I first of all like to get feed back because I want to be continually learning and improving. Secondly, I love to get ideas from others because it encourages my thinking process. Lastly, I love the like mindedness of all here and know they share my thoughts and feelings. I love CC.

Personally I wonder why some of the big names in the industry (who have admitted to having CC memberships) don't post pix, or even make themselves known by posting in the threads.

I just experienced a perfect example of posting and sharing photos. Yesterday I posted the spiderman bust cake, which a lot of CCers have done. So I was thinking while I was posting, I probably won't get any views or comments because a lot people have already done this cake. Much to my surprise, I got a handful of views and a comment in 10 minutes! But what made me say it was worth posting that cake was I was able to help someone create the same cake, just like a fellow CCer pointing me in the right direction when I wanted to do this cake. No matter how "common" the cake may be, there is always someone out there that will need direction and help. I was elated to help two people on how to make that cake.

I also post so I can share with non-CCers my creations. I can log on anywhere and show them my gallery

Thanks for the honest comment Jenn. I understand now

This site has its up and downs and everyone has their opinion but I'm very greatful for all the wonderful inspiration and help that the members provide! I love looking through the galleries and dreaming about one day being able to create some of them! OhMyGoodies I'm with you - one day we will get our mother's approval. lol!!

Thank goodness for all of your pictures posted here! Without them,I'd have NO ideas to steal...umm, I mean borrow...lol...I have a hard time creating things on my own sometimes, and the pics here really spark my creativity! I have copied a few exactly, ( and yes, I always make mention to the people I took the idea from). I respect everyone here, from novice to expert professional. You are ALL so talented! Bless you ALL!

Its Ok if you cant make pie crust. Anyway, I like to look on my photos just to see if anyone looks. I say cool X amount of people viewed my cake/cookies. Its nice the comments I wouldn't even care if they said What the *&%# were you thinking? It wouldn't bother me. I know I have an active imagination and not the same style or taste as others,hey you should see some of the dolls and paintings I've made. It takes all kinds to make a world and where we be with out each others support and inspiration.

I post my pics to be able to show my family and friends what I've been up to. They can log on and see, even though we are clear across the country from each other. I also appreciate the comments I get. I don't have any immediate caker friends where I live, so it's nice to share with people who are into the same thing as me!

Hi, good question, Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm I upload because I like to share with others things that I have been trying , even at my age I learn something new here everyday. I like to be able to help others to as sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo many have helped me. I love to encourage and to be encouraged also not to give up.

There are so many on this site that are truly professionals, I'm so glad they share when they find the time, oh to be that busy not to be able to find time to share with someone. I like Indydebi love a new idea whether it be from a new person or a professional. Each cake no matter how good or not so good has some great idea behind it.

I hope when others look at some of mine they see something they can one day use in one of their cakes. Copying someones work is the best way of saying it's a good idea. Thanks for all those people that have given me fresh ideas daily on CC keep them coming, I've decided I can never live long enough to use all the ideas I've got saved as it is.

I want to clarify the reasoning for starting this topic. Reason being is well to be honest...yes the comments....there was a statement like ...I have a life and I have a DH and a child and so on and so fourth...and yes I will have a secretary one day (sorry if this statement isn't EXACTLY word for word) that will answer pm's (I think this is how it went. Well that made me feel quite inadeqete (SP!!!) LOL. I ALSO have a family, 3 kids to be exact, a dh and I take care of my mother a lot of the times! I post my pics...I get pm'd, not much, for questions and I answer...to tell someone..."Well I get so many pm's I cannot answer them all and I am a busy person and yadda yadda yadda...I SOOOOOO understand the being busy...but there isn't any reason at all to get snotty and act like they are better then me or anyone else. If you POST to a F O R U M expect the ??'s ya know??? Is that really so hard? And if you don't have time to post a reply that is perfectly fine....what I don't like is the "better than thou attitude"
Nope I don't make the statue of liberty out of cake or Mona Lisa out of chocolate but that doesn't make me any less important than anybody else!! Does it ?

And I have met on CC sooooo many VERY VERY VERYYYYY talented decorators that don't act like they are better than ANYBODY.

