Good morning everyone!

Siany, the problem with peppa pig is the cartoon characters are very 2d so the best sugar figures of them have been the 2d ones like paul bradford's. I did a peppa pig a few years ago in the traditional way- I was very new to figures then and really didn't have a clue about cake boards lol:

I don't know how Peppa ended up looking up! And this was before I knew how to cover cakes with fondant. My little one had started digging into the cake too and it wasn't her cake! Fortunately it was just a present for my friend's daughter and they were happy with it.

Maisie, I'm glad you enjoyed the baking process. I'm sure you'll enjoy the figure making bit too. 

I don't mind non-edibles on my cakes so long as they don't actually touch the cake. Wish I'd known about clay ages ago. My daughter's cake topper and turrets for her castle cake are all gumpaste and fading fast! What was a light purple has turned light blue. It'll all be white before long!

ANatt, good luck with the interview!

Morning all!

Hi Maisie sorry I missed you. Glad to here your enjoying making your daughters cake. She will be happy with it no matter what because you made it.

Petitecat lovely cake your ducks are really cute.

Good luck with the interview Natt.

I personally don't mind non-edibles on a cake though I do like to try and make everything edible if possible.

AJean love pepper.

AGood luck with your interview natt.

Personally I don't like non edibles on a cake, I'm not sure why I feel like it's cheating slightly if it's not edible haha. I know that sounds silly because it's not. I think it's ok on top of wedding cakes etc though because it's good to keep them.

Hi everyone !!

Maisie how you doing ? Tiddy sorry about your hand how is it now ?

Nice to see more people joining, such a lovely bunch!

Good luck Natt

Love the Peppa cake ! PS Tiddy of you did those cakes with a bad hand you just be so pleased they are great !!

Sorry for those I've missed but haven't been on for days so too much to scroll back through !!

Morning all :) Finger feeling better now ive kept the strapping on!  Really want to rest it but just cant seem to stay out of the cake room 

Jo I always do at room temperature, seems to be better for me.

On the peppa pig...I think I would struggle with her 3D even though I make people just fine! Paul Bradfords Peppa was a great one.

ANope never :)

Oh ok interesting, how long between each layer of buttercream then ?

Generally leave about 30 mins at room temperature then take a piece of greaseproof and hand smooth. Recently seen lots doing with paper towel but always used greaseproof. Sometimes leave a bit longer but thats usually long enough. Once ive smoothed my lumps and bumps I leave for another half hour then cover 

just to add...my cake room is pretty cool 

I think non-edibles are fine on cakes.  You see plenty of wedding cakes with lace and ribbon around the base - the last wedding I went to had lace on it.  Surely, flowerpaste isnt really edible, you can eat it but who would? Recently with the gatsby themed cakes diamonte trims have been placed in zigzags all over the tier. Even though it may be cheating I still think the actually cake inside is of greater importance.  I still think there are bakers out there who buy in sponge or do the simplest bland cake to spend days and days over decorating to amazing standards.

Re ganache- I bought the tesco 30p plain choc and made ganache with it. Its okay, not bad. The taste is something between milk and dark choc. I'm going to try it on a choc cupcake in a minute. This is the fun part of baking- when you get to taste test stuff!!

Could I get people's opinion on this damask stencil set on ebay:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131188461527?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:VRI&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2661

Its so cheap- seems too good to be true! I've never done stencilling before so not sure the set is a good one. Any thoughts?

I have that one, yet to use it though! Quality seems ok 

Thanks Tiddylicious!

Oh good, not much has gone on since I was here last so I've not missed out!

Had a last min order for cupcake bouquets for saturday so I sprang into cake action today. Not my favourite style of cupcake bouquets but an order is an order! It is for a 60th birtday. 

Kathy, oh good to know its quite popular! By the way, did you have any luck with opening my website? 

Jean - I cannot open  it at work (I suppose I should be working lol!).  I can open it on the laptop at home though.  I think there are some very strict filters that IT have flung on there to stop us from opening fictitious DHL receipts or claiming back a large cheque from the IRS (really?  These people cannot even get the right country for that!).  The worst was last week when a poor widow with 6 children was asking us for $50,000 to allow her to free her dead husband's bank account which contains millions of dollars in the Philippines.  Shame we couldn't help her....

I just "liked" your Peppa Pig photos on FB - I really love that cake - so cute.

I must admit that these stencils are going to be a bit of a challenge - I need to work out how to get them fixed to the side of the cake while I put the royal icing over the pattern.  What do you plan to do?

Kathy

Petitecat that bouquet is lovely can I ask how you mad it,Is that plastic drinking cups they are in. My mum would love that. Can't help with the stencil it's lovely though has gone on the watch list 

Hi to everyone else hope your all doing ok and enjoying the lovely weather, when you get a chance to leave the kitchen (or cake room ) that is.

Dayscakes I have seen people use dress pin to hold the stencil in place and remove them as the icing is spread and the holes are filled, Also watched something were they taped them on to the cake. I don't know if you can buy cake tape but was told you could use surgical tape from the chemist.

ok thanks for that...Ive now spent more money on ebay 

I was planning to pin mine

Kathy- what Roxylee said! I've seen pins being used. I don't have any immediate plans for the stencils but I'd love to decorate any cake with it! 

Thanks for the likes :)

Roxy, yes I used plastic cups and stapled them together. I would advice making up a number of cupcakes that will create a circle like 7. 10 cupcakes were really awkward because there were gaps in between the outer cupcakes and they were moving around. I found it quite difficult to wrap in tissue too- there was nothing for the ribbon to 'hold' onto- it kept going underneath the outer cups. I guess I'm not making much sense but you'll know what I mean when you make them!