Wilton Courses

Decorating By Newatdecorating Updated 23 Jul 2010 , 4:04pm by TexasSugar

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Newatdecorating Posted 20 Jul 2010 , 1:42pm
post #1 of 15

Wondering if anyone has gone back and taken the Wilton courses for a second time? I originally took the courses approximately six years ago. Our instructor, at the time, did not require you to bring a cake to class. After the first class, nearly everyone started bringing a cake though. Then when we got to the third course, we did not stack a two tier cake.

For awhile now, I've been seeing the course three cakes on here and I don't know that I could do them. I noticed that Wilton has changed their courses and wondering if I could benefit taking them again.

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cakeprof Posted 20 Jul 2010 , 2:03pm
post #2 of 15

Can't tell you if you would benefit from taking them but can tell you they just redid their courses. The new courses just started (June was the first time they were offered). From my understanding one of the principle changes was to add more practice time.

In the basic course for instance for the first class you bring cookies and play with the star tip. The second class you bring a single layer to practice smoothing, pattern transfer and dimensional decorating (can also practice torting, filling, and damming but is optional). Class three you bring cupcakes and practice some flowers and class four you decorate an entire cake and practice ribbon rose. In short bringing things to decorate is required for the classes.

However there have been complaints about people not getting the instruction the courses claim to offer (bad instructors). Check into them, there is info on Wilton's site under the class link.

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millermom Posted 20 Jul 2010 , 2:08pm
post #3 of 15

The new courses are structured a little differently, and stacking/tiered cakes will now be a separate "project" class, and not part of the regular courses.

"Decorating Basics" (the first course) still teaches icing/smoothing a cake, but also goes into cupcake decorating, and now they have a new rose, the ribbon rose, which is a little easier than the Wilton rose. (it has been moved to "Flowers and Cake Design")

The other two classes are "Flowers and Cake Design," which goes a little into fondant and royal icing, and "Gum Paste and Fondant," which is similar to the old course, but now you learn the loopy bow, and calla lillies.

Hope that is helpful. I think it is always good to keep educating yourself, so if you don't think these changes are what you need, then check into courses elsewhere that might be more specific to your needs. icon_smile.gif

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Justforfun751 Posted 20 Jul 2010 , 2:09pm
post #4 of 15

The new courses don't include stacked cakes, but do teach a couple of new flowers (such as a gumpaste pansy, buttercream shaggy mum, and gumpaste cala lilly). IMO it is put together a lot better than the old classes. I'd look at the kit boxes or a book if you can and see if there is anything that you'd like a refresher on.

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TexasSugar Posted 20 Jul 2010 , 2:13pm
post #5 of 15

The below is what I typed up for my students about the new classes.

Ive been asked if taking the new refreshed courses is worth it, if you have taken Wiltons previous courses. That is a hard question for me to answer since everyone has their own reasons for taking the classes. I did sit down and type up a rough list of what is included in the new classes, noting what things are repeated from the past courses and what things are new. I hope this gives you more information to decide if you would like to come back and join me for the refreshed courses.

My honest opinion is if you have the time, want to learn more, and can afford it, then why not take the classes. Even if there are repeats it is just reinforcing what you have learned before.

Below are some highlights from the Refreshed Courses

Decorating Basics:
Making icing and icing your Cake (C1)
Filling and Icing Cupcakes *NEW*
Stars (C1)
Writing (C1)
Leaves (C1)
Dots (C1)
Elongated Shapes *NEW*
Rosettes (C2)
Shells (C1)
ZigZag (C1)
Drop Flowers (C1)
Shaggy Mums *NEW*
Pompom Flower *NEW*
Ribbon Rose *NEW*

Flower & Cake Design:
Fondant Button Flower *NEW*
Gum Paste Pansy *NEW*
Apple Blossom (C2)
Primrose (C2)
Daffodil (C2)
Violet (C2)
Lily (C3)
Rosebud (C2)
Wilton Rose (C1)
Reverse Shell (C2)
Basket Weave (C2)
Basic Principles of Floral cake Design *NEW*

Gum Paste & Fondant:
Gum Paste Flowers:
Rose (C3)
Calla Lilies *NEW*
Carnations (F/GP)
Daisies (F/GP)
Mums *NEW*
Covering a cake with fondant (C3 & F/GP)
Covering a cake board with fondant (F/GP)
Bow *NEW*
Fondant Eyelet *NEW*
Fondant Ruffle Border *NEW*
Ball Border (F/GP)
Embellished Rope Borders (F/GP)

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millermom Posted 20 Jul 2010 , 2:17pm
post #6 of 15

Texas Sugar, great idea! Mind if I copy this for my students? I already had one former student take Decorating Basics, but it would be good to have as a reference so everyone can see exactly what they will be learning in each class.

