I am still a newbie to the cake decorating world. My problem is I don't want to do just simple cakes.

My daughter wants a Wilton Princess Carriage cake for her birthday. Granted I will make it for her but I'm thinking about setting it on two 9x13 cakes set side-by-side. And making the 9x13s into a background with trees and such.

Does anyone else have this problem of wanting to do big fancy cakes even if all you need is something small and simple?

I definitely understand where you are coming from. I did a Lightning McQueen shaped cake for my son's birthday last Fall but didn't want to JUST do the Wilton pan. I didn't need a lot of cake though so I covered a 20"x30" plywood board with a desert scene using fondant. You can see it in my photos. I got to work with fondant for the first time and I got to GO BIG without going overboard on cake. If you are in the same boat and don't need the extra cake from those 2 9x13s I would suggest using fondant to set the stage for the carriage.

I know how you feel. I get so excited when my friends ask me to make a cake for them, right up until I hear "I just want..." then something boring.

I definitely have this problem too. My mind starts going big, big and bigger and I can't control it. Is there a cure for this?

Yep, I just made a gigantic, carved, penguin-covered cake for my son's 6th birthday. Really wasn't necessary, but I wanted to do a difficult (for me) cake

I can identify. Many of my customers will give me a color scheme, size, and cake flavor then just tell me to do "whatever." I charge them $XX. Once I'm doing the cake, I just keep doing more and more to it until I should've charged $XXX. They love it and got a real bargain. I try to rationalize that it will look good on my website.

I understand what you are saying, but enjoy the small wants while you get them. One thing I have learned with ny nephew is that every year he wants something bigger and better and then some. And of course he just knows I can do it, so what do you do?

My nephew usually gets the 3d cakes. Mostly because I don't have to worry about having only so many servings but more so not worrying about someone not wanting to paying for 3d work. Plus it isn't as stressful worrying about it coming out perfect since it is for family.

Now I say that and my friend tells me her 3 year old daughter (finally I get to do girly cakes) just wants a pink train and a bear for her birthday cake, thanks to her brother who told her thats what she should have. My friend was thinking Princess, before the train came up, and couldn't get her to change her mind. And she was like "well I know you have the train pan..." since I did her son's cake in a train several years ago.

Needless to say, I wasn't overly excited about the train, but then I remembered, she's only three. Plenty of time to do girly princess themes later. And birthday girl loved it, so that is what matters, right?

I was originally going to do a huge Spongebob cake and then my husband talked me off the ledge. It would of been waayyyy too much cake for us. But then my daughter changed her mind anyways...lol. Which is ok because my buttercream techniques need work.

My own kids' cakes are usually wayyyy over the top

And even though there are usually at least 40 people at their party (DHs family is big), I still end up making enough cake to feed about 100

I can so agree with the need for a 12 step recovery support group. I did a simple cake that was way over the top. The zoo cake in my pics. They wanted a lot of detail and little cake. I showed up with it and they were "WOW" that is not exactly what we had in mind, but it is great. This year, the birthday boy has drawn up something even more over the top than ever. It seems like it is almost a challenge for them to come up with a cake that you same no way to.

lol DS asked for a club penguin cake and it turned into a 2 tier, 2 flavour, hand sculpted figurines etc.... I only do it for fun so it's my chance to try stuff out.

at least your kids still want cake....i burned mine out. Today is my daughters birthday and she wanted apple pie instead of cake . And my other daughter for her birthday asked if she could get cake with can frosting So I had to move on to friends at work

I think my cure for "bigger and better" is seeing if I can get the same effect in miniature. We don't have a huge family so when doing a cake for a family event I'm usually feeding 10 at the most. I finally got to the point where I couldn't stand the fact that I was wasting cake (I grew up with "kids starving in China" routine) and what was left over was going into my mouth and onto my already large hips. So now I take whatever concept I've worked out and make it in a smaller scale. That way it feeds under 20 instead of 50 or more<G>.

I thought I was the only one! Tell me, where can I sign up for the 12 step recovery program?

I only wish there was a 12 step recovery program. It's a good thing my daughter picked chocolate cake . That seems to be the only flavor where we eat the whole thing.

OMG, this is too funny! Glad I'm not alone...
My son's 6th b-day is in a couple of weeks - a pirate theme. Of course, I ask him what he wants (expecting him to say a pirate ship.) Yep. that's what he wants..."with pirates" (ok, I'm OK with figures...I can do that...)...."and water" (yep...got it covered)...."and an anchor, mommy" (think I have a chocolate mold...hmm)..."Oh, and the little boats, too, you know for when the ship crashes?" (HUH??? I hope he means in theory, here...the thought of my detailed ship cake crashing - oh NO!) Ok, so I was already freaking about doing a pirate ship...now there are details...
Then, he adds, "Don't forget the three other ships in the back." (HUH?!>#@%^@%^ Three other ships???) What 3 ships, hon? you mean the little lifeboats? "No, Mommy...the three other little cakes in the back, to share with the neighbors after the party!"
Pray for me....

Hee hee. I am so glad that I am not alone in this. There are days I want to make and decorate a cake just to make and decorate a cake. Do you know what I mean?

I have cake withdraws if when I don't make cake in a while, so I draw up designs....and then try to find a reason to make it...

Hello, my name is Tammy and I'm a Cakeaholic.

I put myself firmly in the category of making cakes for people that don't even ask for them, just so I can make a cake!! My BFF's birthday is in 10 days and I've decided to make a purse cake...whether she wants one or not!

the bigger the cake the better!!! I love doing big cakes.. even when they are only for family..and it is pretty small.. so my motto had become.. make the big cake and them eat cake...and cake..and cake...and cake...and cake until they burst!!

sign me up for this 12 step program too! lol. i think its something about the "wow" factor you get with big cakes.. like "oh my gosh is that ALL cake!". yes, yes it is. i am so clever. now you better eat it coz i hate waste!!! lol.

my soloution to large cakes is to cut big peices and send people home with a whole lotta cake! as long as i dont see it get thrown out, im ok.. i just cant stand to do it myself..

haha im the same with finding any excuse to make a cake. my friend asked me the other day to do one for her sister, she was like you dont have to if you dont want to! then theres me jumping up and down.. ill do it ill do it! 10 mins later im on cc researching ideas.. and tracking down recipes and supplies. haha

tell me also, i am a total novice, and im wondering if anyone else has this same problem, does anyone ever attempt things that are wayyy wayyy over their heads? i.e first cake for me.. ill make fondant animal figures! (epic fail...haha).. fourth cake.. i wanna do a topsy turvey! yup, im blaming that fail on the heat. and now, 6th cake, ive decided to give cornelli lace a go. i have a serious problem.haha.

Since the majoity of the birthdays and special occasions in my family are in September & November, I am constantly looking for an excuse to make cakes the other 10 months of the year. And when I "play" I tend to want to over do. I think it comes with the addiction !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why not try a 3D Cinderella Carriage for your daughter. Then she gets what she wants and you get to do something more interesting!

I'm SOOOO excited: My order from GSA has shipped...with my first bucket of gumpaste and some cutters. I have NO "need" for these things. I just want to play! And I can't wait! I am going to Michael's today to buy an extruder. Again: not an actual necessity. I just want to play. We are such kids!!

What's the first step: recognizing the problem, right??

I'm in denial. I don't want a 12 step program. I just want my skills to catch up to my imagination. I'm going to attempt my first 3D whale in a few weeks.

Oh and I love this thread!!!