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Ok, need help please..errrr..

post #1 of 16
5/7/12 at 7:14pm
Thread Starter 
I'm doing a harley davidson cake that is shaped like the decal and the writing. This cake will be for a groomsmen cake and I'm soo frustrated on how to get my lines straight and perfect(orange ones and writing). I'm doing a practice cake and I want this to look darn good,,so I went slowly and the line is squiqqily. So then I try to start line and pull up like if you are doing swags on side of cake, but when it comes down, it's all out of line..errr..SO then I tried to put 2 pieces of paper as my guide and run the icing down the middle so when I lift papers, the line will be straighter..that DIDN"T work..so anybody have an idea on how the heck I can master this??? It has to be buttercream as bride strictly stated no fondant.. I let the icing dry and went back to try and straigten it too but it won't get straight or aligned perfectly! Frustrated sorry and I'm soo glad I'm doing a practice one here.

Please help me master this somehow!
Thanks
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post #2 of 16
5/7/12 at 9:58pm
I'm sure the pros will chime in soon but I had a thought. Sugarshack uses a thickened buttercream to make the dam for her cakes. She adds enough PS to make the BC thick, almost moldable that it has the consistency of soft fondant. I'm wondering if you could push that through a clay gun or work it as you would fondant. Just a random though. Not sure if it would work.
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post #3 of 16
5/8/12 at 2:50am
Squiggily lines can be from using a tip that has a seam or from damage to the opening of the tip.

Have you tried drawing an outline with a toothpick so you can "trace" over it when you pipe your writing?

Also, it helps if your icing is soupy so it flows without breaks and air bubbles. I use buttercream thinned with 50% piping gel, but you can thin with water instead.
HOW TO:
Make tip #127D (giant rose tip) Ruffle cake,
Write with icing,
Make buttercream roses on a stick:
http://s984.photobucket.com/albums/ae322/Unlimited1cakes/
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HOW TO:
Make tip #127D (giant rose tip) Ruffle cake,
Write with icing,
Make buttercream roses on a stick:
http://s984.photobucket.com/albums/ae322/Unlimited1cakes/
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post #4 of 16
5/8/12 at 7:14am
Thread Starter 
I know my tip is not damaged at all, so that isn't it and I can tell when I squeeze, my arm moves a little to get out of proportion. I can try the toothpick stragety.

Also, maybe if I do thicken it a lot and then squeeze, I can get it straighter or even use piping gel to avoid the bubbles/breaks?

Anyone else know ?

Thanks a bunch!
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post #5 of 16
5/8/12 at 8:13am
You can do a buttercream transfer. Print out a mirror image of the the logo, tape the image to a piece of cardboard cover the image in wax paper then outline and fill in regular buttercream icing, place in the freezer for about 30 minutes to an hour. Remove from freezer and immediately ice over image and surrounding area with regular buttercream, return to freezer for another 30 minutes to an hour. Make sure your cardboard and wax paper are the same size as the cake. Before removing image from freezer have your cake iced completely. Remove the tape from cardboard then lift wax paper off and place icing side down onto the cake top, peel back wax paper carefully and quickly.

Or you can do it in royal icing and let dry for a day then place it on the cake.

And if all else fails talk to the bride and see if she would be okay with the letters and outline be cut out of fondant and placed on a buttercream iced cake.

Just some thoughts. I hope they help.
If you can't find time it do it right..how will you find time to do it over?
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If you can't find time it do it right..how will you find time to do it over?
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post #6 of 16
5/8/12 at 12:23pm
Thread Starter 
I'm not good with buttercream transfers..did it before and blah..so idk
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post #7 of 16
5/8/12 at 12:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jenscreativity

It has to be buttercream as bride strictly stated no fondant.. I let the icing dry and went back to try and straigten it too but it won't get straight or aligned perfectly! Frustrated sorry and I'm soo glad I'm doing a practice one here.

I know you can't get out of it now, but this is a good lesson. You'r frustrated, it doesn't look nice....and it would be smooth sailing if you would have educated your client that some things need to be done in the proper medium. Logos, especially super recognizable perfectly symmetrical and clean lined need to be done in a medium you can control. This is one of those, and I don't let people tell me what I need to use to accomplish the task they request. Sorry you're having a hard time, but I hope you won't next time. icon_sad.gif
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post #8 of 16
5/8/12 at 12:37pm
It's really easy:

"Dear bride, I understand your concern about not liking fondant and that you'd rather not use it. However, in order for me to provide you with a beautiful cake, and not something sloppy, I need to use it. Just peel it off. Really, get over it."

