Polymer Clay Cake

Making realistic polymer clay  cakes is ridiculously fun and easy. Once you learn a few basic tricks you can do pretty much anything you've always wanted to eat (but please, don't eat them!). They make great gifts and dollhouse decorations, and they're sure to surprise your friends.

I'm going to teach you the basics to polymer clay cake making, and a few ideas to decorate them. I'm uploading some of my best cakes for inspiration, but going to your favorite cake store is also highly recommended. This is a very addictive activity, I hope you'll enjoy it and if you need tips please let me know! I'm always glad to help.

This instructable will cover:

• How to get a realistic translucent cake. Not opaque or chalky.
• How to make a realistic cake texture.
• How to decorate your cake with fondant, icing, etc.
• How to pipe polymer clay.

I'm also including the cutting template and scale conversion table that I made because I hate uneven slices of cake. Please feel free to download it, print it and use it as much as you want, it works for many other projects too. Just please don't redistribute it.

Step 1 Clay and tools

CLAY

1. Translucent clay. I use Sculpey III Translucent No. 010
2. Pale yellow clay. I use Sculpey III Sunshine No. 1274 *
3. Clay in many colors for fondant, icing, decorations, etc.
4. Translucent Liquid Sculpey (TLS).
5. Sculpey Clay Softener (not pictured). If you're going to pipe the clay, softener makes it easier.

* Note: Sunshine was recently discontinued, but there's a color in Premo that's also called Sunshine and it looks pretty much the same. I haven't tried it yet.

TOOLS

1. A rolling pin or pasta machine.
2. A round cutter. Mine's diameter is 4 cm.
3. Blades. For cakes I like to use a tissue blade, razor blade and straight utility knife blade.
4. Toothpicks and needles. Look for pointy ones! Pointy needles and toothpicks achieve a better texture.
5. (Not pictured) Icing nozzles. I buy icing nozzles from my cooking store because they're cheap and easy to use, some people prefer to use a clay extruder... but in my opinion, what better way to make realistic pipping than with a real icing nozzle?

Comments

[ZoDo]

Really awesome instructable...I tried to make some myself and this was the result...not quite like yours but I'm making progress.

If you would like to see more of my models check out my blog:
aandr-design.blogspot.com

[talty]

They look wonderful already! Great job, I'm sure you'll only get better each time :D thank you so much for showing me!

[mandyhappy13]

The cakes are AWESOME!!!
just one question:
can I use silicone for the frosting? I want to try it first before buying it :)

[talty]

Thank you!!
You can use silicone for the frosting, just make sure you don't bake it again after frosting it. Silicone does weird things in the oven, and I'm not even sure if it's safe to bake it.

[LivStoleYourPie]

These. Are. Amazing. They look so real i just want to eat them!

[talty]

Thanks! That was my goal, so I'm glad I succeeded!

[N1K1_1NC.]

Can i eat 'em? Great Job!

[talty]

Thank you! :)

[sabaku no gaara]

Ahhhh so you entered didn't you Talty? Good Luck!!!!!!!!!

(Shipokun)

[talty]

Thank you!! I did enter and luckily I won one of the first prizes, I'm so happy!!

[sabaku no gaara]

hehehehehe I know you would!!

Its a pity they dont sell polymer clay at my hometown

[talty]

that's a pity, I know I would cry if they didn't' sell it here :( can you buy it online?

[sabaku no gaara]

yesss!!!!!!!

Just ordered a few!

[sunshiine]

CONGRATULATIONS! I knew you would place! Enjoy your booty!

[mstyle183]

good luck.. wow my baker friend would love this idea

[talty]

Thank you!! hehe I'm glad it could interest bakers :D it's fun to make!

[yngla]

Super cute cakes! And a great tutorial as well. I need some polymer clay at once!

[talty]

Thank you! I'm glad that you liked the tutorial and my cakes, I hope you'll find the clay and have fun with it!

[ZoDo]

WOW. You are one gifted person. Good luck in the contest. I voted for you.

[talty]

Thank you for everything! I appreciate your nice words, the good wishes and the vote! :D They all help me a lot!

[Mrballeng]

Why isn't this in the clay contest? Great job. I almost stuck a fork through my screen.

[talty]

Thank you!!! I'm not responsible for any damages that may occur to your screen *chuckles*

I submitted it to the clay contest but sadly it hasn't been approved yet, hopefully Monday!

[mikeasaurus]

Looks so real.
This cake is totally a lie.

[sunshiine]

You are so funny! Loved your comment!

[talty]

That's my goal! Making it as real as possible.

The cake is a lie!!! Oo

[sunshiine]

WEll, you did accomplish your goal! This is totally awesome! Thanks for sharing!

[talty]

That makes me so happy! Thanks for reading my instructable, and you are welcome!

[sunshiine]

I loved the sandwiches! Did you enter this into the contest? You should! The clay
Contest.

[talty]

I did! But it hasn't been accepted yet, I suppose I'll have to wait until Monday.

[sunshiine]

Great! I will vote on this for sure! It might get accepted over the weekend, you never know.

[talty]

Thank you, I appreciate the votes :D I hope it gets accepted soon!

[sunshiine]

Probably Monday!

[talty]

It was accepted! :D

[sunshiine]

I voted! I love your cake!

[talty]

Thank you for everything!!

[sunshiine]

You are welcome! I think you will be a finalist!

[talty]

I really hope so, I'll keep my fingers crossed!

[sunshiine]

I am voting right now!

[scoochmaroo]

FANTASTIC tutorial!!!

[talty]

Thank you! I'm glad that you think so, this tutorial is my baby.