I am making a graduation cake for this evening. I was up until after midnight preping the cakes (filling and crumbcoat) and making the fondant accents when I noticed my bow flopped. It never dried.

I have to deliver the cake at 7pm tonight. I am at work right now..I am exhausted. I am leaving to go home at 11am to finish the cake. It is a three tier while cake layered with BC and a fondant cover. I am doing cutout circles on the cake I already have the fondant letters done and the stars cutout for 2008.

Now the problem, what should I do for a topper? Go buy a bow????? HELP. Any advice is appreciated.

Try making it with pure gum paste. They dry faster and harder than the fondant. Stuff with paper towels and let them dry before sticking them on the cake. If I were you, I would keep a ribbon bow handy just in case.

Good luck,

I never used gumpaste, is it easy to work with?

How long would it take to dry?

I'm not sure with your timeframe if it will dry in time, but working with gumpaste is almost the same as with fondant. Remember it dries faster so you can't leave it uncovered or unsealed. It hardens much faster than fondant and is much better to use for bows.

I would keep the towels in the bow until you need to take them out. I heard you can put it in front of an air vent, put in a food dehydrator or sit in front of the oven to help it dry faster. Good luck.

This cake is for my neighbors daughter. We are really good friends. I had free reign on the design.

Ok so I am scratching the bow. It is probably NOT a good time to work with gumpaste on my first try.

Would you do a ribbon bow from the store or would it look good with gerber daisies (fresh) on the top?

Thanks for all your input so far. I need more practice.

I would go with fresh flowers!! You can never go wrong with that!!

I think fresh flowers would work best at this point. The colors are a deep Raspberry, moss green and butter color. I am thinking bright deep pink daisies.

I am so stressed and feel defeated. I wanted to make the cake I had planned in my mind!

I would go with fresh flowers too. Don't worry about not having the way you wanted, it will turn out beautiful.

Good luck,

Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply. I am sitting here at work just counting the minutes until I can leave for the day.

One more question. I have crumbcoated and will make some BC when I go home and ice the cakes. Do you think I should put them in the refrig for awhile before I put the fondant on?

WHY am I so nervous? I guess cause everyone will expect the cake to be a masterpiece (that is what the grandmother said!!)

Don't be nervous. I bet it will be beautiful, and no one but you (and us!) know that your original design won't work. And I promise we won't tell! Some of my best cakes have come together when my original design wouldn't work for one reason or another. Call it serendipity.

Well here it is. They loved it. I was so happy after it was delivered and they couldn't stop talking about it all night.

I'd say that's a pretty impressive recovery. It's beautiful!

Oh, I love it! I think it turned out beautiful even if it wasn't exactly what you envisioned

I have to agree, that is a beautiful cake! Great Job

See your bows flopped for a reason. This one is a beautiful cake.