Fantasy Football Trophy Cake

The birthday guy really loved his fantasy football league so this cake was inspired by his fantasy football trophy.  And nope, that isn't a typo...that is the actual name of the league!  His girlfriend (who requested the cake) was so excited to surprise him...she is super adorable and I loved working with her on the design!

I made some rice krispie treats and molded it into a football shape.  

I centered the football on a rod because although the rod would be supported by the cake, it didn't hurt to have it balanced as much as possible.  

Starting from top left clockwise, I then placed it in styrofoam so that I could work on it.  I then buttercreamed it, smoothed it out and then covered it in fondant.  

At this point, I took a short break to eat dinner and when I came back, the football looked like this.  I literally gasped and was super sad.  The football was too heavy for the rice krispie treats to support so the 4 hours that I put into it just went down the drain.  To be honest, I was pretty discouraged and tired but I sucked it up and just made myself keep going.

I peeled off the fondant, scraped off the buttercream and re-shaped the football so that the bottom of the football would now be resting on the base of the actual cake.

After reshaping the football, I once again buttercreamed, smoothed and covered it in fondant. It's a good thing I always give myself extra time in case I need it (like with this cake).

Added the laces.

Used edible spray paint to make it metallic gold.  At this point, I started getting super excited again since I was able to start seeing the vision of the cake come together. :)

While the football dried, I worked on the base.  

Added the "plaque" part.

Added the border.

Since the football was going to rest on top of the cake, I needed to add some dowels for support so that the football wouldn't collapse into it.  There are a lot of different types of dowels that one can use such as wood, plastic, etc.  The wide straws used for bubble tea also work surprisingly well.  I first stuck the straw into the cake, noted where it will be level on the cake and then cut off the excess.  I also later on added another one in the middle that was longer than the other so I could stick the bottom of the football on it.

Next, I spray painted some plates and let them dry.

Once they were dry, I put in the team names of last year and the current year's winners using an edible marker and added them to the side of the cake.

I added the football and it was ready for delivery.