My Hubby's Holiday Party is coming up and I get nominated to make a cake. I'm thinking GREAT! Then he tells me it's a replica cake. I can not do replica work to save my life. I am a free hand decorator. If I can just run with it I am good, to make detail on top of detail that HAS to be a certain way... I can't do it. Suffering a massive anxiety attack here. I have a little reputation for Novelty cakes and my name will be associated with this one and I am MORTIFIED. I wish I was an Ostrich so I can bury my head in the sand. Just venting.... Pics will come later. I promise. SMH but I failed miserably....

I refuse to put myself through that kind of stress for a cake. I recently had a bride bring a picture of a cake she wanted done "only in hexagon". It was covered in fondant--I told her I didn't do much fondant work, and really didn't think I could pull off covering 3 hexagons with fondant and have them look respectable....thanked her for thinking of me, but no.

She talked it over with her groom and came back to me, agreed to use buttercream and off we went. The cake turned out great, everyone was happy and I didn't shave another 3 years off my life stressing over a cake.

Learn to speak up for yourself, say no when necessary and save yourself a world of stress...it simply isn't worth the pain.

If I understand correctly, the cake isn't done yet???? Without knowing what the cake has to have a replica of, is it possible to make several copies on your printer of what it is you have to replicate, then cut out the largest piece from the photo and use it as a pattern to cut it out of fondant. Then cut the next higher piece and do the same, and continue that way til you have all the pieces stacked. I'm not sure I'm saying this correctly, but we have done that with some of our cakes. And if the piece is too large for the width of the paper, I turn the paper sideways, hold it up to the computer screen and trace the picture. I did that for a stained glass window cake I'm doing for this Sunday. With two sheets of paper (overlapping) I was able to blow up the photo to perfectly fit my 11 x 15 pan.

I looked at your photo gallery, and I'm willing to bet money that you are being WAY too hard on yourself. Your work is fabulous, and I bet your cake is too. Can't wait to see the photo's... so I can say I told you so!

I am making a replica of a Chicago Transit Authority Bus 3D. It's standing, and the front and passenger loading areas are done. It looks so bad I just stopped. Too many factors went wrong. My scaling is off, WAY off, and I am using a new fondant that I have never used before. Lots of sagging and elephant skin and I absolutely destroyed this. Trust me... I will have a finished photo of it in about 9 hrs. I think Hubby thought I could do more, and I led myself to believe it and my skill set is so not there. Kansaslaura, you are so very right. I need to say no. And to be honest, I don't even want to decorate any more. i keep getting sucked into these projects because I am trying to make every one happy. But people just criticize anyway. We had a meeting tonight for the organization I made my 1st topsy turvy cake. It was a pot luck and I am known for killer cupcakes. The lady that organized it called and TOLD me what to bring to this pot luck. I was not allowed to bring desserts. Turns out she was jealous and was trying to upstage my presentation. Well, needless to say it didn't happen. And thats what I have... haters, nit pickers, and people expecting a miracle in cake. I think I am done caking after this bus crashes and burns.

I would have to say too, if your cake is really coming out as like you say (I don't doubt you, I just know I hate every cake I work on until a few days after it's done), then redo it in a way that works for you.

You do wonderful work, don't quit cakes, just do what you want to do, and when you want to do them. You are allowing yourself to be pushed out of doing cakes because you are good. It's a positive that people are jealous of your talent. And if someone wants any cake you don't feel confident you can do properly, then tell them how you can bring their idea to life in a way that works for you. If that isn't good enough for them, then let them go someplace else.. You have to be good to yourself first so you can enjoy doing your cakes, and continue to grow in your abilities. If they want a specific idea, like here, a bus, then do as carmijok says and redo the cake in 2 D with your embellishments on it. Don't commit to 3d, just let them know you understand they want their bus portrayed, and here is what I can do for you, period. If you can't do a 3D, you can't do it. And if they know that upfront, you lose tons of stress and they aren't expecting something unrealistic as well.

Good luck, wish we were all there to help you with this one.

I agree with everyone else. You are a talented decorater, and I don't think you should give up.

Toss out the design they want you to do, and do a design that you want to do, that is the same guidelines. If its not what they wanted tough noogies. I bet if you gave them a design that you did yourself, that will blow them away which i am positive you can do, they will forget about what they asked you to do.

It sounds like you are not getting paid. If your not getting paid do it your way.

Your cakes are very pretty! Dont quit baking!

Well, my disaster is up. Don't laugh it looks like a kid did it. I am so glad it's DONE and I can move on with my life.

I cnat believe you called that a disaster!! You ARE your biggest critic! It looks amazing I am very impressed! You should do more work like this bc despite how much anxiety it caused you did a fantastic job on it!

OMG, I need to come bat you upside the head. That cake is wonderful. You need to stop being so hard on yourself.

That is not a cake wreck at all. If you want cake wrecks look at half of my cakes.

Your bus turned out wonderfully! Don't be so hard on yourself!

Holy Crap! I'll take your cake wrecks anyday. OMG, that came out fantastic. I want to see the kid who could make that. If they don't go nuts over this cake, then nothing will do it for them.

Do me a favor, in a couple days, go back and look at the picture, as a whole and try not to see any "mistakes" you know you may have there and see if you can see the beautiful job you did on this cake. You blew me away with it. CONGRATULATIONS! Oh, and let hubby keep pushing you into this kind of accomplishment.

holy bus-a-moly!!! I have four words for you... I. Told. You. So! (see my previous post)

I have to say, this is one time when I believe the DH really does see the talents of his wife more than she does. I thought it was a myth, but I think we have an actual spotting here.

wow your bus is awesome.. I agree with others, you are WAY to hard on yourself. GREAT JOB!!!!

Cakes ARE stressful!!!! I feel your pain. Each mess up makes us to know what not to do the next time. Don't give up!!