This is a new hobby for me and hopefully one day professionally. That's how I started in March...I wanted to make my daughters 3rd birthday cake. I surprised myself and made her a Tinkerbell cake, tree and all. I turned heads and it was the best feeling. Everyone does have to start somewhere and who knows maybe she'll surprise everyone.
About a week ago, I had a coworker ask me to bake a cake for his daughter. He asked for "the chocolate icing from the store". My first thought was "are you kidding??". It must be the cake decorator in me now cause that was just insane. It took everyone in me not to laugh.
Wow, I thought I was reading my own biography! I too started because for my daughter's 3rd birthday in March(of 2009) I realized I looked foward to making her cake more than anything else!
cutthecake... I love that. Discretion! Yes! Where did it go? I miss the days when someone would walk up and talk to another person without asking if her breasts are 'real'.
Or, I've been asked if my rings/earrings/necklace are 'real'. Do you see them? They're not a mirage! They must be 'real'. Oh, are they diamonds? Yes, in fact, they are. Are you casing me? Should I be nervous? Do you want to know the approximate value so you can feel informed when dealing with the pawn broker after you roll me?
I don't mean to sound harsh, but I get this sort of thing from a certain part of my family. They are always trying to, not only keep up with the Joneses, but surpass them in every way. If you got married with a one carat diamond, they have to get a two carat. I lost some weight and immediately they are telling the whole world I had surgery. Then I went and had some surgery, and they go around telling everyone it was cosmetic, not medical. Even if it was, is it THEIR business? If I want a pair of Pamela Anderson's put on my BACK... MY business!!
Ok, tangent. I'm sorry. I just get tired of being 'the nice girl' all the time. I even got a little snitty with my MIL this morning because I'm just tired of it. One of those days I guess. I should leave you good people out of it. 
Here's the thing: You go to a mechanic to have work done on your car. They tell you the price and/or you find out you can buy all the parts on your own and you tell them that, even though you've never even lifted the hood of a car, you'll fix it yourself. I guarantee you, the mechanic will laugh his butt off! He might appreciate that you have the initiative to try, but it is pretty insulting to think you can do...on your first try...what it took him years of study and practice to do.
People here are confusing feeling insulted by someone who suggests "if YOU can do it, SURELY I can, too!!!" with appreciating someone's desire to try something new.
Okay, so here's the thing... I think my reaction would have been something along the lines of " Well, you see, Larry (insert correct butt-head's name here) even though I don't have my own shop I do consider myself somewhat a professional. I do not use icing from buckets from the grocery store. However, I am sure that if you take your design to the "professionals" at Wal-mart, they carry that icing in 50 pound buckets and I am sure that they would be HAPPY to accommodate your wishes of lard and sugar. Not to mention the fact that they ARE Wal-mart and I am sure that they can certainly FAR surpass my prices in affordability. If, per chance, they cannot make the 3 tiered super-girl ice princess cake with diamonds and fondant with gumpaste flowers and royal icing tiara that you would like put on top of said lard-flavored bucket-icing, let me know and I will get back to you with my price and whether or not I can fit it on my schedule.
Sorry, girls, the sarcastic in me just slips out sometimes... Definitely no offense to any of the true cake designers that make their living in ANY venue!!
Everybody has to start somewhere. Frankly, I give her credit for wanting to make the effort.
I am with you Laneysmom, not sure I get all the laughing and snickering because some doesn't realize they can't use canned frosting...like the pros on here were among the elite select, who were born with their "vast" cake decorating knowledge...IDK...just don't understand wanting to make fun and riduicule someone because they have an interest to learn something and "dare" to ask some questions...
:::shurgs::: teho
Why do people think they can learn to do overnight what I've spent the past 22 years learning and the past 2 years doing professionally? Somehow they not only think its cheap but easy!
A friend of my daughters (my daughter is a caker too but not as experienced or as varied as I am) has decided she wants to make a cake for her daughter's first birthday. So she shows her the cake...2 tier stacked cake, fondant lines and embellishements, shooting stars on wires with a pastiage crown decorated with sugar gems. She asks my daughter for her MMF recipe which she emails to her and then goes on to ask her questions about which box mix to use and what canned frosting is the best since she's NEVER done this before? Really?!? Never made a cake before and you think you can do what I do professionally??? Really??
I feel like Lucy from Peanuts..."I know when I've been insulted! I know when I've been insulted!" UGH
Cat
Wow.
