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.

Sowhatis, look further down this thread, I've put my Christmas cake recipe on somewhere........

thanks moosy, will take a look now.

on my 3rd attempt i now have a 'red' red velvet cake - finally!!! just hoping it tastes as good as it looks now!

OK - Tesco officially have the cheapest marzipan (well they did, until I bought it all ).

I use Nigella's Christmas cake recipe but then adapt it so heavily that it is not really recognisable. I think the key to it is the soaking fruit in alcohol of your choice (DH is pulling faces at the seriously cheap and nasty brandy I have used this year) before you start. Everyone raved about it last year, but I have no idea if this year's adaptations are the same as last year's since I didn't write anything down - they are in the oven now (1 silverwood tin = 12 4" cakes)

Moosy I really love that 2nd cake, simple(iykwim) but stunning

Stealth I use Tesco icing as well, £2/kg well it has went up to £2.15, but their 500g is only £1 still

sowhatis you need to create a profile and put on some pics!!

ooh I like that swirl cake too Moosy. I might nab the idea as I have 3 more to do.

PlumBumMum I tried Tesco icing but didn't like the texture - so I pay £3/kg at the cake shop instead (buying it by the 5kg box)

Oh I haven't progressed on to the expensive stuff yet, I'm still learning

I used silverspoon last night OMG I thought I was going to have a heartattack it ripped half way over the cake, I find it quite dry, Iced the cake again had another mishap but managed to hide any mistakes blemishes and cake turned out brilliant

I can't stand christmas cake but all this christmas cake talk is making me wish I had made one

It's clearly a matter of taste - I like Silver Spoon . It takes more 'warming up' but the finish is really nice.

Yeap I think I didn't work with it long enough, I do prefer the smell of it

I like your new cake Plum

I've never had a good experience with the SilverSpoon.

[sugarpaste wars]

I'm a covapaste girl meself (although have a gigantic box of regalice atm as the online store didn't have covapaste)

Slubber, I got the idea from here, it's not my own idea. I'm not that pleased with the neatness of it but it's only for the inlaws so I'm that fussed!

I use Asda's own icing, it's the same price as Tesco (£1 for 500g) and don't have any problems with it but I've never tried any other makes to compare.

Thanks Plum, that's our spare cake for me us to eat during the night feeds throughout the year, I'm still planning the big main cake.

I just added some cake pics. these are the only ones ive made so far. practicing more next week as im doing a star wars cake for my ds's birthday party.

i used silverspoon today, and it wasnt anywhere as good as the stuff i get from the cake shop. wont be using again!

I can't see your profile sowhatis, have you made it public?

Another pic added just now, it's for a friend's birthday tomorrow. My first attempt at tiers!

made it public now!

lovely cake moosy. the star wars one im doing is 2 tiers, going to make one vanilla sponge and the other red velvet (just for me!!)

Fab cakes sowhatis

You have some definite boy cakes going on there, sowhatis.

What is your Star Wars one like? I did R2D2 once - it nearly killed me

(but it was worth every minute when the birthday boy and every one of his guests went "wow" when he came in )

My boys love Top Gear.

Hello
this is a really LONG thread and my little laptop is overheating from all the links I've opened from it.
It seems to be inhabited by far better decorators than I but more importantly people who know all the right places to shop
However I am looking for PROPER edible glitter
The kind that probably gives you sparkly poo
The kind you get on Konditor and Cook cakes.
Does anyone know where I can score buy some?
THANK YOU VERY MUCH IN ADVANCE

Is this what you are after, or the larger bits?

Wow Stealthsquiggle
Yes, I think it is
That was supremely quick
THANK YOU

enjoy

thanks. they arent bad considering i started just to see if i could! loads more to practice, but they will do for kids cakes!!

the star wars cake is 2 tiers, sparkly icing, with lots of little icing lego men! aaaahhhhh just thinking about it!

just waiting for stuff to come form cake shop and will begin making the figures!

Sowhatis thats how I started, my shoe cake was my 5th, but omg your cakes are brilliant

Going to get some Tesco icing today, and make a start on the orange elephant engagement cake, I need to stop thinking about it, I'm getting nervous