Make Shape-N-Amaze 3-D character three days in advance. Use online directions to create graduate cake topper.

Click here for directions to make the Graduate Boy.

Click here for directions to make the Graduate Girl.

Make cake. Prepare batter following recipe directions. Bake and cool two 10 in. square cakes and one 12 in. square cake according to pan package directions. Use knife to trim 10 in. cakes to make rectangles, each 6 1/2 in. x 9 in. Use knife to trim 12 in. square cake to make rectangle, 7 1/2 in. x 11 in.

Make books. Prepare buttercream icing following recipe directions. Use spatula and icing to lightly ice cakes.

For first tier, tint 20 oz. of white fondant red. Knead in 2 teaspoons of Gum-Tex. Use fondant roller with orange guide rings to roll out fondant 1/8 in. thick. Use fondant trimmer to cut rectangle,10 in. x 12 in. Gently lay fondant over 7 1/2 x 11 in. cake, covering one side and top of cake to make book cover. Use round pick from set to make spine indentation.

For pages, use fondant roller with orange guide rings to roll out 10 oz. white fondant 1/8 in. thick. Use fondant trimmer to cut strip, 26 in. x 2 in. Use damp brush to attach to three sides of cake. Use sharp pick from set to make page lines.

For bottom seam, use fondant trimmer to cut out two red strips, 8 in. long x 1/4 in. wide and one strip, 12 in. long x 1/4 in. wide. Use damp brush to attach strips to bottom of cake, using knife to taper seams at an angle.

For second and third tiers, tint 16 oz. of white fondant each orange and yellow. Knead in 1 teaspoon of Gum-Tex. Use fondant roller with orange guide rings to roll out 1/8 in. thick. Use fondant trimmer to cut rectangle, 9 in. x 9 3/4 in., for each book cover. Gently lay fondant over cake, covering one side and top of cake to make book cover. Use round pick set to make spine indentation.

For pages, use fondant roller with orange guide rings to roll out 10 oz. white fondant 1/8 in. thick. Use fondant trimmer to cut one strip, 23 in. x 2 in. Use damp brush to attach to three sides of cake. Use sharp pick from set to make page lines.

For bottom seams, use fondant trimmer to cut out two strips of orange and yellow fondant, 7 in. long x 1/4 in. wide and one strip, 9 1/2 in. long x 1/4 in. wide. Use damp brush to attach strips to bottom of cakes, using knife to taper seams at an angle.

Decorate cakes. Prepare cakes for stacked construction . Position cakes on foil wrapped cake board. Use black edible color marker to write in subject titles.

Position cake topper.