I re-read your post 3 times and no-where do I see you being insulted by your daughters friend.
I read this as your daughters friend wanting to try her hand at making her daughters first birthday cake, & asking your daughter for advice and hints on how to do it as shes never made a cake herself. Maybe she asked the wrong questions in your eye but if you stop and think, if she's never made a cake why wouldn't she think canned icing was acceptable? All the popular mags in the supermarket have cake recipes for inexperienced bakers, with the majority of them calling for a boxed mix and canned icing. This mom is excited and wants to make her babies 1st birthday cake. She's your daughters friend for gosh sakes.
How is this mom asking your daughter for help about making a cake an insult to how experienced you are?
[/quote]Our wish is to never see her crash and burn...that would be heartbreaking for such a huge event to her but she won't really take any help and doesn't want to even consider that this is way out of her experience and ability. So that's the part that's heartbeaking.
Cat[/quote]
I am not sure how making a cakewreck of your childs first birthday cake could be considered a crash and burn...It would be on my top 10 lists of beautiful sites to behold.
not sure I get all the laughing and snickering because some doesn't realize they can't use canned frosting
People aren't laughing because the person doesn't instinctively KNOW they can't use canned frosting. Of course everyone starts somewhere and even the best at WHATEVER you do should continue to learn and grow. It's just...before you attempt to bake a cake for a very special event, shouldn't you at least know the basics of cake decorating?? Shouldn't you have even a BASIC understanding of HOW to stack a cake before you attempt one for someone's wedding or birthday party?
Again, using the mechanic analogy: You tell the mechanic that you're going to fix the car yourself. Then you call him and say, "I found some plastic screws...Are they OK to use on the engine?" The mechanic would naturally think: You're fixing the car on your own and you don't even know THAT?!?! 
I am not sure how making a cakewreck of your childs first birthday cake could be considered a crash and burn...It would be on my top 10 lists of beautiful sites to behold.
You might find it a beautiful site to behold, but most people would be devastated if they had to serve a cake wreck at their child's FIRST birthday party! You want the cake to be a mess AFTER the kid tears into it, not before. I would think, if the OP's friend didn't care if the cake was a cake wreck, she wouldn't have been asking for advice on how to do it right.
I went to Lowes and bought a truckload of lumber, a box of nails, and a hammer. I downloaded instructions on how to build a house. I'm gonna give it my best effort. I'll be moving in on Friday.
Lowes has been very good to you so far!!! 
Post pics when you're done!!! (And include a tutorial and full list of supplies!!) 
I went to Lowes and bought a truckload of lumber, a box of nails, and a hammer. I downloaded instructions on how to build a house. I'm gonna give it my best effort. I'll be moving in on Friday.
Yup - and I bet not 1 person snickered at you when you told them what you were going to do~!! Oh and you had the sense to download the instructions!!
I went to Lowes and bought a truckload of lumber, a box of nails, and a hammer. I downloaded instructions on how to build a house. I'm gonna give it my best effort. I'll be moving in on Friday.
Yup...that's what I'm talking about! Worse, as of last night she was emailing everyone with photos of this cake she's going to do. So all her family and friends will be expecting this cake on the 1st. SIGH.
And, yes, for those who asked...she talked to me about making this for her daughter and when I quoted her a very discounted price she said, oh, I think I can make it cheaper. So, yes, I was directly insulted. But that was just the original feeling...then I got worried and nothing she's done in the past 12 hours has changed my worries. If she had a few years of "Sunday" cakes under her belt I'd be less worried...if she was open to accepting help to make this cake I'd be less worried...if this wasn't her very first cake AND very first fondant AND very first stacking experience I woud be less worried. But it's all of the above and she's letting everyone know what to expect. So I'm very worried.
I'll let ya'll know what happens!
Cat
ps...and those who know me around here KNOW that I'm always right there to help whenever I can...share info even if it's been shared ad nauseum on here...always willing to step up and give a helping hand so I'm not against her learning...jusst worried she's diving in so deep with no experience and no help and not willing to get any.
You know, it's funny... there were like 6 contractors there picking up some stuff for their jobs and we were all standing around having a cup of coffee. They were so nice. They even asked the address and if it would be ok for them to swing by tomorrow and see how it's going. They said they might even bring the rest of their crew to, you know, just see how I'm doing. They all seemed really happy when I said they were welcome to come look. One guy mentioned bringing a camera. I think he's really impressed by me! Such nice people. I bet they want to show their crew how well I'm doing so that they understand that their 'expertise' is pretty pointless, and they should all take pay cuts.
