WEEK IN ADVANCE

Cut petals for fantasy flower. Use 9 in. fondant roller with pink guide rings to roll out white gum paste 1/16 in. thick. For base, use large rose cutter from gum paste flower cutter set to cut one flower. Place in cornstarch-dusted large flower forming cup. Cut 10 petals using wide lily cutter from set. Cut five petals using narrow lily cutter from set. Place under storage board flap until ready to ruffle edges. Place petals on thin shaping foam, and use large ball tool from 10-pc. gum paste/fondant tool set to ruffle petal edges.

Assemble flower. Use brush and gum glue adhesive to attach five wide petals to rose base. Attach second row of five wide petals between petals in first row. Attach narrow petals between petals in second row. Support with paper napkin as needed.

2 DAYS IN ADVANCE

Make gems using 17 oz. fondant. Use jewelry fondant and gum paste mold to make 1,000 small round gems. Use brush and white Pearl Dust/lemon extract mixture to paint gems. Let dry overnight on cornstarch-dusted board.

Bake and cool 6 in. and 8 in. round cakes. Each cake is 5 in. high (two layers, 2 1/2 in. high). Prepare buttercream icing following recipe directions. Prepare and cover cakes with white fondant. Prepare cakes for stacked construction. Stack cakes.

DAY OF CELEBRATION

Attach gems. Use piping gel in a cut parchment bag to pipe a dot on back of gems; attach to cake. Begin with a row at bottom of each cake, then place successive rows in the spaces between gems of preceding row. Continue over top of 8 in. cake and cover top of 6 in. cake.

Attach flower. For flower center, attach one gem with gum glue adhesive. Let dry, 30 minutes. Use icing in cut parchment bag to attach flower to side of cake.