Beach Ball Birthday Cake

Last week I was asked by a friend if I would consider making a birthday cake for her friend's son's first birthday.  Did you follow that? My friend's friend's son's first birthday. What a mouth full!  Anyway, I was nervous at first but I said yes anyway.  She was after a beach ball themed cake because her son loves beach balls.  We discussed making the entire cake a beach ball but then settled on a rectangle cake with a beach ball on top.

The cake was made out of 2 square cakes. One vanilla and one chocolate.  I wrapped it in white fondant to make a crisp outside layer.  I then topped half with blue butter cream for the ocean and half with crushed arrowroot biscuits for the sand.

The ball was made out of rice bubble slice.  I made a batch and then formed it into a ball and let it set in the fridge.  Once set I covered it in melted white chocolate and again let it set.  I then used different coloured buttercream to create the beach ball look.  There is a small circle of fondant on top with the birthday boys name written in gel colouring.

I received a lovely message from the birthday boys mum after the party saying that the cake was great and they were all very happy with it.  They gave their son the beach ball to "play" with at the end of the party and apparently he loved it. I can just imagine the mess he made!