make sure, was that a known nickname/trait to everyone? Otherwise it might be too much of an "inside joke".
Anyway the point is I love the idea of celebrating his special traits, and I am sure the whole family would be touched.
I am sorry for your loss. My Dad died of cancer and we always remember him with his favorite things. For example, he loved coffee, chocolates, and money LOL. We always decorate using his favorite things and it helps to make us feel like he is close by. Personally, I would not dare let anyone cut a cake with his picture on it but that is just me. Good luck on your cake and I feel sure it will turn out great.
Thanks everyone for the kind words and great ideas.
I guess I should just say...the tampon string gave you a peak at my sense of humor (ha ha).
Anyway, I will sleep on it and I am sure that if I lay back and revel in my memories of my father in law who I love DEARLY...a great idea will come. Espescially with all your great ideas.
BTW...I am soooo hooked on CC it is not even funny!
Here is a very strange and roundabout idea. I thought of it because you mentioned MacGuyver. Was he a fan of the Simpsons? Marge's twin sisters Patty & Selma are MacGuyver's biggest fans. Maybe you can do something with them being as you were his biggest fans. It's a bit quirky and obscure but has a lighter side to things. Plus they have purple hair so maybe you can add a purple ribbon in there too.
I liked the wilton pan ribbon idea too. Good Luck.
Well, you could always just omit the tampon string, *snicker* and make up some obscure things out of fondant like.. a band-aid, a rubber band, a paper clip, etc. You get the idea. Put all those things on one side of the cake, then put what he supposedly "made" or "fixed" on the other side. (maybe there's a family joke about something he fixed, or tried to fix, at some point)
I'm not quite sure what saying you'd have.. maybe a Macgyver quote like "If I had some duct tape, I could fix that."
I do like the idea of the removable plaque too. You could work it into the theme somehow. Do you have one of him fixing something, maybe?
Anyway, just an idea. I'm sure anything you come up with will be great!
Good luck, and I'm very sorry for your loss,
Holly
Whatever you decide I encourage it to reflect his life, not what took him from you. Celebrate, laugh and share precious moments.
I know if it were me being remembered I'd want the laughter and joy.
I am also someone who has lost a father. Personally I would focuc on the happy life stuf and not the ribbon. If you did a ribbon I would do a simple small Purple bow in the right corner very small. I love the McGyver Idea and being a fixit man I would add something like make fondant look like duct tape, that would be fun with the saying. In tribute I would have a picture or plaque to the side of the cake not on it. I couldn't imagine cutting into a picture of my father.
I'd love to see this cake when you've decided and made it, it sounds like it could be cute.
ladybug
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