Cake Topper with Wirework

Write in cursive, or print in a connected font, "finally." For reference, this design shows the letter l at approximately 2 inches in height.

Leaving an 8-inch tail and working off the spool, form "finally" with 14-gauge wire.

Tips:

• Use the natural curve of the wire, round-nose pliers, Tool Magic-coated flat-nose pliers and fingers to shape the wire.
• Check the wire over the template as much as possible, in some cases working while the wire is on the template.
• Make small adjustments instead of large movements.
• Don't move onto the next loop or letter until the current step is how you want it. It is harder to change previous steps the further down the wire is worked.

Bend the wire in a swoop back over the top of "finally." Use round nose pliers to bend the wire back over the end of the swoop.

Use round-nose pliers to create a wide U-turn. Approximately 1/2 inch from the U-turn bend the wire around the jaw of round nose pliers to create a V shape. Approximately 1/2 inch from the V create a wide curve to complete the heart then trim the wire.

Base

Form the tail into a circle approximately 2 1/2 inches in diameter, perpendicular to the "finally."

Cut a 14-inch length of 14-gauge wire. Form the wire into a circle.

Place the larger wire circle around the smaller, off center so the seams of the circles are nearly touching.

Working off the spool, wrap the circles together tightly with 20-gauge wire then trim the wire.

Opposite the connection created in Step 7, wrap the end of 20-gauge wire tightly around the inner circle three times. Move the wire across to the outer circle and wrap tightly three times. Trim the wire.

Personalization

Using 20-gauge wire and the technique used to create "finally," create a personalized message for the top of the decoration.

Tip: Be sure to bend the wire words to match the shape of the swoop as you work.

Use 26-gauge wire to tightly wrap the personalization to the top of the swoop.

Cake Anchors

Cut five 6-inch lengths of 14-gauge wire.

Hold the center of a length of wire with round-nose pliers. Bend both sides of the wire around the jaw of the pliers. Repeat to create a total of five anchors.