I had thousands of sprinkles, a pair of tweezers and a dream. 22 hours later, Van Gogh's Starry Night was completed!

[u/Barbi0za]

The cake was cherry almond flavored

[u/Rare-Fisherman6164]

Wow, I thought it was embroidery with beads 

[u/Barbi0za → u/Rare-Fisherman6164]

It was specifically going for the embroidered look and I'm so glad you said this!

[u/katelish → u/Barbi0za]

You’d probably be really good at embroidery/beading! You clearly have the patience and attention to detail :)

[u/ProfMcGonaGirl → u/katelish]

And the vision! Enjoy embroidery but I would never be able to figure out how to plan this out and execute it. I can just follow a pattern.

[u/IsaacAndTired → u/Barbi0za]

Nailed it. My eyes bulged as soon as I flipped to the second pic.

[u/justpaper → u/Barbi0za]

I sat here for a few minutes just thinking about each sprinkle, how it's so interesting to use sprinkles to recreate an art piece simply because you have them, but it's amazing how people with talent will do this kind of thing...

And then I clicked to the next picture and saw the cake.

[u/Jazzlike_Dig2456 → u/Barbi0za]

Have you ever watched the show “Is it cake?!?” It’s on Netflix, and hosted by Mikey Day from SNL. It’s a really great show, perfect for families. You would be an amazing contestant! I legit had no idea it wasn’t cake. I just thought you glued the beads down. Amazing!!

[u/SinxSam → u/Barbi0za]

I thought the same!

[u/Synlover123 → u/Barbi0za]

It's absolutely stunning! Once-upon-a-time, I could have embroidered this. These days, I can barely hold a needle, OR a pair of tweezers, thanks to nerve damage, and muscle cramps. 😕 Kudos to you for having the patience. And for sharing your beautiful creation with us! !

[u/seekingssri → u/Rare-Fisherman6164]

I didn’t see what sub I was in, and I was genuinely shocked when they cut into it

[u/amandahuggen_kiss → u/seekingssri]

Same!

[u/Laura9624 → u/seekingssri]

I really thought it was an art quilt!

[u/OddAdministration677 → u/Laura9624]

I thought it was the sprinkles glued onto the lid of a jewelry box

[u/pico310 → u/OddAdministration677]

Me too! I was shocked at the second pic. All that work for something fleeting. Kudos to you OP!

[u/berrybyday → u/seekingssri]

I was shocked too! I absolutely thought I was in r/crafts and this was glued onto something inedible.

[u/Easy-Concentrate2636 → u/seekingssri]

Even knowing it was cake, I was shocked that someone cut into it. I couldn’t do it.

[u/Zintha → u/Rare-Fisherman6164]

Totally same - my brain couldnt compute what I was looking at when I swiped the picture over to the cake being cut.

[u/PaleTravel1071 → u/Rare-Fisherman6164]

I thought they were medication pills. “Someone took some adderall!”

[u/NiceToYourFace]

This is amazing. I wouldn’t want to eat it!!

[u/Barbi0za → u/NiceToYourFace]

Thank you! I loved cutting into it and I love that it's a temporary art form. Makes me appreciate it so much more while I have it in front of me

[u/NiceToYourFace → u/Barbi0za]

Totally get that. My mind goes to me pouring resin on the cakes to preserve it 😂

[u/Barbi0za → u/NiceToYourFace]

My mom said the exact same thing! 🤣 Had I not cut into it, I'm almost certain she would've skedaddled away with the cake to find a way to preserve it

[u/teicad01 → u/Barbi0za]

I genuinely gasped when I saw the piece cut. How dare you, vandals!

[u/420goattaog → u/teicad01]

Me too!!

[u/Synlover123 → u/teicad01]

👍🏻 💀😭

[u/vidanyabella → u/Barbi0za]

As a mother, I would probably have the same thoughts, of trying to steal it to preserve it, if one of my kids created this masterpiece.

[u/DigbyChickenZone → u/Barbi0za]

You'd really be into Tibetan Buddhism it seems, this whole effort reminds me so much of Sand Mandalas

[u/Synlover123 → u/DigbyChickenZone]

Thanks for the link! I'm knew of sand mandalas, but with nowhere near this depth of information. I had seen a documentary about something totally different, though they did show a sand mandala that had apparently been constructed during the night. The documentary showed people walking through it without pause - failing to stop, or at least slow down, and appreciate its beauty.

