I just made a cake as a favor for someone i know (she did pay cost of supplies though). It came out cute, just like the design she had drawn up. However, she wanted a real deck of playing cards under the cake, sticking out around the cake board, as a decorative board/border. well, im assuming the buttercream from underneath (?) is seeping its oils or whatnot outward onto the cards. I dont know what to do to hide it, or maybe i should just leave it alone (????) I don't think she would be terribly upset, but not sure how much more its going to bleed outward. the design on the cake doesnt really allow for a bunch of round fondant balls, although i suppose i could make it work. i had a feelingthis might happen, but i really thought the cards would be ok because of the glossy feel to them. what was i thinking??! i have to have this cake ready by 3pm... so i have some time.. btu im also home alone with two kids today too!

That is tough
I would try to cover them, maybe sprinkle some Disco Dust (depending on the theme ofcourse) on the cards?

sorry im not much help but I hope you find your answer soon (this should bump the thread )
Good luck

I would try to make a "dam" of fondant balls around the cake as a border.

Do you have a board between the cake and the cards?

In the future I think I would have laid the cards down, and covered them with contact paper. Then put your cake with the same size cake board on top of that.

thanks everyone. i didnt have any disco dust... but i did end up makign a border out of balls around the cake. it still looks great. yes, i have a cake board under the cake, which is sitting on top of the board with the cards. im just guessing when i put icing in the center of the card cake board, it must have smushed outward to the cards.......
i like the contact paper idea =) that couldve really worked! i wouldve made the cards myself, but she didnt want met o spend the time doing that... although now that i think of it, that may have taken less time int eh long run!

I hope everything comes out good. We want to see pictures.