How to Make a Fondant Shih Tzu Cupcake Topper

If you follow me on Instagram (I'm bakehappy there), you would know what I am about to announce here. 

Yes, it's official (it has been since February). I am no longer the youngest in the family. I am now the middle child. This little girl right here is Alexa, our youngest. 

I am not sure how other middle children felt when the latest addition to their families arrive but when I first looked into her adorable little puppy eyes and she looked into mine, I knew then, she has my heart at the palm of her hands. Wait, that should be paws.

Want to see more of her? A few weeks ago, I brought her home a new friend. Alexa meet Alexis. Alexis, Alexa. She was thrilled.

And this one was taken the day I returned from my Bacolod trip. Jenno and Ely gave me a box of a lovely chocolate cake to bring home. When I tool the cake out of the box, guess what? Alexa took possession of the cake box as if it were her home.

So for the tutorial today, I thought of making a fondant version of Alexa. Okay, not exactly her but of a Shih Tzu. 

We're still not sure if we'd want to grow her hair to its Rapunzel-esque potential when she grows up, seeing that it's hot here in our country. Maybe to the extent that is manageable and comfortable for her. She is the boss after all.

Alexa's fondant version might look mighty complicated but really, this is one tutorial that is easy to master. Here's how.

Fondant Shih Tzu Topper Tutorial

What we need:
Fondant in two shades of brown (or just one shade if you want) and pink
Black sugar pearls (we need just three, two for the eyes, one for the nose)
Knife
Half moon fondant tool
Ribbon mold (optional)
Brush and water to glue fondant together

Here's how:
(1) Roll brown fondant into a short sausage. This will be little Shih Tzu's body. Roll fondant into looooong tear shapes. Practice now, as you will be making lots of these all the way to step #10 below. 

(2) Attach it around the little dogs body. I did two layers, enough to cover the base. 

(3) To make the tail, gather a bunch of looooong tear shape fondant strips.

(4) Then curl it around one end. At the other end, attach a small ball for the face then add the eyes. 

(5) Then roll fondant into looooong tear shape and cover the whole face.

Shih Tzu's have really long hair that parts in the middle. 

So make sure to emphasize that as you work along. And don't forget to add the little dog's nose. 

(8) Add more tear shapes for the ears. 

(9) Then add some more from the nose to the back of the head. 

(10) To make the ponytail, gather a bunch of looooong tear shape fondant strips.

(11) Then attach it to the dog's forehead and lastly, add a cute as a button ribbon. 

Pretty simple right? Seeing as the whole time, we just make several long tear shapes! It's just a matter of where to place it strategically to make our little dog look like a Shih Tzu. 

Hope you like this everyone! :)