If you were going to pipe buttercream stars

[lucysmam]

on the side of a cake, would you do them (hope you know what I mean by stars!!)

a) top to bottom
b) bottom to top
c) around the top edge & work your way down, or the other way up (bottom to top iyswim)

I have no idea which way to do this, but haven't yet got round to making the Mr Tumble cake I promised the lo the other week, so that is my project for this week to practise piping & see what it turns out like

Top to bottom imo. I don't know why, but I just find it easier to do it that way!

Do they not smudge that way up? & do you just use usual buttercream recipe for them? Or does it need more icing sugar?

Well, I haven't managed to smudge them! Normal butter icing should do, but if it's a bit loose, add a bit more icing sugar.

Have you done stars before?

nope, but there's a first time for everything

I have a spanking new icing bag & some nozzles I'm itching to try out though, so don't try putting me off!!

Have a practice on a piece of grease proof paper first. There is an art to holding the icing bag and squeezing at the same time! When you squeeze the icing out, you need to kinda pull away gently and then push in again to form the star iyswim!

hmmm, I think I do. But will try it out on greaseproof first! I hope I'm co-ordinated enough to manage them, been promising her a Mr Tumble cake for about 2 or 3 weeks. If not it'll have to be sugarpaste (which she'd eat by the boat load if I let her)

Listen, what ever the cake looks like in your eys, she will love it because YOU made it. I am very much of the opinion that children will remember cakes that mummy made, far longer than shop bought ones. Good luck!

Cheers Maureen, will be practising in the morning