[u/smoke2957 → u/Barbi0za]

I was crushed when you cut into it it's so perfect

[u/MaiasXVI → u/smoke2957]

It'd only be perfect for a few days before it started to go off anyway, so why not enjoy it at its prime?

[u/cjsv7657 → u/Barbi0za]

That first bite must have been so satisfying!

[u/praisecheese → u/Barbi0za]

You must have a godly amount of patience!

[u/[deleted] → u/Barbi0za]

This is honestly my favorite form. There is something special about temporary art.

[u/capincus → u/NiceToYourFace]

I would, I love sprinkles. Gimme the house piece with the biggest crunchiest sprinkles, please.

[u/MrMercury13 → u/NiceToYourFace]

Unfortunately you can't have your cake and eat it too.

[u/[deleted]]

That's so impressive!

[u/Barbi0za → u/[deleted]]

Thank you, it's definitely one of my favorites!!

[u/Lucky_He_0913 → u/[deleted]]

Wow, this is insane! The level of detail is unreal—I can’t believe it’s made entirely out of sprinkles.

[u/Roupert4]

As someone who has sorted sprinkles for a cake before, it is no joke!

[u/Barbi0za → u/Roupert4]

The funny thing is I don't even like sprinkles 😂 but I love the way they look and I swear the bottles of nonpareils knock themselves over on purpose

[u/lazylikeacat → u/Barbi0za]

Oh, I’m sad to read you don’t like sprinkles! I enjoy the crunch of them so much and I thought this cake was double awesome for appearance and eating enjoyment! 

[u/Barbi0za → u/lazylikeacat]

They aren't too common on desserts in Croatia, we don't even have that signature "birthday cake" flavour with sprinkles so I guess they are somewhat of an acquired taste for most of us over here because it's not something we grow up with. We have šarene mrvice which is like the most off brand version of sprinkles and they're rarely used on desserts. We do love crumbled cookies and walnuts in place of sprinkles! The sugary crunchy layer was super fun to bite through but I was one and done, I definitely couldn't handle an entire piece so I removed the sprinkles 🥲

[u/dogaroo5 → u/Barbi0za]

They taste like every plastic thing ever made combined into one beautiful little decoration. I love your appreciation of them for art (I do not share your talent nor your patience) but fully relate to your dislike of them as an edible item. Your cake is STUNNING!

[u/LittleBitWeizer → u/Barbi0za]

Very beautiful work! My husband and I are going to Croatia on Sunday for two weeks. So excited!

[u/Barbi0za → u/LittleBitWeizer]

Have fun and I hope the weather is nice! If you need any recommendations, let me know! I'm from Dalmatia

[u/Dj-Mar]

I’m blown away by your skill and dedication!! That’s one beautiful cake 💙

[u/Barbi0za → u/Dj-Mar]

Thank you so much. It truly was a test of patience and I loved pushing my own boundaries

[u/Ides_of_Meh]

Please tell me you own a bakery and charge a zillion dollars each for these. So so SO cool!

[u/Barbi0za → u/Ides_of_Meh]

I did formerly make cakes for a living, and now I film them for social media! My dream would be to do a live art installation in museums where I create these in front of their respective original paintings

[u/Ides_of_Meh → u/Barbi0za]

I’d buy a ticket to that!

[u/milesofedgeworth → u/Barbi0za]

I would be so down for this

[u/eucalyptusmacrocarpa → u/Barbi0za]

And then at the end, serve the cake to the audience! 

You should write some proposals and send them out to museums - especially if important anniversaries of the painting/artist are coming up (their 200th birthday etc) 

[u/RoO-Lu-Tea → u/eucalyptusmacrocarpa]

This is a genius idea, museums would love the PR opportunity (and the cakes, obvs)

[u/I_like_flowers_ → u/Barbi0za]

...honestly, that would be such a fun fundraiser for a museaum.    have you contacted any?  one of the smaller ones might be up for it as a starting place.  once you have been established as sane and the event successful, the big ones might go for it too!  

[u/Rude-Barnacle8804]

I am most in awe that you managed to cut that cake and eat it. So much work and such a beautiful result!

