Is what you call Buttercream Icing what we call Royal Icing or are they 2 different things. We call Rolled Fondant Plastic Icing here.
It does get a bit confusing trying to work everything out.

No, they are two different icings. The buttercream has shortening and butter mixed in with the powered sugar and is used generally for icing the cake. The royal icing is made with egg whites and powered sugar and it used for flowers and things made ahead so that they are dry when you put them on the cake. Hope that helps!

Thanx for clearing that up,would you believe i have asked soooooo many people if they know of anyone who is into cake decorating, and i can't find anyone. Just to have someone show me "hands" on would be a massive step forward,books make it all seem so complicated.

Hi, there are several videos out on decorating that might help, at least you can see what is going on.

Wilton has some available, but probably the least expensive and pretty good quality is from www.cakesumake.com, which I ordered from eBay but I think you can get it from the website. It shows baking, filling, torting, icing, 14 styles of flowers, swags, ribbons, ruffles, basket weave, bugs. Has some recipes...lots of information.

Just an idea if you can't see firsthand. Janice

Another thought on the videos. I don't know where you are, but your library might have videos! Janice

I seem to be thanking people all the time, so again THANKYOU. I had never really thought of videos etc, and if anyones interested i'm in Australia so maybe American videos dont work here. I will scout ebay and see what i come up with.

A very good contact for Wilton Products is:

Bakery Sugarcraft
198 Newton Road,
Wetherill Park, NSW, 2164
Australia

Phone: 02 9756-6164
Fax: 02 9756-6165

Email - Sales - [email protected]
Web Site: http://www.bakerysugarcraft.com.au/

Thanx for that Auzzi, i have them in my favourites but never thought drrrr.

HI

I'm also in Australia and have done some cake decorating courses through Community College (NSW). There are also Cake Decorating Guilds in each state that have tutorials. Unfortunately I've never found any Videos or DVDs on cake decorating in our local libraries but there are usually quite a few books on sugarcraft etc.
I hope that this helps!!!

I too have looked at Tafe and adult ed but here in Tassie there isnt that much about, 1 class but its in Hobart 4 hrs away, have heaps of books so i will plod along on my own, wish my mother in law lived here.