3D
Pet Octopus
by Sara Kenny @Saraluminum · submitted Aug 16, 2010 · 2010 contest
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Description
I heard about this contest last year and it was literally the day after it ended. This year I was determined to enter a cake despite my already hectic "cake" schedule. I searched through the designs up and down and after much deliberation, a couple of coin tosses, and a game of rock, paper, scissors I played with my mirror (I won by the way) I chose "Pet Octopus". Honestly though, how could I not? Its super cute, but at the same time reminds me of a nightmare. The plan was to take the design and of course replicate it, but at the same time to make it "my own". I wanted it to look cute, but also bring that nightmarish view I have of it out, all at the same time
For the cake itself I chose to use one of my favorite things on earth, Guava. I got a can of Guava nectar and made a regular white cake, but the liquid was the nectar instead of water or milk. I ended up making a 7" circular cake (and a few extra cupcakes for sharing). After it was done baking I set out to make the characters. This is always my favorite part, because making a glob of fondant become something awesome always makes me feel euphoric. I set the characters aside to harden a little bit and took this time to fill the cake. For the cake's filling I chose a semi sweet chocolate ganache that was leftover from another cake I had to make. I had never mixed guava and chocolate together but I figured if I loved them both, they'd at least be alright together...or so I hoped. I coated the outside with a thin layer of marshmallow frosting and then covered it in rolled fondant. After I took a little break, I put a couple of black "swirls" (made of fondant also) on the cake as tentacles of an octopus. Then I set out to paint the cake. Since the design is primarily white with a light wash of green I decided to use a bright pink to make it a little more colorful. I also wanted to add another "3D" element to make it pop more, so I sculpted some more octopus tentacles and made them match the characters. When I was done with the molding, I made a light green "wash" out of water and gel food coloring, and shadowed the characters and the "3D" tentacles. I also "painted" the tiny little skull and cross-bone using a toothpick. Last but not least we had to cut the cake. Making it was already awesome enough, but you're telling me I get to eat the cake too!? That's got to be one of my favorite parts of this contest...and in-case you were wondering, guava+chocolate= AMAZING! I have to say that not only did I love making this cake, I loved how it turned out and I'm so happy I was able to submit an entry this year!
For the cake itself I chose to use one of my favorite things on earth, Guava. I got a can of Guava nectar and made a regular white cake, but the liquid was the nectar instead of water or milk. I ended up making a 7" circular cake (and a few extra cupcakes for sharing). After it was done baking I set out to make the characters. This is always my favorite part, because making a glob of fondant become something awesome always makes me feel euphoric. I set the characters aside to harden a little bit and took this time to fill the cake. For the cake's filling I chose a semi sweet chocolate ganache that was leftover from another cake I had to make. I had never mixed guava and chocolate together but I figured if I loved them both, they'd at least be alright together...or so I hoped. I coated the outside with a thin layer of marshmallow frosting and then covered it in rolled fondant. After I took a little break, I put a couple of black "swirls" (made of fondant also) on the cake as tentacles of an octopus. Then I set out to paint the cake. Since the design is primarily white with a light wash of green I decided to use a bright pink to make it a little more colorful. I also wanted to add another "3D" element to make it pop more, so I sculpted some more octopus tentacles and made them match the characters. When I was done with the molding, I made a light green "wash" out of water and gel food coloring, and shadowed the characters and the "3D" tentacles. I also "painted" the tiny little skull and cross-bone using a toothpick. Last but not least we had to cut the cake. Making it was already awesome enough, but you're telling me I get to eat the cake too!? That's got to be one of my favorite parts of this contest...and in-case you were wondering, guava+chocolate= AMAZING! I have to say that not only did I love making this cake, I loved how it turned out and I'm so happy I was able to submit an entry this year!