This wedding cake has a 6" gluten free chocolate cake on top, deep chocolate middle 10" layer, and 14" base layer. Cake was frosted with chocolate cream cheese frosting, and then wrapped in white modeling chocolate. We painted the brown scrape marks on the birch with cocoa colored petal dust moistened in almond extract and painted them on. As well, we painted the unfinished edges of the birch as well to make the “peeled” area really pop. I found the fern cutter on amazon and it sure made life easier than hand cutting each one. I used this technique for making my pinecones – and literally – they are the easiest thing I’ve ever made! Think 5 minute-pinecone!!!
http://sugarteachers.blogspot.com/2008/12/how-to-make-victorian-style-gilded.html