So everytime I use buttercream I try to put it on the cake and make it perfectly smooth and seamless and I can never do it. It always ends up cracked looking, bubbly, or it comes right off when I try to smooth it.
What am I doing wrong? How can I fix it?
Should I use a specific receipe?
For instance...Here's a bridal shower cake I made. I dont know if you can tell but the buttercream is all ...spotty? i guess. It's not smooth. And it drives me crazy. 
What smoothing method are you using? I HIGHLY recommend the Melvira paint roller method. (Home page .... scrolls thru the articles till you come to it). I discovered this a little more than a year ago and every cake made since then has been Melvira'd!
That was gonna be my answer as well-it looks like it needs more liquid. Happy Caking!
The only thing i've ever been told to do is to run hot water over my spatula and smooth it that way. i mean it kinda works and smooths it out a little but not the way i want it to look.
The only thing i've ever been told to do is to run hot water over my spatula and smooth it that way. i mean it kinda works and smooths it out a little but not the way i want it to look.
That was the only way I knew of for years ... but Melvira wins hands down on the best method.
Here you go: http://cakecentral.com/article83-Quick--Easy-Smooth-Icing-Using-a-Roller-Melvira-Method.html
I haven't used the foam roller, yet. I've just used a Viva paper towel with my fondant roller and it makes a HUGE difference.
Classylady, noticed you are in SC. I'm in Lexington, just outside of Cola. Wanted to let you know about an ICES Share Day nearby on Nov. 16. PM me if you want more info.
Classylady, I, too, was very frustrated with my buttercream attempts. I ordered Sugarshacks Buttercream DVD (www.sugaredproductions.com) and it has made a radical improvement for me. I, also, notice that if my bc is a little too thick that it wants to peel off the cake. So, I highly recommend sugarshacks DVD. It really is good.
Classylady, I, too, was very frustrated with my buttercream attempts. I ordered Sugarshacks Buttercream DVD (www.sugaredproductions.com) and it has made a radical improvement for me. I, also, notice that if my bc is a little too thick that it wants to peel off the cake. So, I highly recommend sugarshacks DVD. It really is good.
I agree! And this method is really quick once you get it down.
Definitely Sugarshack's DVD--I can't tell you how many frustrating hours I would have saved in my lifetime if I'd just had this DVD!!! Her methods from BC recipe to smoothing, stacking, etc. are top notch! Check my pics--the difference is amazing!!!!
So everytime I use buttercream I try to put it on the cake and make it perfectly smooth and seamless and I can never do it. It always ends up cracked looking, bubbly, or it comes right off when I try to smooth it.
What am I doing wrong? How can I fix it?
Should I use a specific receipe?
For instance...Here's a bridal shower cake I made. I dont know if you can tell but the buttercream is all ...spotty? i guess. It's not smooth. And it drives me crazy.
Definitely try thinning down your icing. Also, try the VIVA paper towel method. It works great.
Wesha
Here you go: http://cakecentral.com/article83-Quick--Easy-Smooth-Icing-Using-a-Roller-Melvira-Method.html
I haven't used the foam roller, yet. I've just used a Viva paper towel with my fondant roller and it makes a HUGE difference.
Classylady, noticed you are in SC. I'm in Lexington, just outside of Cola. Wanted to let you know about an ICES Share Day nearby on Nov. 16. PM me if you want more info.
Im from the charleston area 
I would be very interested but I actually am going to be out of town that day already. I have my cousins 1st birthday...and Im bringing the cake. lol. 
My (limited) experience with smoothing has been that there is only a small window of time between when your icing can be smoothed nicely and when it has crusted too much and causes cracks or wrinkles. I keep wanting to go back and "fix" an area here or there, but every time I've done that I've just made it worse. My best results have been to make sure to start smoothing fairly quickly after applying my bc and when I think I'm done, I need to be DONE!
Everyone has advised you to thin the icing by adding more liquid BUT........
I believe you will have much b etter success if you add more fat (Criso &/or butter)instead! It needs to be creamier and by doing that it will also be a bit thinner
And I definately agree about getting SugarShack's DVD!
But, but but......indydebi it doesn't need that much
Maybe as little as 1/4 cup or less but wow, what a difference it could make.
I think it's worth the try..
Ok, this goes under my ever-growing "Duh, Debi!" collection! 
YOu're right on that!
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