I have another jersey cake for tomorrow and I am trying to work on my smoothing. I've tried the hot wet spatula and Viva and so far I like Viva the best. I even tried going over it with copy paper and a fondant smoother. I'm using CleverCakeLady's allergy wise buttercream icing. I am including a picture of a cake I think I did well on everything but the base icing. (ok the lettering on Blair needs a little help but I've fixed that now) I keep getting these wrinkles and lines. I'd appreciate any advice or tips I can get. Thanks!

Using a fondant smoother over the paper towel works well. Working quickly is one of the most important things to do.

Your cake looks good. Colored frosting is ALWAYS going to show any imperfections, so don't beat yourself up about it.

For your border, you might want to tap down the points, unless of course they are supposed to be there.

Michele

Sugarshack's video? Haven't seen it, but hear it's great.

I still have my issues with smoothing but I after I've got it as close as I can get, I take a small 1" square of Acetate and use that w/ hot water to really get the top smooth. It is so thin that it seems to get the little lines nothing else gets or that other tools make. It's great for edging too. I use a very light touch but it works great.

My favorite method by far is the Melvira Method.

I used this on the purple 2-tier cake in my photos and I had people mistake the BC for fondant. I didn't even need borders on the cakes!

http://cakecentral.com/article83-Quick--Easy-Smooth-Icing-Using-a-Roller-Melvira-Method.html

Forget the viva method...use the melvira method instead - it works wonders! Also using a crusting bc is essential to getting a smooth finish also - me...I prefer reenie's crusting bc -no problems even w/ the new crisco. It may have low ratings, but that's b/c when it was originally submitted the poster accidentally stated 1lb instead of 2lb confectioner sugar...but w/ the correct amound of confectioner sugar, it works great!

I just received Sugarshack's DVD and oh my gosh! It is absolutely amazing. She has so many tricks to teach! By the way, one of the things she teaches is a hot, DRY spatula or bench scraper.
I think your cake is just darling.

Melvira all the way!!!! I'm a recent convert and I will not do a cake without Melvira rolling it ever again. See my pics for smooth icing examples of what it can do!

I use the hot (dry) knife/bench scraper for the initial smoothing, but it's Melvira all the way for the final touch.

Your cake looks great. I see one spot under the "B" but I see it because I do cakes and we see them differently than cake civilians. It's a fabulous cake! You did a very good job!

Very cute

Cake civilians.....LOVE IT!

I agree, Melvira, baby! I too have bc cakes mistaken for fondant because of this wonderful method.

Thank you all so much! I had seen the Mevira method mentioned before but I haven't tried it. I totally will now!!! Michelle, I didn't notice those points on this picture but I do tap those down now. This was only my 3rd or 4th paid cake so I've come a long way since then. It just happened to catch the light right to show the wrinkle.

Someone said work fast, how long do you let yours crust before you start smoothing? It seems if I get mine stiff enough to work it quick, it won't stick to the cake well. I'm gonna try that other buttercream. I got on to this one because of some allergy issues early on and it's easy to control allergens in the ingredients of this one.

Cake civilians, that's great! So does that make us the cake army or marines?

Again, thanks for all the help! I was going through withdrawls last week when it was still up and down! Thought I was going to have to start a NE Ark chapter of CC Anonymous! Hello, my name is LeAnne.....

Leily, I read this thread last night and went to look at the link you gave.
I today purchased two high density rollers for a cake I have on order this weekend.....well, let me tell you, I have never iced a cake so quickly, so smoothly as I did tonight.
Thank you, this is the most wonderful way to ice a BC cake.
Now, I won't be nervous anymore about icing cakes.

I bought those today too and after that post, I am now stoked to get started!!!! Thank you guys soooooo much and I'll let you know how it goes! I have my fingers, arms, legs and toes crossed!!!!

No need to cross anything for luck! That was the awesomes thing ever!!!! Charmaine49 had it right, I'll never worry about getting a cake smooth again! I didn't even touch a Viva paper towel and that cake is so smooth. I just did the crumb coat tonight but I had to try out the rollers. I can't wait to finish it in the morning. And as an added bonus, I'm doing another Cardinals baseball jersey so I need to put in the wrinkles. Roller can do that so easy it's not even funny. Thank you thank you thank you thank you!!!!