where and what to buy for cake decorating.

[Twit]

I have just started to decorate my own cakes, I was given a cake decorating book for my birthday after constantly complaining about the quality of birthday cakes in the supermarket.
My question is this; where [online] would you recommend I buy my bits and pieces, and what should I buy?
I have had a look around and am feeling overwhelmed by the choice. What colour paste should I go for? I am also a bit confused about edible sparkle/glitter powder. Some websites say it it inedible, some say it is non toxic and you could eat it.

Congratulations GSkull, do you have plans for what they'll look like?

How brilliant BPGS

Yes, Plum - picture please.

Photo on, bootee's look abit blue in photo
they wanted plain, but my aunt wanted abit of decoration so was abit torn over what to do, so hopefully will please both, and I wanted to try making the bootees

Now I need to work out how to make an irish dancing pump?????????????

The cake looks lovely Plum - I could do with a piece of the cake now to go with my coffee

TBH its not really how I wanted to do it, but they wanted one really big cake and not too much decoration,
I wanted to do 2 tier cakes on a larger cake board,
so the writing would be on the board,
boots on top
and little train/blocks on next tier
IMO would have looked plainer but I think my aunt might have made it sound extravagent(sp)

That's a beautiful cake PBM, and the writing is perfect! Did you pipe it free hand? I can't see from the photo, but are they little blocks all around the bottom?

gorgeous PBM

Well I've finished the sugar plaque of "The Kiss" but the feet snapped of. Cake it crumb coated and filled and in the fridge, will ice and assembly shortly.

www.flickr.com/photos/41433375@N02/4085620968/

bows in the presence of greatness.
CoV you are so talented.
I am sure they will be delighted

COV that is brilliant

Cake almost finished, just needs a few more gold triangles on the wires.

here

Not the best picture and at state of the kitchen.

I hope you really know how fabulous that is

Greyskull, I had a look at the Cake Show for your stencils and they were there. I wasn't 100% sure they were the right ones as I left the piece of paper with the company name on at home but they are! They were on Lindy Smith's stand so you should be able to get them from her. Her website is down atm but I assume they'll be on there when it's back up.

COV, that's amazing, your skill in translating an idea into a cake is just fantastic. (My kitchen usually looks like that when I'm almost finished too!)

brilliant, thank you so much Oli.

oh my goodness COV, that cake is amazing! And your pumpkin was amazing too (sorry, I nosied at that too)

haven't had time to go to cake shop yet to get the bits I need for baubles but planning to at least get the cake started this week.

if I was to put some cake making stuff on my christmas list what should I put? All I have is tins and the Debbie Brown 50 "easy" party cakes book.

Depends what you want to do Debi, I've asked for a silverwood tin and a couple of books. I'd love some more cutters too.

Right, I've done my test cake and it's not great, I must still be doing something wrong. I used 6oz of everything (even weighed the eggs) and baked it all in one go in a deep 6" tin in a conventional oven at 140. It's kind of risen and it hasn't sunk afterwards which is an improvement but it's a bit crispy on the outside, the top feels almost as if it's been deep fried! I haven't cut it or eaten any yet so I don't know what it's like inside but it feels a bit heavy.

I'm getting cross with myself now, WHAT am I doing WRONG, it's just a cake FFS! Surely it shouldn't be this difficult!

Debi I have only started baking & decorating and so far I have bought the things I need for the cakes I'm making as I go,
So I have a selection of cutters, I also bought hearts and stars haven't used yet,
small plastic rolling pin, (need to get a big one) really should have got one before now,
a selection of colour pastes & lustre dusts,
and a few different tappit letter cutters,

Moosy are you sure its that bad but you trim the top off anyway, although I would have used 160 conventional, the cake I made the other day I popped in fan oven at 140, It baked in 55mins (12"round tin) and turned out beautiful
Trim top off and taste only way to know

COV - fantastic

I think I just may put that Silverwood cake tin and dividers on my christmas list too.

Moosy, I am sure with a bit of trimming, your cake will be just fine.

PBM, was that a deep 12" tin or a sandwich type? My 6" deep took 1 1/4 hours! I'm worried that if I do it at 160 it'll be too cooked on the outside too quickly like normally happens when I use the fan oven.

I trimmed the top off and it's ok for a cake to be covered (although I didn't cover it, I sliced it in half, put some cream and jam in and we ate it) and it did taste good - all light and fluffy inside

Moosy, mine takes the same time - I made one on Saturday (to bob in the freezer until the end of this week), I did it on 140 as mine is a fan oven and cooks very quick.

Deep tin (Invicta tin I borrowed) but had lined the sides loads with greaseproof paper, my 12" chocolate cake takes 1hr50 I think and first time the outside was burnt well done second time I lined it with at least four layers and it was fine

Well the proof was in the eating, DH just got home and has eaten some and his comment was........

"Mmmmm, that's GOOD cake!"

I've just realised that Q I asked was a bit dumb. It was the same as the thread title! I'd forgotten that was what this thread was originally about!

LOL, Debi - there's so much gossiping on here you'll have to go back through and find the all the original advice .