Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch
The Count, Bert and Ernie.... all cut from white fondant.
As a cake decorator, I am always looking for items that are timeless and Sesame Street is one of those educations shows that has been teaching children since the 1960's. I purchased these cookie cutters during the late 70's when I was just getting started as a sugar artist.
In these photos I have recut the cookie cutter from colored fondant to add dimension to the characters. I then painted the remaining surfaces to bring the characters to life.
Elmo was the main character of the celebration. Using an elongated ball of fondant and small scissors I cut the small pieces creating fur.
I left the fondant to dry a few days making sure is was able to hold the head which was added next.
I added the limbs a few days later and notice they are very thin. This is so that they would hold shape and the number ONE.
Again the limbs dried a few days before I added the fur to them.
Fondant is not a strong medium to work with, but I wanted to make sure the child could eat him without causing injury to his mouth. As fondant does not get a firm as gumpaste or pastillage the drying time was extended to insure it would support the next layer.
Elmo sat atop a large cupcake for the baby to smash.
The sheet cake was half White cake and half Chocolate cake with buttercream filling. It was covered in white buttercream and the characters where placed along with colored jimmies.
I negated to get a picture of the street sign in the creation process. Simon's name was cut for the funky letter alphabet cutters.
A shell border finished off the edges and colored buttercream arches where created using a rose tip.
The order also included two dozen cupcakes of white cake and raspberry compote.
Side view.
Here is little man Simon.
Happy First Birthday!!!
