Codex Deano

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Christmas Cake(s)

This year's Christmas cake challenge was Sam the Snowman (the claymation narrator from the old Rudolph special.)  The goal was to create two identical cakes within a couple hours so my son and daughter could each take one to school.

I made the fondant while the cakes were cooking.  By the time the cakes cooled I had most of the small pieces sculpted.  I started with the small parts so they would have time to harden.  This makes them easier to adhere to whatever I'm adhering them to.
Arms, noses, eyes and facial hair

Pocket watches
Gold buttons and red holly berries

























Next came the body segments (snowballs) and the heads
I was surprised to find that Sam was made up of 5 segments (including his head.)  I've never made a real snowman that has had more than 3 pieces.



 It was at this point that I discovered Sam is just a heavy-set  Colonel Saunder.
























Next was his derby.  A simple black hat with a gold hatband and a piece of holly.
Those are coloring jells, not prescription bottles

Close up

Bodies together and hats on



























Once the heads were on it was time to make the vests, place the buttons and his gold pocket watch.
The vests

Adding the buttons

With his tie, arms and pocket watch (with  chain.)





I was very happy with the texture of the vest.  The chain was a little heavier than I was picturing but I was also doing this in record time so I didn't really beat myself up over it.




The finished Sam...
I has some leftover fondant so I threw together a couple of Christmas trees for a background.  I wish they had been darker.




The "green"

The "brown trunks" and some quick decorations















The final product:







Total sculpting time was about three hours.  As I was finishing these guys up the radio started to play Burl Ives' Holly Jolly Christmas.  A fitting song seeing how he was the one who voiced Sam and gave life to this handsome snowman almost a half of a century ago.

Thanks Burl.