In advance: Make Jack-in-the-box lid and clown. After making each piece, let dry completely on cornstarch-dusted surface. Add 4 teaspoons of Gum-Tex to 48 oz. of fondant. For lid, roll out fondant 1/8 in. thick and cut into 6 in. square. Tint 41/2 oz. fondant rose, 41/2 oz. blue, 10 oz. yellow, 3 oz. green, 2 oz. copper (skin tone).

Step 2

For head, roll out copper fondant 1/8 in. thick and cut with round Comfort Grip cutter. Roll out white, yellow and blue fondant 1/8 in. thick; using patterns cut out mouth, hat and brim; attach. Roll and attach a 1/2 in. ball of blue fondant for pompom at point of hat. Attach brim to hat with damp brush; carefully fold pointed edges of brim forward. Roll and attach a 3/4 in. ball of rose fondant for nose. For hair, roll out rose fondant 1/16 in. thick and cut 2 x 1/8 in. wide strips. Wrap strips around skewers and let set for 10-15 minutes. Remove strips and attach to head with damp brush. When dry, draw smile and eyes with black FoodWriter. For arms, trim wooden dowel rods to 5 in. long; roll out fondant 1/4 in. thick and cut two 1 1/2 x 2 in. long strips. Wrap strips around 5 in. dowel rods, leaving approximately 3 in. uncovered; trim left arm fondant slightly shorter. For sleeve ruffles, cut two 1/2 in. wide blue fondant strips. Thin and ruffle one edge on each with ball tool from confectionery tool set; form into a circle and attach to wrists with damp brush. For collar, cut two 1 in. wide blue fondant strips; thin edge and ruffle as for sleeves to create two 1/2 circles. Attach 1/2 circles together with damp brush; let dry. For hands, shape two 1 x 7/8 in. wide pieces of green fondant; form one round end and cut notch for thumb on each. Attach to arm with damp brush. Using thinned fondant, attach cookie stick to back of head.

Step 3

Also in advance: Make 4 baby bottles.

Step 4

Ice cakes smooth and prepare for Push-In Pillar Construction. Position petal cake on double-thick cake board wrapped in foil and square cake on 6 in. cake board. For block borders, roll out assorted colors of fondant 1/8 in. thick and cut into 1/2 in. wide strips, 4 and 6 in. long; attach to edges of square cake. Using letter cookie cutters, cut B, A, B, Y; attach to sides of cake. For bibs, cut assorted color fondant circles using medium round cutter from 101 Cutters Set; cut neck opening using small round Cut-Out. For scallop bib trim, cut circles using wide end of tip 2; cut in half and attach to large circle with damp brush. Print tip 2 message in buttercream. For bows, cut 1/2 x 3 in. long fondant strips; fold ends over to form bow; pinch in center to secure. For knot, cut a 1/4 x 1/2 in. fondant piece; attach and let dry. Attach bibs to cake sides with dots of buttercream. For bottom border of petal cake, roll 3/8 in. round white fondant balls; attach with dots of buttercream. Tape ribbon around base cake board.

Step 5

At reception: Assemble cakes. Position 6 in. plate on twist legs. Slide baby bottles over legs and insert legs in petal cake. Attach 6 in. square cake to plate with icing. Insert clown head, position collar and insert arms in square cake. Insert an 8 in. wooden dowel rod behind clown head to support lid. Attach lid with buttercream; prop against dowel rod.

*Combine Leaf Green with a little Lemon Yellow for green shade shown.