Dora's Backpack

My latest creation... a cake that looks like Dora's Backpack!

This cake took me about 8-9 hrs to make but was a hit! My daughter loved it. 

It was made using 6 layers of chocolate cake and chocolate buttercream! Yum!

The step-by-step photos:

and now for some explanation on each step:

1. 
   
   I started by baking two 13 x 9 cakes
2. 
   
   cut each cake into 3 pieces and level tops
3. 
   
   added buttercream between layers and stack
4. 
   
   added dowels for support (push all the way in - I left them out to show that they are in there)
5. 
   
   added crumb coat (this is an optional step at this point - I did it to add some stability to the cake) and then refridgerate for at least 1 hr - if you have time freeze it! Freezing will make it easier to carve later.
6. 
   
   carved cake to form shape of backpack, then add a layer of icing for the fondant to stick to.
7. 
   
   colored fondant using the gel colors
8. 
   
   rolled out purple fondant and draped over carved cake. The rolled out fondant was in the shape of  a large circle (sort of) so when I placed it over the cake it had lots of 'extra' ... what I did was created darts at the corners (it looked like what a table cloth looks like at the corners on a squre table) and then used scissors to cut off the extra - which in essence created 'seams' down the 4 sides/corners. The fondant 'sealed' when cut - i.e. stuck to itself and in spots I helped it by using my fingers to pinch it together (sorry forgot to take a picture of that part!)... I also forgot to take a picture of the top flap piece - I cut it seperately and added before the next step...
9. 
   
   created strips (rolled out some fondant, used a ruler and a sharp knife to cut strips) then used tool to add 'stitching'. then used a little water to 'glue' it to the seams on the cake
10. 
    
    used two strips to create straps for the backpack - layed them on their sides up against a box and shaped.  Note: let dry or they will not hold their shape or will break once added to the rest of the cake (I learned this the hard way - notice my finaly cake doesnt' have straps).
11. 
    
    made the Map... I used a rectangular piece of fondant and wrapped it around my small rolling pin.. then drew on the face with edible markers and added thin pieces of black fondant to outline his mouth.  I left it on the rolling pin overnight to harden.
12. 
    
    created 'pockets' to add to both sides using rectangles - used water as my glue to attach them.
13. 
    
    I printed out a picture of the backpack I found online and then cut out the eyes, eyebrows and mouth - used that as a template to cut out the fondant (using a sharp small knife).  Attached using water and then used a clay extruder to make the black 'threads' to go around the pieces.
14. 
    
    then used a star cutter to cut out some stars, added white fonant eyes that were cut using an icing tip, and a black edible marker for the facial expressions. Used letter cutters for the name and added fondant to the top of the cake board for color.

This cake was inspried by several I saw on Cake Central and one done by PetrinaS.