I Promised I Would Post This No Matter What...
Decorating By keepingitreal21 Updated 26 Jun 2013 , 1:09am by keepingitreal21
So my son's birthday was this month, he turned 15. It's not normally a big birthday for boys in my family however, I was feeling ambitious and in need of some caking. Cakes have been slow for me lately, not to mention I have a 12 week old daughter and I needed an outlet for some mommy time. I wanted to make something really nice. Something he could really enjoy and something that made him say "wow". He received great marks in Advanced Orchestra, so I figured, what the heck, I'm going to make him a viola. I set out on a internet search for how to's, ideas, inspiration and more. A few were awesome others were not the level I would attach my name to. Anyway, I promised myself, hubby and son that I would post the pictures to CC when I finished, no matter how I felt about the cake.
So after almost 2 weeks of planning and tinkering with how to make this or that and letting things dry, it's finished. I'm not over the moon about it, however, I'm happy with myself for sticking to my guns and making everything edible, down to the strings. It was a real challenge that's for sure. I learned a lot of what to do and what not to do. Prime example, I hate that I had so many oil and confectioner's glaze stains on the board. I wanted a matte background so I ditched the glossy protective paper. Ugh...the list goes on. TIA and TFL.
Any and all comments and compliments are welcomed. I'm open to constructive criticism. I know several things I would do differently, feel free to chime in.
AI think you did a great job. SO many little details to tend to!! I'm proud that you stuck with getting it done especially with an itty-bitty in the house. Congrats on the cake and the baby!!
AWow. Amazing.
Seriously. The detail. The color is perfect. So many delicate parts ..bridge, string,... Just wow.
That is one awesome cake!!! Sure looks good to me; you did a great job. 
I play the violin, and I can appreciate the amazing detail. That cake is awesome! A few times I have gone to Tap Plastic and had them cut cake boards for me out of food grade plastic (the same type that cutting boards are made of). A variety of thicknesses and colors, nice matte finish. They clean up so nicely, and are very strong and reusable. I know they are nontoxic, and can be used uncovered, or can still be covered with fondant, etc. You could also probable just buy a black cutting board for a rectangle shape premade. I am sure you are the only one that was bothered by the board. It is a really beautiful cake.
I think you did a great job. SO many little details to tend to!! I'm proud that you stuck with getting it done especially with an itty-bitty in the house. Congrats on the cake and the baby!!
Thank you so very much! I really wanted all the details to be as close to the real thing as possible. My son plays on a 16" viola, so I used a template for that size. As for the baby, she's a doll. We waited for her for almost a decade, so thanks a million for that.
Thank you so much!
I really appreciate it, thanks!
Yep, that's what I was going for...thanks!
Thank you!
Thank you!
Thank you very much!
Thanks so much!
Thank you very much!
I am totally amazed by this! I play violin, and you really paid attention to detail, right down to the fine tuners! What did you make the strings out of? What did you use to get the glossy, polished look? I really want the details!
Wow, that's awesome! My son thinks he's a pro, so I had to make sure it was up to his standards...lol. Thanks so much! The strings were unbreakable gel, piped out with a #3 tip. The gel shrinks so you have to pipe it out larger than you want it. I used a few drops of silver sheen airbrush color since the gel I have is clear. I used full strength confectioner's glaze for the glossy look on the body, chin rest and tailpiece and half strength for the fine tuners, fingerboard and tuning pegs. I used edible gold glaze for the accents on the tailpiece, the end button (pin) and the tuning pegs. I used edible silver glaze for the chin rest clasp, the bow accents, like on the frog, the adjustment screw and the tip. The "horsehair" on the bow was gumpaste cut out in a strip that I let hang over the edge of the table to form the angle up into the bow tip. The fine tuners were gumpaste rolled out thick and cut out with a #12 tip. I inserted spaghetti pieces and let them dry. Any thing else, just ask. I'll be happy to fill you in.
Thanks, the color took some doing, I rolled out a patch of gumpaste and fondant to test on first. Since the cake was fondant and the neck was gumpaste, I had to make sure the color would look about the same on both. Not to mention that when I didn't mix in enough brown with my alcohol, it just painted green...lol, yuck! The bridge was fun to make, my son says he wanted to keep it and see if he can really use it. I told him the real string tension would probably snap it. The neck gave me a run for my money. I tried every edible medium I could think of. I almost gave up on my 5th attempt. But I managed and kept it edible, however, Styrofoam started looking really good after attempt #3. LOL! I even manage to make the tuning pegs work. So the string was thread through the and tightened.
I play the violin, and I can appreciate the amazing detail. That cake is awesome! A few times I have gone to Tap Plastic and had them cut cake boards for me out of food grade plastic (the same type that cutting boards are made of). A variety of thicknesses and colors, nice matte finish. They clean up so nicely, and are very strong and reusable. I know they are nontoxic, and can be used uncovered, or can still be covered with fondant, etc. You could also probable just buy a black cutting board for a rectangle shape premade. I am sure you are the only one that was bothered by the board. It is a really beautiful cake.
Yeah we are our own worst critiques. Thanks for the compliment and the Tap Plastic idea. I will have to look that up for my area. Again thanks so much!
Wow, you did a fantastic job with this!!! It looks so real!!! I am sure your son loved it!!!! You are very talented!!!!
Thanks, he didn't want to cut it. He asked if we could freeze it and keep it forever...lol! I told him in that case, I wouldn't have made it with real cake.
Thank you! This is very overwhelming...but again we are own worst critics. I'm glad it turned out mostly how I wanted it.
You've said more than I thought I could achieve...thank you so very much!
Thank you so very much! I definitely love him despite his teenage attitude...lol! My dear daughter is truly a blessing that I never thought I would receive. I'm definitely enjoying her.
That is wonderful! And it reminds me I need to take my son's viola back to the music store. I wish he would play it, but we spent $20 a month for the past 9 months, and he has practiced at home 3 times....
Congratulations on the baby!
That is wonderful! And it reminds me I need to take my son's viola back to the music store. I wish he would play it, but we spent $20 a month for the past 9 months, and he has practiced at home 3 times....
Congratulations on the baby!
LOL! $20 a month, that adds up to a lot of cake decorating gadgets. Yeah we can't make them take interest in things they just aren't in to. I've tried that before. Thank you very much!
AWhat an outstanding cake. I dabble in cake decorating and would love to come up to your level.
Holy cake, that's a cake?! That is absolutely beautiful.
You should be so proud with your work. "We" are always are worse critics. I always feel the same way with my own work.
Love it! :)
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