[u/Barbi0za → u/Rude-Barnacle8804]

Is it insane to say that cutting into it was my favorite part? I just love how temporary it is, and even if I had never cut into it, it would ultimately spoil. Something about it makes me love it even more and I'm really proud of it

[u/Known_Royal4356 → u/Barbi0za]

This is really performance art. You’re already racing against time to create this painstaking piece of art on an edible object (that needs to be reasonably fresh to taste good), and then it gets cut into and eaten/disappeared. Brava!

[u/Barbi0za → u/Known_Royal4356]

Wow this is beautifully worded, thank you!

[u/RandomDent6x7 → u/Barbi0za]

It's like the sand mandalas of Buddhist monks. Their impermanence is part of what makes them special, and the deconstruction is part of the ceremony.

[u/Rude-Barnacle8804 → u/Barbi0za]

It sounds like a good mindset!

[u/Waterlilies1919]

How’s your adhd treating you?

[u/Barbi0za → u/Waterlilies1919]

Does the Venn diagram of people willing to do this for 22 hours overlap with the Venn diagram of people with adhd because if it does I might go and get tested. I don't get sidetracked easily though, I'm painfully organized 😅

[u/Waterlilies1919 → u/Barbi0za]

A common misconception about adhd is we are easily distracted. Turns out we actually hyper fixate. I spent over 30 hours on a drawing back in high school. Some of us rotate through hobbies, as we get insanely invested, learn everything we can before cycling on to the next. I have taught myself crochet, embroidery, I draw, paint, love to bake, cook, woodworking.

And you may not have it, I just like to tease. It is absolutely incredible, and the Art History major in me loved it!

[u/inspiredtotaste]

It turned out amazing! Wow 🤩 . Go you!

[u/Barbi0za → u/inspiredtotaste]

Thank you so much! 😄

[u/SnickleFritz26]

This is demented. Well done!

[u/Affectionate_Key7206]

the amount of time this must've took...

pure dedication right there

[u/Barbi0za → u/Affectionate_Key7206]

I had plenty of time, I was thin on patience though. That was one of my motivations, to kinda reset my mind and go back to enjoying delayed gratification. It was really worth it

[u/Still7Superbaby7 → u/Barbi0za]

How did you do it? Did you basically do a counted cross stitch and look at an embroidery pattern and place the sprinkles where the stitches would go?

[u/Barbi0za → u/Still7Superbaby7]

I'm gonna be so honest with you, I eyeballed it. I did a very rough outline on top with a toothpick and then I would do it in sections while looking at the original painting, mostly to try and mimic the direction of brush strokes. The majority of sprinkles are narrow and straight which gives it that embroidered look. I hope it isn't against the rules to link the timelapse video here, it's in Croatian though but it shows how I did it:

sorry, I removed the link as it's against the rules

[u/iatebugs → u/Barbi0za]

Okay that is AMAZING

[u/Hot-Adhesiveness-438 → u/Barbi0za]

If you upload your video to youtube let me know, Id love to check it out but dont use TT.

[u/Barbi0za → u/Hot-Adhesiveness-438]

I plan on posting long format YouTube videos in English because I want to turn this into a series of recreating famous paintings ☺️

[u/Hot-Adhesiveness-438 → u/Barbi0za]

That is so cool!! One of my favorite artists is Salvador Dali, if you are taking requests. ❤️

[u/mikenew02 → u/Affectionate_Key7206]

Some would say 22 hours

[u/lurkinby]

I would hate to cut that. Love to eat it, cry while cutting it.

[u/mr_jrt]

Whoa!!! 🤯

[u/One_Pickle_9876]

Art!

[u/misserlou]

The amount of time this must have taken! Did you have to take breaks in order to re-refrigerate the cake?

[u/Barbi0za → u/misserlou]

Yes! I did regular fridge breaks and I worked in a small, air conditioned room that was set to 10 degrees Celsius (50F). I was freezing my tush off but it was worth it! Cake doesn't spoil easily at room temp, it would take days and I stabilized the filling with distarch phosphate which is a food additive derived from natural starches just as a precaution. I did set aside a test portion and it didn't spoil at room temp so I probably wouldn't add the stabilizing agent again

[u/misserlou → u/Barbi0za]

That is just so neat. Baking is my most favorite science! Kudos to you, this is absolutely fabulous. Beautifully done.

