My mother loved Dooney and Bourke purses so I decided to make this purse birthday cake in her honor. The cake is 2 13x9x2″ yellow cakes filled with Swiss meringue butter cream. I then cut the cake in thirds and filled and stacked the layers. I carved the cake using a picture of a Dooney and Bourke purse I found online. This was the hardest part for me. I almost gave up and smashed the cake because the shape was not turning out like I hoped. But I pushed passed and continued on. On a side note I must say that I had a pretty bad tummy ache by the time I was done because I couldn’t stop eating the scraps!
Decorating the Purse Birthday Cake
I then crumb coated with vanilla butter cream and covered with fondant. I made all the “metal” pieces using gum paste and an extruder. Then I painted them with gold disco dust mixed with lemon extract. I added detail with a Wilton stitch embosser and brushed some white petal dust into the lines to make the stitching stand out.
I decided to put my mother’s monogram on the label instead of Dooney and Bourke because I thought it would give it a more personal touch. In addition, I also added a small breast cancer ribbon charm hanging from the zipper. I struggled with the zipper and tried a few different things that did not turn out at all.
My husband helped brainstorm (which was fun to get him involved) and I ended up just using a clean zipper and pressing it into the fondant to make an impression. Then I painted it with gold disco dust and made a pull tab out of gum paste. I think the addition of the zipper really took this cake to another level. I almost left it off because I struggled so much but I’m glad I figured it out. Also, I added a yellow rose made from gum paste because my mother also loved yellow roses.
This is my first sculpted cake and only the third I have made using fondant and I am extremely proud of it. I really think my mother would have loved it and I hope you enjoy looking at it. I am also excited because after my husband saw what I did with this cake he seems excited as well and on board with my dream of starting a cake business!!
Your cake is awesome!! Your mom would be proud!! I’ve been making cakes for years but nothing this detailed, I’m jealous…I would love to have some kind of cake business as well..I love to make people say “Wow”. Great job, and thanks for sharing how you did it.
Your cake is awesome!! Your mom would be proud!! I’ve been making cakes for years but nothing this detailed, I’m jealous…I would love to have some kind of cake business as well..I love to make people say “Wow”. Great job, and thanks for sharing how you did it.