Non-pinteresty cake decorating?

[momin2013]

So I'm planning to make DS a Thomas cake for his 3rd birthday (party is this Saturday). I made one for him last year, so this will be version 2.0. It's not the cake I'm worried about, it's the decorating part.

Last year I googled a million pictures, and ended up tinting the frosting light blue, frosting the cake all over, then tinting more frosting darker blue and piping that on in the shape of a train. Then I used those little gel squeeze bottles in black, red and yellow for the details. It was...not great. While DS was thrilled, he was also 2 at the time, and I fear his standards have risen a bit since then.

I am trying to avoid using fondant because a) I'd probably need to make a special trip to Michael's and I'm trying to avoid that, and b) I've never worked with it before and I'm afraid I'd really screw it up.

I also do not want to just order it. 

Anyone have any ideas for me on what I can do differently this time?

[Deleted]

Well...if you want really easy, you could ice it all blue and then put his Thomas train toys on top?

Or ice some train tracks around the edges of the cake and put a Thomas train in the middle

[lexus]

I have no cake decorating skills. I usually order figurines and add those to the cake. I think landscaping is less tricky than character features.

[Deleted]

Or you could make a thomas train or face out of cardboard, paper, foam shapes or paper and set that on the cake then remove before eating

[momin2013]

Jan 25, 2016 9:47:46 GMT -5 @sing4mysavior said:

Well...if you want really easy, you could ice it all blue and then put his Thomas train toys on top?

Or ice some train tracks around the edges of the cake and put a Thomas train in the middle

Good thought, but I'm pretty sure he would freak.the.eff.out about that, and not in a good way. He's pretty particular about that stuff.

Hey, those are MY trains! What are my trains doing on there! I don't want my trains be on there, waaaaaah!

In a pinch, I guess I could pick up one new train and put it on there. I really want to "make" it, though, KWIM?

[cjcouple]

I saw one recently that used kit kats as the train tracks that looked pretty easy.  I think it was just green frosting 


www.google.com/search?q=thomas+the+train+cake+with+kit+kats&espv=2&biw=1510&bih=782&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiPz7W2ncXKAhUIPD4KHbk1BUIQ_AUIBigB 
These images give you an idea

[cjcouple]

Jan 25, 2016 9:54:40 GMT -5 momin2013 said:

Jan 25, 2016 9:47:46 GMT -5 @sing4mysavior said:

Well...if you want really easy, you could ice it all blue and then put his Thomas train toys on top?

Or ice some train tracks around the edges of the cake and put a Thomas train in the middle

Good thought, but I'm pretty sure he would freak.the.eff.out about that, and not in a good way. He's pretty particular about that stuff.

Hey, those are MY trains! What are my trains doing on there! I don't want my trains be on there, waaaaaah!

In a pinch, I guess I could pick up one new train and put it on there. I really want to "make" it, though, KWIM?

Oh the kit kats involved using the train too.  But you could add at the end before the candles  

[lala]

I think the absolute easiest is the train track idea. There are some really cute ones where they make the cake/tracks in the shape of the age they're turning - so a big 3. Just buy a new train to put on top that he gets to keep.

I don't know, I'm pretty crafty and love baking but most of the thomas cakes I actually liked were very far beyond my abilities.

[cabbagecabbage]

This looks cute and easy and pretty foolproof if you don't do the tracks.

[momin2013]

Jan 25, 2016 10:02:30 GMT -5 cjcouple said:

I saw one recently that used kit kats as the train tracks that looked pretty easy.  I think it was just green frosting 


www.google.com/search?q=thomas+the+train+cake+with+kit+kats&espv=2&biw=1510&bih=782&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiPz7W2ncXKAhUIPD4KHbk1BUIQ_AUIBigB 
These images give you an idea

Thanks - I think I am liking the kit kat tracks idea.

But lol at some of those images - they look exactly how I imagine mine might turn out!

