How Long Have You Been A Decorator?

Decorating By wendysue Updated 16 Feb 2006 , 4:18pm by MomLittr

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wendysue Posted 15 Feb 2006 , 8:10pm
post #1 of 49

Thought this would be a fun thread. Wonder how long you've all been decorating cakes and where you learned what you know. icon_smile.gif

I've been decorating for almost 2 years and started by taking the Wilton classes. Completed all three, now would love to find some more specialized training. icon_rolleyes.gif

48 replies
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Kiddiekakes Posted 15 Feb 2006 , 8:12pm
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I've decorated seriously now for about 5 years.I have been around it longer though as my Mom owns a wedding cake business for the last 15 years.I started with the wilton classes also.Now I decorate and sell my cakes having an average of 2-3 out a weekend!!

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izzybee Posted 15 Feb 2006 , 8:13pm
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I've been decorating (for real) for 2 years. I took a 6 week course at the local night school, then took a 3 day fondant/gumpaste course from Colette Peters last summer. It definately is tons of fun, but you have to do it alot to get good. I envy the people that do cakes for the hell of it! With a 4 year old, and advancing age, I have just enough energy at the end of the day to pursh the buttons on the remote! I do however run a dessert catering business out of my house, and average about 2 orders a month, mostly cakes.

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cybourg Posted 15 Feb 2006 , 8:14pm
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I did my first "decorated" cake for my oldest daughter's engagement party in April of 2004. Then made two so called decorated cakes for my youngest's first birthday in June 2004. After my oldest got married in April 2005 I talked her into taking the Wilton Courses. So we took them together in June, July and August of 2005.

Since then, I use any excuse to make a cake and decorate it. Would love to actually get paid to do this but have a long way to go before that will happen.

I would love to take more courses too.

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lng_1978 Posted 15 Feb 2006 , 8:16pm
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ME...2 YEARS. I STARTED BECAUSE I PRICED WEDDING CAKES! YIKES!!! I TOOK THE WILTON CLASSES FROM BEGINNER TO ADVANCED. I MADE MY WEDDING CAKE AND NOW I KNOW WHY THEY COST SO MUCH!!! I NOW DECORATE AND SELL CAKES ON THE SIDE FOR A LITTLE EXTRA CASH...SHOPPING MONEY!!!

LES

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shannas Posted 15 Feb 2006 , 8:24pm
post #6 of 49

I have been doing it off and on for 6ish years. I did my daughter's first birthday cake and for the next few year just did birthday cakes. About 2-3 years ago someone asked me to do a cake and it kinda took off from there. So seriously about 2 years. I took the Wilton 1 class but didn't get much out of it. The only thing I really wanted to learn was the rose and I still have problems with that. So really I have not taken any classes.

Shanna

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lori83179 Posted 15 Feb 2006 , 8:26pm
post #7 of 49

I started a little over a year ago. Took Wilton classes at a local craft store "just for the fun of it" then realized I loved decorating!
I too never realized why wedding cakes costs so much until I did my first wedding cake last month!!!
Now I do cakes for co-workers and friends but the word of mouth is getting around good so i'm starting to get business elsewhere also.

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Darstus Posted 15 Feb 2006 , 8:30pm
post #8 of 49

I took my first Wilton class in 2002 and started teaching in 2003. I just was amazed at what I saw others do with cake and wanted to try it too!

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DiscoLady Posted 15 Feb 2006 , 8:31pm
post #9 of 49

Six years for me.
I'm a 3-Course-Wilton-girl.
I took the first class after wanting make a rose to decorate the cupcakes I was always making. I was hooked!
My mom had a home cake business in the 70's; never thought I would follow in her footsteps! Although I don't call it a business, I call it my hobby (it just happens to bring in some extra cash icon_wink.gif ).

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Euphoriabakery Posted 15 Feb 2006 , 8:36pm
post #10 of 49

I started in October. Just went out ands bought some supplies and a couple cake decorating books. I got one of the Wilton books and Toba Garretts The Well Decorated Cake. I sat down and started teaching myself stuff. Then I started the Wilton courses in January. The first couse was pretty boring as I had already taught myself most of the techniques from it. But I am now in the Wilton 2 class and having so much fun with all of the flowers! Can't wait to start course 3!

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chaptlps Posted 15 Feb 2006 , 8:46pm
post #11 of 49

O heck, let's see how old is my oldest? Hmm, he's 23 so I have been decorating cakes per se for about 22 years now but just in the last five or six years have I been decorating on a professional scale or on a serious decorators skill level.

