I understand that I'm a newbie when it comes to cake decorating; however, why do all my cakes look homemade? I don't get much chance to practice (hubby works out of town) so I can't have too much cake sitting around. I have to work with BC because everyone I give my cakes to hates fondant. So again, I ask, why do my cakes look homemade and all the beautiful cakes here on cakecentral look so professional. What am I doing wrong?

Your cakes look awesome! I think your being way to hard on yourself.

I've looked at your cakes... your being way to hard on yourself. I am also new a cake decorating and if you think yours look homemade, then mine look like they were made by a 2nd grader... Your doing great!

i think your cakes look great!!! sheet cakes are always a bit harder to make look perfect...but in time practice always makes us better at our craft!!! i have to say your little leprechaun....WOW!!! i can't mold people to save my life!!!! you are doing great!!!

Oh come on! your cakes look great! I dont know how long you have been decorating but you really can come a long way in a short time if you keep practicing and trying out new things. I have been decorating just over a year now. If you saw the cake I made last year just before taking classes you would be laughing your a$$ off. Maybe I can shrink it to fit here....it is soooo funny! Anyway I feel like I am improving all of the time but I know I have a long way to go. But I say to myself, if this is how much I improved in one year, think about how good I will be in 5 years! Just keep practicing, you are doing great!

To me, a professional cake is one made with either precision or artistry. Smooth icing and even borders, or wild rough icing and a profusion of blooms that look like the wind placed them exactly where they are... (keep in mind that I'm NOT there yet).
Is there any one thing that sticks in your mind when you look at your cakes?

Now I can't see where you think your cakes look homemade. You are being too hard on yourself. You make beautiful cakes and I think you'll be even better over time. Keep it up!!!!!!

Your leprican and pot of gold is awesome!
The dummy cake is gorgeous...
The belt buckle original...

The precision on the borders and writing may be what you are looking at on the sheet cakes?

I have switched to using the Wilton print alphabet press and noticed a big difference and I've tried to keep the border piped even height and length and noticed a difference also.

It looks to me that you have lots of talent and the more cakes we do the better and more advanced we'll keep getting....

Some of my cakes are hilarious and very beginner, but that's where we start. You look like you do a great job and enjoy what you're doing!!!

Everyone is right .... you are being too hard on yourself. THe leprechaun is adorable and I love your Cavaliers cake! The autumn cake is full of color and the leaves are placed very artistically.

If I was going to HUNT for something (and I had to look hard!) that you might want to improve would be the writing, and this may be what you are being critical about, but this is an area that most, if not all, of us struggle with when we get started. 20+ years of doing this and if I dont' use the presses for the wording, then the cake doesn't get wording. I can't write smooth and straight and pretty to save my butt!

Your icing is smooth, your colors are great, your borders are very good.

So the pity party is over, young lady! Your cakes do not look "homemade". It looks like you've mastered some techniques that I'm not sure I could ever get right! Great job!

OH MY GOSH ARE YOU KIDDING!!!!!!! Your cakes are beautiful. I think someone might be in need of an eye exam. LOL.

Because you made them at home? kidding

Your cakes are awesome! As everyone said, don't be too hard on yourself. As the experts have said; practice, practice, practice! Learn as you go. Make every excuse to create a cake! Read as much as you can. Take classes. Do whatever it takes to perfect your craft.

I've only been doing this for more than 2 months. I have a ways to go. The experts have been doing it for years and that gives me every excuse in the book to say, "I'm still learning".

First off your cakes are gorgeous! We are our own worst critics. Period! I think all my cakes have the same look you say yours do, the homemade, I tried to do a pro cake look. But I keep reminding myself I have only been doing this since oct 06. We see people on here and on the net and T.V. who's cakes are almost spiritually awesome they are so neat and crisp and detailed. But it takes time, practise, and more time and practise. That is why I bought dummy cakes. To get that practise without having to "donate" a cake to a cause or person or holiday. Face it, there just isn't enough of those situations to obtain all the practise anyone would need to really hone on their skills the way they want to. So be patient with yourself and keep cakin! Just don't eat all the cakes you practise with or we'll have to roll you to your first cake competition!

I think you're being your worst critic. We all are. The only thing I would change is your background when you take pictures of your cake. Make yourself a backdrop somewhere and place your cake there to take a picture. I started doing that, and then I got lazy and I'm always so tired by the time I get a cake done, that I just end up taking a picture of it on the table or in the box. Not good lol

I don't think your cakes look homemade at all. I think at some given point, we've all had and still have that "this just isn't right" feeling and everything just looks kind of blah to you, but everyone else thinks it's great. Keep practicing and things will only improve from good to better. Nice work!