You know, it's funny... there were like 6 contractors there picking up some stuff for their jobs and we were all standing around having a cup of coffee. They were so nice. They even asked the address and if it would be ok for them to swing by tomorrow and see how it's going. They said they might even bring the rest of their crew to, you know, just see how I'm doing. They all seemed really happy when I said they were welcome to come look. One guy mentioned bringing a camera. I think he's really impressed by me! Such nice people. I bet they want to show their crew how well I'm doing so that they understand that their 'expertise' is pretty pointless, and they should all take pay cuts.
You're too funny!
Whaaa? Me?? *blink blink* Hahaha!! Thanks! I'm just trying to make up for being ever so slightly raggy earlier. I swear I'm really not trying to make enemies, I am just very passionate. People around here who know me know that I have only the best intentions, and have a very long fuse, but once it's lit... yah. I can be a little... snarky.
Wow... I can't help but think how funny it is that most of everybody is like going overboard with this just a little.. I mean after all she Is making a cake for a paying customer she is making it for home use. And so what of it doesn't turn out the way the picture looks so what if it's not as perfect as what YOU think it should be it's the though that counts and if she has fun making it no matter what it turns out looking like oh well because at the end of the day the baby Is going to smash it to bits anyways. And good lord let's stop acting like yall have never used canned frosting before atleast once in your life. I mean you was fine the cake didn't grow legs and run away when I applying and to be honest I was thankful I didn't have to pull out my mixer and make icing. My sister made her little girls first birthday cake with
cupcakes to go alone smashed and the guest still ate the cupcakes and they tasted great.
Have any of you heared of liv Hansen? She makes cakes using nothing but canned frosting they look good to me. And please let's not all act
like we don't try to so things ourself theave money I am sure if you are at walmart and see something you know you can get cheaper at the dollar store I am pretty sure you say I'm
Going to wait and buy it at the dollar store. And as far as building a home comment my husband and I Just bought a house in Feb that needed A lot of fixing up starting with the holes in the walls and the painting it needed. We wasn't about to pay a ton of money to have somebody fix it for us I mean we have never done it before but we aren't idiots we were able to figure it out on our own. We got the stuff to fix the holes and bought the paint and brushes along with rollers to paint it ourselves and guess what the holes are fixed the painting looks great if I do say so my self you can't even tell there were any holes to begin with. So it's not that crazy for someone to do something on their own. I can go further with all of our DIY projects that most people pay to have done that turn out just fine if you would like.
Wow... I can't help but think how funny it is that most of everybody is like going overboard with this just a little.. I mean after all she Is making a cake for a paying customer she is making it for home use. And so what of it doesn't turn out the way the picture looks so what if it's not as perfect as what YOU think it should be it's the though that counts and if she has fun making it no matter what it turns out looking like oh well because at the end of the day the baby Is going to smash it to bits anyways. And good lord let's stop acting like yall have never used canned frosting before atleast once in your life. I mean you was fine the cake didn't grow legs and run away when I applying and to be honest I was thankful I didn't have to pull out my mixer and make icing. My sister made her little girls first birthday cake with
cupcakes to go alone smashed and the guest still ate the cupcakes and they tasted great.
Have any of you heared of liv Hansen? She makes cakes using nothing but canned frosting they look good to me. And please let's not all act
like we don't try to so things ourself theave money I am sure if you are at walmart and see something you know you can get cheaper at the dollar store I am pretty sure you say I'm
Going to wait and buy it at the dollar store. And as far as building a home comment my husband and I Just bought a house in Feb that needed A lot of fixing up starting with the holes in the walls and the painting it needed. We wasn't about to pay a ton of money to have somebody fix it for us I mean we have never done it before but we aren't idiots we were able to figure it out on our own. We got the stuff to fix the holes and bought the paint and brushes along with rollers to paint it ourselves and guess what the holes are fixed the painting looks great if I do say so my self you can't even tell there were any holes to begin with. So it's not that crazy for someone to do something on their own. I can go further with all of our DIY projects that most people pay to have done that turn out just fine if you would like.
Sorry some of that message got cut it should have said let's not act like you have never used canned frosting before a friend of fine asked me to make her a babyshower cake and all she wanted was a chocolate cake with canned frosting and everything turned out just fine with the canned frosting
Okay a lot of that message got cut dang I phone but oh well you get the I was trying to make.
