Melvira I have already thanked you once for the paint roller idea. But I have to come back and crown you the queen of smooth. I am going to try to attach a pic of the cake I did for a King's Daughter banquet for a local church. It was butter cream, with fondant drape and royal icing crown, people asked me if it was fondant. And one person asked if it was a fake cake. I am no longer afraid of buttercream. Thank YOU!!!

I didn't want to put this in it's own post, though I probably should BUT...

I think Melvira deserves to be spotlighted!!! There are so many out there that do, but this one tip has saved so many of us here at CC.

Please know that Melvira and I don't know each other, and she didn't ask me to do this - no one did. I would post it seperate, but figure it would look like I was soliciting for her or something and I don't want to embarass or offend anyone.

Thanks Melvira for helping us all, you rock.

Vote Melvira!!

I agree.................[Vote Melvira!!!!!] [/b]

I finally have a chance to sit down and post pictures of the cakes I did using Melvira's technique. It is great! I found it to be much like my old method of using the viva paper towels with my fondant smoother, but the really great part was being able to run the roller up from the sides of the cake and over the top in one motion, therefore smoothing even those horrible, hard to get perfect edges! And it was done in practically no time at all! I couldn't find one like Melvira's but I did find one at Home Depot made by RollerFoam. It still has the plastic inside, and you can get it in ultra-fine foam with a dome-shaped end so it doesn't leave any tracks! It is my new best friend! And so is Melvira! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!

Well, for some reason my pictures did not get attached, but they are in my photos, the life cake, the stock market cake and the antique doily (for lack of a better name).

I tried it today for the first time and all I have to say is WOW!!!!!! I love it.

COOL!!!!!! I love cake decorating and I teach kids in 4-H. I am going to add this tool to their list of "must have" items. Getting a cake smooth is the hardest part for these little kids so I am sure this is going to really help them. All they ever want to do is the character pans because they can do all stars..... but now... they wont have an excuse.... This is gonna be great for them... can you imagine what their parents are going to think when I give them their supply list.... hehehehehehehe

You all are just way to funny... I have CC open all day at the office. My evaluation is coming up soon.... I can see it now.... "secretary spends to much time on CC".... but I have the perfect answer since I work for the local extension office who is in charge of the 4-H program.... I always can use the excuse that its work related. I have a way cool job because I even bake and decorate cakes at my office when things are slow.... I wouldn't know what it was like to have a REAL job!

thanx for the fantastic tip!!!

It's so weird, I stopped getting updates on this thread for some reason, so I was missing some of the responses about people using this technique! I'm glad I checked back just to read some of the posts to my sister. (She always thinks I'm nothing but a pain... wanted to show her that some people think I have redeeming qualities! Just kidding, she loves me!!) Anyway, I am so THRILLED to hear all these positive responses. It touches me to know that I have benefitted some of you, and that some are still going to try it when they are able to.

Hey, Arosstx... your check is in the mail! Ok CALM DOWN all you guys... I am SO kidding!! It was just so cute the way she pointed out that we don't know each other (we don't!!) so I had to give her a little grief. Well, wait, I do know she is the one that gave me the awesome tip about Sam's cake boards!! Yay!!!

Yes- THANK YOU FOR SHARING!!! I Have to go get one of these tomorrow. My hubby will think I am batty when I tell him I need this for my cakes.
One question for you ladies, Does an IMBC crust over? I prefer the flavor of this for my cakes and I have an easier time smoothing it- although not THAT smooth..... does anyone know? Thank you soooo much!
Ivy

Melvira,

I wanted to join in on saying thanks for the great tip! I also see that you are a Halloween fanatic. My 8 year old daughter is also! Man, I can't believe she would pick Halloween over Christmas but she loves it. But then again, my hubby and I always joke about her becoming a teenager and "turning to the dark side" like Darth Vadar

Do you have any Halloween-related cakes that we can see?

Thanks so much,
Christie (far, far away from Iowa down in ol' N'Awlins

Thanks so much for the tip. I can't wait to try it!

Unfortunately I don't have any good Halloween cake pix right now... but I will in a few weeks! I have several that will be made, but until the 21st I am drowning in the two largest weddings I have ever done! Then comes the fun stuff!!

can't wait to try this! ok, just to clarify - i always use the big icer tip to apply icing to cake, then spend 45 minutes smoothing that darn icing around trying desperately to get it perfect...and giving up early due to time restraints! Sooooo, when I try this how should i go about it? can i still use big icer tip and then just blend that w/big spatula once, let that crust then roller it? thx!

Absolutely! That's what I do. I use the icer tip nice and thick, then scrape a little off to straighten/even it up, then let it crust and roll!

Ok I tried it.....I will attempt to attach my cake. I am still so new so my cake isnt perfect, but I wanted to say thanks for the tip (I used it over parchment paper) and the roller worked great! I know what I will be using from now on.

Thanks Melvira for sharing

mkerton what a cute cake!!!

thanks yellobutterfly.....I was mad that it wasnt centered on the cake and I was upset that I made an uppercase K on the name....I hope my Mom's friend likes it! I have never done a cake for anyone other than immediate family before!

Thank you so much for this tip

When I first read about it I went out and got mine (my DH was with me.....he thought I was nuts). Put it in the cupboard with the rest of the cake stuff and just forgot about it. Well, yesterday I had a cake to do and DH asked about the roller thing I bought and then I remembered and tried it out. Gosh it was the best. Never will I spend hours trying to get a smooth finish again.

Once again THANK YOU.

mkerton, This cake is adorable! You did a great job on it! I love your basket of clothes next to the pole. I'm saving this to reference if I need to do a clothesline cake again. Did you freehand your little clothes or use cutters? I made my own but hoped there'd be little cutters that might look better.

I am so excited about this tip that I could just cry.

Rachel

I used the roller last night on my football cake, in my photos, and will never use anything else. It's the easiest way I have found to smooth a cake. Thanks Melvira!!!

So wonderful to hear all these people finding that this works for them. I am very excited and happy!

Thanks for sharing - I can't wait to try it!

I tried this on a cake that I did this weekend & WOW!! I have NEVER been able to get my cakes smooth no matter how hard I tried so this was a blessing! I am still just amazed at how well it worked! I will never "sweat bullets" again over getting my cakes smooth! Thank you SO MUCH Melvira!

Melvira is an absolute CC angel. This is the" Melvira Roller Method"of cake smoothing for sure.

Thanks a heap!

Kathy

Man I am soooo glad I found this post!!! What awesome tip!!! I can't wait to try this!! Way to go Melvira!! I might have tons of questions though...

This sounds like a dream come true. Wish I had this tip this weekend..Iced 9 brides cakes and 2 grooms cakes. I have gotten pretty good at smoothing...however I am always looking for more better, faster easier.

Can't wait to go buy myself one.

Melvira, please share your recipe for BCI with us~ I'm very interested in it Thank you!