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Turtle... here are my smoothing pictures - Page 2

post #16 of 32
3/26/05 at 8:30pm
Clai4dawn, I tried the cupcake cake and it turned out wonderful on my first try! Thanks to all your helpful hints and tutorials. I have never iced a cake the the icing tip before. WOW! What an idiot I was. I was making it a lot harder on myself. Once I piped the icing in the rows it was almost perfect. I put the spatula over a hot flame and smoothed the top. Worked like a charm! I didn't even need a pot of water.

Have you ever tried that before. I'm not sure if it will do anything to the icing. Of course, I don't want it hard when some one bites into it. We will see tomorrow. I made them foe Easter and we will see if the kids give them a thumbs up.

BTW, your buttercream recipe is wonderful. It was sooo smooth. There were no airbubbles! icon_surprised.gif Wonderful, I have never had the icing have no airbubbles.

Thank you soooo much.
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post #17 of 32
3/27/05 at 2:56am
Thread Starter 
Sounds great! I'm so glad it all went well for you!!

I use the boiling water because it cleans the knife in between swipes. I also have an electric stove (yuck!!) so the only thing flaming in my kitchen is me!! hahahahaha
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post #18 of 32
3/27/05 at 9:37pm
Mchelle~ I was wondering if you ever had smoke smudges on your cake when you heat the spatula up like that? I would figure you would. If not that's a great tip! I thought of using an electric heating pad... putting the spatula's in between both ends of the pad... silly I know but it just might work LOL!!
"Learn from a turtle... it only makes progress when it sticks it's neck out"
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"Learn from a turtle... it only makes progress when it sticks it's neck out"
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post #19 of 32
3/27/05 at 10:17pm
I also recommend smoothing with a piece of parchment paper instead of paper towel. That gets it incredibly smooth! Just lay it over the cake and smooth it with your hand flat. You still have to use the crusting frosting and let it crust over first. I've been using the hot wet spatula idea, too, but I have to keep stopping to rinse it off. It still helps so much, though! The boiling water with two spatulas is a great idea! I just got the icing tip and can't wait to try that out, too! icon_smile.gif

Thanks for the photo tuturial and explanation! Very helpful!
~AngelWendy
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post #20 of 32
3/27/05 at 10:58pm
I've tried parchment paper too and it still doesnt smoothe! icon_mad.gificon_cry.gif
I am at my wits end...like I said in another post I cant smooth at all its seems, and I am discouraged quickly. If the smoothing doesnt turn out then my confidence isnt smooth either icon_redface.gif
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post #21 of 32
3/27/05 at 11:04pm
Hmm.. make sure you're using a crusting buttercream and that you wait long enough for it to really crust - like 30 minutes or maybe 45. Gently touch it on the side with a finger and see if it feels crusted before you try to do the additional smoothing with the paper towel or parchment. I also find it will crust better in the fridge. Are you using the cake icing tip? That supposedly helps a lot. Also, make sure you add far more icing than you need on the cake because you take about 1/3 to 1/2 off in the smoothing process.

If you can't get it smooth, try to cover the bumpier parts with decoration on top - like basketweave which covers a multitude of sins, apparently.. or stars or extra roses. icon_smile.gif

Best of luck!
~AngelWendy
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post #22 of 32
3/27/05 at 11:20pm
HEY that may be my problem...I am so worried about messing up the cake that I dont touch hard enough...... icon_surprised.gificon_confused.gificon_eek.gificon_surprised.gificon_rolleyes.gificon_razz.gif
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post #23 of 32
3/28/05 at 1:03pm
tcturtleshell.... it turned out fine, no brown spots or anything. I held the knife above the flame (not too close). I hope this will work fine from now on (keeping my fingers crossed) icon_razz.gif and maybe I can actually get all my cakes smooth. icon_biggrin.gif
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post #24 of 32
3/28/05 at 5:51pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by flayvurdfun

HEY that may be my problem...I am so worried about messing up the cake that I don't touch hard enough...... icon_surprised.gificon_confused.gificon_eek.gificon_surprised.gificon_rolleyes.gificon_razz.gif



Look at the spatula in my picture- it's bending... don't be afraid to push hard. I push hard enough that it bends.
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post #25 of 32
3/29/05 at 8:18am
Flav~

If your BC isn't getting crusty enough maybe you should add some meringue powder. I haven't been using it because I don't like paying the price! But I am going to add it to the wedding cakes icing. It's just so humid in LA. that my icing isn't crusting enough. Also, make sure you back away & leave it alone for at least 30 min or mor for me!

Calm down.... you'll figure it out!!!! If I can anyone can!!!!
"Learn from a turtle... it only makes progress when it sticks it's neck out"
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"Learn from a turtle... it only makes progress when it sticks it's neck out"
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post #26 of 32
3/29/05 at 10:21am
Hey, Cali. I was just wondering if your paper towels are wet or dry when you do this? In the pic(it may just be my eyes) the towels look wet. I am likely confused though. Thanks!
~Tanya
Hoping to one day have a shop of my own!


Proud Mom to Alania(21), Angelica(20-Go Wildcats!), & Tyler(14)!
Proud Army wife to Tony!!!
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Hoping to one day have a shop of my own!


Proud Mom to Alania(21), Angelica(20-Go Wildcats!), & Tyler(14)!
Proud Army wife to Tony!!!
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post #27 of 32
3/30/05 at 10:49am
Thread Starter 
No, dry- right off the roll. It may be the lighting.
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post #28 of 32
4/1/05 at 4:43am
well cali4dawn's tutorial worked for me. now i'm confident of doing more cakes. thanks cali4 dawn.
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post #29 of 32
4/1/05 at 1:30pm
I also tried this method and it works awesome! I dont use the papertowel because my buttercream dosent crust, but the hot spatula does the trick. I've been using the icing tip for a while and I love it!
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post #30 of 32
4/1/05 at 3:53pm
Thread Starter 
Great!!! I'm so glad it worked well for you!!
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