I have seen so many cakes on this site that looks like the cake boards have been covered in gift wrapping paper. Which is a wonderful idea, because it gives you so many more options than plain white or yellow or red, etc. The couple of times that I have tried this I have had a big greasy ring that spreads into the paper from my cake icing. How are you all NOT getting that? I don't see that happening in any of your pictures. Any tricks?

I think most people cover it with clear contact paper or you could even put it on plywood with plexiglass covering it so that you can reuse it.

The clear contact paper put over the wrapping paper works great!

Well, that would make sense! Are you putting it on before you wrap the board or after? Guess it probably wouldn't matter. I asked someone at a cake supply and they said that they thought maybe wrapping the board with saran wrap on top of the wrapping paper. I could envision the cake sliding off the board and plopping onto the floor. Think I will try the contact paper. Thanks.

You put the wrapping paper on first and then the contact paper. I think Saran Wrap would look funny. You know what I mean? It wouldn't look very professional to me. Contact Paper would look smoother.

The contact paper can be a bit slick, but just use a glob of icing to attach your cake to the board and it won't slide anywhere.

Just another tip: One of my favorite things to do for a man's cake is to use a piece of plywood for the cake board and then just cover it with the clear contact paper. It is very manly. The times I have done this I get a lot of great compliments.

I really like the idea of the plywood for the man's cake. I just ordered some masonite boards from a website. Have you ever used them? I expect them to be delivered today. I thought they would be sturdier then the cardboad ones at Hobby Lobby.

I am sure they will be sturdier, but I have never used them before. We just have a big supply of plywood that I can cut to any size, so that's what I will use for now.

I agree, that the cardboards are a bit weak and they scare me, even if I use 2 or 3 together.

Guess I'll find out later today!!

Now, would you use those boards for your paying customers? If so, how do you go about getting them returned to you?

I have used the plywood a couple of times and once I never got it back and the other 2 times, I have had to go and pick it up myself. I find it such a hassle. I normally just use it for family cakes and use cardboard for customer cakes for this very reason.

Thats what I do also. wrapping paper and then contact paper. Contact paper can be wiped off and washed too.I usually try to put a ribbon around the edge also.

That is probably what I will end up doing. I have a lot of customers through my church so it wouldn't be hard for me to get items back. The masonite boards were pretty reasonable but not reasonable enough to risk losing one. I have a cake I'll be doing in February for 700 people. I'll be in charge of the event (a Mr. GQ Contest at our local high school) so I'll be there to get the boards back. That was the main reason I was ordering them.

I too, have used nice plywood boards never to see them again. I know that some people use deposits just for this reason--return the cake boards/pillars/whatever else the baker wants returned to them. Frankly, for what the little business I do it's just not worth the hassle of collecting and returning deposits. If it's a cake that 2 or 3 cardboards just wouldn't be sturdy enough, I just add the cost of the plywood to the cost of the cake. Same with the pillars--I think it's easier for my clients to just be able to toss everything at the end of the event and not have to worry about returning things to me.

I have made a min-tutorial of this on www.r-bdesigns.com under the Message Board, under the section Techniques, the title is "Covering a Board with Wrapping Paper/Contac Paper.
Hug Squirrelly

how do you get the ribbon to stay around the boards...do you use super glue...love the look and always wanted to know how to...thanks

while talking about the boards...anyone know how to get that puffed look that earlene uses

jss,
I use a glue gun to get the ribbon along the edge. I did a tutorial for making a similar effect to Earlene's puffy bases. It is on
www.r-bdesigns.com under the Message Board, under Techniques, the post is entitled, "Making a Gathered Cake Base Stand" .
Hugs Squirrelly

thanks, but having problems...getting to message board...don't see it anywhere
must be doing something wrong...

I stated the message board because the site is also a personal site for the owner. But you should be able to get in using www.r-bdesigns.com
Hugs Squirrelly Cakes

I covered my Wiggles cake board with wrapping paper and then tack paper. Just put a smear of icing on top before placing the cake on it to keep it still. I do that same thing whenever placing a cake on any cake board to keep it in place.

If you're worried about getting a cake board back just charge a $5 or $10 refundable deposit for it - you'll get it back then! If it's a large cake you can include the price of it in your cake.

Debbie

Is contact paper food safe?

Yes, contac paper is food safe but always clean it with a soapy cloth and a clear water wipe, before you place food on it. Some people use the patterned contac paper (well it is actually a form of vinyl or plastic) on its own.
Hugs Squirrelly

I just went home for lunch and my masonite boards were waiting on me. They are really sturdy like plywood but not as thick. I'm really excited about them because the cardboard always seems to bend no matter how many I use. Also got some foil paper for covering them in black, red, green and burgandy. Now for another cake to do!!!

Thanks, Squirrely! Nice site. I registered on it. Like I don't already spend enough valuable time on this site, when there are a million and one things that I SHOULD be doing! But hey, I don't want to miss something!

Heehee, tell me about it!
I am multi tasking today, haha, laundry and cake sites and talking on the phone getting Christmas lists and running a load of dishes in the dishwasher, have spaghetti sauce on the stove, can't beat that, haha!
I must be getting old, I have to watch what I say on the phone because I am gathering lists for everyone, doing a couple of people's shopping for them and I have to be careful I don't tell the wrong person what I picked up for them from someone else, heehee. I am turning into my mother. Getting together a grocery list for Christmas baking for out of town. Fortunately my sister bakes a bit now, so the stuff going to her sister-in-law is shared baking between us. We don't send out of town, as many varieties because we send it out early.
I love this time of year when you get so tired you don't know what you are doing, haha! But it is a good tired.
Hugs Squirrelly

That sounds EXACTLY like my day, only I have chili on the stove instead of spaghetti. Oh, and I had to take and pick up my daughter from school, go to McDonalds to eat and play, buy new pair of ballet shoes, and go to 2 ballet classes tonight. But ditto on the laundry, dishwasher and phone. It just never ends!

I have priced contact paper and found it to be expensive on boards that are not going to be returned... but did find something in my local Michael's that works just as well. They sell giant rolls of clear celophane, which is FDA approved for use with food. It is a huge roll, something like 250 feet for just $10. And then of course, use one of the 40% off coupons. So $6 + tax for the huge roll... can't beat that! Just an idea... btw, if you want to look for it, it's in the gift wrapping section of the store.

I use clear cellophane over my wrapping paper as well. Much cheaper than contact paper. Sometimes I use plastic table clothes too. Like a black and white checked one for a race car themed cake.