This cake was made as a birthday cake for a friend who loves flip flops.
Start by making a large enough sheet cake to be able to cut and stack it for the shoebox. I used 2 Duncan Hines Butter recipe yellow cake mixes,which had cooled completely.
I measured a shoebox and cut layers to size, including a brownie layer on the bottom (most of my cakes have a brownie layer in them). Between the layers I used raspberry Simply Fruit. If you pipe icing around the edge of the layer it will keep the fruit filling from squeezing out. To make the lid, I used a slightly larger layer and trimmed it to fit.
Next ice it with your favorite buttercream frosting Decorate it to match a favorite brand or the person's favorite colors. Where the label would go use the date, or the person's initials.
The flip flop itself was a little more difficult. For this I used Chocolate Clay. You melt 10 oz of chocolate chips in the microwave ( I start with 1 min. and stir. If not completely melted do it again in 20-30 sec. intervals). When melted add 1/3 cup light corn syrup and mix well with a spatula until all the syrup is mixed in and the mixture forms a ball. Place on wax paper, spread to about 1/2" thick and let sit for about 2 hours. It will become very pliable-much like modeling clay. Then roll it out. Cut a flip flop shape out of card board and cover it. Then add clay straps and decorate the straps with candy. Place the shoe on top and you are done.
If you have any clay left, place in a sealed container and it will keep for several weeks at room temperature. Items made from the clay will harden in a few days if left in a cool, dry location.
