Happy New Year!

My final cake of 2012 was also my first cake on which I incorporated fondant elements and the first pic I'm sharing here!  Most of the stars and all of the curlicues are done in fondant.  I was inspired by this cake:  http://cakecentral.com/g/i/2237568/a/2238568/new-years-addition/sort/display_order/.   Aw, who am I kidding?  I totally tried to copy it almost exactly.  I just don't have the fondant skills to do all the bedazzling the original cake had on it.  I actually had sketched out an idea I had and then went online searching for more ideas.  I found this design and it was almost identical to what I had sketched out.  I was a bit disappointed at first, thinking I had no originality, but then realized, neither did the designer of the cake if I thought of it, too!  :)

Mine isn't nearly as nice, but I'm proud of it considering it's my first try.  I was surprised that I enjoyed futzing with the fondant since I have always been opposed to it.  Of course, I had to use pre-made fondant as I was not about to try making my own yet.  I used the DUFF brand and I was surprised at how tasty it turned out to be.  If you enjoy baking the giant cupcake but haven't figured out a great way to transport it, prepare to have me blow your mind!  Use a 10 inch board as your base.  Purchase a hat box and turn it upside down.  Put the cake in what was formerly the lid, but is now the bottom of the hat box.  Use the large cylinder part of the box to cover the cake if you haven't been a doofus like me, and went and stuck all sorts of stars in the top of your cake.  A basic frosted giant cupcake fits fabulously in an upside down hatbox, and then you can stick your frou-frou stuff in the top when you get to your destination. 

 Happy New Year, everyone!