NEEDED: See the Supply List for items you can purchase here. Also, click on the Techniques tab for the Dot decorating technique used. You will also need:

• Your favorite cake mix or recipe (11-1/2 cups batter needed)
• Cornstarch
• Ruler

Fondant to be tinted. Use Color Right base colors and QuickCount color formulas to tint fondant in the following shades:

• Metallic Gold: 8 oz. white fondant + 2 BK + 3 O + 12 Y
• Neutral Black: 4 oz. white fondant + 16 BK
• Reserve remaining fondant white

One day in advance, make marquee letters. Download the PDF for the GRAD letter template and print it. Tint fondant gold following QuickCount formula provided. Using fondant roller and its pink guide rings, roll out gold fondant to 1/16 inch thickness. Use template to cut out GRAD letters. Place letters on cornstarch-dusted board.

Roll out remaining gold fondant to 1/16 inch thickness. Create letter borders by cutting strips in the following measurements:

• Letter G: 3/8 inch x 10 inches for inside of G; 3/8 inch x 18 inches for outside of G
• Letter R: 3/8 inch x 4-1/2 inches for inside of R; 3/8 inch x 7 inches for bottom inside of R; 3/8 inch x 24 inches for outside of R
• Letter A: 3/8 inch x 3-1/2 inches for inside of A; 3/8 inch x 24 inches for outside of A
• Letter D: 3/8 inch x 12 inches for inside of D; 3/8 inch x 21 inches for outside of D

Use damp brush to attach borders to letters. Trim off any access. If needed, use spatula to help crease and form corners. Let fondant letters dry 24 hours. Reserve remaining gold fondant for a later step.

Bake and ice cake. Use your favorite cake mix or recipe to make 11-1/2 cups of batter. Bake and cool cake. Prepare icing following recipe instructions. Ice cake smoothly.

Make striped fondant panels. Tint fondant black following QuickCount formula provided. Using fondant roller and its purple guide rings, roll out white and black fondant separately to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut out strips in the following measurements:

• Two white 2 inch x 11 inch strips
• Two white 2 inch x 15 inch strips
• Four white 11 inch x 1/2 inch strips
• Four white 15 inch x 1/2 inch strips
• Six black 11 inch x 1/2 inch strips
• Six black 15 inch x 1/2 inch strips

Starting with black and alternating colors, use damp brush to attach strips to 2 inch white fondant strips. Attach striped panels to sides of cake with icing.

Make fondant arrows. Print arrow template. Roll out reserved gold fondant to 1/16 inch thickness. Use template to cut out 22 arrows. Spray arrows and marquee letters with gold Color Mist food color spray. Let dry 15 minutes.

Decorate cake. Attach arrows to cake, spacing them 1-1/2 inches apart on 15 inch side and 1-1/8 inches apart on 11 inch side.

Prepare decorating bag with tip 6 and white icing. Pipe dots on letters. Attach letters to cake.