You know, it's funny... there were like 6 contractors there picking up some stuff for their jobs and we were all standing around having a cup of coffee. They were so nice. They even asked the address and if it would be ok for them to swing by tomorrow and see how it's going. They said they might even bring the rest of their crew to, you know, just see how I'm doing. They all seemed really happy when I said they were welcome to come look. One guy mentioned bringing a camera. I think he's really impressed by me! Such nice people. I bet they want to show their crew how well I'm doing so that they understand that their 'expertise' is pretty pointless, and they should all take pay cuts.
HaHaHa!! LMAO!! You crack me up, girl!! I needed that laugh today.
I'm so glad this subject was addressed. Ok, so I have a bunch of people p.m.ing me on how ("step-by-step, please") to make my 3D horse cake that I posted last November (Don't know why all of a sudden there have been so many questions about it...must be horse season.)
I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings and I'm very grateful for all the nice compliments, but I've been doing this for many years and when I get a question like this, the first thing I do is take a look at the pics of cakes they have done so I know what their decorating level is. In just about every case, I KNOW it's going to be very frustrating for them to attempt this type of 3D cake. But, what do I say?? Should I just give them as much info as I can (which can be VERY time consuming) or just say, "Sorry but, from what I can tell from your pics, this isn't quite on your decorating level yet?".
Seriously, I would love to help out (and have...alot!), but I think that for most of the people that have asked me for help, it would end up being very frustrating for them. That baby took me at least 2 weeks to make, including the design process, internal structure, baking, sculpting, icing, fondanting and detail work etc ! Any thoughts?
Crap, I fear I've just hijacked this thread. Forgive me if I did. Maybe the answer to this is "Don't post a picture of your cakes if you don't want to be asked questions about it!". So now I guess I will go back and pull out some progression photos and post those. Hopefully they will help. I was a "newbie" once. And probably had the same lofty goals.
Holy Cow...I wouldn't want to try the horse cake either! I think that's way above my skill level too<G> Wonderful work, really wonderful
Cat
Paige Pittman, you are missing the point. I bought a house that was built in 1904. Completely for sentimental reasons (it was grandma's). It is a complete fixer-upper. Guess who has been doing the majority of the work, one little project at a time since 2002? I can tell you any horror story you want about fixing up a house.
That's not what I'm talking about. At no point did I call a contractor and say, "What would charge me for... are you freakin' kidding me? It's just plaster! Nevermind you jerk, I'll just do it myself!" THAT is what I'm talking about. People being insulting. Yah, I called someone and got a quote on something, hung up the phone and said to my hubby, "I can't freakin' afford that! I'll have to figure out how to do it myself!" But I NEVER said anything like that to the person who quoted me that price. It's all about intent. I have NO problem with anyone saving money, but they don't have to be a jerk to me in the process. And no, I have NEVER used canned frosting. Even when I was a kid. I kind of agree with The Cake Mix Doctor on that one. You can doctor up a mix, but there is nothing like scratch icing. But that has nothing to do with my other point, so, I digress...
diane706, I know what you mean about explaining a cake. My problem is that I probably don't have any clear procedure. Sometimes I make it up as I go, and I may or may not remember exactly what I did. BUT, even if it takes me an hour, it's almost a guarantee I will write the inquiring person as much detail as I can to help them out. But you know, that does get tiring sometimes, like when you've had a long day and something bad happened. But, I still love helping, so I do it.
Yeah I like the horse but uhhhh I'm
LOVING yoda!!! Would love to pull something like that off one day. 3D cakes are something I have yet to attempt and I do stand corrected on being being able to do on their own (with the 3D cakes) I haven't the first clue of where to start on those.
My problem is that I probably don't have any clear procedure. Sometimes I make it up as I go, and I may or may not remember exactly what I did.
Exactly!!! Nobody can duplicate what's created by an artist's mind and hands. But I really DO love to help. Oh, Gawd... now i'm sounding pompous!!!
Diane,
I love to help too and if this girl wanted help I'd be happy to do so, so would my daughter (tho' she admits this is above her skill level so she'd be less than helpful). But the only thing she wanted was to know what was the best mix to use, which canned frosting and what was my MMF recipe. She doesn't want any other help. Her answer was "Oh, it doesn't look too hard, I can do it myself" when offered the help even tho' she's never baked anything in her life. But yes, I always try to help, give tips, answer any questions that anyone asks...that's how I learn things...am still learning things on here.
Cat
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