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cattycornercakes Posted 20 Jul 2010 , 2:26pm
post #7 of 15

Wow..looks like there is a lot of new stuff. So they don't call the classes 1, 2 and 3 now? I just finished the final class a year ago. I took 1, 2 and 3 and the "new" Fondant and Gumpaste last year.

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TexasSugar Posted 20 Jul 2010 , 2:54pm
post #8 of 15

Millermom, feel free to use it. I justed wanted something so when they asked I could show them. I have a past student retaking all three classes with me now, and another student that had C1 & C2 at the other store in town taking them. Plan on asking their thoughts at the end.

Yes, they took the numbers off, which is fine. The way the new set up is, you can take either the Flowers and Cake Design or Gumpaste and Fondant after Decorating Basics. Plus it lets people know what is actually in the classes, since the numbers don't tell you much. icon_smile.gif

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trish08638 Posted 20 Jul 2010 , 8:05pm
post #9 of 15

i loved taking the classes last year and was very excited to see they had new flowers and techniques to learn. for such a cheap price and just to get out with others who enjoy the same thing its well worth the $20....who knows i may just keep going till they get sick of meicon_smile.gif

Trish

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cakeprof Posted 20 Jul 2010 , 8:28pm
post #10 of 15
Quote:
Originally Posted by trish08638

i loved taking the classes last year and was very excited to see they had new flowers and techniques to learn. for such a cheap price and just to get out with others who enjoy the same thing its well worth the $20....who knows i may just keep going till they get sick of meicon_smile.gif

Trish




$20 for the courses, where did you take them? Taking them at Michael's now and they are 22.50 because of a 50% discount they are running in July so the base cost is $45. Not sure about August but I do not recall seeing anything about them being 50% off.

And of course that is only to register, need the $35 kit (unless you have the materials) plus the added cost of materials such as cakes, icing (even if you make it yourself), fondant, gumpaste, etc. I have really enjoyed the course but by no means have I found them cheap--even with the 40-50% off coupons from Michaels and AC Moore.

I do really enjoy the new courses but sometimes I feel like I am in a Wilton product demonstration rather than a class on decorating icon_razz.gif

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Larkin121 Posted 20 Jul 2010 , 8:57pm
post #11 of 15

If you took all the classes before, I'd at least skip the new first class, Decorating Basics. There's not anything new that you wouldn't figure out on your own (the ribbon rose is just a simplified regular rose and the "shaggy mum" is just a grass tip, for example). They just really simplified the first course a lot.

Gumpaste and Fondant would be worth it IF you never took Course 4 in the old versions since it teaches quite a few gumpaste flowers that were not part of the old Course 3. Course 2 and Flowers and Cake Design are almost exactly the same save for the gumpaste pansy and the "button flowers" (can't figure out why the heck we teach that - there's nothing to it).

If you have the old kits and try to use just those for the new courses, you'll not quite have all the right tools.

Not gonna lie, the new courses are very much "simplified" as that was the mission... to make it easier for people to take the classes and master the skills without having to practice at home much. I like some of the new flowers but my students (and I) find that many of the lessons are simple enough and sparse enough that we finish class with quite a bit of time to spare.

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trish08638 Posted 21 Jul 2010 , 10:42am
post #12 of 15

$17.50 it was to be exact! I rounded it off to $20. It was $22.50 at Michaels but my instructor gave us all $5 off coupons. Well worth it!

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Newatdecorating Posted 21 Jul 2010 , 12:09pm
post #13 of 15

Thank you all. This has been very helpful. icon_smile.gif

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vandy36 Posted 23 Jul 2010 , 3:33pm
post #14 of 15

What tip do you use to make grass?

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TexasSugar Posted 23 Jul 2010 , 4:04pm
post #15 of 15

Tip # 233

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