Hi, I have baked cakes for family only for over 20 years. But I have never wrapped a cake board in regular wrapping paper. Can anyone tell me if this can be done without messing up a cake? I want to use black on the boards to show off the cake I am making my daughter for graduation. All I can find is wrapping paper. Any suggestions or other materials I can use?

I use fabric that I cover in Modge Podge. It is a non-toxic glue that makes a waterproof seal once it is dry. This way your choice of cake boards is just about limitless. Some decorators on here would frown about the non-toxic vs food safe, but my cakes are on their own cakeboard, then on the decorative Modge Podged one, so the contact is very limited.

I have seen on here that others use wrapping paper, then cover that with clear shelf liner. Once again this is non-toxic, rather than food safe. I tried this method, but it didn't work as well for me. I prefer the fabric.

HTH

I use plastic table covers. They come in every color shade imaginable and are cheap.

Thanks! Both sound like great ideas. The plastic table cloth sounds the easiest and I would get a true color. Thanks again.

I use wrapping paper all the time...comes in such prettty colors and pattersn then I cover with clear contact paper....I get lots of compliments

I use shelf paper/contact paper, if you get anything on it it wipes off beautifully and comes in quite a few colors, black being one of them.

OOh I like the idea of wrapping paper then clear contact paper! I just love the "wipeability" factor of contact paper.

You can buy black cake drums. Don't know if you can get them where you are but if you google black cake drum, you'll get lots of options.

I also use clear contact paper (with the actual cake on a cake circle of course). I use all kinds of different paper under the contact paper...wrapping paper, scrapbook paper, tissue paper...plastic table cover...whatever I find that coordinates with the cake. I love going to the scrapbook isle at the craft store. They have so many great patterns and designs.

I also cover my boards in fondant once in awhile. I like how you can carry the design of the cake onto the board that way.

I really think a nicely decorated, coordinating cake board makes a huge impact on the overall appearance of your cake.

caljavaonline.com has black cake drums. Is contact paper food safe?

I don't believe contact paper is food safe; however, your cake will be on a board anyway. When I use tissue paper for a cake board for cookies or brownies I just cover it with plastic wrap so it's food safe.

I am new as well and have a question regarding using scrapbook paper. i only ahve seen the papers in 12 inch by 12 inch size in the scrapbook sections at Ac Moore, Michaels, etc. (at least I think that is the size).

When you need a larger size, do you try to piece together?

I cover my boards in fondant and hot glue a ribbon around the rim

I love the idea of scrapbook paper. I could use the same as I used to make my daughters graduation invitations. So I just choose my paper and cover my board with this and then cover with contact paper and I can place the cake straight on this?

I buy rolls of colored foil from my cake supply store. it comes in lots of colors and is relativly inexpensive. A roll of 50ft long by 20in wide costs under $10.00
I currently have about 10 different colors right now.

Is the foil safe? I have looked at a lot of websites and it mentions florist foil in a lot of colors but cake foil in only white and silver. Is florist foil food safe? I do not know of a cake supply store near me, I usually have to order everything online.

You know, now I'm not sure if it's safe for food use. Since they sell it at all 4 cake supply stores near me, I think it would be. They all sell the same brand, Guardsman.
I never questioned it. It says on the wrapper "pure aluminum foil". I've been using it for 15+ years.

D-dar,
Don't set your cake directly on the contact paper; it is not food safe. However, you can set your cake on a cake board attached to the contact-paper-covered board.

I use wrapping paper and cover it in food safe cellophane, available in rolls at Michael's.

Out of curiosity, what isn't food safe about contact paper?  Just thinking I line drawers and shelves with it, and plates and utensils I eat with come in contact with it all the time...

I use scrapbook paper to cover my boards. They come in tons of patterns and colors.  Then I coat the paper with vegetable oil or crisco, making it wipe able and stain resistant.

Oil or crisco isn't really a barrier between the paper and the food.  It doesn't render the paper stain resistant, it just makes the stains blend in/harder to see.

The issue is the lead in the inks used in the paper.  That lead can leach into the food and that is why an impermeable barrier is necessary.

Will anyone get immediately sick? No, but making food requires food-safe practices, and preventing direct contact with permeable, non-food grade materials like ink dyes is the food-safe way to go.

No, I didn't say the oil made a barrier.  I said it makes it wipeable and stain resistant (not stain proof).  Also, I use a cake board under my cakes, not placing them directly onto the paper.  Also, unless you can show me otherwise, I believe the use of lead in most US products has been banned.

This is awesome information.  Ive always used just a plain white cake board.  Contact and scrapbook paper is a great idea and so is plastic table covers.

I use wrapping paper and cover it with Press n Seal which IS food safe. 

I've really wanted to cover a board with scrap paper or wrapping part but wasn't sure what product would best cover the board without taking away from the paper and also stay on well.  I've not had time to research it much but I'm definitely interested if anyone has any new tips :)

Webake, I use scrapbook paper, as many sheets as it takes to cover my board, the edges don't show especially if you take them underneath where they overlap.  Then I apply a thin layer of oil and wipe it off.  Of course you want the cake on its own cake board, taped or frosted to stay in place on the decorative board.

the oil adds such a deep rich color to the paper, and allows you to just wipe off any mistakes. 

Alternatively, I will also peruse goodwill regularly for $1 cake plates and such.  It makes such a nice presentation especially for my brides, and costs about as much as a covered cake board, and is certainly faster :) 

on another note, I have just about had it with this site.  Half the buttons don't work, and I just typed a long answer on my phone, but but the site ATE IT! Aaaaahhhh! 

If you can see in this photo, I used a world map scrap paper, and I loved the way it went with the theme .  The oil also added a little antiquing to it.  On a brighter paper, the oil would just make it richer in color, but the world map already had a patina to it and the oil just brought it out nicely.

*selects all, copies* just in case :)