Mechanic owl King

After looking through all the possible options, I decided on "Mechanic-Owl King" because I love steampunk style and I thought the intricate details would make an interesting cake. I used a funfetti cake mix and doctored it up with ingredients like pudding mix and sour cream to make a more durable (and delicious) cake for sculpting. The cake was then layered and filled with almond flavored buttercream and sculpted to the shape of the owl's body. I placed straws in the cake to serve as support for the owl's head. Then I made the head from rice krispie treats and covered it in fondant. I made the leaf, the owl's ears, and the fondant mouse (and his top hat) in advance to give them time to harden. I covered the body in brown fondant and then began to work on the gears and other details that would be applied later. As I decorated, I used a paint brush and black food coloring mixed with water to add shadows and give the cake a more rustic look. The ears, leaf, and mouse were added last, using wire to attach them to the cake. When the cake was finished, I used edible copper-colored luster dust to add highlights. The entire process took about 6-1/2 hours over 3 days. I took the finished cake to a barbeque where we served it as dessert, and everyone loved it!