i'm going to do a graduation cake. would like the top to be a cap. any suggestions on the best way to do the cap and tassel? thanks.

I would make the square top ahead to make sure everything is dry and I'd use an extruder to make the tassel.

Depending on how large the cap will be, use an upside down bowl of the size you need, grease it and mold gumpaste over it to make the cap, then cut a square piece for the board, use either the extruder (or the one that comes with playdough) to make the tassle, some who dont have an extruder just make a tassle shape and use a toothpick to draw lines to resemble a tassle.

For the cap, I baked a small cake in my smallest stainless steel mixing bowl...was perfect size, and the bottom was already flat so that I could put the gumpaste mortarboard on top without it trying to bend. For the tassle, I rolled out fondant/gumpaste mix and cut uniform strings with a pizza cutter and formed them all together...my extruder wasn't cooperating! lol.

for a small cap i use a 4" round pan. For the top i either cut a square of fondant and let dry or cut a square peice of cake board and cover in fondant. for the tasel i roll out a small piece of fondnat, cut lines in it (but not at the top edge) and then roll the piece up and pinch at the uncut end to secure shut.

I am actually trying a new idea for this today. I melted wilton candy melts, poured some into a small bowl (for the base of the cap) and then I drew a square on a waxed cake board and filled that in with the melted melts (to set on top of the "base") They are drying right now, not sure how they will turn out - I'll post as soon as I know. (I will make the tassles with my extruder, it works fine for me)

For the cap I baked two 8 inch rounds, stacked them like normal with buttercream in between then carved a little off of the edge of the top round to make it more dome or peak shaped but left the top flat. I then covered in BC and MMF. I used cardboard covered in MMF for mortar board because I wanted there to be no bending or sagging going on. For the tassel I used a clay extruder that I got from Hobby Lobby for $25.00. I made 2 single snake like pieces (with extruder) and wrapped them together and then used one of the other extruder pieces and made a lot of little snake pieces and folded that in half then looped the first rope piece through the top of the little snake pieces (where the fold was). I then extruded a flat gold piece to act as the little metal thing on the tassel. I hope that makes since. It was pretty simple really and it was my first try so I do not think that you will have a problem. HTH.

I wanted to try the candy melts for the board, but I was running out of time & didn't want to experiment with something new...let us know how it turns out! As for the extruder, I think the problem was the operator (me) lol.

For the cap I baked two 8 inch rounds, stacked them like normal with buttercream in between then carved a little off of the edge of the top round to make it more dome or peak shaped but left the top flat. I then covered in BC and MMF. I used cardboard covered in MMF for mortar board because I wanted there to be no bending or sagging going on. For the tassel I used a clay extruder that I got from Hobby Lobby for $25.00. I made 2 single snake like pieces (with extruder) and wrapped them together and then used one of the other extruder pieces and made a lot of little snake pieces and folded that in half then looped the first rope piece through the top of the little snake pieces (where the fold was). I then extruded a flat gold piece to act as the little metal thing on the tassel. I hope that makes since. It was pretty simple really and it was my first try so I do not think that you will have a problem. HTH.

Iused half of the Wilton Sports Ball pan for the hat part and then lined an 8 x 8" square pan with wax paper and poured candy melts in that to make the mortar board (which I covered with a very thin layer of fondant). Used two different inserts in my extruder to make the tassel: one for the ropey part on top of the mortar board, and another for the actual tassel part.

I used half of a styrofoam ball and cardboard square. It was my first one and came out pretty good.
Also for the tassels, I heard to push fondant through a garlic press!!!
Good luck, I just made mine the other day

I used a cupcake with a square cookie to make a grad cap I know its probably not the same idea you are looking for but another suggestion

OK - the cake with the candy melts graduation cap is done. I (as always) learn something each time I try a new technique! The candy melts worked fine for the cap - with a couple of improvements, I would be happier! 1.) I would try to figure out a way to make the flat part more level - I have some high/low spots - I "tapped" the board on the counter after spreading the melts, obviously that wasn't enough - any ideas??? After the top part was set, I heated a flat plate on my stove top to "dress" the edges of it up, that worked out fine. The part that was in the bowl (the base of the cap) did fine, it had a few tiny air bubbles in it, but nothing too bad. All in all, I am ok with it - I just know the next time it will be better. (I used some of the warm liquid melts to "glue" the 2 parts together.

The tassel is gumpaste - used my extruder for it, make sure the gumpaste is greased good with shortning, as is the barrel too. It worked out fine.

Here is the end result:

http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1374998&done=1

It looks great! I wasn't remembering this, but I think now that you say that, I do recall putting a square of wax paper OVER the candy melts also and smoothing them, before they set, to be more flat. And I used a knife to clean up the edges.

Again, I think yours came out looking great!

I made my graduation cap out of fondant/gumpaste mix. I dried the bottom part over a very small bowl. I did this several days in advance. I cut a square for the top and also let it dry. They came out perfect. I made a tassel using the makin clay extruder which worked really well. Very happy with the results.

When I made my graduation cap, I used a plastic cocktail size cup and molded fondant over that, came out perfect size with a flat bottom to put the square top on.

Hollysueann - I did the candy melts cap - my results are on the previous page!

i think it turned out great with the candy melts. i think i might try that for my grad cake in 2 weeks instead of the gp. i have never done anything with candy melts though, but hey, if it doesn't turn out i can always whip up a fondant square, lol. i'm doing a stack of books with a small cap on top so i'm using a cupcake for the cap. i would rather have decorations that taste good too.

The cap held up just fine overnight - no sagging or anything. Having it edible was one of the main reasons I wanted to try this. One more thing I forgot to add was that I put the bowl and the waxed board in the freezer to get them to release easier....worked great - they just popped right out and off! Let us know how yours turns out too!

Loucinda, your graduation cap and cake turned out great! I love it!