2 DAYS IN ADVANCE

Tint white fondant as follows: 4 1/2 oz. black, a 1 1/8 in. ball of violet/ rose combination (for violet) and a 1 in. ball of gray (mix black fondant with white fondant). Reserve remaining white fondant. Knead 1/4 teaspoon Gum-Tex into violet fondant.

For player case, use 9 in. fondant roller with purple guide rings to roll out light violet fondant 1/8 in. thick. Use fondant trimmer to cut a rectangle, 1 1/4 in. wide x 2 3/8 in. high. For player, use 9 in. fondant roller to roll out white fondant 1/32 in. thick. Cut a rectangle, 1 in. wide x 2 in. high. For screen, roll out gray fondant 1/32 in. thick. Cut a rectangle, 7/8 in. wide x 1 1/2 in. high. Use damp brush to attach pieces together. Use wide end of tip 12 to indent power button. Let dry overnight on cornstarch-dusted board. Reserve remaining black fondant.

1 DAY IN ADVANCE

Bake and cool monkey cake. Cake is one layer, 2 in. high. Place cake on foil-wrapped board, cut to fit. Use knife to trim off face details and tail area. Use toothpick to mark waistline 2 1/4 in. from bottom edge, shirt sleeves 1 in. long and curved collar 3/8 in. deep from neck area.

Ice areas smooth. Prepare buttercream icing following recipe directions. Tint portions violet/rose combination (for violet), rose, copper (for skin tone shown), lemon yellow, brown, black and orange. Reserve a small portion white.

Use spatula and orange icing to ice cake sides and background areas smooth. Use spatula and violet icing to fill in feet. Use spatula and orange icing to ice ear areas smooth.

Decorate cake. Use tip 3 and black icing to outline eyes, nose, dimples and pipe in mouth. Pat smooth with finger dipped in cornstarch. Use tip 3 and white icing to pipe in teeth.

Use tip 3 and icing to outline skin tone face and arm, rose shirt and yellow pants. Use tip 17 and icing to fill in with stars: skin tone face and arm, rose shirt and yellow pants. Use tip 8 and violet icing to pipe outline shoes. Use tip 3 and black icing to pipe overpipe eyes, eyelashes, nose and dimples and to outline eyelashes. Use tip 17 and brown icing to pipe pull-out star hair, leaving ear areas open. Use tip 12 and orange icing to pipe bead bottom border.

Make fondant headphones and cord. For left speaker (above music player), use 1 1/4 oz. black fondant to shape a dome, 1 1/4 in. wide x 2 in. high. For right speaker, use 11/2 oz. black fondant to shape a dome, 1 3/4 in. wide x 2 1/2 in. high. For headpiece, roll a log of black fondant, 3/8 in. dia. x 6 1/2 in. long. For cord, roll 1 oz. of black fondant into a rope, 1/8 in. dia. x 16 in. long.

Assemble cake. Use tip 17 and black icing to attach speakers and headpiece to cake. Position music player on cake. Use tip 3 and skin tone icing to outline fingers. Use tip 17 and skin tone icing to fill in fingers with stars. Position cord on cake top; use tip 3 and black icing to attach end of cord to player.