Fishies, table-tennis bats, wood & tools, bowls, books and the crest of the NCC!

[Scorch]

Remember I was making stuff for my Dad's 70th birthday cake in November? Well, I'm done... finally, since August, done!!
I'm hoping that you can see these pics, even if you're not in Facebook - they said they were public links, so they should work....


The NCC (Norfolk County Council) crest, done in food-colouring on a fondant plaque. The plaque is just under 4" long and just over 2.5" tall - the size of the plastic storage tub I used to stamp it out with. It's made of a mix of mostly Mexican flowerpaste, with some plain sugarpaste. That sets like plastic - hard enough that you can sand it! I did, to square off the edges...
I'd appreciate it if the NCC could see their way clear to adopting a simpler logo in the future - the big lions were bad enough, but the little mini one was a right pain!
That edible gold & silver is a right pest to paint over with the blacklining. And it's gooed up one of my decent brushes - who knows what that's soluble in! Not water, isopropyl alcohol OR white spirit, so far...
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2774923&l=c3ba6bf8bd&id=679603224

Pressed-sugar bricks, with fondant icing trowel and Norfolk red pamment tiles. The pamments are a bit over1/2" across. The tiles and trowel are made of a mix of ordinary sugarpaste and half Mexican flowerpaste for strength.
I used a silicone dolls-house brick mould for the pressed-sugar bricks - works beautifully
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2774911&l=f645f179a1&id=679603224

Fondant icing woodworking tools and boards. The biggest board is maybe 2" long. They're made of a mix of ordinary sugarpaste and half Mexican flowerpaste for strength.
The wood-shavings were made by squaring the moulded boards up! Yes, I cut a mortice & tenon joint there, though it's a rather sloppy fit...
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2774910&l=1a8cc10f75&id=679603224

Fondant icing fishies! They're made of a mix of ordinary sugarpaste and half Mexican flowerpaste for strength.
Clockwise from top right - Carp, tench, perch and bream. Each one is about 3" long.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2774728&l=4d1fa6ebe8&id=679603224

Fondant icing football & football boots. The boots are about 2.5" long. They're made of a mix of ordinary sugarpaste, with some Mexican flowerpaste for strength.
Yes, I put studs in the bottoms...
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2774729&l=213315a907&id=679603224
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2774730&l=e6a0572fe4&id=679603224

Fondant icing table-tennis bats & ball - the bats are a bit over 2" tall. They're made of a mix of ordinary sugarpaste and half Mexican flowerpaste for strength.
Apparently bats are pretty much always black and red these days, so these ones are too. I couldn't think of a sensible way of making towelling-wrapped handles, so plain wood ones are going to have to do
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2774908&l=ec25f68b10&id=679603224

Fondant icing hammer and screwdriver set. The hammer is maybe 1.5" long. They're made of a mix of ordinary sugarpaste and half Mexican flowerpaste for strength.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2774909&l=c09228b0eb&id=679603224

Fondant icing bowls and a jack... about an inch across. They're made of a mix of ordinary sugarpaste and half Mexican flowerpaste for strength.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2774727&l=994e63047f&id=679603224 (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2774727&l=994e63047f&id=679603224)


Fondant icing books - the Atlas is a bit over an inch tall.
They're made of a mix of ordinary sugarpaste with a little bit of Mexican flowerpaste for strength.
Must remember to avoid things with writing on them! Doing the fronts was bad enough, but the spines were almost impossible...
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2774907&l=38af884d5c&id=679603224 (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2774907&l=38af884d5c&id=679603224)


Phew - all packed up safely in boxes, with a couple of boxes of runout lettering. Blue, Monotype Corsiva Bold, enough to spell out "Happy Birthday Dad" more than twice over, plus three "70"s... 'cos if I break them, there's no replacing them in time!

[Critchley]

It takes a lot to "Gobsmack" me but you have just succeeded. The detail - I can't think of a word good enough to describe it - and the patience you must have had. I am very often amazed at the quality of what crafters produce but those are truly fantastic. Your Dad is going to be soooo impressed.

[Scorch]

Aww, thanks! It's really just time, time, time, and then some more time! And sheer bloodyminded determination to get it right eventually... :)

I'm hoping Dad will like it - it won't be a pretty cake, but I'm hoping it'll reflect all the things he likes! Thing is, I don't believe anyone's ever thrown him a party, and this one will be a big one (100 people) and a complete (hopefully) surprise to him, and to Mum too. It's the hardest thing not to tell Mum all about what I've been making - she taught me to do all this when I was a kid...

[Fluffy Squirrel]

It takes a lot to "Gobsmack" me but you have just succeeded. The detail - I can't think of a word good enough to describe it - and the patience you must have had. I am very often amazed at the quality of what crafters produce but those are truly fantastic. Your Dad is going to be soooo impressed.

I completely second this!! I am totally lost for words... your works is beyond words Tracey and I'm sure when you present the assembled cake to your Dad it will be a very emotional time. I'd love to see it when it's all put together.