Maybe not the last part, but this fondant hysteria gets old.
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post #9 of 16
5/8/12 at 12:55pm
Thread Starter 
any other ideas any anyone? I seen cakes with perfect lines, so I know this can be mastered if I have the right advice and not have to do fondant. It's not too late to ask bride, but seeing other's have done this perfectly nice, I know it can be done..so therefore, I'd like to keep asking if anyone else has any other advice at all? Thanks so much!
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post #10 of 16
5/8/12 at 1:01pm
Really? I'd love to see some that weren't hand cut or done on a Cricut, that are spot on. I haven't seen any yet, but I'm sure I just haven't looked in the right places.
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post #11 of 16
5/8/12 at 1:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by AZCouture

Quote:
Originally Posted by jenscreativity

It has to be buttercream as bride strictly stated no fondant.. I let the icing dry and went back to try and straigten it too but it won't get straight or aligned perfectly! Frustrated sorry and I'm soo glad I'm doing a practice one here.

I know you can't get out of it now, but this is a good lesson. You'r frustrated, it doesn't look nice....and it would be smooth sailing if you would have educated your client that some things need to be done in the proper medium. Logos, especially super recognizable perfectly symmetrical and clean lined need to be done in a medium you can control. This is one of those, and I don't let people tell me what I need to use to accomplish the task they request. Sorry you're having a hard time, but I hope you won't next time. icon_sad.gif



AZCouture, I learned this the hard way when a client insisted no fondant and wanted her very intricate, two-toned, geometric, sharp-edges-and-all company logo PIPED on 2 dozen cupcakes-- with a perishable, WHIPPED icing. I spent an insane amount of time piping and rotating batches through my fridge. I was tired, frustrated, and the design was less than satisfactory. I decided there and then that I would NEVER personalize cupcakes with piped BC EVER again. If a swirl or gumpaste deco wouldn't work, I'm not taking the order. Now I tell clients what I can do, and if they don't like it, we can't work together.
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post #12 of 16
5/8/12 at 1:18pm
Sorry I agree with AZcouture. If you can't do it, you don't want to deliver a cake that isn't up to her standards especially on her wedding day! When I have a client who doesn't want fondant but wants something I know needs to have "perfect" details, I suggest making the entire cake buttercream but the "logo" or "character" in fondant. Works SO much better than trying to make perfect lines or even doing the star piping thing. Good luck with that.
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post #13 of 16
5/8/12 at 1:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by vgcea

AZCouture, I learned this the hard way when a client insisted no fondant and wanted her very intricate, two-toned, geometric, sharp-edges-and-all company logo PIPED on 2 dozen cupcakes-- with a perishable, WHIPPED icing. I spent an insane amount of time piping and rotating batches through my fridge. I was tired, frustrated, and the design was less than satisfactory. I decided there and then that I would NEVER personalize cupcakes with piped BC EVER again. If a swirl or gumpaste deco wouldn't work, I'm not taking the order. Now I tell clients what I can do, and if they don't like it, we can't work together.

icon_surprised.gif Yeah, ouch!
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post #14 of 16
5/8/12 at 7:28pm
Or if she still insists on not having any fondant on her cake, ask her if she's willing to tolerate edible image. It sort of 'melts' into buttercream and a really good printout will give you a perfect logo minus the headaches.
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post #15 of 16
5/9/12 at 4:06am
Thread Starter 
OK! GOOD NEWS! Since her wedding is not till next month, I asked her if she'd be ok if I do the logo only, in fondant, so i can make sure that it looks as best possible for her big day! She said, NO problem!! YAY!! I'm soo excited!! See this cake is being displayed on same table with wedding cake, on her big day, so this is why it was a little stressful for me! NOW, I can relax and practice a fondant logo , since my practice cake is still sitting aside waiting to be finished! YAY!

Thanks to all and a lesson learned! To not go out of my comfort zone on big days like these and just state only what I'm confident of doing to make it really beautiful and special for them! I like challenges,,but I think this one would've been too much of one after I proved myself on my practice.

Anyone have any idea on how to practice/master this so that I can eventually get it down one day? Tutorials, DVD's, or whatever? Thanks!

Smiles
Jenifer
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