Another thing I am sorry if this sounds rude or anything else..and if any of you have intercepted me through the topics here on CC know that I do have a kind heart and I try very hard to be helpful AND respectful and will ALWAYS do so...no matter what!

So there I said it...waiting for the topic to be locked any minute now.....

I use CC all the time for ideas, inspiration and help...so the least I can do is share my cakes so others can use them...and likely do a better job! I also love the positive feedback I get from such creative and smart people on here - it really gives me the boost I need to actually feel like I can do even better next time...

If you notice, I haven't posted any pictures. One day, I just may have something to post, but it will be a while!

But I just had to add something. I've been addicted to this website for a few weeks now. I have looked at, I'm sure, thousands of pictures in that amount of time. That was the whole reason I joined the website, so I could see upclose pictures of the most amazing thumbnail shots. Good grief! Page after page after page of smile-worthy material for me. So much fun showing family members what you people can do! I've saved to favorites pictures that just make me smile, ones that I hope someday to be able to do myself, pictures I want to show someone else, and even ideas for a future wedding cake for my daughter. I've rarely commented, because I have no technical expertise, and usually there are several other people who have expressed my wonder and amazement.

I have been fascinated with cake decorating since I was a little girl and my mother's friend would make Cinderella cakes. (never did get one of those for myself!) I remember being a small child and going with my mom to visit another one of her friends and seeing a wedding cake sitting on her kitchen table, ready to be delivered. I was fascinated and transfixed.

So, you dear people, you bring joy to at least this woman, with all of your creations. You've inspired me to try decorating again. You bring a smile to my face every day when I look at your cakes. Please don't let a few people make you not want to participate. I'm sure they are in the minority. And probably a few of those are not really being grouchy. Please keep sharing. You make my day when you do!

I love this site and I post my pics because I am proud of what I've done (even the sucky stuff) and it's fun to share pics of cakes with the people who inspired them, since I have yet to come up with an idea devoid of any outside influence. Of course there is a certain personal thrill to get comments/saves, and there's the knowledge that my cake was seen by more than the 15 people at the gallery, and best of all the amazing "Really? You want to know?" moment if someone actually has a question that I can answer.

Still I do think it's sad to imagine that we can't all be OK with whatever choices others make regarding how much they would like to participate in the CC process. How awful, imho, to think that they shouldn't be allowed (according to the emotional climate) to post pictures unless they are able to devote an even bigger portion of their time to answering questions about them, or that they have to bar everyone from leaving comments just in order to not be looked down upon for not responding. I never get the impression that anyone hates to have questions asked of them, I just get the impression that they hate to be told that they are terrible people and bad CCers if they don't have time to answer.

Certainly it is an ideal situation if the most prolific decorators have the time to share their talents. And many do find that time. But I don't understand how the ones who do not have that time are to be faulted, or how their inattention should make any of us feel inferior. As far as skills go, I AM inferior to most of the decorators here, but not a single solitary decorator here has ever made me feel that way.

I thought we were all here to support each other in whatever way we can? In my fantasy CC world, we would all just be happy that some of the talented people at least love to share their cake designs with us, even if they cannot share techniques. We can rely on them for inspiration or just some terrific "wow, look at that cake!" moments, and then get the help from the others who are able.

I don't get tons of questions, and I do respond to every pm that I get, but I don't go check the comments on my photos and answer questions there. I usually don't even open my photos!

Jenn1977 I promise I am not trying to start anything "catty" ....

I want people to know...I am NORMAL....a human being, I have a life and so on....and I am a NICE person. If I can't respond to a pm or explain something I would really feel kind of lousy. Because that is why I post...because I want to help or to learn or whatever. I love CC...and want to be treated equally

I am NOT saying that someone who does not answer pm's or comments are not nice people...I am saying if you are going to reply to a topic...BE NICE....Be honest , but in a kind way...ya know? Being a star doesn't condone being a jerk....being a political figure doesn't condone being a jerk (but it sure does seem like it lol) and being a artist doesn't condone it either! Am I right?

