Craftsman Themed Birthday Cake

Sunday, May 16th, 2010.

Hi my webbies.... Hope everything is good with you and that you have some free time to read through my (our) journey through making this SuperFantastic project!

Ok so I was approached to make a cake for someone's 50th birthday... this was to be a surprise birthday party so we needed to do this on the hush hush... So I am one to never, ever just do a cake with a shell border and smack something on the top and call it a day... I MUST make each and every cake custom, personalized and made for that one person... so I go on to ask my usual questions when placing the order... I asked: "So, what does he like? Any Hobbies? Sports? Fishing? Video Games?", she answers: "Well there isn't really anything that I can think of.... he does like watching sports... you know, the Eagles and the Phillies..." I knew that by that answer... it wasn't that he was a super huge sports follower... so then when I think to myself... lemme just go with the sports theme... that would be fun to do for sure... I have been wanting to do a sports themed cake and this would be a great opportunity.... but before I say anything, she adds: "He DOES love to work with his hands, hand-making things".... and my light-bulb went ON.... I said to her... no need to say anything else... I can go from just that and it will be awesome, within seconds I had my cake in my head... it's incredible how quickly things just click... well I knew I will be doing tools for sure.... question is.... How? I have never done any tools!, but I knew I would figure it out...

So I go online to do some research... and look at some of my reference books... online I found 2-3 that looked okay... in my books.... I found only one... and although I liked the idea behind it... I wasn't too happy with the execution, it was just too cartoony looking... tools had a cartoon look to them and I always like to go with more realistic that not... But it was a good start for sure...

So I start doing my sketch... and of course I want to add so much to it.. but I know what I quoted, I know my budget and I can't continue to add more and more things because then I will be forced to either up the quote or give some freebies... well... I cannot do just the bare minimum.... I have to do what I have in my head or I won't feel like the cake is finished... well I decided to give some freebies hehehehe...

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Here is the finished cake... I must say that this has been one of our biggest crowd pleasers because the client requested a strawberry shortcake and this is what she thought she would be getting:

Boy was she is for a surprise... I mean she had that! bit inside a work of art hehehehe....


The cake drum (where the cake sits) it's made with fondant and I textured it to look like a dusty garage hardwood floor, I used powdered sugar to smooth it in place, but when I looked back it kinda look good cause it made it look like it was being used... so it's edible and looks amazing!

The note is also edible and it's written with edible markers, they couldn't believe that they could eat the note lol.


The nails where a bit of a challenge at first because I had never done them before but once I got the hang of it, doing both types was a breeze and it gives it a "Je No Se Qua" that just pops...


THe screwdriver was my first piece and when DH came home from work he thoguht I was joking when I said that it was made out of sugar... the truly thought it was real, same thing with the pencil...
I studied a lot of pictures to make each piece look as realistic as possible...





The ruler was a breeze, I have one just like that one (you know the ones with the corked backing...) and it was just like using a mold...


Here it's a shot of one of the corners...


Almost finished...


With the main detail on... small details to come..


The hammer was my personal favorite for sure...




The measuing tape was real and I placed it in a way that it would show his age in the middle of the cake drum... cute idea huh? :)


I love a blank canvas....


FLawlwss fondant... it's like a dream...


Cake board....


Hammer...

Well I hope you enjoyed this one as much as the clients and their friends and family did... I had a balst and can't wait for the next one so I can see how I can "kick it up a notch!"

C'ya
D.