I am working on a class project and want to add 3-d baskets to the side of the top layer for holding flowers. Everything on the cake is to be made from royal frosting (with a few exceptions) so I cannot use fondant to make the form. I have the perfect size and shape tea cup that I want to use and will put the royal icing on the inside to make sure what shows on the cake is nice and smooth. Can anyone tell me what I need to coat the inside of the tea cup with in order to get the icing out in one solid piece? Can it be applied directly to the cup? Seems like lining the cup with wax paper will put in too many wrinkles. Appreciate any ideas you have. - Kim

Am I understanding correctly that you are wanting to make a SOLID royal icing teacup?

If so - I think you will be in for a bumpy ride - even small piped pieces of lace can take a day or more to dry sufficiently to be picked up - can't imagine how long something like this will take - add to that the fact that the outer china teacup will prevent air from coming in contact with your royal ?? has to dry from the top down??

I'd be re-thinking my plan

Many moons ago when we used to do a lot of royal icing work - they used to call it 'raised lattice' work - you used to be able to buy 'forms' - you would coat with copha (USA=Crisco) - that were overpiped with a basket weave pattern or thin lines that form a lattice) - then they were transferred to the side of the cake and filled with royal icing piped flowers.- sounds like what you are wanting to do

IF your teacup is the correct shape (to allow you to pipe on the OUTSIDE - and doesn't dip IN so that removal will be difficult - think urn shape) then it should work

Thanks ApplegumPam. I do have some drying time as the project the cake will be put together on Wednesday. I am creating a cake topper with 3 lattice half hearts that will joined together in a tripod form. With that being said I don't want to repeat lattice work on the same layer but although you were referring to lattice work you mentioned basket weave. Since I am trying to demonstrate different techniques on the cake I will change the china cups to small baskets. Then, as you suggested, I can put it on the outside of a form to make it easier to remove. Thanks so much for the help, I really appreciate it!