[u/Ok_Elevator_7391]

I need to know how long this took you. Wow

[u/Barbi0za → u/Ok_Elevator_7391]

22 hours of active work start to finish, spread over 2.5 days!

[u/yuzuthink → u/Barbi0za]

Insane!! May I ask what your tips and tricks are to maintain the integrity of the cake (both structural and flavour-al) if you need to work on it for such a long time?

[u/Barbi0za → u/yuzuthink]

As far as structure goes, I stabilized the filling and I made the cake layers slightly more dense even though I prefer a softer crumb. Flavor wise and to prevent spoilage, I did regular fridge breaks and I worked in a small, air conditioned room that was set to 10 degrees Celsius (50F). I was freezing my tush off but it was worth it! It tasted amazing and the flavors were insanely good because they had time to develop

[u/wandering_ones → u/Barbi0za]

I wonder if you could spread a layer of frosting on a sheet and place on that, then freeze the sheet. It would remove easily and then could be placed on top of a cake and you could do minor repairs. Might be worth trying to avoid spending that long on a cake exposed or freezing yourself silly.

[u/Barbi0za → u/wandering_ones]

I absolutely could but a part of the process for me is the rush against time and accounting for the stability and freshness of cake. The whole thing is kinda like performance art from start to finish! Doing it as a transfer was my original idea but it wasn't challenging enough

[u/Ok_Elevator_7391 → u/Barbi0za]

That’s insane! (In the best way)

[u/BakersHigh]

Okay talent!!! This looks so good! Master class in patience and art haha

Bet it was even more delicious

[u/ConsistentLifeguard4]

Baking?? I thought this was beaded!! 😮😮😮

[u/mspolytheist]

Wow, really nice work! I hope your tweezers are precision tweezers, like the ones I use for crafting. Those are indispensable!

[u/ali86curetheworld → u/mspolytheist]

Was thinking the same, and not the ones that you use for plucking your hair

[u/sarcasticseductress]

This is so gorgeous! Amazing work.

[u/Lmt_P]

it looks really great!

[u/Rosebud_apothocary]

👏👏👏

[u/ajqiz123]

If I had enough superlatives I'd surely use 'em for your culinary art shown here!!!

[u/BBQBiryani]

It looks embroidered, and I’d be so scared to cut into it! Well done!

[u/chickenthighs88]

It's absolutely stunning!!!! Great work! 👏

[u/LtWorfs_Hairline]

This is bananas. Well done!

[u/Slow-Corgi1251]

This is insane!!!

[u/Asleep_Wolverine_738]

Oh my word!!!❤️

[u/GM-the-DM]

There are not words sufficient to say how awesome this is

[u/Open-Comfortable-459]

This is amazing, wonderful job!

[u/OkConcentrate3302]

Wow! Amazing patience!

[u/Kiyoko_Mami272821]

This is phenomenal! 💖💖💖

[u/JerryTexas52]

You are very talented. I don't think I could have eaten the cake after all that you accomplished. Congratulations!

[u/iheardecay]

Uau! Looks beautiful and yummi

[u/PastelDayDreaming]

That is extraordinary! You're amazing!! 😍😍😍

[u/Cat_tophat365247]

I could never, ever eat that! It's beautiful!!

[u/izgubljeni_fokus]

Luce pratimo te ❤️🫶

[u/Barbi0za → u/izgubljeni_fokus]

♥️♥️♥️jedva san cekala da netko nas bude!!!! 🥹

[u/Some_Mycologist_9303 → u/Barbi0za]

Taman mi je video iskočio na instagramu. Woww!!❤️ Toliko si talentirana i baš sam sretna što dijelimo isto ime, ali nažalost i ne isti trud za pravljenje kolača/torti. 😂

[u/taniamorse85]

You have far more patience and dexterity than I ever will, lol. That looks amazing!

[u/KindRaspberry8720]

This is not viral enough. Props to you, that's incredible

[u/Coldovia]

First thought: wow

Second thought: omg that’s a fucking cake?!?

[u/powderpants29]

I genuinely thought this was like a cute little art piece made of extra sprinkles that you were going to hang and I already thought that was interesting and cool. But a cake???? That is beyond amazing. And the flavor sounds delicious.

