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Can I make a cake any uglier?

post #1 of 35
11/22/09 at 12:42pm
Thread Starter 
I am new to the cake world, I've made cakes in a square pan and just did the tub of icing on it and put a few candles but a lady down the road makes awesome cakes and I thought to myself... I can do that! UM... NO... My first attempt I didn't realize I need more than one layer of the same size square or circle so I got this super thin bottom square with this little bitty top circle... it looked like a button on a square! thumbsdown.gif The second one I thought I had worked out what I was going to do, I went and bought two 8" x 3" pans and stacked them and that part worked out better but I made my icing too thin so it kinda fell off the side of the cake and then I made the top mix thicker but I couldn't get it smooth so I got this tall red circle cake that I cut out black and white fondant circles to put on and it looks like crap. I am so disappointed in myself! I know it's only my second attempt but it sucks!! Does it get better? Or am I just not cut out for great looking cakes? icon_sad.gif
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post #2 of 35
11/22/09 at 12:53pm
Just like anything else, practice makes perfect. You learned from your "too short cake" experience and made a taller one. You also learned how to make icing that is too thin, so now you have to make it thicker. Don't give up, just keep trying different things out. Here's a comforting thought, it can only get better from here! icon_biggrin.gif
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post #3 of 35
11/22/09 at 12:55pm
I'd strongly suggest buying a Wilton 2010 Yearbook, Wilton Celebrate With Fondant, and/or some of the Wilton Course 1,2,3,4 books. Most, if not all, of these can be found online or at JoAnn or Michael's.

Better yet, take some Wilton classes at one of the craft stores.

You'll waste a lot of time and product--and have more failures than successes--unless you learn the proper procedures.

You can read thousands of threads here, too, but step-by-step pictures, hands on practice of the right way, and/or demos will get you going in the right direction a lot faster.

You can also search youtube.com for cake decorating clips.

Good luck
Rae
I love you, but your emergency is not my crisis!

They say that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance.--Terry Pratchett (b.194
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I love you, but your emergency is not my crisis!

They say that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance.--Terry Pratchett (b.194
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post #4 of 35
11/22/09 at 12:55pm
You have only made two cakes. Things will get better. The lady down the road may have been making cakes for years, or may have gone to college for this.
Have you taken any decorating classes? I would start there. Remember this is like everything else, practice, practice, practice. Even the Pro's make mistakes, they have just learned how to cover them up. icon_wink.gif
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post #5 of 35
11/22/09 at 1:08pm
Yes, it does get better! You can't expect your second cake to be a masterpiece. That is an unrealistic expectation. Be patient and kind to your self, learn from your mistakes. Read all you can, learn all you can. You will get there!

It takes patience, and you have to keep pushing even when something comes out bad.
The older I get the smarter my mother gets!
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The older I get the smarter my mother gets!
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post #6 of 35
11/22/09 at 4:35pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for all the encouragement! I feel better now! I am going to sign up for a class in January. There is one in December but I've got too much going on that month. So hopefully going through the class will help. I am going to take your advice and buy a book to work with until my class starts! That is my husbands issue with my new venture is that I am spending a lot of money on cakes, that we don't need to eat!! icon_rolleyes.gif I gave half of my "ugly cake" away tonight! haha... my neighbor liked it, although ugly, it still tastes good!!
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post #7 of 35
11/23/09 at 8:47am
Don't be discouraged!! Take a look in my gallery at my first cake....with the gaudy purple bow and red rose daisies. I was completely deflated...this was after investing several hundred dollars in cake supplies and toys (and a very expensive new range/oven my husband surprised me with) to indulge my newly discovered "creative outlet". I thought YIKES!!! but I kept persevering and am getting better bit by bit. I live too far away for cake decorating classes to be a viable options so the internet has been my best cake decorating friend. Youtube has some amazing video tutorials
(serious cakes, toedna, Elaine McGregor on Food Court etc etc) as well as all the great help here on CC...If you enjoy it, keep at it, it can only get better
I'm not licensed or insured and I don't sell cakes!! 'nuf said.
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I'm not licensed or insured and I don't sell cakes!! 'nuf said.
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post #8 of 35
11/23/09 at 8:55am
I keep telling my students, this is not as easy as t looks like. It's like learning to write. It takes years and you will keep learning forever. Your skills will improve with practice. And in a matter of one year you will see a huge difference. But the learning will continue to grow ad years go by..
Just have fun with it.
Edna icon_smile.gif
Visit my website.. www.designmeacake.com
http://designmeacakeblog.blogspot.com/
Check my Gumpaste Tutorials in You tube
http://www.youtube.com/user/tonedna1
Check my new Blooms and Vines DVD!



Thanks Edna
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Visit my website.. www.designmeacake.com
http://designmeacakeblog.blogspot.com/
Check my Gumpaste Tutorials in You tube
http://www.youtube.com/user/tonedna1
Check my new Blooms and Vines DVD!



Thanks Edna
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post #9 of 35
11/23/09 at 9:15am
This was my first cake. You'll get there.
LL
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post #10 of 35
11/23/09 at 9:17am
If you're trying to save mone (and who isn't) look for books at your local library and clip coupons for the wilton kits at michaels.

as far as leftover cakes: it took my wilton class on thursday nites and took the cake to work for TGIF I was very popular icon_lol.gif
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post #11 of 35
11/23/09 at 10:41am
Nannie- I did the same when I took the courses. LOL
Rosie

Hooked on Cakin' works for me!!
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Rosie

Hooked on Cakin' works for me!!
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post #12 of 35
11/23/09 at 12:22pm
I work in a small office and sometimes people are all caked out. So I started taking it to the offices next door, they appreciate it. I've even been known to show up at my neighbor's door with a dessert just to get it out of my house.
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post #13 of 35
11/23/09 at 3:11pm
Thread Starter 
I am going to attempt another cake for thanksgiving. My husband said if it looked bad we could just take banana pudding! haha... icon_lol.gif I DO know how to make that!! haha...

mmgiles - UM... your first cake is awesome compaired to mine. I wont even post what mine looked like. Did you do that all on your own or was that one you did in a class? I think I need more cake pans!
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post #14 of 35
11/23/09 at 10:59pm
Here is my first cake! It's been a fun ride.. icon_lol.gificon_rolleyes.gif
Edna icon_biggrin.gif
LL
Visit my website.. www.designmeacake.com
http://designmeacakeblog.blogspot.com/
Check my Gumpaste Tutorials in You tube
http://www.youtube.com/user/tonedna1
Check my new Blooms and Vines DVD!



Thanks Edna
Reply
Visit my website.. www.designmeacake.com
http://designmeacakeblog.blogspot.com/
Check my Gumpaste Tutorials in You tube
http://www.youtube.com/user/tonedna1
Check my new Blooms and Vines DVD!



Thanks Edna
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post #15 of 35
11/24/09 at 9:29am
I did it on my own with some cakecentral help I'm sure. This cake was even licked by the dog right before the party. I've come a long way too.
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