i'm thinking on attempting a topsy turvy maybe next month (*still in the 'thinking' stage coz it really scares me to attempt it LOL*).

would like an honest review on which method is more suitable for a newbie like me. the only stacked cakes i've made were 2-tiered, never higher. so you can say i'm nowhere near 'expert' when it comes to stacking.

which method, carving, or the sarsi way (just stacking) is more foolproof, less likely to fail (please, no offence to both sarsi & the creator of the carving method, i'm a total newbie to topsy turvy)?
i know carving takes more time than sarsi's way, but i just need to know, most of us here prefers which method...


thanks in advance!

urrrmmm.. anyone?

I just watched Sharon's Totally Topsy Turvy video and although I havnt tried her techniques yet, I can tell that is going to be my method..it makes sense and seems to be a lot more sturdy. The first couple of times I did a topsy, it was a bit of a struggle.

thanks kbak37. unfortunately i don't have her dvd, i live in a country thousands of miles away, and can't afford her dvd after shipping and conversion rates i wish i could own one though.. maybe in the future when my finances are stable.

just wondering, sharon's method is nowhere similar to the two methods i mentioned above?

I just did one two weeks ago (Mardi Gras one in my photos), and it was MUCH easier than you'd think!! There's no need for you to freak out, believe me. I'm fairly new to caking, so if I can do it, you can definitely do it.

Watch this video several times, take notes if you have to, then go for it:

Sharon's method is similar to the YouTube link above. I think that that method is a little more stable than using the wedges between layers like Colette Peters does. The first one I did was using styrofoam wedges between the tiers. It does work, and you don't have to carve cakes unless you want the tapered sides, but you must dowel properly and frequently to make it stable. There is also a tutorial somewhere on this site with pics of each step showing the "YouTube" method of leveling the centers.

I would definately recommend Sharons Topsy turvy dvd...She goes step by step

I prefer the look of the tilted cakes on wedges, personally. It just looks so fun and I think it has more of a WOW factor. But, if a client prefers the whimsical type (slanted tiers, either with or without tapered bases, etc), then I will do that. When I do the whimsical cakes I use the carved well method.