Oh Christmas Tree!

I've got a new project to work on.  As usual, it's a bit ambitious, but that's why I'm so excited about it.

I was watching Ace of Cakes a few days ago, and I saw them deliver this cake:

Duff's amazing Christmas tree cake
(U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Melissa Rodrigues)

So of course, I think...I can do that!  This thought usually gets me into monumental projects that turn my kitchen into a federal disaster site.  I become the kitchen zombie, covered in powdered sugar and food coloring gel, hair askew and feeding like the undead on sugar and cold coffee.  

I have two weeks to descend to that state, and the prep work starts tonight.  Gum paste ribbons and ornaments, spice cake, cream cheese butter cream, a knife and a whole lotta green fondant.  It may not defy gravity or stand the height of a small child, but I think it's something you'll want to see...if not to admire, then at least to make snide remarks!

Oh, speaking of snide remarks...here's my sketch.

When it's cake...it'll look so much better:).

Yes, for those art lovers out there, that's a crayon on notebook paper original!  My medium is sugar, not crayon.