Hunger Games: Katniss Everdeen's Mockingjay Wedding Dress Cake

There may or may not be a lot of photos of this cake because it was INSANELY COOL......I'm just going to put that out there.  When my daughter suggested doing a Hunger Games birthday party I was pretty hesitant.  I mean, she's only 12 and Hunger Games is a pretty intense theme.  "But," she said, "you can do a really simple cake.  Like the reaping bowl or something."  Famous last words.....

I've gotten into this horrible habit of looking at ideas for cakes and thinking, "make it cooler."  It's kind of my motto for cake making.  But sometimes it gets me into trouble.  Like this cake for instance.  I could have made things really easy for myself, but I just couldn't quit thinking of ideas to make it super cool.  Plus, my sweet daughter kept telling me she was tired of people always thinking her sister's cake was so cool.  (You can see that one here.)

So this is what happened!  We love Hunger Games, and we love Katniss, and we LOVED the idea of making her dress as a cake.  I spent so many nights struggling to get to sleep because I just couldn't quit thinking of what to do for this cake.

These gum paste feathers were made shiny by painting them with vanilla and brown food gel mixed together.  It gave them so much dimension. 

The white feathers and lacy detail were done with gum paste as well.

My favorite part of this cake?  My daughter and her adorable friend actually helped me with the flames.  She's always asking if she can help with my cakes and I NEVER say yes, but I wanted her to be involved with her cake.  I boiled the sugar and poured it onto tin foil then she and her friend shaped the flames then painted the flames with red food coloring to give them this super cool effect!  I LOVE THEM!

No fondant on this cake because my girl hates fondant.  Just yummy butter cream frosting and then the sugar details on this bad boy!

Oh, and did I mention that it IS LIT UP FROM INSIDE?!  It was such a pain getting those tiny little battery operated tea lights into the cake, but it was so worth it in the end!

You can't see in these amazing pictures, but the lights actually flickered like a real flame.

See, aren't those flames so cool?!  Way to go my brilliant daughter!

Aren't these photos INCREDIBLE?!?!  My friend Brandi took them for me again, she's becoming a staple for my photos!  Her site is here if you want to see her other work.  You can also check out her stuff on Facebook here.  She's so incredibly talented!!!

I know I say I love making all my cakes, but his one was super fun for me.  And I couldn't have been happier with the results.  It was also very very fun trying out the boiled sugar trick.  I'll be doing more stuff with that in the future!  I love you, Ali girl!  Happy 12th birthday, we love you so much!