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The Viva method...

post #1 of 16
7/29/12 at 3:57pm
Thread Starter 
So I've been wanting to try out the viva method but am unable to find Viva where I am. I live in Winnipeg, MB, apparently Viva isn't sold in my city. I've looked at safeway, superstore, walmart, zellers, you name it, i've looked. I'm wondering if anyone knows of another type of paper towel that is similar to Viva, that would still work? I was at safeway today and looked at about 10 different types of paper towel and they all seemed to be very quilted/textured.

I spoke with the lady at customer service desk and she said Viva is an American brand, they used to carry it up until about 5 years ago.
~*~Michelle J~*~

http://www.facebook.com/A.T.CustomCreations
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~*~Michelle J~*~

http://www.facebook.com/A.T.CustomCreations
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post #2 of 16
7/29/12 at 4:03pm
Any paper towel that isn't textured should work but if you can't find any, try parchment paper. It doesn't move as freely as viva but it'll do the job.
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post #3 of 16
7/29/12 at 4:26pm
I don't think that you can get Viva towels in Canada. I always buy mine when I go to the US.
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post #4 of 16
7/30/12 at 6:20am
You can also use plain printer paper.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
See. There is no "Someday"!
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Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
See. There is no "Someday"!
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post #5 of 16
7/30/12 at 6:31am
Yep...I was going to say plain copy paper (white)
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post #6 of 16
7/30/12 at 12:29pm
Is it possible that you can wait too long after your icing has crusted to use this method? I left my cake to crust for 24hrs using the viva crusting recipe and it was really hard to smooth out the icing. I think my BC had so many air bubbles in it that it made it even more challenging. Can the viva paper towel normally smooth out air bubbles or that has to be prevented from the start?
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post #7 of 16
7/30/12 at 12:48pm
Yes, you can't leave it that long just a few minutes. You can also use parchment paper paper or a sponge paint roller. I'd be glad to mail you a roll shouldn't cost much and it will last you quite a while. icon_smile.gif
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post #8 of 16
7/30/12 at 1:03pm
Thanks Reyna. I will try this again with a better time frame for smoothing.
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post #9 of 16
7/30/12 at 2:49pm
Copy paper is a good substitute, I use it often, after Viva, for a super smooth surface.
You can't buy happiness ...but you can buy cake!
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You can't buy happiness ...but you can buy cake!
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post #10 of 16
7/30/12 at 3:27pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks everyone for the tips, I'm going to be trying this out this weekend. I'm going to look again at a few more stores to see if I can find something similar to viva but I didn't see any last time I looked.
~*~Michelle J~*~

http://www.facebook.com/A.T.CustomCreations
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~*~Michelle J~*~

http://www.facebook.com/A.T.CustomCreations
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post #11 of 16
7/30/12 at 3:50pm
I'd be happy to mail you a roll just to try, or even just a dozen sheets or so...I'd love for you to get the chance to try them out!
You can't buy happiness ...but you can buy cake!
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You can't buy happiness ...but you can buy cake!
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post #12 of 16
7/30/12 at 3:55pm
Is there any reason one couldn't use a piece of fabric instead of the paper towel? I know that I use towels that I specifically keep just to cover my bread while it rises, so couldn't one have a piece of fabric dedicated to cake smoothing?
deborahanne

http://grandmasugarskitchen.blogspot.com/
http://lamaisondesgateaux.blogspot.com/
http://theenchantedline.blogspot.com/

Life begins at 325° F, and, yes, that IS powdered sugar in my hair.
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deborahanne

http://grandmasugarskitchen.blogspot.com/
http://lamaisondesgateaux.blogspot.com/
http://theenchantedline.blogspot.com/

Life begins at 325° F, and, yes, that IS powdered sugar in my hair.
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post #13 of 16
7/30/12 at 5:06pm
I'm in Canada too and they don't sell them here. I have been using the Melvira method (sp?) with the high density foam roller and I LOVE IT!!
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post #14 of 16
7/30/12 at 7:48pm
I buy mine when I go to the US and then I stock up on it. But you can order it from eBay too if you can't get across the border at all.

As others have said, computer paper and a fondant smoother will work, but I would use a hot palette knife first to smooth it.

But my ultimate favourite way to smooth buttercream is the high density roller and Viva. I still use computer paper at times as well. Just go into a Home Depot or Lowes and ask for the high density roller. Get the pack that comes with 2 heads.

http://cakecentral.com/tutorial/quick-easy-smooth-icing-using-a-roller-melvira-method
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post #15 of 16
7/31/12 at 11:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cakeyouverymuch

Is there any reason one couldn't use a piece of fabric instead of the paper towel? I know that I use towels that I specifically keep just to cover my bread while it rises, so couldn't one have a piece of fabric dedicated to cake smoothing?



Wouldn't the fibers get into the icing? Also, the fabric cannot leave any type of imprint on the cake.

But for the OP, parchment paper as mentioned by others works. I tried computer paper but didn't have as much success.
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