I was thinking about all the people on here the other day, and how everyone is at different levels of cake making & decorating and I was wondering. .

What do you know now about cake making & decorating that you wish you'd known back when you started?

Thank you everyone for your answers, in advance.

Just to name a few....
#1 the importance of not skipping techniques just to finish the job,

#2 the use of supports

#3 opening up the creative juices,

#4 the importance of starting early to avoid problems down the road.

I have to say in the short time I have been on this site just the reading of post and looking at pics has helped me and pushed me to go further and I pay a lot more attention to detail. I have more time to due things right.

Thanks CCers for the support!

What a great thread! Thanks for starting it.
I wish I knew about:
1. Cakecentral
2. That it was ok to make mistakes
3. Using supports properly
4. Sugarshacks videos
5. Not skipping techniques
6. Turning down customers who might be trouble later down the line
7. Practice makes perfect

I wish I knew about homemade buttercream.

Yes, years ago I used canned frosting .
I am so embaressed, I have to go hide now

Things I wish I knew when I first started.....
- baking strips
- Melvira's method
- support systems
- that wilton isn't the ONLY cake materials supplier
- freezing cakes is not only ok, but makes them better
- crumb coating

I'd have to say....

1) Cake Central
2) How to Make MMF
3) Crusting Buttercream
4) Pin Prick Method