Sorry if this is a repeat question, but does anyone know how to make the puff base that is in so many wedding cake pictures? If so, please post detailed instructions on how to make it.

Thanks for sharing!

I believe SquirrellyCakes knows!

Squirrelly Cakes, where are you? Help me please!!!!!!!

Well, likely most of the ones you are seeing, the folks got the instructions by ordering them from www.earlenescakes.com
Haha, Jscakes, I make them, that is true. I use different substances for the base depending on how sturdy it needs to be. So for smaller lightweight cakes, I use double cardboard, for heavier cakes, 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch plywood. Cut the base to the desired size. I use quilting batting to pad it, or sometimes thin foam, whatever I have handy depending on the amount of padding I want. Glue gun or staple it on, stretch it over your base and underneath and staple or gluegun to the underneath side. Then stretch material over this, you are basically upholstering the board. So you want to cut a piece of fabric so that it has about 1 inch overlap all around the diameter of your board. So 16 inch round about an 18 inch piece of fabric. Cut slits in the fabric about every inch or so so that the slits are just about to the diameter of the board you are covering. Same way you use foil to cover your board. You don't absolutely have to do this, but it makes a neater job. Stretch the fabric and the simplest way is to staple gun it to your board. So use shallow staples so the ends don't come through the top side. Start at one side, stretch and staple. Now stretch and staple the opposite side. Next another side, then the final side. So now you have four staples holding the fabric in place, you are going to stretch and gather the material if you must. You can now gluegun or staple down the rest of the fabric.
If you want to be really fussy, you will cover over the underneath with a piece of fabric cut to fit the diameter of the board so that no staples are exposed.
Does that make sense?
Hugs Squirrelly Cakes

See, I told you!!! O Thank you SquirrellyCakes!

Heehee, Jscakes, how do you remember things so well?
I play with upholstery and was too cheap to send away for any instructions, haha!
I just happened to see the post and your response!
Hugs Squirrelly Cakes

First, thank you jscakes for pointing me in squirrelly cakes direction.
Second, than you squirrelly cakes for giving me detailed information. I have read the instructions twice and I do not understand. The lack of understanding is not normal for me so, right now, I feel like this . Now, isn't that just one BIG ball of emotions? I am going to sign off and try again in the morning

You're good SquirrellyCakes! Can I copy just these words from you..."how do you remember things so well?"....and show hubby, he'll never agree with you!

ha, if all else failed I would have sent you a personal message on this because you sent me information about it a while back.
Thanks again!

Oh dear, maybe I wasn't clear enough. Sometimes it is easier to follow a diagram. I will try to get to drawing one tomorrow and if you want to PM me and leave your email address, I will send it to you.
Everyone learns differently, some from audio means, some from written instructions, some from diagrams or combinations of methods. Haha and we all learn better when it isn't so late at night.
Just leave your email address by PM if you like and I will try to get to you tomorrow.
Hugs Squirrely Cakes

Haha, yes please copy and show hubby.
I think the slits thing sounds confusing when I read what I wrote, better a diagram, me thinks!
Haha, if I tried to draw one now, it would be very confusing, better tomorrow.
Heavens, I have to start going to bed before the wee hours, haha!
Hugs Squirrelly Cakes

Squirrelly,
Do you have a picture of what yours looks like?
I think I understand, but maybe not. I have two questions:

Do you pad and cover the entire board or just the edges all the way around?
Also, the ones on earlene's site looks kind of gathered or pleated. Does your method do that too?

Thanks,
Purple Petunia

Hi there, I am having trouble with my scanner, was only able to scan one way of doing this, which you would not get the gathers with. Will try again tomorrow to get another scan of the gathered method. I may have time on the weekend to make up one with some step-by-step photos, I am hoping.
The batting can be just to the edge or overlap onto the back.
Anyway, as soon as I can get the scanner working again and get a couple of hours to make one up for a demonstration, I will do so.
This is a busy couple of weeks for me and I have a few email requests for detailed instructions that I am behind on because this scanner is giving me grief, haha.
But I promise, I will get on this as soon as I can.
Hugs Squirrelly Cakes

Glad to hear you use plywood squirrelly! I heard some use styrofoam. I just didn't see how that was strong enough.

Next question... I'm guessing the fabric is ruined with each cake??? Does the frosing leave grease spots??? Like if you put the cake on it the night before will there be a grease ring at the reception??

Maybe you can make a tutorial and post. I know you're busy, but in the next couple of weeks if you get time it would be really cool!

Thanks Squirrell... you're the best!!!

