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Original poster

Would you buy this cake?

90 replies

Shannith · 30/05/2021 10:47

It's DDs birthday this week and she's obsessed with dogs - specifically Great Danes.

She requested a Great Dane shaped cake. This is entirely beyond me. I made her a dinosaur cake one year that looked like a green hedgehog.

For a school project last week she randomly decided to make a cake with a picture of a sunset on it and had great fun making a scene out of food colouring and icing sugar.

Which gave me idea - cake shaping is not my forte but I can draw a bit.

So I've just make this using black food dye (mostly), an eyeliner pencil and a toothpick.

It was a bit of an experiment but it's worked (this is not a stealth boast, I can draw but didn't know if I could drawn on royal icing - I'm genuinely pleased with it)

Some family members have suggested I market myself on local Facebook groups as a cake painter.

Would you buy this or similar (I can draw most things though best at animals) and what would you pay.

It took me about 3 hours but I'd maybe get quicker with better tools and practice.

I can't draw well enough to do pet portraits (and it's a crowded market) but it's struck me I might have found a niche where people are a little more forgiving of less than 100% accuracy.

So, should I market myself or just be content with a happy DD and kind family members.

Would you buy this cake?
Would you buy this cake?
Would you buy this cake?
OP posts:
hilarymantlepiece · 30/05/2021 20:36

Shannith

Sorry eyeliner brush!!
It's food dye and 100% edible“

🤣🤣

In which case yes, absolutely I’d pay you. I used to work for a merchant bank and we used to order painted cakes fairly regularly for signing ceremonies. We once commissioned a copy of the ceiling of the cystine (spelling?) chapel for a big ticket deal with an Italian bank. Served 100, cost £3,000 (in 1993!!!)
It was incredible though. Had it been on canvas it would probably have sold for 10x that. Personally, thought it absolute sacrilege to cut it but hey, it was banking in the 90s.

You have a gift. Use it.

LunaNorth · 30/05/2021 20:41

That’s superb, OP. You’re incredibly talented.

Original poster
Shannith · 30/05/2021 21:09

@Henio

Be careful about selling food stuff without a food safety check, if someone claims to get ill from your cake you'd be in trouble
Yes. I would absolutely have to do that. I've just had a few requests from friends for a cat and a horse which I'll do to hone the tools and time myself before diving in.
OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Baking General food
Original poster
Shannith · 30/05/2021 21:11

@Boood

You could see if any local cake bakers would be interested in sub-contracting to you- might be a good way of testing the water without making a big commitment. And an easy way of doing just the paintings without the faff of baking and icing.
That is a brilliant idea. Oh I'm so glad I posted. Could be a nice way to test the water before doing it stand alone.
OP posts:
Original poster
Shannith · 30/05/2021 21:13

@OrchidLass

OP I make and sell cakes and I would definitely buy something like this. I'm sure you know you need food hygiene certs and to be registered anyway but I think you could have a real niche product here.

I really like what you've done and although I'm a good baker and decorator, I could never create something like this and nor could any of the other bakers I know.

Thank you - and thank everyone for your nice comments.

How funny that a random sunset cake for a school project could ha e sparked a possible
mini business!

OP posts:
ArabellaScott · 30/05/2021 21:18

Yes, that's lovely! And I'm not usually that into cakes that have been Decorated Professionally.

Original poster
Shannith · 30/05/2021 21:27

@hilarymantlepiece

Shannith

Sorry eyeliner brush!!
It's food dye and 100% edible“

🤣🤣

In which case yes, absolutely I’d pay you. I used to work for a merchant bank and we used to order painted cakes fairly regularly for signing ceremonies. We once commissioned a copy of the ceiling of the cystine (spelling?) chapel for a big ticket deal with an Italian bank. Served 100, cost £3,000 (in 1993!!!)
It was incredible though. Had it been on canvas it would probably have sold for 10x that. Personally, thought it absolute sacrilege to cut it but hey, it was banking in the 90s.

You have a gift. Use it.