Also if you want more practicewithout the cake, buy yourself a dummy or two to practice on.

I think your cakes are very good! Your leprechaun is CUTE! Everything is neat and nice. I know you are looking for constructive critcism and all these pats on the back are not really giving you a direction for improvement. (Though they are nice to hear!!!)

If I had to choose one thing that says "newbie" to me, it would be the use of dark colored star borders and nothing else. (This is just my opinion guys!!) I like to use a star border that matches the icing and add the color with other types of borders. Experiment with some new tips and techniques. I think multiple, but different borders give some nice eye appeal and show off your talents. It also helps to disguise any imperfections in the squareness of the cake. (Let's face it, few cakes are perfectly square and level. Mine aren't!)

Keep at it! You have talent!

Like everyone else has said you are being to hard on yourself! I am very new to this too and I think your cakes are great look at mine if you want to see some homemade cakes, lol!! I have learned so much on CC and each cake I learn something new. We have no classes right now in my area so I just keep practicing and keep learning! Your cakes are great and just keep going!!

You know, I feel that way too sometimes, but I have orders for 5 more cakes, so I guess where I see flaws, others see something that they are unable to duplicate! We can be very critical of ourselves and notice every imperfection because we look and compare ourselves to all of the wonderful examples we have on here. We have to keep in mind that our decorating is our own artistry and individual expression, and it only gets better with time.

You are being way to critical of yourself. I do it too. I don't think my cakes look as good as everyone elses on here either. I think it is the way we look at our selves and not the way others look at us. Your cakes are beautiful. You have nothing to worry about.

Lazy_Susan

BlairsMom, I'm going to give you the speech, too! I LUV your pirate cake! Don't be saying your cakes look homemade, either! THey are great!

luckydog,
I am complete agreement with everyone else. You are being way to hard on yourself. You have done things on cakes that I haven't even begun to attempt. I am to scared to even try figures with fondant or gumpaste anything. My cakes look like they are done by someone who is just starting out and I have taken 3 Wilton courses. Don't be so hard on yourself, your cakes look great.
Bradymom

Your cakes look good. I would have to say your handwriting says newbie, star border is a bit dark and tends to distract the middle of the cake. The icing on top is very nice. It looks like your icing on the sides needs to be a little bit thicker. Make sure you can't see any of the cake. Overall your cakes are great. If I wasn't a cake decorater I wouldn't be able to see that at all.

I have to agree, your cakes look just fine and you're way to critical. Now, that said, what is it you don't like. Look at one of your cakes and make a list of the features you find "homemade". When you have your list completed, you can practice each of these techniques so you feel more satisfied. Make a cake just to practice, give it to a neighbor as a gift. Enjoy the process and let us enjoy your creations, too.

I have to agree with everyone on here. I too am new at this, I just started course 2, when I was looking at your pics I was thinking dang I hope mine look that good when I done with all the courses. I am also very critical on my work and I think the case is the same with you. All we can all do is keep practicing - right?!

I have to agree with everyone on here. I too am new at this, I just started course 2, when I was looking at your pics I was thinking dang I hope mine look that good when I done with all the courses. I am also very critical on my work and I think the case is the same with you. All we can all do is keep practicing - right?!

I agree with the others, your beating yourself up. Look at your class lll cake, it is lovely, looks very professional to me. I am not so sure that "homemade" is a bad thing anyway, I know a lot of home bakers who would be thrilled if their cakes looked like yours.

your cakes look fine to me.

I think your cakes look great! They look much better than cakes done in supermarkets and they are done by professionals. Sheet cakes are hard to do in my opinion. I guess if you want your cakes to look more professional, I would do more tiered cakes or sculpted cakes. The white dummy cake in your photos looks very professional! It's perfect!

I think with all the fondant creations out there, that now buttercream cakes just look "homemade" anyway! Whenever I have to go back to doing a buttercream cake instead of fondant, I usually feel disappointed and like the work is not up to par...but buttercream is just alot harder to get perfect than fondant IMO.

I bet your customers are VERY happy because they don't make those cakes in the bakeries! I know even if I am disappointed in a cake, my customers are usually very pleased so I'm sure all your customers are the same!

And anyway, practice makes perfect!

I think you are doing great... I also work mainly in buttercream

with any cake making sure your cake sides are straight and the top level makes a huge difference bakerys often do this by using tons of frosting.

It will come the more cakes you do no way would I post my first cakes.... also known as the dead bunny cake....

keep working on straight sides, level tops and uniform borders.... you are already far ahead on your roses and creativity

they do not look homemead but you will see your work to continue to improve the more you do.