Birthday Shoebox Cake

On the 28th of January I celebrated my 28th birthday.  I've heard that's called your golden birthday, when you turn the same age as they day you were born.  So I guess I celebrated my golden birthday.

I share a birthday with my friend Tamera, so we opted to have a dual celebration.  Obviously a good cake was in order!

It all started with the cakes themselves, of course.  I did my own version of a black forest cake for the bottom shoe box and a butter cake with maple cream for the top shoe box.

Here are the cakes iced in the fridge:

Getting square corners: always a challenge.

By 3 AM Friday night, I had everything stacked.

Making enough room in the fridge: also always a challenge.  And I have 3 refrigerators.  Don't judge. ;)


A good sexy cake requires a good sexy new gum paste stiletto!

This stiletto features Sugarveil lace airbrushed black to create the mesh effect between the straps.

The cake took way too long to complete, but I was very happy with the final product, and I had a great time celebrating with friends.

Hope you enjoy!  And boy do I hope I graduate soon... :)

How to Make a Gum Paste Stiletto, 2011 Version :)

Step 1:  Get snowed in for 3 days.  Seriously, I haven't left my home since Sunday afternoon.  Might leave tomorrow but I'm not totally convinced...

Step 2:  Get inspired.  My birthday's coming up in a couple weeks so I thought I might need a fabulous stiletto for a fabulous cake.

Here we go...


Start with tip 2A circles.  Cut these out from 1/8" thick gum paste.

Carefully thread them onto 18 gauge wire and start letting them set up.

While you're waiting for those to set up, check out your adorable dog:

This is Lola.  She's a real dog... not made of gum paste. :) 

I digress.  Must be cabin fever... Anyway, mold the rest of your heel:

And shape your sole and let that set up a bit:

I form my soles using some combination of tape, cardboard, foam, and a little shaper I made out of some useless fondant a while back.  It's held up well.  I've also done it using parchment paper taped to a book and a countertop-- just make sure the slope is nice and gradual.  Sorry, I'm an engineer... I look at things like slope. ;) 

Next step, attach the heel carefully once its set up enough, and add the sole lining.  On this shoe I also added a platform under the toe.

Next steps, I wrapped the side of the shoe (around the platform) and added the back.  For pieces like the back, I like to use two different colors of gum paste layered together, and you can either roll it out by hand or put it through a pasta roller.

Next, I added the toe piece and supported it with some paper towel while it set up.

 

Next I added the loop on the back of the heel and painted the lining gold before adding any more straps.

Then comes the really fun part.

Precariously balance the next straps to let them set up.  These are also two toned (red on the bottom and ivory on top).   Right now the shoe kinda looks like it came out of surgery... but she'll be okay.

Once those straps were set, I added the center (vertical) strap and let it set a bit.  This strap has 3 pieces-- a center red piece with the zipper on it, and then the outside red piece with the stitching.

Finally I added the zipper pull and the ankle strap.

That completes the structure, and the rest was just dusting and painting! Oh, and a lot of gold dragees...

One by one... one little dragee at a time...

Ahh, victory!  Then to the photoshoot table... such as it is.

This shoe is based on a pair that I actually own.  I don't find too many occasions to wear them, but I love the design.  

 

Don't forget to paint the bottom of the heel black... I almost did. ;) 

So there you have my snow day(s) project.  Hope you like it as much as I do!  :)

You might see it again on a cake in a couple weeks...