I am just wondering how everyone manages to have these perfectly smooth cakes here. I have tried this so many times and still struggle. My last cake has been the smoothest cake yet and it wasn't the greatest. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!

What icing are you using? B'cream or fondant or IMBC or what? Helpful hints will depend greatly on which one you use.

Part of getting a nice smooth b'cream is to have the right recipe Have you tried using SugarShack's?
And as you said, part of it is practice, practice, practice

Welcome to Cake Central! Try searching the forums here. There is loads of information on smoothing buttercream. My tricks are a hot knife and Viva paper towels. Also, check out the cake decorating articles.

tonedna has some youtube videos that helped me a lot. Here is a link to her profile so you can see her cakes, website and videos.
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=profile&mode=viewprofile&u=441093

sugarshack has a wonderful DVD that also helped me tremendously with smoothing. Here is the link to her profile.
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-forum-userprofile-137.html

Keep practicing, you can do it!!

Agreed! There are also various methods depending on what kind of buttercream you are using. If your buttercream is crusting there is the Melvira method or the Viva paper towel/fondant smoother method. If the buttercream is creamy there is the hot knife method. It all depends. What kind of buttercream are you using?

Crusting BC .... Melvira method .... smooth icing EVERY time.

you'll never go back to any other way of doing it.

Hi ladies, I got a bc recipe from a lady on youtube, seriouscakes. I use shortening, butter, vanilla, confectioners sugar, heavy cream and corn syrup. She had a video on how to smooth with viva but it sticks a little when I try and smooth it. Maybe I just didn't give it long enough to crust before i tried smoothing. I get impatient lol

here is my recipe and tips:

PS. If the viva is stcicking you need to:

1) wait a bit longer
2) us a bit less fat and/or liquid
3) check the humidity of your room.

HTH

sugarshack, does your icing still hold up well for piping as well? I have trouble sometimes when trying to pipe because either it's too stiff or too creamy.

it pipes perfectyl for me!