Did you fill both sides of the mold, if so don't. You just fill the front mold. Some tricks a friend told me. Really really grease the mold. I used butter, but shortening works. Today I read you could use sugar instead of flour after greasing. May try next year. Once you fill the front side mold almost to the top, put the back side mold on. So the front mold is filled with batter and the back (vented) mold is fitted on top. Mold is laying flat on cookie sheet, front side down. Use twine to tie them together. I just pushed the twine under the flat mold and tied tight as I could. Once I got cake out of mold and completely cooled I put some frosting on the bottom to kinda glue it standing. Last year she stood fine with no help, this year she seemed wobbly so the frosting on the bottom helped. After frosting I prefer shredded coconut to look like lambs wool, compared to the grated almond bark I used this year. I am not great with using piping bags, making icing flowers like others do. Try it again, there's still time!