Well, I finished my first PAID cake and I am not going to charge her. I hadn't ever made the buttery buttercream before and I think it was too soft. When I tried to smooth the back of the transfer, it smeared. Then I had trouble with the words and it looks terrible. I am so disappointed.

Actually I dont think it looks bad at all??? It's very pretty...

It looks good to me too. Is there something we're missing?

hate to tell you this, but there's nothing wrong with that cake, TAKE the money. Give a discount if your not happy, but at least cover your costs. Go take another look at it, you may see if differently now that you have gotten away from it.

I am with everyone else. There doesn't appear to be anything wrong with this cake. It is very cute.

As cake decorators, I think we are way too critical. I think that cake looks great. I read in another place were someone stated that there are no perfect cakes. We just learn how to cover it up or we keep our mouths closed and no one else notices! Your cake is just fine!! I especially think you did a good job with the lettering.

Actually, the picture makes it look better than it is. The bear and sun are distorted like they are melting or something.

Looks great to me too.
Here is the icing recipe I came up with.
So I played with the icing until I got the right consistency and here is what worked for me. It also worked just fine for the black outlining, I didn't have to freeze it or dry it before continuing with the other colours. All I did was add black Wilton paste food colouring to a small portion of this icing, no special fudge icing or Wilton black icing ready-made or anything.
So you are going to follow the usual steps. You use a sheet of plexiglass or a board that can go into the freezer. You tape your picture on well. Cover it with waxed paper and tape it well too. I had my brother-in-law get a 16 inch square of plexiglass cut for me, I figure that would be about the biggest size I would ever use for anything, but you can get various sizes cut.
1/2 cup Crisco shortening
1/2 cup butter, softened, I use salted
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract, I used the pure brown, but you will get an ivory tinge to your icing so you can switch to clear (the brown really does not affect any colouring except your white will be more of an ivory, but for eyeballs etc. it isn't noticable)
2 cups of sifted before you measure it out, icing (powdered) sugar
No other liquid and you don't need to dip your spatula in hot water or any of that stuff!
Blend butter on low until softened. Add Criso and continue on low. Add vanilla and continue on low. Add icing sugar, one cup at a time and continue on low until well incorporated. Then colour and apply. I use a tip 3 for outlining and a tip 12 for filling it in. I don't use a coupler in my icing bags for this. You can use parchment bags with just a tip cut off the end or whatever. Let it set for a few minutes and dipping your finger in icing sugar or cornstarch smooth out. When all colours are done and set a bit, again a bit of icing sugar and smooth out with a spatula and apply your backing and outlining colour. (Sometimes I just sprinkle icing sugar over it and then gently pounce down with my fingers.) Again smooth out with a spatula, once set. Now I also covered the finished product in parchment paper, then inserted the whole thing in a green unscented garbage bag and froze it overnight. In the morning I took it out, flipped it onto parchment, lifted off the waxed paper and then reinserted it with a piece of parchment over it, back on plexiglass and back in freezer as I don't need it until tomorrow. It is solid enough that you don't need the plexiglass on it to re-insert in freezer, I just did because I needed a flat surface as the freezer is pretty full! You could just put it parchment paper and all, into a freezer bag.

Thanks Squirrely,

I loved the taste of the buttery, but I think it had too much butter in it. That might be why it was so soft. I will try your recipe. I like the idea of patting it with your fingers. I know that is when it smeared, when I used the spatula. Thanks again for all of your kind words.

I think the cake looks good. It would be a mistake to not charge for this cake. Once you start giving away your cakes because your not happy with them its hard to break the habit. I would suggest waiting to see what the customer says about it first and taking your cues from her. I always hate something about my cakes, but I haven't had a complaint yet. You did a good job.

I think your cakes looks great I don't see anything wrong with it.
Squirrelly thanks for the recipe and instructions.. I haven't tried BCT yet but maybe I will now.. You always make everything sound so easy.
Liz

Hi,

I was wondering what the costumer thought of that really nice bct and the really nice cake. And please take the money. you worked hard on the cake.

ana.

Your cake looks wonderful to me. Please take the money!

LOL! I thought maybe you posted the wrong picture! Your cake looks great from what I can see!! Definitely take the money and move on!!

Well, I thought this recipe gives you a good idea of what consistency you need to go for. Once you have success and can see the consistency you can adjust your favourite icing recipe to that thiness. I like the idea of sprinkling the icing sugar, then gently pouncing down. Once you get it down smooth, you can then gently use your spatula to smooth. You want to avoid using a spreading motion or you will blur the details.
Hugs Squirrely