I have to chime in too! I posted a picture once by accident - I was actually trying to send it to Melysa for her critique and to tell me what went wrong. To my horror it went into a gallery!! (gasp). Anyway, to make a long story longer . . . I left it there for awhile, then just couldn't stand it any longer - so I hit the magic delete button.

That being said . . . I LOVE CC - I have learned so much from ya'll . . . and anytime I pm someone they have been gracious enough to pm me back.

That being said . . . someday, I will post again - when I can figure out how to keep a 6 inch round, 6 inch tall cake from leaning over! (ugghh)!

CC is my online portfolio.

Despite the crabby threads.

I totally agree with posting cakes in the small hope that someone might take inspiration from something I've done, because I've gotten SO many ideas from this site.

It can be very discouraging to read some of the arguments and comments that crop up on here. But, I think we just have to remember that we shouldn't take everything to heart! Sometimes people take things SO personally, and forget it's impossible to judge tone and intent from comments posted on the internet. Even when comments can't be judged in any way other than negative, IGNORE them! Don't engage! Negative people only have power over you if you let them. The only person in the world you can actually control is yourself.

I love CC......I just keep my eyes focused on all the wonderful stuff here!

I usually post a picture for
1. My own reference
2. I'm proud of it
3. Hoping for comments whether good or bad (don't like phoney)
4. Hope, even with my lack of talent, to give an idea to someone.

I could sit for hours and look at all the cakes/cookies on here. I get so many ideas to someday make. I have never run into someone I've pm'd on their cake shutting me down. Some have even written me back awhile later after I've forgotten I even wrote them!
I've run across some cake-crummy people on here regarding other things, but when I've asked questions on their cakes, I've always gotten a response.
I hope everyone on here, whether professional or novice, enjoys this site and uses it for it's rightful purpose: to help, instruct, and enjoy other decorators talents and thoughts.

I'm a total newbie on here but if I'm honest I'd have to say that I posted some of my pictures to see how popular they were...It helps to get a rough idea of what standard you are by how many favorites you get...is that terrible??? Some of my cakes have been saved a lot and some not at all so I'm guessing that makes me about average

That been said I've also posted a few photos so that when I say you can do this or that in a post I can point someone to a photo in my gallery. For example some people don't know much about chocolate plastic, which I've used a lot, so I posted some of my photos of that medium even though they're not my best cakes.

Also I always answer pm's (I've only had a few) but I think it's a real honor when somebody asks your advice.

I LOVE this website!! It's a place I can come and enjoy some wonderful people..and look at beautiful cakes and interact with some very intelligent nice people. I have a life like I said...but it's nice to be able to do something besides argue with a 14 year old and keep 2 girls (10 and 5 ) from killing each other LOL.

I too get many ideas from other photos. If my photos can do the same for others, weather good or bad, this makes me happy and that is why i post.

Oh I understand ceshell and I promise I am not belittling anybody myself. But on the same note...if you post a picture please expect ??'s to be asked ya know? Because if I had just sent one of them a ?? on a pm about a cake then read what was said (because You can't hear a tone, computers are just really bad at taking things wrong), then you might feel pretty inferior like I did.

I post pictures on this site for the same reasons that others have mentioned. I've found so many great ideas on this site that I feel I should share my ideas with others. If someone asks how I made something, I take that as a compliment. If they didn't like what I made, they sure wouldn't want to know how to duplicate it!

I post my pics to show everyone what I have been doing...It doesn't bother me if no one comments....I don't take it personally...I just like to share!!!On the flipside..I enjoy looking at the pictures for inspiration and ideas!!!

I post photos on CC because... (Sponge Bob is running through my head now. "What I learned in boating school..." )

1. I'm proud of the cake I just made.

2. I'd like other people who understand the time it takes to do this to comment, for good or bad, on the execution of said cake so that I can learn more.

3. I borrow ideas from others, and would like to return the favor. Just because my execution isn't as perfect as some, doesn't mean the concept of my design is bad.

I post mine because I feel like if I am taking help and ideas I should be giving something back too - I certainly don't think my cakes are incredible, but I think we all get ideas from each other - it's a mutual give and take.