2 WEEKS IN ADVANCE (Extra time has been allotted due to the number of gems needed.)

Tint darkest shade of fondant. (You will need 92 oz. fondant for all gems. Begin by tinting 23 oz. fondant dark teal/sky blue combination (for darkest blue).

Make gems in two darkest shades. ( Use jewelry fondant and gum paste mold and dark teal fondant to make 360 small round gems. To make the next shade of gems, knead together 16 oz. of remaining dark teal fondant with 8 1/2 oz. white fondant. Mold 360 gems.

Make gems in remaining 15 shades. For all, use the remainder of previous teal shade made and add white fondant following directions below.

Shade 3: 14 oz. teal, plus 7 oz. white. Mold 360 gems.

Shade 4: 11 oz. teal, 5 oz. white. Mold 332 gems.

Shade 5: 10 1/4 oz. teal, 5 oz. white. Mold 304 gems.

Shade 6: 10 1/4 oz. teal, 5 oz. white. Mold 304 gems.

Shade 7: 10 oz. teal, 4 3/4 oz. white. Mold 291 gems.

Shade 8: 81/2 oz. teal, 4 oz. white. Mold 252 gems.

Shade 9: 8 1/2 oz. teal, 4 oz. white. Mold 252 gems.

Shade 10: 8 oz. teal, 4 oz. white. Mold 252 gems.

Shade 11: 7 1/2 oz. teal, 3 3/4 oz. white. Mold 204 gems.

Shade 12: 7 1/2 oz. teal, 3 3/4 oz. white. Mold 204 gems.

Shade 13: 7 1/2 oz. teal, 3 3/4 oz. white. Mold 204 gems.

Shade 14: 10 3/4 oz. teal, 3 oz. white. Mold 162 gems.

Shade 15: 6 1/4 oz. teal, 3 oz. white. Mold 148 gems.

Shade 16: 6 1/4 oz. teal, 2 1/2 oz. white. Mold 148 gems.

Shade 17: 3 1/2 oz. teal, 1 3/4 oz. white. Mold 143 gems.

Let all gems dry overnight on cornstarch-dusted boards. After drying store each shade separately in its own marked plastic bag. Keep out of sunlight to preserve colors.

2 DAYS IN ADVANCE

Prepare cake base. Use 20 in. fondant roller with orange guide rings to roll out 24 oz. white fondant 1/8 in. thick. Cover 16 in. round silver cake base.

Bake and cool 6 in., 8 in., 10 in., 12 in. and 14 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 on covered base.

1 DAY IN ADVANCE

Attach gems. ( Use piping gel in a cut parchment bag to pipe a dot on back of gem then attach it to cake. Begin at the bottom with darkest shade and gradually work your way up to lightest shade at the top. Build four rows of gems in each shade, continuing the color onto tops of cakes as you work your way up. Be sure to place successive rows in the spaces between gems of preceding row so no space shows.

?The smallest tier is often saved for the first anniversary. The number of servings given does not include the smallest tier.