Finishing it up!

I told you I probably wouldn't get the last update on here until today.  Busy weekend.  So let's get right to it.

Since I already posted about mixing and baking the first batch of cakes I'm going to skip rehashing that here.  Instead we're going straight to icing.

I know you're going to be disappointed in me for using a mix for the icing, since I made everything else from scratch.  But it was more cost efficient.  I found a great recipe for buttercream, but I didn't already have all the ingredients on hand, so it would have added a lot more cost than just buying the mix.

We have to add 6 Tbsp. of softened butter.

And I forget how much milk.  I think maybe 3 Tbsp. 

The above is what is looks like all mixed up.  I had to add a little more milk than it called for because it was too dry and thick.

Before I iced, I wrapped the cake board with foil.

First layer get a quick coat.  Then...

Second layer goes on.

I didn't take a picture of the completely iced bottom tier before I put the fondant on.  But the above is the fondant-covered bottom tier.  Looks pretty good!

Next, I colored the left over white fondant red for the ribbon.  Looks kind of like a bleeding heart, huh?  Ewww.

And my hand, colored red.  Hey, they match my shirt!

Next I rolled out the black fondant and cut squares for the chess board on the bottom tier. 

Cut squares.  I cut many more than that!

Adding the squares to the cake.  I just used a little bit of water and a brush to adhere the squares.

Icing the top tier.  I couldn't get the icing as dark as I wanted it.  I had added so much coloring already, I was afraid if I added too much more it would make the icing taste bad.  I got a deep midnight blue color, and it looked great anyway.

Completely iced, but not quite smooth yet!

Starting to assemble the whole thing.  The red ribbon I made from the fondant I just colored.  I just sort of draped the ribbon around.  I hadn't intended on making it uniform or anything.

Writing on the top, and adding the flower.  Notice my cheat sheet to the right of the cake!  I found the twilight font style (Zephyr, by the way).

One chess piece on, but where's the red one?

There it is!  Still in the mold.  The red one gave me fits.  It kept breaking in the middle.  I swear that was the hardest part of the whole cake!

Top view of the finished cake!  I think it turned out very nicely. 

One more view.  I am quite proud of how it turned out.  The birthday girl loved it, so I'm told.  And the chocolate cake recipe got rave reviews.  Thanks for following the process!  Hope you enjoyed it!