Where do you get yours? I just got Sharon's stacking dvd and really like how the foam boards give the tiers added height. I want to use them, but I already quoted my cake price, and didn't realize how expensive they are. At Michael's, they are $6 each. I need 4 of them! I am probably going to raise my "delivery" price to absorb this cost in the future, but on this order, whatever extra I spend is out of pocket.

Please let me know if you have seen them cheaper. The cheapest I've found online is $5.79 each, and you have to buy at least 10.

TIA!

I get mine at Michael's, but I don't do a lot of cakes. I have not bought them in a while because the last time I went they were on sale for $1.00 each!
Keep an eye out for THAT sale!

I use the ones that are about 1/4 in. I don't remember that they were that expensive at regular price.

I buy mine at Hobby Lobby. They at $2 for 1/4" and $4 for 1/2". I only buy them when they have a 50% off sale on them and then I go and clear the store out. They are on sale this week. If you have a store near you, go stock up.

what size of foam board would you need for 12"x18" cake?? I didn't know if the 1/4 would be sturdy enough or if they 1/2 would be over kill.....

Thanks....

Sugar Shack's dvd says to use 1/2 " boards. Those are the expensive ones. The others are less $.

I use a 1/2" board on any cake 12" and up. And always a 1/2" on sheet cakes. They're just long and awkward and need the extra support.

There's no need to use the 1/2 inch boards on every tier unless you really, really want that much extra height.

I use a 3/16th inch board under each tier, cut to the size of the tier. I use the 1/2 inch boards for the decorative/decorated display board. Because the 3/16th boards are 20x30 inches, you can cut several different tier boards out of one. I'd say that in genteral, I use most of 1 board for a 3 tier cake. This adds about $1 to the cost of the cake.

I buy my 3/16th boards from Michael's. They have sales several times a year where the boards run anywhere from .88 to $1 each.

I recently bought 1/2 inch boards in bulk because Hobby Lobby is too far for me to drive when they go on sale. The boards ran about $3.25 each, after adding postage.

http://www.artsupply.com/foamcore/sturdyboard.htm

HTH
RAe

Blakescakes, wow! I checked that site and the sale must've started after I checked it. That's a really great price. Thank you!

I bought some from them recently. There was a mix up and I got the 3/16 boards - 30 of them.

They sent the right ones (1/2") and told me to keep the 3/16's! I paid about 3.63 each with shipping!!! YOOO HOOOO!

I made the mistake of getting some from the dollar store, don't waste your money they are terrible! The paper is very, well, papery LOL and the foam is no where near sturdy enough!

I did see the thinner ones at the $ store. I'm glad I didn't get any of those, then. But on SugarShack's dvd, it says to cover the boards first w/ plastic wrap to make them food safe. Would that have helped?

What can you use to cut these boards>? Say if you need an Hexegon or an oval shape? Thanks

I cut my boards with a Creative Hot Marks hot knife (like an electrified exacto knife). I got mine at JoAnn's & I know that Michael's sells them, too.

http://benfranklin.com/CREATIVE-HOT-MARKS-TOOL-KIT16.5-WATT/M/B0013JLFL0.htm

As for covering them, Colette Peters doesn't, so I don't (that's the person who originally put me onto using these boards several years ago). I still choose not to cover them because I don't want the saran or foil to be cut and come up with the cake slices. I do wipe the boards down with a mild bleach solution before putting a cake on them.

Rae

Blakescakes..............thanks for the information, one more question. Are we able to dowel down the center with the foam core boards? Thanks

So I just recently was introduced to the use of foam boards, I went to Michaels and I bought myself some... Now I have used one once and that was for a small 9" round cake and I used it only has the base. I set the cake onto a piece of wax paper because I was nervous that the paper layer on the foam would rub off onto the cake... If you do not cover the foam board with anything and use it as the seperator for stacked cakes, how do you avoid that (the paper rubbing off or coming up went cutting)?

I cut many of my own cakes and find the paper coating to be extremely sturdy. I've never had it lift up with the cake.

Just my personal experience.
Rae