I love the look of embroidery and had been wanting to try and get that effect on a cake topper for a while. I knew that I wanted to use jimmy sprinkles for the "thread" and possibly have it on a royal icing disk but I couldn't decide on a pattern. I doodled a few designs and then got sidetracked by other recipes and projects and forgot about it all together.
It wasn't until I came across the Polka and Bloom blog that I was remembered the cake idea. She has great designs that are so pretty, modern, and colourful. I wrote to her asking if I could use one of her patterns for a cake topper and she was nice enough to agree (which is good because my own attempts at embroidery patterns for the cake were pretty sad).
I had to go out and buy jimmy sprinkles but I could only find the colours that I wanted in mixed jars. Sorting them was tedious. Normally I don't mind sorting, cutting, and other repetitive tasks that I can do while watching TV... but the sprinkles were hard to pick up and my tweezers had decided to hide themselves never to be seen again. Next time I see single colour jars of jimmies I am buying one of each.
Laying out the actual design was much more fun and I am really happy with how it looked in the end. I plan on trying out another design and taking some step by step photos in case anyone else wants to try making a similar cake.
The cake itself is pink lady cake made with pureed raspberries instead of strawberries and lemon swiss meringue buttercream. The cake was delicious but the icing was not really what I wanted. Cream cheese icing or a sharper buttercream would have been better.
On a completely unrelated but equally sweet note: We have solved our cat-hair-on-the-furniture issue. Wellington sheds like nobodies business and he would literally coat the furniture with fur. Daily vacuuming required.
Not anymore. We gave him a shoebox that he seemed interested in and now he doesn't sleep anywhere else. He has a serious love affair with this slightly too small orange shoe box. We can just pick it up and carry it around and he's happy to sleep wherever it is.
Aww. Cats and cakes (and sunshine..finally) are always a good weekend combo.
Beautiful cake!
That chair looks like one of ours! Is that the original upholstery? Ours came with orange fabric in a similar texture, but has since been recovered when the cushions fell apart from 30 years of use.
Posted by: Buggie | 05/01/2011 at 03:24 PM
Buggie: Thanks! The chair is vintage with the original upholstery. I wanted to get it recovered but the fabric is still in great condition so I think we'll be keeping it as-is for a while.
Posted by: Stephanie | 05/01/2011 at 03:47 PM
Wow! What a creative idea...it looks beautiful!
Posted by: Dianasaurous | 05/01/2011 at 04:13 PM
The cake looks amazing! I just love that idea!
And I also love the shoebox/catbed idea... I may have to run with it. Problem is, I have 5 cats. If I put shoeboxes all over the house, I may not have any where to sit.....
Posted by: Blissful Babe | 05/01/2011 at 04:27 PM
The cake turned out so well! It never would have occurred to me to use sprinkles. Wellington is so adorable!!! I can't even tell you how badly I want a cat. Did you see the finished illustration of Wellington on my blog?
Posted by: studiomme | 05/01/2011 at 05:01 PM
Studiomme: I saw the drawing! I love it and I picked up a copy of your book at your store. :)
Posted by: Stephanie | 05/01/2011 at 06:33 PM
What a pretty spring cake! You always come up with the most amazing ideas!
Posted by: Michelle M. | 05/01/2011 at 07:09 PM
Incredible work! I've never seen anything like it. It really looks like embroidery.
I use the same trick at our house. I have a basket that is the exact shape/size as a shoe box and it keeps the duvet cover fur-free. well, sort of :) What is it about kitties needing to be squished from all sides? Funny beasts.
Posted by: rigel | 05/01/2011 at 07:20 PM
I haven't tried the shoebox approach with our kitty. However, she does have a love of reusable shopping bags. She would choose laying in one of those bags over sitting on the couch any day.
Posted by: Sara B | 05/01/2011 at 08:56 PM
The cake is amazing. So pretty! what an incredibly creative idea. Love the catinthebox as well.
Posted by: Lora | 05/01/2011 at 09:54 PM
Fantastic idea, although I would imagine it took quite sometime. I am surprised that more cake places don't do this on cakes for purchase.
