Help!

[Amanda]

I just got a call from a client (or customer?). She's really a fantastic person and has referred 8 people to me. I told her on her last referral that I'd make her next cake for free. Guess when she wants it? TOMORROW!!!! Normally, this would be no problem but, I also have 75 gingerbread cookies to ice, two batches of bars to make and about 100 spritz cookies I was hoping to get done by tomorrow.
I need ideas. She only wants a 6", 2 layer cake (thank goodness). It is her 5th anniversary with her fiancee, and wants something in buttercream with bright colors that says I love you.
I have no red fondant, so I can't do hearts or ribbons or bows....I'm at a loss. I could probably figure something out if I wasn't in the middle of holiday baking, but my mind is a little frazzled right now.
Can you guys help me out, please?
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
Amanda

[cakebaker]

You know you can color regular fondant in a pinch. If you colored just enough to do a few decorations it wouldn't be too hard.

How about a heart shaped cake with a few fondant ribbon roses? It takes very little fondant to do the ribbon roses and they're quick and easy! Or, if you had some bright color of ribbon that you like, that always makes a quick, easy and classy looking border.

[2sdae]

I too like the heart shape cake and maybe do a butter cream covering and the ribbon roses.
You could do hearts if you wanted out of gum paste too.

[Amanda]

Thanks for the advice! I found some red fondant, so I was in luck (I loathe coloring fondant red). I had less than 24 hours, so no time for fondant bows or anything that needed drying time. She asked for a 6" round, so I made that iced with white buttercream. I cut out mini hearts in 3 shades of pink and red (her favorite color is pink, and this October I am doing a pink polka dot cake for her wedding).
Starting with the palest shade on top I randomly put the hearts on the cake, gradually getting darker as I went down the cake, ending with red hearts on the bottom. I also added two larger red hearts that overlapped on the top kind of poking out of the cake. Does that make any sense? It is so hard to describe a cake in words!
Anyway, thanks again for all the advice. I really appreciate it. My ribbon roses are sub-par, I hate to admit. No one has ever taught me to do it, and I just can't get them to look quite right.
Amanda

[2sdae]

Actually that cake sounds fantastic and I would love to see it. I know you prolly didn't take a pic! But I am so glad it worked out for you!!!!!

[Amanda]

Thanks! You're right, I didn't take a picture. I have no idea where the camera is. My children LOVE to take pictures. One time we found our memory card full...FULL with pictures of miscellaneous things they'd taken pix of.
Hopefully I'll find it before my next cake....
Amanda

[sokyere]

hope to see a picture of the next one

[2sdae]

My camera tends to disappear at times too. My teeneager runs off with it, my little ones are always wanting to take pictures of their toes, toys, a bird or an ant!!!!!!

[Amanda]

Santa is bringing the older two each a Fisher Price Digital Camera for kids. Hopefully then they will leave mine alone. That's the idea anyway!

[2sdae]

That's the way to avoid your camera from being kid-napped!!!!!