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ps3884 Posted 15 Feb 2006 , 9:04pm
post #12 of 49

For the past few years, I have made my godson's birthday cake. However, one cake a year, does not a good decorator make. icon_wink.gif Last spring, I made a cake for each of my daughter's birthdays (3) and then I took Wilton I & II this past fall. So, I've only really been decorating less than a year. I can't wait to take course III. I've had several paid cakes since December, and hopefully more will come as I practice, practice, practice and practice some more. icon_biggrin.gif

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bonnscakesAZ Posted 15 Feb 2006 , 9:31pm
post #13 of 49

I have been doing this for 3 years now and I love it! I took the wilton courses as well.

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ge978 Posted 15 Feb 2006 , 9:33pm
post #14 of 49

I've had my shop selling cakes & cheesecakes for 7 years, but have just started decorating about 6 months ago.

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onebigdogmama Posted 15 Feb 2006 , 9:43pm
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Unofficially, since 12-13 yrs old and just making stuff for my family over the years. Did the Wilton classes--1,2,3 in July 05. Ever since then I have had the bug. I need more practice and time to practice. Everyone here is a great inspiration! I enjoy looking and reading everyone's stuff on here! icon_lol.gif

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bjfranco Posted 15 Feb 2006 , 10:34pm
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For me...... 2 years. I wanted to have perfect cakes sitting under the glass dome in my kitchen and my cakes were ok but did not have that fresh from the bakery look. A few wilton courses later and wha~la... I am decorating cakes and haven't had a cake in my glass dome since. Family is so sick of eating cake and my mistakes. Thank God I finally got it right. icon_lol.gificon_lol.gificon_lol.gif

bj icon_wink.gif

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klg1152 Posted 15 Feb 2006 , 11:26pm
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I have been doing this for a year - the addiction started with my daughter, she saw a cake on the cover of Gourment magazine and told me that was what she wanted for her birthday. Well, I have always been a baker but my decorating skills were poor at best - anyway I thought she would forget about the cake but she didn't. So I made it, three layer guava cake on the bottom covered in buttercream with pastel polka dots, a pyramid of cupcakes on the top iced in the same colors as the polka dots. Great concept really because you can let the adults have the cake and then make regular cupcakes for the kids. After that I took the 3 Wilton classes and have tried to read every book I can to get more instruction and inspiration. I now get one or two orders a week usually for kids birthdays which always includes cupcakes for the kids and a cake for the adults. I have to say that I love decorating and will take any excuse to do it. What a difference a year makes, this year my daughter wanted the Strawberry Shortcake estate cake from the Wilton year book and it came out pretty good. As soon as I can figure out the digital camera my DH gave me to take pictures for my portfolio I will post. Wow - probably a lot more information than any of you wanted but even talking about decorating is addicting!

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crisseyann Posted 15 Feb 2006 , 11:40pm
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My oldest child is 26, and I started with his first birthday cake. I've only baked and decorated cakes for my three children, my DH, and close family and friends. He actually wanted me to make his wedding cake last year. Guess he has alot of faith in his old mom. It didn't come out half bad, either.

My youngest daughter, who is 16, just got into wanting to make cakes for her friends and she shows a real flair for the art. She opened an account here at CC. Look her up, her name is Midnight_Society. She's well on her way to a lifelong addiction, I think!

We both just started Wilton I ( 2 classes under our belts!) I've never been very good at borders and cannot make a rose to save my life, so these are my goals with the classes. We plan on taking Wilton 2 and 3 right after this one.

BTW, I am SO envious of all the talent on this site. You are all an inspiration. icon_smile.gif

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parismom Posted 15 Feb 2006 , 11:47pm
post #19 of 49

I've only been doing this for 6.5 months and have had the best time!

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parismom Posted 15 Feb 2006 , 11:48pm
post #20 of 49

Of course I have SO much to learn... but this site taught me a whole lot in such a short amount of time. icon_smile.gif

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beachcakes Posted 15 Feb 2006 , 11:54pm
post #21 of 49

This is a fun thread! I took an adult ed course about 13 years ago for fun and then didn't do much with it except for my son's birthday cakes - mostly character pans w/ the dreaded star tip! Ouch! Then last year I did a bridal shower cake for a friend and it gave me the cake urge! I'm pretty much self-taught with lots of advice from this site!! It's mostly just practice and trial and error, but I would like to take a course some day!

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KayDay Posted 15 Feb 2006 , 11:55pm
post #22 of 49

For fun for years...but not knowing ANYTHING about it..lol. I started reading about proper methods and buying the books and equipment about 3 years ago.

