First I would like to say FINALLY! CC is working for me!!!...I haven't been able to access the site for WEEKS!!


On to the topic: I just got my first order for a LV cake...yay!...and I have some questions for the people who have already 'tackled' the purse cakes.

1)How did you make the handles stand up?
2)What did you use for the logo?
3)How did you carve the shape?
4)How long did it take you?
MOST IMPORTANTLY....5)How much did you charge?


Thanks everyone!!!!

It's a ton of purse cake pics in the galleries......anyone????

Well, I made my first LV diaper bag, I free hand carved the cake. I also made my handle lay down being that it was a diaper bag, I had a blanket coming out of bag. And I didn't make it days in advance I made it all the same day..weird I know. For the LV symbols I printed out a picture online of the symbols and free hand painted them with small paintbrush and gold luster dust & tequila(didn't have vodka). And I know I only charged her $80 but it really was a small cake just looks big in pic. Maybe it would feed 20. She loved it. Well that's what I did. I know that other people make their stencils and others have airbrushed Lv, some even made their own LV symbols out of foam. Didn't have time for all the hassle so I did it freehand. Took me around 3-4hrs to make it though. I hope this helps.

oh, your cakes are awesome! Is the cake you are talking about the coach cake in your pics?....

Hi There!

I made a stencil to make my LV logo and sponged it on using gold luster dust/vodka. It was my first try, so it did come out a little messier than I wanted, but still looked okay.

My handles were just resting on the side of the cake. They were made of gumpaste. I did have a toothpick supporting it at the bottom of each handle.

The cake took me a less than 4 hours to complete. Most of the gumpaste pieces had to be done as I went since they needed to conform to the body of the bag. The only thing I premade and let dry was the lock.

I used a regular 9x4 inch loaf pan and baked two separate cakes, torted and stacked them. It ended up being about 6 or so inches tall. I found that size pan represented best to me the shape of the LV Speedy bag. I had very little carving as the top of the baked cake came out with a rounded top. I just tried to make sure the bag was symmetrical.

Wish I had more time to put it on a nicer cake board. Always tell myself I need to get new ones

Good luck and post your pics when you're done!

Mirjana

I've done a couple of them.

http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1332842

For this one, I baked an 8" square choc cake. Then I cut it in half, so that I had two rectangles that were 8" x 4". Then I stacked them on top of each other.

Next, I carved the top to get the sloping effect.

Thin covering of buttercream over everything and then covered the whole thing in marzipan (I always use this as it helps keep everything and also gives a nice, smooth finish). I then covered with chocolate paste.

I printed out a sheet of the pattern at the size I wanted it, then embossed it all over the cake, and then painted with gold lustre dust mixed with a 50/50 mix of confectioner's glaze and clear alcohol.

The handles I made from pastillage and allow them to harden (takes a day) before royal icing them in place. This is by far the hardest part of the cake!!!

Good luck. Hope this helps.

Suzanne x

Meant to say, to get a bag this shape:

http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1271385

I still started with an 8" square cake, but the way to cut it is across the horizontal, but diagonally.

So have your knife angled from top left to bottom right.... and cut across.

Then you have two sort of triangular pieces which you then stand up and 'stick' back to back to each other with buttercream.

You just need to round off the corners to get the shape.

Suzanne x

I literally pinned the piece of paper to the top of the cake and then traced over the pattern with a scriber (or even a pencil or pen will do - just make sure not to tear the paper, LOL) so that it left an indentation. Then, when I took the paper off, I could see where I had to paint.

oh how cool!!! and easy enough for me! lol thanks so much.

You've gotten so many answers, but I'll add my 2 cents:
I always start with a cake somewhat in the shape that I need. If the cake is to be fairly large and round, I bake in a stainless steel bowl, if it is to be long and narrow, a long loaf pan, etc. Then I ice with BC between the layers, Then FREEZE, then trim and carve until I get the desired shape. I have used bamboo handles - found in the craft store. Or use fondant and have handles hanging down the sides. I ALWAYS charge $4.50 per serving for all 3D cakes. I paint on any details. Hope this helps.

Thanks bakingpw! How do you know how many servings are in each 3d cake though? do you just estimate?

I too have a question on the purse cake...how do you get the handle to stay up. I know most use gumpaste...but wouldn't the weight of the gumpaste just scream disaster? I am lost on the handle issue but don't want the handles to be down.