My Daughter's Baby Shower Cake

via @frametastic
http://frametastic.com







Ok.... Where do I start describing the most horrendous cake decorating experience.... EVER!! I actually balled my eyes out last night. Pushed the cake away & said... leave it till morning, fresh eyes, clear head. I have had a migraine from this past Sunday until yesterday. But no worries I said, gumpaste elements, fondant all made ahead. Well we had a huge jump in temperature.... almost 80 degrees yesterday.. This is suppose to be Fall.. Cool weather, easier to decorate, right??? Well both my fondants, homemade, which have never failed me, were soft almost gummy. Not sure if this was temperature related, as they were fine when made. Cakes were taken out of freezer, I torted, and just couldn't seem to get the top even, even with addition of cake spackle. Bottom cake fell apart when torting. Fixed up with more cake spackle. So I cover chocolate cake with fondant, having to re-roll the chocolate fondant 3 TIMES!! I get it on and doesn't look too bad. Ice the bottom cake, a bit sloped on the sides...but do my best. Leave for a couple hours to set. Come back.....Chocolate fondant has sagged, creates a crevice in the middle..... Hence all the "fondant buttons" that weren't part of the plan. Icing had sagged... Hence again plan "B"... shabby chic icing. I had already attached my billow weave, so I had to take a big breath & plunk my cake on the iced bottom layer. I was stressed & exhausted by now. This is when I had the melt down & said, time to go to bed. Normally I crumb coat cakes, decorate next day.... Too much to do, so didn't have the luxury. So this AM, lustre dust buttons, billow weave etc. Put on my topper... sat way too high. Gee, like I expected smooth sailing?? Squirted in some Royal icing, pushed in some fondant, let set. Attach ruffle. Almost done. Whew... attach the Owl... his bow tie AND his ears breaks off!!! Stick tie back on..... make button ears to match theme. Realize....crap this cake is heavy.... should have used a sturdier board. So large wooden circle underneath with wrapping paper to be used for Sam's gift. Thank goodness had both on hand. Oh, and you can't tell from the picture, but cake is leaning towards the back.... even with all the dowels in place.
I am sure I have missed some calamities.... But just too darn tired at this point. I am brain dead...... Off to pick up food ordered for the shower..... Thanks for reading my "Tale of Woe". :o(