Hi everyone! I love making cakes, but I often have general requests such as "a cake for my mom's birthday" with no decorative instructions. So I have a hard time figuring out how to decorate the cakes.

Where do you personally get your ideas? Books, online,etc..?
Thanks, Lori

I usually try all of my resources. I have a lot of old wilton yearbooks that I use, plus I find that if you do a search for a cake in google and go to the image search, you can get a lot of ideas. Hope this helps. Oh yeah and this website of course! Keli

I get a lot of my general ideas from here but I do have a few customers who will ask for something specific and I tell them I will give it a try!

I will try anything once and twice if I like it!!

Since I do a lot of edible images...google works great for me! I also have lots of Wilton yearbooks. This site gives awesome ideas!!!! Sometimes I browse other places online and come up with ideas. Sometimes it just comes to me when a customer asks for something.
traci

I use the internet, CakeCentral, or one of the many books I have at home.

Debbie

I look at books for border techniques, etc. or just play around with a practice board or MMF until something interesting comes out. Cake Central is a great resource (especially the galleries) for themes, etc.

Lately...it seems as if everything inpires me!

I cannot go through the day without mentally designing a cake at least 5 times a day!!!! Every toy....every fabric....every book...it goes on and on!!!!

I have been sketching some of them but I will never in a million years bake everything I want to bake!!!!

I do more gingerbread and chocolate than cake. When it comes to chocolate, knickknacks inspire me. I may look at something on someones desk or in their house and say "I could make that out of chocolate"
When it comes to gingerbread, buildings and all their detail get me. Especially now that contest is just around the corner. I may see a building or a structure and sketch it out or write down a reminder for myself. I'm also big on everything being edible so if i see something in the grocery store it may give me an idea for a cake or gingerbread decoration.

Thanks to everyone for the replies!! Have a great day!!

I get ideas from books, online websites, other members cake photos. I love to see what I could come up with.

I sometimes think I am weird or something, i can be driving along and see a sign along the road or a billboard or something on a sign at work and think to my self that would look good on a cake. Would you consider this strange?

Here's another weird thought--I left the cake tell me how to decorate it. I will have the cake baked (I know the size and shape), my husband will ask me "how are you doing this cake?" I tell him "don't know. I'll have to start it and see where it leads me." I have a general idea (from books, mags, life, other websites) but it will look completely different when I finish.

Even if my customer doesnt specify a design..I will ask them something about the person that it is for...even if it is nothing more than their favorite color. A hobby...or something is nice to know...or sometimes I will ask if they collect anything. And go from there!