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subaru Posted 15 Feb 2006 , 11:57pm
post #23 of 49

I took a class( not Wilton) at a local school 27 yrs. ago.I was a young mother wanted to learn how to do their cakes. Have never really done it for hire, mostly family and friends, but I have always dreamed of opening up my own bakery someday. Now, my daughters are grown, my dream includes sharing my bakery with them. Maybe someday...

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Devonee Posted 16 Feb 2006 , 12:03am
post #24 of 49

I started in September 05, everything I have done I have taught myself. Actually my husband has taught me - he can look at a picture and figure things out and i like to be shown how to do things so he figures out how to make them and then teaches me! I am signed up for the first of the wilton courses next week and I can't wait to start.

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nanni Posted 16 Feb 2006 , 12:08am
post #25 of 49

I've been doing cakes for almost 3 years-notice I didn't say really well-I make my share of mistakes (sometimes other peoples shares too)-but I enjoy it and seem to do some decent work...but the main thing is the fun I have and the ideas I get from everyone here. My mom did it mannnnnnnnnny years ago and we had to eat cake for so many weeks that I won't eat cake now. Don't mind baking them, don't mind icing them, don't mind decorating them but please-don't ask me to eat any!! There is so much talent-both new and experienced, on this site!!!

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ngarza07 Posted 16 Feb 2006 , 12:19am
post #26 of 49

Well, lets see. I decorated my first cake when I was in the fifth grade (10 years old), that was 30 years ago. My first wedding cake at 15 years old. I come from a creative family. My mom was self taught via mail-order correspondence. I too am self-taught. Did cakes for sale for about 15 years, stopped about five years ago. Only do them for family and very close friends. This gives me creative freedom. I did get a call for a wedding in July - a real money maker wedding cake. I am considering doing it since I've learned so much in the past couple of years with all the new venues and decorating techniques out there. I would be doing it for fun - not really for making the money. I never really have done it to make extra money, just happened that way, and extra money is never a bad thing if you're doing something you enjoy. My 'real' job is what pays my bills and keeps my shopping habit going.

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SheilaF Posted 16 Feb 2006 , 12:30am
post #27 of 49

I've also only been decorating cakes for almost 3 years. I took my first course in the summer of 2003. My first "official" cake was my son's 2nd birthday cake (the Thomas cake pictured as my avitar). Not the best cake, but my best friend did scream when I chopped off his head and put it on my son's plate!! LOL. I was not able to take course 2 & 3 until the following summer since I have four children and hubby was in the midst of a wild project at work. I did my brother's wedding cake last year (they were on a really tight budget and were just going to get a costco cake since it was just family-dad suggested they ask me). Since my youngest brother walked in and exclaimed "Holy S....... You made that?" I"m guessing I'm getting pretty good, but am no professional by any means. This is a fun hobby that just happens to keep me making 2-3 cakes/month. Of course, with family birthdays in March, June, August, September and October, plus close friends parties in January and July, those alone keep me busy with my "hobby". I also took a fondant cookie course, but the courses available at Michaels and the Tall Mouse are a tad limited. I found a cake club listed in orange county, but the email bounced back to me when they didn't check their in box for more than a week, so I'm guessing, if I want to learn from others, I'd have to drive out to San Diego to the classes they apparently have out there. That's an hour and a half drive, so probably can't do any other classes till summer (since I do have four kids with chaotic schedules that nobody else in the universe seems to be able to manage for even one day). It's nice to be indespinsable...... I guess..... icon_smile.gif

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gma1956 Posted 16 Feb 2006 , 12:31am
post #28 of 49

I have been decorating since about 9 years old, which is 41 years ago. Whew...... I should be tired. I really got serious about it when my daughter had her first birthday, 27 years ago and haven't stopped since. However, I have tried more new techniques the past two years and have really been inspired by becoming a member of CC.

I am a full time student working on my BBA in Accounting for the past 4 years so I have had to slow down my decorating pace. But as soon as I graduate (May 7) I plan on picking up the pace and see where it takes me.

It is a true passion. Can't get enough!!!!!!!!!!

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TERRYHORTON Posted 16 Feb 2006 , 12:35am
post #29 of 49

about a year now...made bday cakes for for friends etc.

first " real" cake was in Nov 05 for my parents 40th anniversary. Its in the gallery...
Mostly for stress relief. I work in law enforcement.

Takes all my concentration.

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cashley Posted 16 Feb 2006 , 12:55am
post #30 of 49

Started in Oct 2005 with my 13 yr old daughter. We took all 3 wilton courses and had a blast. I can't stop now I am addicted to learning so much more.

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