URGENT HELP with cake decorating - please, before I cry like small child....

[MyHeadMightExplode]

ARGH!!!!

Ok so I have agreed to make my brother's wedding cake idiot.

I'm loosely basing it on this bitter laugh

So, I have florist paste to make the plaques of the buildings and some royal icing with a pinch of gum tragacanth in it to harden it up for piping but basically it isn't sticking to the plaques. Even blowing on it can blow the tiny brittle sticks of piping off it. I have to transport this cake 200 bloody miles to the wedding. What am I doing wrong

PLEASE HELP ME BEFORE I END UP DRAWING THE BUILDINGS ON IN WASHABLE CRAYOLA PENS....

h....e....l....p

Don't think washable crayola is toxic is it?

LOL! I don't care about toxicity. I need an amazing effect followed by lavish praise not for it to look like it has been made by a 2 yr old

does the royal icing need the gum trag? I use it to turn sugarpaste into a harder modelling paste, but use royal icing just as is to pipe?

In that silicone grouting might do the trick? Should stick anyway!

is the gum trag making it too brittle?

Would white chocolate work?

I'm assuming you are piping white onto black? Have you considered painting black onto white icing? I don't know if that would work because I can't draw so would not attempt this but if I was going to, I'd use black paste mixed with a tiny bit of vodka and use it like that, you won't get the 3d effect though.
If you're using royal icing, maybe you don't need the gum trag, that might be what's making it so brittle. Sorry, not very helpful really...

Blimey... I am worrying for you re the transportation of the cake

I would just pipe royal icing without any additions of gum.

Don't think so, I tried it without gum trag and it did the same, a friend suggested using the gum trag to harden it up a bit.

Should I be coating the plaque bit with something before I start do you think? (not asking you prisoner, this is you this is)

I would print out the picture of the cake and stick it to the cake.

(GORGEOUS cake)

I'd love to just print it out but I have said I will try and make that cake because I am an idiot and I am ok at piping but it's the getting it to stick on the plaque that is causing the problem.

Here is what I would do:

1. Ditch the gum trag, it is not needed to harden up royal icing.
2. Etch a line into the fondant so the icing has a valley into which it is piped.
3. Prepare the plaque and etched valley 2 days before you ice.
4. Make up the royal icing 24 hours before its needed and cover with cling film so any bubbles can disperse.
5. When you are ready to pipe use edible glue in the valley before piping into place.
6. Leave flat to dry.
7. Use edible glue over iced plaque.

Normally when preparing cakes that are transported I attach any delicate bits at the venue, this gives more control IMHO.

What royal icing recipe are you using?

I wish I could help in some way. Erm. Glue? Superglue?

BeanutPutter...

I think I love you.

That sounds like a plan. Gum trag will be ditched then. I already had very slight grooves for the outline but I will go over them and make them a bit deeper.
I'm not sure about no.7 - do you mean to attach them to the cake? I have some edible glue.

I am making the royal icing with merrywhite and icing sugar - beating for 10 mins in a mixer before using.

No.7 I mean once you have iced the design onto the plaque and it is dry, use the edible glue again as a clear 'varnish' which should add extra stability.

:) I love the loving me comment [needy emoticon]

meep-meep!

Meep.

Thanks all