Posted by: Hannah | 05/02/2011 at 06:13 AM
That made my mouth water like craaazy. Beautiful topper too, I can relate to that one. Could 'embroider' words on there really nicely too I bet.
Posted by: DK | 05/02/2011 at 08:14 AM
Cake is pretty but I want the kitty please?
Posted by: Sarah | 05/02/2011 at 09:01 AM
That is a beautiful cake, I can see a lot of work went into it!
You cat is cute, to, it is amazing the places they get themselves into just to curl up and sleep!
Posted by: Natasha | 05/02/2011 at 09:41 AM
The cake is adorable but the CAT!!! How freaking cute is he??? With a little stuffy no less - omg! They are so funny : )
Posted by: Patty | 05/02/2011 at 02:25 PM
Well, I can honestly say that none of my patterns have ever looked this delicious before! Thank you!
Posted by: Carina | 05/03/2011 at 01:50 AM
*Love* this decoration idea; in fact it's so embroidery-like, at first I wasn't sure if you made a cake look like a quilt, or a quilt look like a cake. :) Do you use the swiss meringue buttercream a lot? I'm looking to start playing with it, but it seems like a pretty intense process.
Posted by: Mary at n00bcakes | 05/03/2011 at 04:59 AM
This is absolutely beautiful! I love swiss meringue buttercream, but I agree that the pink lady cake needs cream cheese frosting!
Posted by: Dana | 05/04/2011 at 05:56 AM
Hi! I sound judgmental and I don't mean to be: but we found that feeding our cat a very high quality cat food from the pet store really helped to stop the shedding. ??? But I have to admit - the shoe box is ADORABLE!
Posted by: pamela | 05/04/2011 at 06:43 AM
You're amazing, I cannot imagine having the skills (and patience) that would produce such a beautiful cake! Was it hard to eat such art? Smart to give your cat a home to call one's own; I wonder if that would work for my 80 pound lab?! ;)
Posted by: Lisa | 05/04/2011 at 11:19 AM
Kitties, cakies and Carina one of my fave stitchers...it doesnt get any better, marvellous blog! :)
Posted by: mimi | 05/04/2011 at 01:58 PM
I am so in love with your stunning sweets! The sprinkle embroidery is simply brilliant. What are you going to do next?
-Erin
Posted by: yummy supper | 05/08/2011 at 12:07 AM
Wow, such a great idea for my sprinkle stash...
I would like to create a similar cake but do you think this idea would work with fondant, would it be more forgiving to incorrect sprinkle placement?
I have recently discovered a solution to kitty fur on upholstery. I bought a wicker laundry basket from a craft store and lined it with a towel. 90% of my kitty's time is now spent napping in his basket, which makes me happy since a towel can be thrown in the wash and my sofa cannot.
Posted by: Jennifer | 05/08/2011 at 09:02 PM
Hello, the cake looks amazing, congratulations. its very original. We have posted your link in our facebook page ( http://www.facebook.com/dmcspain).
Posted by: DMC Spain | 05/10/2011 at 03:24 AM
This cake is just gorgeous! So very creative and wonderful. I'm wishing I had the patience to decorate a cake like this. Maybe some day! Did you look at a counted cross stitch pattern or did you make it up in your head as you went along?
Posted by: Jane M | 05/11/2011 at 05:31 AM
That's super cute. Reminds me of a dress I just bought in Mexico!
Posted by: Darina | 05/11/2011 at 12:03 PM
omigoodness you make the CUTEST cakes! i'm so excited that you have a fondant recipe that actually tastes good! :D
Posted by: Halle | 05/11/2011 at 04:44 PM
I love this!! I'll be doing a post on it tomorrow. I hope it's okay if I use a couple of your pics. I'll be linking back to your site. Please let me know if this is not okay. I would have emailed you, but I couldn't find an email address on your site. :-)
Posted by: erin | 05/14/2011 at 06:12 PM
Erin: Thank you! You are welcome to use a few pics with you link back :)
Posted by: Stephanie | 05/14/2011 at 09:27 PM
HI :) I popped over from Erin's blog to check out this cake. You sure have patience! The idea is awesome and it looks fabulous.
