Forest Elf by Stream

by Tammy Bowen
(Glendale, AZ)

I made this cake for a very close friend. Mitzi's a very creative person who likes to draw, and is an exceptional photographer. I wanted to create something special for her birthday, so I borrowed her elf drawing book. I used the photos out of the book for inspiration in making this cake.

A few days in advance

Mold a gum paste leaf-bridge by laying a thin piece of Gum Paste over a rolling pin, with a little extra spread around each side of the rolling pin. Let it dry, then mix yellow food color paste and vodka together, and then paint the leaf completely. Let it dry for an hour, and then paint it again with a Kelly Green color. Let dry completely.

Use white fondant to make the flowers. First made the center bulb, attached to a green florist wire, and then cover the bulb with white petals. (Note: I used a cardboard cereal box with the front cut out to place the flowers in upside down to dry)

Use white fondant to make a mushroom for one of the butterflies to sit on. Let it dry, then paint it a light brown with black spots.
The leaves and bright colored foliage were created by using 22 gauge florist wires. I bent the wires into different shapes, and then covered them with shortening (the shortening is used to help the fondant stick to the smooth wire. I saw this on a cake show and it really does work), then with white fondant. I then used a small paint brush and various food color gels, added to a small amount of vodka, to paint the leaves and bright colored foliage. (Note: the leaves have a yellow colored base, and then I painted them with a Kelly Green food color gel)

I found some butterflies on the internet and printed them on paper, so I could use them as a template for making my butterfly wings (cut the butterfly template in half, so you have two separate wings, and then disregard the body piece). I used a thick royal icing to out line the wings, then used thinned royal icing to fill in the center. I allowed the wings to dry, then used food coloring gels and a small paint brush to decorate the wing tops. Once the wings were dry, I turned them over and painted the bottom side a solid color to cover the white royal icing, and then let them dry completely. For the body, I used thick royal icing to make about a 2 1/2 inch long thick butterfly body on wax paper. I inserted the wings into the body and used paper towels to hold the wings in an upward position. After I inserted the wings, I inserted two small stamens in the top part of the body for antennas. Only after the body is completely dry did I paint the stamens with black food coloring gel (use care when removing the butterfly from the wax paper so you don't break the wings).


Make an extra set of wings as described above for the elf.

Use royal icing to make some small water flowers.
For the elf -- Add copper color gel to fondant, then mode the elf's body/dress. Then mold the head, legs, and arms. Set the arm and head aside to dry (remember to place the arm in the position as shown in the photo. For the body and legs, place them on the dried leaf in the position as shown in the photo. Cut two small slits in the Elf's back to make room for the wings to sit in, then let dry.

Once the body is dry, use food color gel to paint a dress on the Elf.

After the dress dries, use royal icing to glue the arms, head, and wings on the body/dress. (Note you will need to use something to prop up the head, so it doesn't fall. I used paper towels) After the head is secure, cover the Elf head with hair and a crown. Use food color gel and a very small paint brush to paint the Elf's face.

Baked 2- 8x2 inch cakes and 2- 10x2 inch cakes.

Stacked the two 8x2 and 10x2 cakes together with butter cream in the center. Insert three wooden dowels in the bottom cake towards the back, then added a 6 inch cake separator plate on top of the dowels. Then placed the upper tier on top of the plate.

Covered the cake with butter cream frosting, with forest green food coloring gel added. Leave a three inch opening in the front for the water fall. I didn't try to make the frosting smooth on the cake.

I used piping gel, with sky blue food coloring gel added, to create the waterfall effect and small candy rocks around the edge of the water.