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Using SPS for the first time and I am terrified!

post #1 of 10
3/8/13 at 3:57pm
Thread Starter 
I am delivering a wedding cake tomorrow and I decided to use the SPS system for the first time. I don't know why, exactly, other than thinking it would be a bit sturdier and might be less likely to collapse after sitting for several hours. Anyway, I am terrified to stack these cakes and deliver them rather than construct on site and it's just a three tier. Lol! I know this system was designed for the consumer pick up rather than pro delivery, but I am having a hard time figuring out how the cake board stays put on the plastic plate. I do intend to lay down a little buttercream on the plates for glue (no royal on hand and I really don't feel like firing up the mixer again), but will it really help? Should I try melted chocolate instead? Or get some carpet tape? Please soothe my fears. icon_smile.gif
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post #2 of 10
3/8/13 at 4:04pm

I'm telling you you will never regret it!

 

I assembled my sister's 5 tiered wedding cake on-site with the SPS and it was amazingly easy! Best of all, you can grab the top and the bottom of the cake in your hands because the sps is on the top and the cardboard is on the bottom. it was 1000 times easier than assembly with a spatula!

 

Just don't forget to poke the little hole in the bottom of the cardboard rounds before you put your cake on it

 

I didn't use any frosting "glue" and the catering staff was able to move the cake about 50 feet for the cutting without a single shift or flutter.

 

the only caveat, my cake was still chilled when i put the supports in and it made the frosting crack a bit. My cake was covered in coconut, so it was not a problem, but if not, i would have had to do repairs. 

 

 

jen

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post #3 of 10
3/8/13 at 4:22pm
Thread Starter 
I already have the cakes decorated on their (hole-poked) boards and have placed the legs into the middle tier. My bottom tier came up a bit short so I need to shave the legs down before I place the legs and start stacking. I read the instructions over and over and specifically remembered your problem with cracking so I'm letting my bottom tier warm up a bit before I put the legs in. icon_smile.gif. I'm putting this in the floorboard of my car on a non-skid mat so I'm sure I'll be fine. I think.

Maybe? Sure I will!

I just get nervous trying something for the first time on a bride who is counting on me. I'm actually thinking about just waiting to stack and do it on site. That's probably what I should do but I'm a little eager to see the pieces come together!
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post #4 of 10
3/8/13 at 4:44pm

do it on site. it will be smooth as silk. 

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post #5 of 10
3/9/13 at 8:17pm
Thread Starter 
I took your advice and assembled on site, Ella. It was a breeze and that sucker did not budge a millimeter! It as very nice to know everything was locked down tight. I will absolutely use this system again instead of my trusty wooden dowels. Thanks for chiming in!
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post #6 of 10
3/9/13 at 9:05pm
::wipes away proud tear:: Another convert!
Answers to the most often asked questions re: SPS. SPS instructions are on Page 15 of the Sticky at the top of the Cake Decorating Forum. Supplies can be ordered from Oasis Supply, Global or BakeryCrafts.
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Answers to the most often asked questions re: SPS. SPS instructions are on Page 15 of the Sticky at the top of the Cake Decorating Forum. Supplies can be ordered from Oasis Supply, Global or BakeryCrafts.
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post #7 of 10
3/9/13 at 11:20pm

I've been thinking about using sps for my next stacked cake but try as I might I can't work it out, I'm a visual learner so I just can't figure it out. Do you know of any tutorials or even photo tutorials? 

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post #8 of 10
3/9/13 at 11:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Claire138 View Post

I've been thinking about using sps for my next stacked cake but try as I might I can't work it out, I'm a visual learner so I just can't figure it out. Do you know of any tutorials or even photo tutorials? 


Claire~~I cracked up reading your post!  I said exactly the same thing.   It seemed like it should be so simple, but I could NOT figure it out!   I sent a PM to Leah, and she very graciously helped me out with a link to a pdf with---wait for it----pictures!  Whoo hoo!

 

http://media.cakecentral.com/files/sps_104.pdf

 

I've only used SPS for one practice cake so far, and took some photos of the stacked cake for reference.  Expand the photo below, and look at the bottom of each tier.  You should be able to see the cardboard cake circle under each tier.  That cardboard cake circle is setting on the SPS plate.

 

 

 

rsz_1practice_3_tier_orpha_cake__unfinished.jpg 85k .jpg file

 

 

So.... you have the top tier on a cardboard circle.  That is then setting on the sps plate with 4 legs:

 

 

Top Tier on cardboard cake circle

__.__

l  l  l  l

Middle Tier on cardboard cake circle

__.___

l  l  l  l

Bottom Tier on cardboard cake circle

__.___

l  l  l  l

Glass Cake Serving Platter

 

Here's the finished cake.  (Please forgive the flaws, I was trying new recipes/piping techniques/tips, etc. for this practice cake.)  This was assembled at my home, carried to the car, placed on the floor on a rubberized non-skid mat, driven 20 miles on windy, hilly, roads, and delivered intact to the staff at an Alzheimer's facility.

 

 

 

rsz_practice_3_tier_orpha_cake_001.jpg 72k .jpg file
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post #9 of 10
3/10/13 at 10:13am
My signature line tells you where the tutorial is.
Answers to the most often asked questions re: SPS. SPS instructions are on Page 15 of the Sticky at the top of the Cake Decorating Forum. Supplies can be ordered from Oasis Supply, Global or BakeryCrafts.
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Answers to the most often asked questions re: SPS. SPS instructions are on Page 15 of the Sticky at the top of the Cake Decorating Forum. Supplies can be ordered from Oasis Supply, Global or BakeryCrafts.
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post #10 of 10
3/10/13 at 11:00pm

YAY!!!

 

congrats on success!

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