[cjcouple]

Jan 25, 2016 10:09:32 GMT -5 momin2013 said:

Jan 25, 2016 10:02:30 GMT -5 cjcouple said:

I saw one recently that used kit kats as the train tracks that looked pretty easy.  I think it was just green frosting 


www.google.com/search?q=thomas+the+train+cake+with+kit+kats&espv=2&biw=1510&bih=782&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiPz7W2ncXKAhUIPD4KHbk1BUIQ_AUIBigB 
These images give you an idea

Thanks - I think I am liking the kit kat tracks idea.

But lol at some of those images - they look exactly how I imagine mine might turn out!

haha - I know!  I just meant to show the track part.  I think it wouldn't be too bad to do just green grass and add tracks on and a train and a number 3.    

[momin2013]

Jan 25, 2016 10:08:03 GMT -5 cabbagecabbage said:

This looks cute and easy and pretty foolproof if you don't do the tracks.

O.k., if I do attempt to "make" the Thomas I am loving the Oreos idea. Saves me a tube of black gel, AND I'd obviously need to buy a whole bag of Oreos even if I only needed two of them!

[quesyrah]

DS wants a hot wheels cake this year.

I am putting a couple of hot wheels cars on top and printed a few flames that I am putting on toothpicks.

[nicolewi]

Dude...I would absolutely buy a little new train and put it on top! It looks super cute and it's 1,000x easier, and it's like a little extra gift. I've done that with plastic dinosaurs, Blaze and the Monster Machines, and John Deere tractors.

[lattelady5]

Jan 25, 2016 9:47:46 GMT -5 @sing4mysavior said:

Well...if you want really easy, you could ice it all blue and then put his Thomas train toys on top?

Or ice some train tracks around the edges of the cake and put a Thomas train in the middle

This is exactly what I'd do. Make a simple cake and decorate it with train stuff he can keep. He will love it. My kids think every cake is the best. It's cake!

[momin2013]

Thanks everyone!

My take-away from this is I'm planning to buy a bunch of kit kats for the tracks, and also a bag of Oreos. I would prefer to NOT to have to make a trip to TRU for a new train, so I think I will attempt to make it using Oreos as the wheels. My lofty goal is to (in advance) melt white chocolate, tint it blue, and pipe onto waxed paper, then keep it in the fridge (I may attempt three sides, but will probably end up making it just flat with a round face that I can pipe eyes and mouth on, and Oreos as wheels).

I'll post pics if I'm not too embarrassed about how it turns out.

[notreal]

[momin2013]

You guys have no faith in me - I'm making the Thomas myself, darn it!

(as I said earlier, will PIP if I'm not too embarrassed)

[dizzycooks]

But see you wanted a not Pinterest cake and yet all these pics belong on pinterest imo...

[momin2013]

Jan 25, 2016 15:44:30 GMT -5 dizzycooks said:

But see you wanted a not Pinterest cake and yet all these pics belong on pinterest imo...

True, true. I guess by "non-pinterest" I meant "difficult to screw up and end up with something awful-looking".

So I'm definitely using the kit kat and oreo ideas, because I know (hope) I can stick those on there instead of having to pipe on train tracks and wheels. Last time I think I ended up using way too much black piping gel and sort of made a mess.

[Deleted]

Anything baked goods that isn't store bought or slightly pre made/boxed qualifies as Pinteresty to me lol

[momin2013]

Jan 25, 2016 16:23:52 GMT -5 @itsbritt said:

Anything baked goods that isn't store bought or slightly pre made/boxed qualifies as Pinteresty to me lol

Oh, it's gonna involve a boxed mix (rainbow chip) and a can of frosting, of that much I'm sure!

[momin2013]

Here it is - thanks for all the ideas! I went with the kit kats for tracks, oreos (dipped in white chocolate) for the wheels, and I made Thomas' head and body out of white chocolate and piped on the details with piping gel. I'm actually pretty happy with how it turned out. Can't wait to see DS' reaction tomorrow!

Attachments:

[quesyrah]

It looks good!

A heck of a lot better than the hot wheels cake I made for DS's party tomorrow lol

[dizzycooks]

It looks great!

[Deleted]

Good job! I'm sure he'll love it!

[cjcouple]

So cute!!! Nice job. I bet he will love it

[lexus]

Cute!

[thecheshirekat]

It came out so cute!

[nicolewi]

Turned out awesome! Great job!!