AWhere did you get Clive from? Or does he just look like a Clive? Mine was called Lord Montague, Monty for short! He was an Austin Montego, so unimaginative! I was only 18 tho!

AThe end of his reg is CVE which is where it came from, he's a ford focus I got from a little home mehanic in cwmbran. It was a wierd shopping experience buying him, pulling up in cwmbran to this house with 5 cars in the driveway! But it has to be said he's caused me no trouble!

AThat's a good name then! And you're so lucky to have a male who gives you no trouble! :-)

AAnyone familiar with Skylanders? I've got a cake to do for the 1st April and I've got a rough idea but I don't know if it's too ambitious. I'm going to make cupcake sheep and was thinking about using mini marshmallows for their coats. I need a plan B in case they don't stick or look naff!

AMaisie you're so !funny

Dayscakes I rolled out some petal paste and stuck the photo to that, then curved that around a bottle to harden.

AThankyou I think! Ever made sheep Nanny? Or what would you do if you did make them?

I made sheep by rolling balls of fondant, but I've seen the marshmallow sheep before and they work fine!

ANope maisie, first time for everything though. How do you think your gonna do them then?

My hydrangea cutter has come!  I was going to get started right away but the person I had in mind to use it for has indicated that they like the "lace look" cakes.  I was only going to do some cupcakes but I was digging around on here and found this: http://cakecentral.com/a/edible-lace-tutorial - has anybody followed this and, if so, what did you use for the impressions?  I have trawled the net and there seems to be a vast array of texture mats, silicone mats (I am a bit scared of Sugarveil I should add - I don't think I am up to that yet).  Any help/advice appreciated.  I will use the hydrangeas for something else.

ACupcakes with marshmallows. My superwhite's just arrived so I could use buttercream but what tip would I use? [IMG]http://cakecentral.com/content/type/61/id/3210662/width/200/height/400[/IMG] Already made some faces from fondant, I'm thinking with their coat that's all I'll need.

sounds like a good plan to me!

ASorry Dayscakes, can't help with lace, wayyyy beyond my capabilities! I'm jealous your cutter's come tho, mine hasn't and I ordered it the same time as my whitener which just came today. :-(

AThanks natt. Which tip would you use for buttercream? Or just cut a bit off a bag?

Hmm, Maisie - I would have said a grass tube but I really think marshmallows would be good.

I think the marshmallows would be fine! but for buttercream I would probably use a round tip like a 16 PME or a star if you wanted it to look fluffier maybe?

AAhh, didn't even think of a grass tip, thankyou! I'm going to try marshmallows first but I'm not very good so anytime I try something new I always need a plan B just in case! I don't practice for the sake of it often, don't like waste but it's only a hobby so my famiily don't mind being guinea pigs!

AThanks natt, I've got a few stars. Now I'm off to make some Chompies! :-)

AI've done sheep before - did domed sugarpaste toppers for them, as customer didn't like marshmallows! Will see if I have a pic..........

[IMG ALT=""]http://cakecentral.com/content/type/61/id/3210701/width/350/height/700[/IMG]

Def try a boiled fruitcake Sugarluva, just to see the difference, they are fab for last minute orders too!

Love the bike cake Nanny! I'm in the middle of a gum paste bicycle at the moment for an order lol!

DayCakes - re lace I would highly recommend Claire Bowman Cake Lace! It's so easy to make and keeps for absolutely ages! Plus it smells and tastes lovely, like vanilla marshmallows - yum! I think it works in any lace mats, but I've only used her ones so far. Heard so many ppl say it's much better than Sugar Veil, but I've not tried that personally.

AMaisie they looking good!

Mel yours look fab too.

Not sur about the lace, just that a lot of people use Cake lace. Would love to know how to use this, as well as air brushing.

AYeah, Mels are fab! A bit too posh and dainty for this cake tho, the sheep are baddies in Skylanders (I think!) :-)

ALOL sorry, I haven't a clue about a skylanders, my nephew probably knows all about it though ;)

Nanny, Cake Lace is fab if you get the chance to try it. I think there are videos on YouTube etc, but basically you mix the powder part with the liquid part, until you get something like marshmallow fluff! Then you spread it over the mat with the knife/spreader they sell and then whack it in a low oven for a little bit, and voila! It stays really flexible so you can keep it for ages, and a little goes a long way! Edible lace systems aren't the cheapest, but if you get a couple of good mats, I'd say they are well worth it especially for wedding cakes etc. They now sell precoloured mixes too, so you can make black, red, silver and gold!

I'd love to know about airbrushing too though, only thing I've ever done that's similar is use the PME lustre sprays, and OMG does that go everywhere?!! That put me off airbrushing a little, DH would go potty if I resprayed the kitchen :grin:

Mel - thanks for the info on Claire Bowman - I kept being drawn back to her products.  I am off to Cake International in two weeks and I think I am going to see what's on offer and chat to people before I take the plunge.  Unfortunately, I booked up for a couple of workshops (one with Mitch Turner!) but I noticed that if I had gone a day later, I could have seen Claire Bowman in person demonstrating! 

Love the sheep by the way!

AMel I'm tempted!but as I'going partime starting next week may I shall reign in my spending bah humbug!

Well lady picked her cake up, I didn't mind as she lives 2 mins up the road, she absolutely loved it, am now starting my 2nd cake for the week, its a pink castle, anyone made one? I've just finished making the turrets, nothing is ever easy is it?well it isn't for me anyway.

What you all up to tonight then?

AOoh have fun DayCakes! Last year they had a huge stand, so you can have a good nose! I'm hoping to go on one of the days, just need to check my schedule! I went to the NEC last year and it was fab :grin:

Wow Nanny you are busy! I've not done a castle yet but would loooove to! I also want to do a Princess, have you seen the one by Carina's Cupcakes? It's stunning!

This week I'm doing the bicycle cake and then I'm doing a Wizard of Oz one, which I am really looking forward to :)

AOh I went in 2012,first time ever,spent loads. Her cupcakes won gold up there.

I went to NEC in 2012 (I think?!) I spent A LOT! I went prepared to spend though, I was working full time at the time and had no expenses so all my spare money was available! haha
 

I want to go this year but enter some of the competitions. I had done a couple of competitions before but nothing as well known as Cake International.

AI live those sheep cupcakes Mel and your sheep heads look good so far Maisie Hehe. I haven't made sheep cupcakes before but I've made sheep cake pops a couple of times with white dragees (sp?). They looked cute but might be too much on a cupcake.

AI'd love to do a castle cake! I've made a castle topper for one of my daughters cakes this year (she has two, one for home, one for school!) but I don't know if I'm going to use it yet. Will you show us your wizard of oz cake when it's done Mel? I reckon you'll have fun doing that, would love to see it. Can I just say that "hearing" you all on about cake international and the NEC and people I've never heard of reminds me just how much of an amateur I am and makes me so grateful that you all treat me so well, put up with my stupid questions and have made me feel so welcome here. Next time I count my blessings (and you learn to do that often with a disabled child) you'll all be on my list. :-)

ABarbara, I love making castles!! I've done two so far. I will do one for my little girl next year. She loves Mickey Mouse Club House at the moment. SO thought of making a Minnie Mouse head cake for her this year!!:-D

It certainly is lot of work. I made the turrets from pastillage and covered in sugar or flower paste. And I used ice cream cones for the roofs. I covered them with strips of sugar or flower paste or 50/50 using my sugar gun. :)

Mel, I didn't notice you were doing a Wizard of Oz cake! I am obsessed with the Wizard of Oz and Wicked and everything that goes along with it! I can't wait to see yours!