Impression Mats For Consistent Dot Pattern
Decorating By JennT Updated 20 Aug 2005 , 4:17am by becca0926
I'm making a cake for my daughter's 1st bday in the middle of September...see pic below. I'm going to do a 10in round then 6in then 3in stacked. I want to do the dots all on the sides of the 10in and the 3 in, but I'm not sure how to keep them consistent and in line. Do they make an impression mat for this type of thing, and where would I find it?
Also, I thought for some reason that impression mats were mainly for fondant - can they be used on bc, and if so, how?
TIA for any advice!
JennT,
I was just looking on Sugarcraft for a diamond pattern when I saw your post. Those are great looking cakes!
Look here---
http://www.sugarcraft.com/catalog/gumpaste/impression-mats/impression-mats.htm She has two described as Press Sheet Dots, different sizes. Hope this helps you out!
Thanks so much mamafrogcakes! I'll go check it out. I found those cakes on a website, of course. I know I saved the site in my bookmarks, but I can't remember the name of it....if I come across it I'll post a link to it. Good thing I saved the pic of the cake to My Pictures!!! lol
You don't need a mat Jenn. I have never used one. Just take your time & you'll do fine! Dots are easier then you think~ You can do it
I don't know firsthand how they did the lettering, but it does look like fresh flowers to me too. The way I'm planning on doing it is using a medium gague wire and shaping the inital "A" the way I want it(daughter's name is Audrey)....then I'll use florist's tape and use little clusters of the flowers (taped at the stems to the wire) to cover the wire with the flowers. I'm gonna try a test run to see if it will work with the fresh flowers or not...if not, I'll see if I can find some silk ones that look good...we have a GREAT store here - The Silk Tree Factory - they have the best stuff - from the really cheap flowers that look cheap, lol - to the ones that look just like the real thing. I'm leaning more toward the silk, just because I won't have to worry about keeping them fresh or doing it the morning of the party, and because I'd like to keep the initial as a keepsake and use it as decoration in her room.
Another thing I just thought of is they might have used the florist's foam and carved it into the shape they wanted, then stuck the flowers in and used picks in the bottom to put into the cake....It would definitely stay fresh that way with the foam soaked in water, but I'd have to do it that morning and wouldn't be able to keep it afterwards.
Love to know if anyone else has any other ideas on how to do the initial!
You don't need a mat Jenn. I have never used one. Just take your time & you'll do fine! Dots are easier then you think~ You can do it
Thanks, tc! I figure if I just start out with one straight vertical line and go from that then it'll work out. Thanks for the encouragement! Don't know about perfect, but I'll try..lol
Oh, it will turn out!! Have faith! Once you get started your ideas will just flow out of your fingertips!!
Your cake will turn out beautiful. I agree with TC that you do not need a mat for the dots. Just go for it.
I am liking the sound of silk flowers for the letters. Sounds easier and don't have to worry about drooping flowers. I have a cake to do and I just might try that with the silk flowers. The cut foam is a great idea for fresh.
Thanks!
bj
SquirrellyCakes at one point mentioned using a car mat for dots! You could even use the underside of the inexpensive plastic stuff they use, on stairs to keep the carpeting clean, you know the kind that is made not to slip? Might be worth a shot!
how true!! I never thought of those things being used in that way, but you learn something everyday!! lol Can't see why it wouldn't work...thanks!
I would make the letter from silk flowers. This way she can hang it on the wall in her bedroom after!
Gool luck!
I have the impression mats and I love them... they're quick and very easy to use.. saves me a ton of time and everything comes out very even ... I wouldn't take anything for mine
Just a suggestion,You could use tip 2 or 3 to make an impression on the cake.That way if you put a dot where you don't want it,you can re smooth the icing.
I have a cake to do and I just might try that with the silk flowers. The cut foam is a great idea for fresh.
Thanks!
bj
Let me know how you end up doing it and how it comes out!
SquirrellyCakes at one point mentioned using a car mat for dots! You could even use the underside of the inexpensive plastic stuff they use, on stairs to keep the carpeting clean, you know the kind that is made not to slip? Might be worth a shot!
Yeppers, either works well. I like the clear plastic car mat because I got it at the dollar store and that price beats any impression mat you could find, haha! We just used it, I cut a three inch wide strip out of it, on an angle, worked perfectly!
Hugs Squirrelly
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