Posted by: shaz | 05/16/2011 at 05:54 AM
Wow - this cake is absolutely stunning. So retro yet chic.
Posted by: SkinnyLovesFood | 05/17/2011 at 11:43 AM
Ugh. I love this so much.
Can't wait to see your next one! Will you do another Polka & Bloom pattern?
Also, Wellington kills me.
LB
Posted by: Church of DIY | 05/22/2011 at 05:49 PM
I love how your little kitty is hugging a little frog? It looks like a frog.
Posted by: Amanda | 05/23/2011 at 09:45 AM
Amanda: Its some sort of green mouse thing with a really long tail. He is obsessed with his possessions. I've never had a cat before who was so concerned about his toys and scratching post
Posted by: Stephanie | 05/24/2011 at 03:57 PM
Church of DIY: If I make another one (which I want to!) I'll definitely use Polka and Bloom again. Her stuff is beautiful
Posted by: Stephanie | 05/24/2011 at 03:58 PM
This is the cutest most wonderful cake I have ever seen!!! I love it! Great job! Cassie
Posted by: Cassie | 05/31/2011 at 09:21 AM
I saw this on Pinterest and just had to see more!! The cake looks delicious...After sorting out the colors, how long did it take to actually create the design?
Posted by: Christina | 06/14/2011 at 09:50 AM
I totally love this idea and am going to try it out! I am going to find one of the pieces that my grandmother has embroidered and follow that pattern. Thanks for the idea and beautiful cake! <3
Posted by: Julia | 06/19/2011 at 12:32 PM
Amazing idea!
you are truly talanted
great job!
Posted by: Sawsan@chef in disguise | 06/21/2011 at 12:26 PM
Such an amazingly creative idea! The cake looks sooooo great! I LOVE it!
And Wellington is too cute!
Cats and cake are definitely a perfect combination for the weekend!
Posted by: Frau Haselmayer | 06/24/2011 at 06:51 PM
This is darling! I pinned it!http://runwithglitter.blogspot.com/
Posted by: kelly | 07/23/2011 at 07:01 AM
Beautiful, beautiful cake! What a creative idea! I knew it was one of Carina's designs as soon as I saw the picture!
Posted by: Annika | 07/23/2011 at 08:16 AM
AMAZING cake! I will have to try this for sure! Love you cat in the box too, mine does the same thing!
Posted by: Connie | 07/23/2011 at 02:42 PM
I might suggest making your own jimmies next time you need specific colors. Using royal icing, pipe lines of royal icing onto waxed or parchment paper in the colors you need. Let dry completely and then using a very sharp knife cut them in the length(s) you need.
Posted by: Oklahoma Granny | 07/23/2011 at 04:19 PM
The decoration on this cake is simply amazing, especially for those of us who love stitching and embroidery. I would love it if you would share it with my readers at Joy of Desserts. I have linky parties on Mondays and Thursdays, if you would like to add it. Thanks.
I empathize with the pet hair issue. You have found a fabulous solution.
http://joyofdesserts.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Joy @ Joy of Desserts | 07/25/2011 at 04:11 PM
this is FANTASTIC!
Posted by: ...love Maegan | 09/25/2011 at 10:09 PM
so cute -- the cake and the cat!
Posted by: fernfiddlehead | 10/02/2011 at 07:51 AM
Your cake is really pretty! I applaud you on your determination, and the sorting of your sprinkles; it really paid off because it looks awesome.
I also like the picture of your cat and the problem with his shedding...I have the same issue, and my cat loves boxes, so I'm definitely going to try it.
Posted by: Patty | 10/03/2011 at 04:01 PM
Your cat is adorable...and that is why we call it "fur"niture!
Posted by: William H. Stoneman | 10/12/2011 at 07:51 AM
Wow, gorgeous decorating :) it looks fantastic, I wouldn't want to ruin the prettiness by cutting into it lol
Aww and kitty!
Posted by: sheryl | 11/02/2011 at 06:12 PM