Ahttp://www.wilton.com/blog/index.php/how-to-make-an-ombre-ruffle-cake-using-fondant/ This is the tutorial I found, but instead of the petals facing up and drooping over I was just going to layer them down. I did a few practice petals on my cake dummy (below) just to see how it would look. I like the look, but now I'm wondering if they would stay on an IBMC covered cake or if I would have to cover it in fondant first. [IMG ALT=""]http://cakecentral.com/content/type/61/id/3164510/width/350/height/700[/IMG]

I have no difficulty attaching fondant &/or gumpaste leaves to buttercream.

AThank you. I'll try and hope for the best. :) My husband's friend contacted me yesterday for a cake on Saturday. He just got married and wanted something nice for a birthday cake, but didn't give me much direction other than 'nice'. I really hope she likes this.

coupla things--i know this is your test cake but since you are trying to learn this--

ruffling is done by rubbing the entire edge of the petal with the ball tool--not just making indents in it--fondant stretches so it will hold and give the look you want--so you can thin the entire edge then go back and rub it back & forth once or twice for a fuller ruffle--you only want to ruffle one edge--

i'm sure there are you tube videos of how to do this--look up "how to make gumpaste roses"  to see the correct procedure on ruffling

i mean when i make a rose petal i rub the whole thing with the ball tool to cup it then i thin and ruffle the edge--

anyhow--you're right you will need a little more finesse to get them to cooperate on the side of a cake iced in meringue icing--it's a lot easier to smash them into a dummy cake--you'll want to roll your fondant much thinner than you have it there to reduce the weight so it holds onto your icing--

also--when you get started on the ruffles an idea for you is to plan on making a dozen or two that you will not use--anytime we start out making multiples like this the first ones will not resemble the last ones--you gotta get in the sweet spot and when they start looking alike--you're there--just recycle the first ones--it's a rhythm thing

you got this--just a little more research

AThanks for the advice! I'll definitely watch a tutorial or two. This is my first time trying so it's nice to have the help. :)

AI did what you suggested and it looks a 100 times better now. I'm sure they'll even be better the more I practice. :grin: