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Original poster

where and what to buy for cake decorating.

634 replies

Twit · 23/10/2009 10:31

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.

OP posts:
stealthsquiggle · 30/11/2009 17:05

I think I used a sugar shaper to make spaghetti and then just bunched it all up IYSWIM.

Moosy · 30/11/2009 18:55

That sounds like a good plan, I'll give it a go.

bellavita · 30/11/2009 20:10

Have just ordered the bauble mould and some pearl lustre spray . Now.... to paint the baubles, dumb question.. but I take it I do buy paint rather than paste? Or do I water the paste colours down?

bellavita · 30/11/2009 20:13

Aah, I have just seen what moosey wrote. So, buy dust and some rejuvenating spirit stuff... that's the way to go uh?

DebiTheScot · 30/11/2009 20:22

bella I've got dust and gin for the baubles. Purple, gold and silver. And I'm going to try mixing a bit of silver with the purple to give it a metalic finish.

Olihan · 30/11/2009 20:25

Bella/Debi/Moosy - mixing the paste and dust with a few drops of alcohol or rejuvinating fluid is exactly the way to do it (well, that's how Cake Teacher Extraordinaire Sheila has taught us to do it!).

You need to be a bit more sparing with the gin as it has a higher water/sugar content so doesn't evaporate off as quickly so don't paint it on too thickly. You may have to let it dry completely then do a second coat to get the depth of colour you want.

All the christmas cakes are fab - we're such a talented bunch . I did 4 of my mini cakes for the school fete but forgot to take pics before I wrapped them in cellophane and couldn't be bothered to unwrap them again. But they all sold in the first 10 minutes and made £25 in total so I feel like I've done my bit for the PTA .

Finished the 40th cake for my friend and managed to make her and several other friends cry, bless 'em. That's the 3rd one I've had that reaction from, I'm taking it as a positive thing .

Olihan · 30/11/2009 20:32

OH, and the rejuvi fluid evaporates very quickly, especially when using it with dust and if your room is warm. You just have to keep adding drops and don't brush it on to the icing too thickly or it all flakes off when it dries .

If you only want to buy one lustre dust then buy 'snowflake' which is a sort of silvery white in the tube but just adds a shimmer without changing the colour when it's brushed on so you can use it for everything.

bellavita · 30/11/2009 20:32

Will have to be vodka.. is that ok >

Olihan · 30/11/2009 20:48

NO NO NO, don't use the Bombay Sapphire, share it with me instead .

Vodka's fine for painting with.

stealthsquiggle · 30/11/2009 22:24

Cheap vodka, please not Bombay Sapphire.

I use the entirely disgusting and undrinkable overproof rum we brought back from Jamaica about 10 years ago and have never managed to drink (even though we drank gallons of the bloody stuff while we were there )

bellavita · 30/11/2009 22:50

I do love this thread

DebiTheScot · 01/12/2009 13:57

bombay sapphire is all I have apart from 37% stuff. BUT it's ok as to open that I'll have to finish the bottle of Gordons and then have an excuse to open the lovely blue stuff! And I'll have an incentive to concentrate and paint them right 1st time to make sure I don't waste much.

Moosy · 01/12/2009 14:49

Going off on a slight tangent, I bought one of these the other day and am experimenting today. I've tried to make a strawberry cream one and it's almost worked, I think I just need to make the contents a bit thicker and let the choc cool a bit more before pouring it in. Tis yummy though!

bellavita · 01/12/2009 18:56

I have just spent loads and the bank account is groaning.

PlumBumMum · 01/12/2009 19:05

Well used the squires kitchen paste, or should I say gel and had to use loads to get the elephants orange, don't konw how much more I would have had to use to get an intense orange, will be sticking to sugarflair

can't wait to try the purple now

Anyway my elephants bodies and heads are made, trying not to be impatient and leave them for as long as possible, but going to to do legs and arms tonight

Olihan · 01/12/2009 20:22

Plum, the Wilton colours are gels too and I've had that problem with them. Shan't bother with the SK ones then!

Moosy · 01/12/2009 20:44

2nd batch of chocolates turned out much better, just have to make sure I eliminate all the bubbles next time and also freeze rather than fridge them so they come out shinier. Pic on profile but I need more practise.....

Moosy · 01/12/2009 20:46

Good luck with your elephants PBM, I can't wait to see the pictures.

PlumBumMum · 01/12/2009 23:34

Wow Moosy they look yum, I don't know where you get the energy

Well elephants are finished no pics yet, but the one that I was sure would look well, the girl, I am disappointed in,
but I think the boy looks well I did his trunk leaning over to kiss girl and ended up putting ring on it as if he is giving it to her,
I hope thats how it looks,
I think if I wasn't quite so tired I would redo girl head,
I have all ready redone boy elephants body
still not quite sure how it is all going to come together yet..............

bellavita · 02/12/2009 06:11

Moosey, chocs look fab as do your christmas cakes

PlumBumMum · 02/12/2009 10:19

Elephants on profile

I went to start making a new head for the girl but decided to leave it,
Does it look like he is giving her the ring, her head looks tilted more than it is in RL........grrr bloomin elephants

I have got to the point I have loads to do but not sure where to start........

DebiTheScot · 02/12/2009 11:19

wow they're fab. If you hadn't said she looks more tilted than she really is I'd have said it looks like she's leaning away from him but if she doesn't really look like that then they are perfect and yes it does look like he's giving her the ring.

Moosy · 02/12/2009 11:39

Plum, they're lovely! And yes it does look like he's giving her the ring and she looks all coy and pretty. The details are brilliant too, the tummy buttons and the flower on her ear - beautiful!

FC is made - pic up. I am disproportionately pleased with him

PlumBumMum · 02/12/2009 12:57

Hes lovely Moosy

Well obviously someone didn't like girl elephant because I couldn't help myself lefted them to have another look and...................DROPPED both elephants on floor
When I got over shock only thing that got damaged was girl elephants trunk so she now has a new slightly smaller head and trunk and I'm alot happier with her

but I think I'm just getting over the shock of them both hitting the floor!!!

Moosy · 02/12/2009 13:43

Oh no PBM, that's my worst nightmare! Glad they survived though, that was lucky.