Well done on such a intricate and time consuming project!!

[alibear]

Impressive, very impressive. Well done!

[sherrielinda]

very well done & I think the fish are super impressive :mf:

[just sally]

it all looks so wonderfull, your dad is going to be so pleased, especially when he sees the work you have put into it.
the detail is fantastic, the veg looked so real. i loved the teddy bag too

sally

[Scorch]

Oh, thanks everyone! I appreciate all your kind words, really... :)

Now all I have to do is find a good cake recipe that'll make two 12" squares that'll stand up to layering and being made a couple of days before, and we'll be OK! I'd ask Mum for her standard "keeping-decorating-cake" recipe, but we're not telling her about the party...

[Scorch]

Actually - anyone here got a good plain-cake recipe?

[craftdancer]

I'm speechless! That is fabulous work you are so patient.

I love the fish, you've done a superb job with those, as with all the other bits and pieces.

I can't wait to see a picture of the assembled cake.

Linda

[cosmic grammie]

They're unbelievable! Amazing!

[woodtattoos]

The work that's gone into all that is astounding, you must have the patience of a saint! Can't wait to see a picture of the finished cake... well done, Tracey!

Si. :D

[Scorch]

Thank you, everyone! I really appreciate all your kind words, as this isn't something I do everyday... it's so nice to hear that other craftspeople like what I've done. Makes me think that they really DO look OK! :)

The Norfolk crest is SUPPOSED to look like this :
http://wpcontent.answers.com/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/Arms_of_Norfolk.svg/200px-Arms_of_Norfolk.svg.png
but the little lion and crowns were a bit of a challenge!

[Aviya Glass]

Makes me think that they really DO look OK! :)


My gob is smacked! :D:D
OK? They are soooo much more than ok they are awesome. I can't add anything more superfluous than already has been said. So realistic, a labour of love and I am sure your Dad is going to be extremely touched.
Please don't forget to post a piccie of the assembled cake :)

[nettie]

Amazing! Time, Patience and Talent! Well done!!

[Scorch]

You're all just SO kind! :) I'll definitely do my best to take a pic of the cake when it's done.

It'll be made of two (probably fairly shallow) 12" square sponge cakes (we have over 100 to feed!) covered in (probably light blue) sugarpaste. I'm plahning to cut a third off one of the cakes, and stack them up - the whole one, the 2/3 and the 1/3, so they make "steps". (It'll be fun, "cuddling" the sugarpaste around that!
The lettering will go on the top, with "Happy" "Birthday" and the "70" & "Dad", one on each step, diagonally left to right. The football, bowls and TT bits will go on top of the steps too, in the gaps left by the lettering. The rest will basically go on the board, with the crest centre front, the bricks built into a wall around the back corners, and everything else however it fits. I know that leaves the sides all bare, but I can't think of anything sensible to do about that.
I also made the head & paws of a mole that we can push into the cake, so he's tunnelling out near the veg... although he's horribly out of scale (far too big) so maybe he'll go at the back instead. Or not at all!
I'm thinking of fixing the fish onto the fronts of the two top steps, though. Maybe I'll add some lugs to the back of them, now they're dry, to push into the sugarpaste & help them stay up...

[Teresa T]

They're all amazing - well done. Would love to see the finished cake. Have you ever tried working with flower paste for modelling? It's what I tend to use , but you have to be careful for some stuff as it dries like china! Never used a mix before, will try that next time.

good luck with the assembly!!!

x

[fairycakes1972]

You must have the patience of a saint and very nimble fingers, all of the models are absolutely amazing!!!!!

If you still need a good stable sponge receipe, pm me, and I'll send you the one I use for my wedding cakes that has a good shelf life.

Can't wait to see the finished cake!!!

[Scorch]

Well, the party is this weekend, so I'm off to my sister's on Thursday, and will be assembling this on Friday.

Wish me luck! :)

[silvermaid]

Good Luck.
Though I'm sure you won't need it with such fabulous decorations.
Hope the cake mixture turned/turns out ok.

Melanie

[AliCat]

Your work is amazing - I can't wait to see the finished cake. Hope you have a fabulous party. (Happy Birthday to your Dad!) :)

[Scorch]

Aww, thanks everyone! :) Not long now... eeep!

[sherrielinda]

good luck with the cake & enjoy the party :mf:

[pepsi]

Fantastic work! you are a master of your craft.
Please post a pic of the finished cake. I think it will be awesome.
Dont forget to enjoy the party too. I would need a blindfold when its cut sob sob!! xxxx

[samigail]

They are absolutely amazing. Words can't describe how amazing.
Enjoy the party. I think I'd have to turn away while the cake was cut!

[Scorch]

Aww, thanks again!

Back from the party now - everything went really well! I'll post all about it as soon as I get the pics up - it was great...

[AliCat]

Glad it all went well (I was just wondering how your Dad liked his cake!)

Can't wait to see the piccies.... xx

[Scorch]

I posted photos! Taken by my beloved, and I'm hoping that Wendy's beloved has some more, also...