Haha, plywood always for any heavy cakes!
Actually you can place styrofoam on the plywood to get the thicker edge as in a look similar to Earlene's Puff Base.
Just want to make sure that everyone knows, I have never seen Earlene's instructions. This was just my way of making bases for cakes. In fact, when I finally went on her site, I was surprised to see the Puff Base which looked similar to an effect I had used. I think her Puff Base is a very good look.
I dabble in sewing and a bit of upholstery work, cushions and chairs and such. So for me to send away for instructions when I could make something similar, well it wasn't an option. Haha, likely her method is easier than mine though.
I get tired of the same old flat look with the bases and had been playing with making a few simple ones for cakes.
Well, if you use styrofoam on the plywood, you can glue it and remove the whole thing when you want to change the fabric.
With certain fabrics, I do remove them and reuse them after they are washed and ironed. I have lined some with cotton so that the styrofoam could be re-used. But for something going out to the public, I would normally not reuse anything but the plywood and washed fabric.
Some satin fabrics are likely to develop grease spots, so you would have to test a piece out. What I usually do is take a washed and dried piece of fabric, actually plop some buttercream on it and see if and how much it bleeds out.
I have used moire, velvet, crushed velvet, lace with a layer or organza or organza on its own, various upholstery fabrics.
With some fabrics I use the clear plastic contact paper - which is actually vinyl, cut into the size of the cake, placed in the centre of the material. So you are actually cutting the cake on this plastic covering. This eliminates any possibility of grease spots.
I have to say, though, that other than the odd piece of satin, I don't find grease spots to be an issue.
Sometimes I use strictly a piece of styrofoam on the plywood, other times I use the quilting batting, sometimes I use Dacron or a similar fabric that you use over a pillow before you upholster it. If a fabric has a really loose weave you want to make sure that none of the batting can come through and make your surface fluffy. So a loose weave fabric I would line.
No, you will not see a grease ring on the stand. There may be spots under the cake from the moisture of the cake and also, since most people put a dab of icing underneath the cake to hold it in place. However this isn't an issue because the cake is generally cut in the kitchen, other than the first ceremonial cut. You will always see crumbs from that cut, regardless of the surface of the cake base.
I will try to get around to a tutorial on this in the near future.
Hugs Squirrelly Cakes

If you get a tutorial of how you did it Squirrellycakes, I'd love to have it too .. I'm better a visual things ..

Since you set the actual cake on a piece of plastic contact paper...couldn't you spray the fabric with scotchguard...to protect it against staining???
Just a thought here..
cakegal

Squirrelly Cakes, hi! I haven't had contact with you since you first told me about when I ran into you on the Wilton forum. You sent CakeLady's recipes to me and for that I am so grateful! Anyway, back to the issue at hand...my friend's husband just cut a bunch of 1/4 inch thick press board in various sizes for me to use as cake boards. He got the idea when I asked my friend if she had thrown away the cardboard cake board I put her birthday cake on. As my friend, I didn't feel too cheap to ask her that! I know, probably noone else would have asked for something like that back! Anyway, he said don't waste my money buying those when he has so much of this thicker hard-press cardboard at work that gets thrown away everyday. He said he would cut it to any size I needed so I just sent him a list of various sizes!! So, I am also a visual person...reading the directions didn't sink in too well! Have you posted your directions or do I need to wait for you to email them out to those who request them? I don't want to take up your time so if you can't I'll understand and try to read over your instructions a little more carefully - maybe draw out my interpretation as I read them. But in case you do already have it and don't mind, here is my email: [email protected]

Thank you, Tarina

Ms. Squirrelly, looks like you might just as well make this an article and post it for all of us! Janice

Heehee, that is my intention, but I need to get some more qulting batting and fabric and get my staple back from my oldest. I hope to have it up and on the site in a week or two.
Sorry for the delay.
Hugs Squirrelly Cakes

That would be awesome SquirrellyCakes!! I'm a visual type of person and if I could see some pictures of how you're doing it, I know I'd understand better lol

What would we do w/o our SquirrellyCakes!!!!!

Heehee, well it might be a bit quieter around here and there would be oodles more file space, haha!
I am going to do a tutorial and once it is done, I will send it to Jackie and ask her where I should put it or what she wants to do with it.
I like to post things rather than email out responses, so posting it somewhere would be the best thing, I think.
Just want to reiterate, this is not Earlene's Puff Base, it is just my way of doing a similar thing. I have no idea how she does hers and I have never seen the directions. I don't want to get into any trouble with Earlene nor do I want anyone to be disappointed that they are not getting the real thing. If people want the real thing they need to go to Earlene's site and order the directions.
The only thing stable enough for a wedding cake is 1/2 inch to 3/4 inches plywood, so if that is what you want the directons for, you have to use that as your base. However for smaller light-weight cakes you can use pressboard (fibreboard), MDF or masonite or even several thicknesses of cardboard glued together.
Hugs Squirrelly Cakes

SquirrellyCakes, did you ever get that tutorial made up? I would totally love to be able to see what I am reading! THanks

I have been toying with making a steering wheel cover type cover that is 7 or 8 inches wide and has elastic in it so that the bottom elastic will be on the bottom of your board. ON top of the board will be a styrofoam ring wrapped in batting and then you would pull the top of the cover over that and it would pucker due to the elastic.

I will try to work on one this week and see what I can come up with.

Although I have squirlleys tutorial and it is very similar but I am wanting a cover that can come off and be washed. So essentially I will have 3 or 4 bases and numerous covers in various colors and textures.

Is there anything we can do to convince them to move forward the approval of those instructions?

I would like to see it too. A visual would be easier for me to understand. Thanks

I don't understand how the cake is supported on that type base. Is it too cushioned? Would it sink in or tilt over? It's beautiful and I would love to know how to do this. Here's a link to the one I would love to make http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-24530.html

That one looks like it was made following my directions. It is likely a styrofoam dummy with the board attached as I did.
Here is the link to the instructions. You have to join and I believe you have to make three posts in the General section before you can view the other sections.
http://cakes.r-bdesigns.com/smf/index.php/topic,1483.0.html
If that link doesn't work, the site is www.r-bdesigns.com
There is a message board, the instructions are listed under Techniques
The post is, Making a Gathered Cake Base Stand
Hope that helps.

[/quote]
Actually, if you have my tutorial from RB, it is designed as you are stating, so it can be removed and washed. Not sure if you are referring to old written instructions here or the one from RB.
And I did send in a copy to this site, last August for approval.
Hugs Squirrelly[/quote]

It is yours from the RB but for some reason I thought yours was permanent. I will have to re-read the instructions. I was rather tired when i read them the first time.
Can't wait to try it.

great