My middle child turned 7 yesterday. She wanted a balloon cake. After discussing it in detail, she decided that she really wanted a hot air balloon that stood up. So that’s what I attempted. 
I started with rice krispie candy molded in a pail and a Pyrex bowl to make the balloon part of the cake. After it was completely cool and formed to the bowls, I put them together with dowel rods and covered it with purple fondant. After finishing the rainbow that my daughter wanted for the balloon, I added some stars in the same colors on the top of the balloon and 7s around the balloon with purple edible marker.
I then made chocolate cake (my daughter’s favorite) in 6 inch square pans. I did a basket weave with peanut butter icing (again my daughter’s request) to make the squares look like a hot air balloon basket. 
To make the balloon attach to the basket, I sharpened the ends of dowel rods to make them stick into the cake board covered with fondant. I drove them into the rice krispie candy and then put it into the cake. I was so happy with how it turned out. Jamie was thrilled that it stood up! Thanks to my engineering husband who helped me with the design!
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