Just a question..howdid everyone learn to decorate cakes? was it self taught, intern, wilton class? Thanks

I'm self-taught. I bought a Wilton yearbook and read all the stuff in the instruction section and just practiced at home (back then i had a busy schedule and couldn't find time for classes). Then, about 10 years later, I found CakeCentral and I've learned about a hundred times more just from reading here

I've been considering taking the Wilton classes but my husband thinks it would be a waste of time since I can already frost a cake. (It might just be that he doesn't want to babysit)

I learned through reading and watching Youtube videos.

Self taught with the aid books.

k-12: mom and tv

undergrad: wilton classes

graduate school: cake central!

Wilton classes

Oh Doug!!! I just love your sense of humor. You always make me laugh.

I started baking as soon with my mom as early as I can remember.

As for decorating, I started with Wilton. This was before they had fondant classes. Then I learned most of the rest from books, mistakes, and lots of practice.

Gumpaste work started with books and then some classes as I could afford them. A lot of the tecniques I use are my own methods due to lack of tools, not knowing any better, and experimentation.

Michele

I'm completely self-taught, but not without a whole-lotta trial and error. For the more technical aspects (stacking, doweling, leveling, etc) I found reference in a Wilton yearbook. It wasn't until about 2 years in that I discovered CC!

I am thinking of taking the Wilton courses at Michaels. I figure that there's only room for improvement... and there's definitely a lot that I have left to learn

My dad (a retired decorator) taught me a few basics as a teenager. Then I got a job as a decorator in a grocery store bakery when I was 20 and learned by doing those Deco-Pac cakes and trial and error. Then I discovered this site and have been gleaning every bit of info I can ever since. So I'm primarily self-taught with some help from professionals and newbies alike along the way. I hope to take some classes eventually, when life brings me back to the States.

100% self taught.

But "back in my day", we didnt' have much choice. Back then, we'd never heard of Michael's or Hobby Lobby & their classes, and even if we had heard of it, the closest one would be at least 75 miles away (i lived in a small town 75 miles outside of Indpls). There was no internet, no food channels, no you-tube, no tutorials ... nothing. If you were real lucky, you were friends with someone who had been doing cakes for years and picked up some tips and ideas from that person.

So I had no choice but to learn how to look at a picture and figure out how to do it. If you couldn't do that, you couldn't do cakes.

Someone showed me how to make roses and a shell border. After that I have been self taught. I have learned a LOT from CC and some youtube. Tonight I take my very first gum paste class! I am so excited!

I learned on the job. The bakery in the grocery store I worked at was shorthanded one day so I went back there to help bagging rolls. The manager there mentioned they were short a decorator and asked if I would want to learn. I said sure (anything to get me off a register!). That was two years ago. Now I'm learning fondant and gumpaste flowers on my own.

Another self taught gal, here. Used the old Wilton yearbooks for techniques and ideas. I must say, I've learned more here on CC in the last year than I had learned on my own in the last twenty years!
I love you folks!

Self taught. A lot of trial and error. A lot of help from this place, and another site. And a LOT of what I know not to do, and never have simply from reading about other's experiences. THAT is priceless.

Self taught here, was hooked once I did my DD 1st bday cake "Big Bird" 20 years ago. You know the shaped pan with all of the little stars that was so hot in that day.

Now, it is CC, you tube, and just plain old hands on practice of different things I haven't done yet.

I got an easy bake oven when I was seven and made my first little cakes, but I mostly learned by being in the kitchen with my nana and aunt. I used the Betty Crocker cookbook and tried to learn how to make roses when I was about ten, but it wasn't until about six years ago that I took classes at Michaels. And I've learned tons by just lurking here.

new here I didn't make my first cake until February this year, and we made a groom's cake for our friends wedding..

I never baked with my mom growing up, so everything I know how to do (which still isn't all that much ) I learned from the internet or from tv shows. And looking at these threads for the past couple of months

Self-taught....since finding cake central I've learned a lot that I didn't know like how to make and decorate w/ fondant.

I learned basic decorating when I was 16 working at a Baskin Robbins Ice Cream Store. I learned a lot on my own and have learned twice as much from Cake Central. Thank you everyone!!

I learned basic decorating when I was 16 working at a Baskin Robbins Ice Cream Store. I learned a lot on my own and have learned twice as much from Cake Central. Thank you everyone!!

My mom was my first teacher. She showed me how to make drop flowers. She was known for her cake decorating skills. I also poured over her Wilton yearbooks--they had hard covers and had these fabulous techniques.

Many years passed and just last year I took my first Micheal's class and I had a great teacher. Then I discovered Cake Central. Can't believe how much I've learned in the last year. So greatful for all the fabulous people here on CC.

I watched my mom who took Wilton classes for ever ago. I was a new teen (now I'm pushing 40!). When she could no longer make cakes, she gave me her supplies and I've been going ever since. So mostly self taught, trial & error, read books, Sugarshacks dvds, tv shows, you tube, just simply researching and paying attention to others amazing work. CC has been an incredible aid in encouraging and teaching new techniques.

I always look to new challenges to see if I can do it. Love cake & cookie decorating!

WELL, there is a story...kinda funny if i say so myself!!

When i was 8, i got my first Betty Crocker cookbook. SO, i looked up cakes, and was able to bake (with my older sister's guidance) my first cake. THEN, it was time to frost it. Well, the recipe said confectioners sugar, so i got out the only sugar i knew about, granulated! I made the frosting, frosted the cake and surprised my dad at the dinner table with my VERY FIRST CAKE!!! The icing was sooooo gritty, it was horrible!!!!

But, being the dad he is, he took a big, fat slice...and ate EVERY BITE of it!! Even made the "this is delicious" look and all!!

Since, self taught, a few books, LOTS of CC (recently) and trial and error! But i still LOVE it, and i'm so glad i'm doing it!! There's just something about stepping back, looking at your work and saying "You know, I could have done better!!!"

I'm self taught. I did a Sunflower cake for my 33 yo daughter as a joke. She loves Sunflowers. I bought the Wilton mold pan. Easy right? Then my grand-daughter asked for a PowerPuff cake and it went on from there. I've been doing cakes and cupcake cakes for about a year and a half now. Thanks to all of you here on CC, I've learned valuable lessons that have been of great help.

Cupcakelady, cute story!! I am self taught... I started when my son turned 3 with a race car cake and went on from there. I learned alot from a wilton book. I get on youtube and watch tutorials. I keep b/c in the fridge and practice on wax paper when I'm bored. This sight has been the most helpful! Good Luck!

I am self taught but I have learned a great deal from this site and reading books, you tube etc. I have been able to practice alot on family members. They love it and so do my kids. My daughter who is 5 has the decorating bug. She wants me to make a little cake for her each time I bake so she can decorate her own.

My son and dd both LOVE to decorate. I let them use any extra icing and cake or cupccakes to do whatever they want. I only help if asked. They have so much fun and I love seeing their creations!! Now they always offer to help me with my cakes!!