But did anyone scream at it? Grin
OP posts:
lighteincastlewindow · 30/05/2021 21:28

It is very nice, you are very good. I don't know if it would be a profitable business though as a lot of places use printable icing sheets for any image you want, which I am guessing would cost a lot less than having a hand painted cake. There is an idea there but I think it might need a bit more to make it unique. I mean this in the most positive way, it is lovely work.

hilarymantlepiece · 30/05/2021 21:30

Shannith

“But did anyone scream at it?“

Can’t remember: it was the 90s …..

Original poster
Shannith · 30/05/2021 21:32

@lighteincastlewindow

It is very nice, you are very good. I don't know if it would be a profitable business though as a lot of places use printable icing sheets for any image you want, which I am guessing would cost a lot less than having a hand painted cake. There is an idea there but I think it might need a bit more to make it unique. I mean this in the most positive way, it is lovely work.
Thank you - and don't worry, I'm not banking on it paying the mortgage but I do like drawing as a hobby. I'm not good enough to be a professional pet artist but this might be my extremely niche level.

Might help pay a bit toward my other hobby (and a significant negative impact on my bank balance) - riding horses.

OP posts:
ScottishNewbie · 30/05/2021 21:45

I would definitely love one of my cats! Better than those horrid sugar flowers and marzipan inedible decorations. This has lovely care and attention to detail. Also people REALLY love their pets Grin

stevalnamechanger · 30/05/2021 22:56

Looks great!

stevalnamechanger · 30/05/2021 22:56

@Fitforforty

No I wouldn’t but it doesn’t mean others wouldn’t. I only buy from online sellers who have appropriate food hygiene certificates.
Obviously she would get that!

That wasn't the actual question

ArabellaScott · 30/05/2021 23:15

It's nicer than a printed image, though. Done by hand, it looks far better than something machine-done.

Fitforforty · 31/05/2021 09:31

@stevalnamechanger I thought the info about the food hygiene certificate would be helpful. Where as your post is hardly helpful to the OP. I forgot how bitchy MN can be.

weaselwords · 31/05/2021 12:46

If you market them to the higher end of the market, who would be looking for a painting rather than photo and price accordingly, you may make some profit.

Shareddriveagghh · 31/05/2021 14:50

I have seen so many photos of people, items and crafts over 15 years on MN when people are quite clearly just being kind but you do have a genuine talent.

dangermouseisace · 31/05/2021 15:46

The painting is brilliant, but the icing/cake itself, on closer look is lumpy. If you could get the icing perfectly flat, with no bumps or visible joins then you’d be onto something. You’re very talented!

LeftyLou · 31/05/2021 17:59

If I ordered a cake and it arrived looking like that, I would be very impressed.

Original poster
Shannith · 31/05/2021 20:13

@Shareddriveagghh

I have seen so many photos of people, items and crafts over 15 years on MN when people are quite clearly just being kind but you do have a genuine talent.
Blimey - thank you so much!
OP posts:
Original poster
Shannith · 31/05/2021 20:16

@dangermouseisace

The painting is brilliant, but the icing/cake itself, on closer look is lumpy. If you could get the icing perfectly flat, with no bumps or visible joins then you’d be onto something. You’re very talented!
Grin you are absolutely right! That was actually the first time in my life I've rolled out royal icing and I made the circle by pushing the cake tin into it and hacking round.

Definite first time effort in terms of the medium!

OP posts:
altiara · 31/05/2021 20:23

Looks great, but I’m not sure I’d spend enough money to compensate you working on it for a couple of hours.

StillWeRise · 31/05/2021 20:27

yes, I think the price would be critical
it does look amazing - not to my taste, but obviously skilled and as people have said, people love their pets I'm sure it would be popular

longwayoff · 31/05/2021 20:35

You are clever, that is a great idea, good luck with your new business.

EntropyBanana · 31/05/2021 20:38

@Shannith Mr Banana used to paint my cakes for me - I'd bake and fondant them, then he'd paint on them with food colouring/dyes. He would do all sorts, to match the recipient's tastes - band/singer related stuff, characters from Discworld, stuff from video games, the Earth - all sorts. The cakes were universally adored. It was never a business, just a teamwork thing we did. People had never come across it before, again it was a case of being struck by inspiration one day.

Wilton do food safe brushes if that's helpful. Good luck with the enterprise!

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