I just spent a good amount of time cutting up two 13 inch, and one 9 inch cake base from foam core board. Apart from the process being mildly irritating, it got me thinking... am I really saving that much money compared to buying cake drums in bulk?
I love the freedom I get with foam core; I can cut a board whatever size I want rather than being stuck with the standard 2" increments.
For that freedom: I have to drive to Hobby Lobby with a 40% off coupon or buy them on sale (30% off the last time), laboriously cut them up, changing xacto blades every now and then, clean up the grand mess I tend to make. So quite a bit of time, energy, and the cost of xacto blades.
For $4 and change + the cost of gas + xacto blades, and my time I can get two 13 in and one 9 in. cake bases/drums.
So compared to just ponying up and ordering them in bulk at $15.62 + shipping for a six-pack of 14" drums, I reeeally don't think this foam core route is the way to go.
I could very easily have spent this time making a sugar flower that I can charge at least $15 or $20 for. Le sigh. Reminds me of the time I tried to make a peony without a cutter and spent ages 'free-handing' the petals. A cutter would have saved me a few gray hairs. SMH.
Are there supplies/tools you always 'splurge' on because it's not worth your time to try to DIY them? What are they?
Fondant. I don't have the time or energy to make my own. I splurge on Massa Grischuna neutral which is wonderful. I also buy cake boards unless I need a nonstandard size or shape. Then I cut my own out of particle board with a jigsaw.
Ah, yes, fondant. I still make mine at this time because I don't have so many requests for fondant cakes that I can't knock out a batch or two as needed. Weird as it may sound, I actually look forward to making fondant. Maybe it's all the kneading... so therapeutic.
AI agree about the cake boards. Ugh! I have a Bakemark account so I get boxes of 6", 7",8", 9", 10", 12", 14", 16" and 18". It is no trouble at all to set an 11" cake on a 12" board and trim with a pair of scissors.
As far as the drums go, I just stack 4 of them with the corrugation all crossed around for strength, and wrap with colored foil. It's not for food contact, so I don't set the cake on it, but on the waxed cake board.
I figure it costs about 80¢ to $4, depending on the size.
I also have bought quadruples or more of most tools, so I don't have the down time of having to wash everything all the time just to use it again.
I am almost there with the fondant....
I always use plywood, and ask for them to be returned. So far I have not had to charge a deposit for them and I get them back within a week or two.
I agree about the cake boards. Ugh! I have a Bakemark account so I get boxes of 6", 7",8", 9", 10", 12", 14", 16" and 18". It is no trouble at all to set an 11" cake on a 12" board and trim with a pair of scissors.
As far as the drums go, I just stack 4 of them with the corrugation all crossed around for strength, and wrap with colored foil. It's not for food contact, so I don't set the cake on it, but on the waxed cake board.
I figure it costs about 80¢ to $4, depending on the size.
I also have bought quadruples or more of most tools, so I don't have the down time of having to wash everything all the time just to use it again.
I am almost there with the fondant....
You use this for stacked cakes? If so about how many tiers for this type of DIY board vs a standard cake drum? I can't imagine that the combo boards would support a couple of tiers. Then again, some of these drums are cake boards stuck together.
I wouldn't dream of making my own fondant. I'd much rather spend that time doing other things and yet I love being in the kitchen. Funny how priorities work. eg. I love to embroider but give me a hem and I will hate it.
I agree about the cake boards. Ugh! I have a Bakemark account so I get boxes of 6", 7",8", 9", 10", 12", 14", 16" and 18". It is no trouble at all to set an 11" cake on a 12" board and trim with a pair of scissors.
As far as the drums go, I just stack 4 of them with the corrugation all crossed around for strength, and wrap with colored foil. It's not for food contact, so I don't set the cake on it, but on the waxed cake board.
I figure it costs about 80¢ to $4, depending on the size.
I also have bought quadruples or more of most tools, so I don't have the down time of having to wash everything all the time just to use it again.
I am almost there with the fondant....
You use this for stacked cakes? If so about how many tiers for this type of DIY board vs a standard cake drum? I can't imagine that the combo boards would support a couple of tiers. Then again, some of these drums are cake boards stuck together.
I do 5 for the 4 tier cakes. If you use some white glue, just a swirl between each board, they are even stronger. The bottom cake of the black and red cakes on the stand was once a bottom tier, and the other cakes were stacked on top. It was a 4 tier, filled and covered with fondant and it held up. I just about got in an accident, and the fell over, but the board was fine.
Wow how awesome. I always wondered how on earth one would use up those 250 count boxes of cake boards, but I see how you've managed to multi-task these boards. Thanks for the photos. Your cakes are beautiful :-)
I wouldn't dream of making my own fondant. I'd much rather spend that time doing other things and yet I love being in the kitchen. Funny how priorities work. eg. I love to embroider but give me a hem and I will hate it.
Hehehe, kinda like how I have no problem doing laundry but really dislike putting up the clothes when they're done, forget ironing.
ATotally agree on cake boards; I find it more cost effective to spend the time decorating but that's cos times soooo tight for me lol. for the same reason it's premade fondant and also pre coloured for ivory and black. I also sketch on my tablet rather than pencil and paper to save the faff of scanning it in and email.... You could however hire someone cheap to do these for you... Or a free work experience volunteer would be even better! Ha ha ha.....
Anna those cakes are so beautiful! But that 1st one wow your photo is stunning... The reflection in the stand... The harsh faded light... It really is wonderful! :-)
Hopefully most people are taking advantage of being a business, and buying wholesale. CK is one place that pops to mind, and I order most of my stuff there, especially cake drums. Way cheap.
AI
Original message sent by AZCouture
Hopefully most people are taking advantage of being a business, and buying wholesale. CK is one place that pops to mind, and I order most of my stuff there, especially cake drums. Way cheap.
A
Original message sent by Crazy-Gray
Totally agree on cake boards; I find it more cost effective to spend the time decorating but that's cos times soooo tight for me lol. for the same reason it's premade fondant and also pre coloured for ivory and black. I also sketch on my tablet rather than pencil and paper to save the faff of scanning it in and email.... You could however hire someone cheap to do these for you... Or a free work experience volunteer would be even better! Ha ha ha.....
Anna those cakes are so beautiful! But that 1st one wow your photo is stunning... The reflection in the stand... The harsh faded light... It really is wonderful! :-)
Original message sent by vgcea
Wow how awesome. I always wondered how on earth one would use up those 250 count boxes of cake boards, but I see how you've managed to multi-task these boards. Thanks for the photos. Your cakes are beautiful :-)
Actually, DH does 99% of board covering for me, while I bake and decorate. He made about 100 bows for me a week and a half ago. He does a lot of the work that I don't have time to.
And that fist picture, the cake was in a corner with black curtains, in an old theater in Cincinnati. There were spot lights on the cake, I had them adjusted slightly before I left, because I could smell the buttercream melting!
A
Original message sent by manddi
[quote name="vgcea" url="/t/758311/the-value-of-your-time#post_7393249"]Hehehe, kinda like how I have no problem doing laundry but really dislike putting up the clothes when they're done, forget ironing.
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