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.

Looks really good Mrs Bun and sounds very tasty too.

Any more christmas cake photos to show off from anyone?

I got some new bits for Christmas so need a birthday to come along soon that needs a cake! Next I can think of is dh's 30th in March.

Thanks Debi and PLum. I have been away so haven't been able to reply. Was a real challenge, the fondant I made myself from melted marshmallows which was surprisingly easy. Each cake was 3 layered and I used a large paint pot as my turn table. Just need an excuse to make another one now although with 2 little ones the time slots were thin on the ground! The last bits went on the cake minutes before the guests arrived!!

I would love to see some more christmas creations from you lot. You are all a great inspiration to me so thanks.

Wow Olihan, just...wow! Your DN christening cake, did you use supports in between the two tiers? Thanks

Oh girls I have been asked to price a wedding cake for April, kind da crapping myself

Any tips?

Quickly texted my cake maker friend and she said no less than £350 don't think I'm that brave and I've never made a fruit cake in my life, was going to have alittle practise for a wedding cake in October (that feels better cause it sooo far away)

Is anyone interested in resurrecting this thread? Found it the other day when I was searching for something else. What a lot of useful information on here, and what a lot of talented bakers.

I'm a total novice and have today just covered my first square cake in fondant. I live in sweden and it's father's day here tomorrow. My biggest problem is that I can't buy ready made sugarpaste here so I either pay 11 quid at the english shop in town or some back each time I go home.

The fondant I used cracked a bit, and I think it was because I was using icing sugar to stop it sticking when I was rolling it out. I read that it might be better to use crisco or trex instead to stop it sticking - but I can't get that here in sweden, or any other white solid vegetable shortening. My only alternatives are lard, solid coconut fat, or regular butter. Would any of those be ok to use on my hands (just a smear) whilst I'm needing the sugarpaste?

Oh. And I've just ordered a snowflake plunger cutter and some pearl lustre (dust not spray as apparently the spray can't go on a plane), so I'm TWO years out of date with my cupcakes!

Hello,

I found this thread a couple of weeks ago when I was looking for some answers to my cake decorating questions.

Have you tried looking online for sugarpaste? Not sure about postage to Sweden but if I was ordering 500g of Regalice online from ebay, then I'll be paying £5.40 (including £2.80 for postage.

I also found that icing sugar, no matter how much you sprinkle on the surface makes the fondant icing stick to it! In the end I resorted to smearing Trex thinly on the surface and rolling the fondant on there. It "peels" off better. You could try using coconut fat or butter on the surface since you'll be putting the fondant on a butter iced cake anyway though I have not tested it myself.

Don't worry about not being in with the trend where Christmas cakes are concerned, I'm sure it will still look fab.
Anyway, have fun decorating.

Message was for Catski

Hello - thanks for your reply boogiewoogie!

Well, I cracked and paid about five quid for some Crisco from the american section of the big supermarket in town. I read on the tin that it will last for a year once opened though, so it will last me a while.

I made some marshmallow fondant today using the recipe that Comeoveneer posted. It was very stiff getting it out of the mixing bowl but once I smeared some Crisco on my hands and started kneading it it was very pliable. Going to cover a madeira cake I have in the freezer and decorate it in honour of my parents arriving for a visit tomorrow. They are bringing all the goodies I ordered from cakecraft (about a hundred quids worth in the end, yikes!) so I'm very excited. Of course it will be lovely to see them too!

Catski,instead of using icing sugar to stop it sticking use(sparingly or it will leave white marks on darker coloured paste) cornflour.