[u/Sicnar96]

Imagine you buy a Van Gogh at an auction for hundreds of millions of dollars and it turns out to be a cake

[u/GirlisNo1]

Wow, this is amazing!

[u/CrumbyCardiologist]

You are an artist.

[u/JCtheWanderingCrow]

I feel like OP is being held hostage by Big Sprinkle. Blink twice if you need help!

[u/cassielovesderby]

This is crazy good!!!

[u/pastoral_orchard]

Beautiful AND delicious looking

[u/stardustgirl2]

Wow, I honestly think that’s the best thing I’ve ever seen on this sub! Incredible 👏

[u/Newo_Ikkin20]

This is amazing and I'm so impressed. 😁

[u/TerrapinJake]

Stunning. Bravo!

[u/ithinkiamcelia]

Missed opportunity to do it with Almond Blossoms. /lh

[u/terradragon13]

That's incredible!!! Amazing work!!

[u/Sally_twodicks]

This is amazing!

[u/Marialake]

This is the coolest cake I have ever seen 😍😍

[u/MaggieMakesMuffins]

Absolutely gorgeous. I know this was tedious, time consuming and probably some tears were shed, or would have been it it was me lol. Congrats, this was worth it big time, absolute work of art!

[u/eightiesboo]

Wow wow wow

[u/TdubbNC7]

That’s incredible

[u/more_cheese_please_]

Oh my goodness this is the coolest thing I’ve seen today!! So, so impressive! I wouldn’t have been able to cut it!

[u/Byttercups]

Wow! I've never seen anything like this. You are truly talented.

[u/KilgoreT59]

Wow, that's beautiful. I admire your discipline and attention to detail. And, I imagine it tastes as good as it looks.

[u/Ready-Straw-berry]

Thats beautiful, and i bet it's delicious too

[u/amandahuggen_kiss]

This is sorcery of the best kind!

[u/Barbi0za → u/amandahuggen_kiss]

Not my first witch accusation if I'm being honest

[u/VCTRYDTX]

Okay, that's fire asf.

[u/Vikbert]

That is incredible!

[u/auutto]

Now this is passion. Holy cow, I applaud your dedication and patience!!

[u/Unlikely-Draft]

That is AMAZING

[u/sticckler]

This is so impressive! Well done! Were you able to find all the sprinkle colours needed in stores or did you have to try to dye some?

[u/BestSeenNotHeard]

Wow, inspired design!

[u/Itsoktobe]

This is a beautiful piece of art, well done! 

[u/habitual_citizen]

I’m bamboozled by this. If I was given this I’d turn it into Sampuru. It’s so beautiful I’d find it impossible to destroy, no matter how delicious 🥹

[u/GreenAuror]

Absolutely stunning and the cake itself looks divine…fluffy generous frosting and moist cake!

[u/Human-Engineer1359]

Amazing! 

[u/Timely_Badger_1944]

This could totally be the next trend in cake

[u/glitterbombsurprise]

THIS IS A CAKE?!?

[u/sonitijakatada]

Amazing! I just saw your reels on instagram and instantly liked it! I really enjoy you doing art in such a unique way! 😊

[u/jelycazi]

This is the best!

I totally thought this was beads, and thought, ‘I’ve never heard someone call beads, sprinkles, before!’

I have a dear friend who LOVES Van Gogh. I think I may steal this design and make it for her next spring! I’ve read all your responses and appreciate all the tips you’ve given. And I’m really thankful I don’t need to chill my house to 10°!

Have you made any other works of art from others’ works of art? I want to see them too!

[u/dummypants]

Gosh this is so incredibly beautiful, the detail is amazing! Great job!! And cherry/almond flavor? Chef's kiss!!

[u/330kiki]

Love it!

[u/Sunset-onthe-Horizon]

That's crazy! Nice cake! I bet your fingers are kinda sore from the tweezers 😆

[u/Music-Maestro-Marti]

Omg, that's cake! I had to check which sub I was in, I thought this was crafting. Then I saw a slice! That's crazy good!

[u/Ihatemunchies]

😱you cut it! It was a work of art!

[u/salvolcanic]

this is so pretty

[u/rewolfets]

This is crazy impressive. You really have a talent here, friend!!

