Cake decorating experts - please help!!

[downbutnotout]

In an uncharacteristic fit of domestic goddessness, I have decided to bake and ice a cake for dd's 4th birthday, rather than staggering down to Tesco's as usual. It will be an under-the-sea (not literally) party and so it will be a mermaid cake. I am planning to make two square victoria sandwiches and stick them together to make a rectangular cake (about 9" x 16"), then roll out some icing to cover it.

I've bought some ready-made sugar paste (I presume this is the same as fondant icing?) and I'm going to dye it pale blue and put it over the cake. The finishing touches will be some white chocolate shells, edible glitter and mermaid models I got from ELC.

What I want to know is - will the icing stick to the cake or do I need to glue it on with apricot jam or something? Also, will the icing be something a beginner like myself could handle? All advice (and any useful websites) appreciated!

I made my son's 4th birthday cake last weekend. I found www.coolest-birthday-cakes.com really useful - lots of hints and tips.

I think with roll out icing you should you some apricot jam underneath to stick it in place but am not an expert - sure others on here will know.

apricot jam will help. Or you could make a bit of butter icing and stick it on with that.

roll the icing out like pastry but use icing sugar instead of flour to stop it sticking.

I used warmed, sieved apricot jam. Tasted nice too!

Very old thread I know but can you colour the ready rolled icing?
If yes how?

If you buy a block of sugarpaste/fondant icing you can colour it with food colouring.

I would recommend using colouring paste as opposed to liquid so that the texture of the icing doesn't change!

paste colours are loads easier, just pop a bit in the icing with a toothpick & knead it in until you have what you want. Red is easier to just buy though IMO, it always looks pink when I try and get red

Butter icing is best for sticking rolled out icing onto cake - use same as for sandwiching cake together...i recommend Wilton colouring pastes which you can get from Hobbycraft.

I would also recommend wearing disposable gloves whilst doing the kneading. Unless you like orange/blue/red/green hands & fingernails...

downbutnotout I made my dd1 cake for her b'day, and used the buttercream to stick the icing down it was lovely, you'll be so proud of yourself after, this was my first attempt at anything like this and I loved it

Did you end up doing the stables one, Plum?

Yeap I did Lucysmam thanks for your help, it turned out brill with the limited amunt of colurs and icing I had,(altough did find blue colouring yest I didn't know I had)

dd said I was the best mum in world so def worth it

lol, always the case . . . .you find what you need after you need it

You got a pic on your profile? & did you end up with the book with it in?

On there now, haven't got book yet

Yeap was raging as I could have used the blue to make dark background for horses heads, but it was only first go so not bad

Horses head took a few goes though

it's lovely! I might have a go at it myself one day, am working on something for Easter instead of eggs at the mo

It would be easy for you,
I've been making dizzydixies white choc mud cake 2 last weekend

The only reason I didn't bother with it in the first place was because it looked a bit difficult. But, since yours turned out like that, & was a first go, I think I will!

White choc mud cake sounds lovely, is the recipe around on here? Will be giving that a go I think

here

And I was just going from the picture, it'll be a doddel to you

yum! Cheers for the link, will add white choc & cream to Fridays list to try that out

lol@it'll be a doddle! I wouldn't bet on it