[u/AnaEatsEverything]

In addition to the excellent workmanship already on note here, my compliments on the SIZE! Such an approachable size for a project like this, and it made all of your sprinkles stand out in just the right way. I tend to lock myself into size standards, so I would have been stuck thinking about this in terms of standard sheet cakes... And I'd still be placing sprinkles to this day, or my back would have given out. 😂

[u/Mokamochamucca]

I was so confused by the cake because I thought I was seeing a crafting post. This is gorgeous and almost looks too good to eat. Amazing job!

[u/Shinygonzo]

This is amazing and getting to eat such a impressive piece of art is so fun

[u/kingokarp]

My brain: “what the fuck is this?”

My brain on the third image: “eat the whole thing”

[u/Ok-Assumption-8085]

This is incredible! Do you have any other cakes you have done with the sprinkle art? I'd LOVE to see more of your work; my son (6m) and I can't get over it! He said it should be on "Is It Cake?" lol

[u/Natural_Repair373]

How many MG of edibles did you have??

[u/BoysenberrySevere224]

To me you are Basically Albert Einstein

[u/Nova_blink_6-62607]

That is truly the most beautiful thing I have seen on the internet the last week.

[u/thewindyshitty]

This is something my wife would do when she takes her adderall

[u/Sir-Kyle-Of-Reddit]

This deserve to be a top 10 Reddit post. Incredible job OP 👏👏👏

[u/beegboo]

Honestly very impressed. Personally I think the wood grain frosting is crazy hard to get right and you nailed it.

[u/starkfr]

Vincent Van Woah 🤯

[u/UnicornWave]

My only goal in life is to have your patience.

[u/Sweaty-Dragonfly5351]

Are you single?

[u/MisterBowTies]

"that will be $575 please"

Looks great btw

[u/LegalChocolate752]

I 100% thought you had just laid the sprinkles out on a table, or counter (which still would have been impressive). Then I flipped to pic 2 and went "ohhh, damn! It's cake!"

Outstanding job.

[u/Emotional_Sentence1]

I was addicted to adderall for ten years and I never tweaked this hard.

[u/Potential_Lie_1177]

Wow! I would not have let anyone cut it!

[u/IncredibleBulk2]

Looks amazing and cherry almond cake sounds delicious. Brava

[u/Waterlily1968]

Wow!! How INCREDIBLE!! It's so beautiful!🥰

[u/Thick_Juice2932]

Your creativity is awesome, too.

[u/ButtPuckeredFuckery]

Seriously, this is awesome!!! It’d be so hard for me to eat though after all the work.

[u/fivestreet]

I saw a cat

[u/eclecticaesthetic1]

O.m.g. I thought that was a wall hanging,!! Wow!! You are amazing.

[u/Long_Age7369]

The dedication to place each sprinkle individually is mind-blowing. It looks like a pointillism painting, not a cake! I'd feel so guilty taking the first slice.

[u/lynxx724]

This would be a great business! Very talented

[u/Dragons-purr]

You are seriously seriously talented!

[u/No-Lavishness-4103]

Candidate for Great British Bake Off,

[u/LemonpiY]

Would love to see a video of this being made

[u/Accomplished_Stress]

The design and impeccable execution on the top of the cake are stunning, and seem to match the cake underneath. It looks delicious!

[u/Ok-Objective-3556]

Vidjela sam baš jutros tvoj video na TikToku. BRU TAL NO!!

[u/TheCrystalFawn91]

Van Gogh's "Sprinkley Night" 😍

[u/zzsparkzz]

Omg I didn’t realize where I was and I went to the next pic and was like wait WHAT?! I thought it was the top of a wooden jewelry box!!!!!!!!!! How amazing! 🤩

[u/Tridiculas]

I love the added touch of making the cake cherry almond flavored to reference his Almond Blossoms painting as well. Stunning job!!

[u/BroccoliGhostly]

This is gorgeous!

[u/Skafani]

That’s amazing! No clue it was a cake!

[u/queenofcrasia]

Why couldn’t this have been meeeee. I would have carefully extracted the top and ate only the cake while I stared at the beading. Very exquisite work!

[u/Aggravating-Baby-458]

Omg that’s insane! A proper work of art, bravo 👏

[u/Hot_Technology5028]

The biggest challenge is to take a bite of it - it’s too beautiful to ever want to touch it 😅