I will be doing my first pool cake and want to use piping gel for the water. I have never done this technique before. Do I just tint it and pour a thin layer on top? Will it set up or be gooey? It's probably an easy technique, but I don't want to screw this up. Thanks. Deb

Yes, its very easy! Just tint the gel whatever shade of blue you want and it does stay sticky!

Does the gel need heated a bit to create a pouring consistancy?

No I didn't heat it and I made like a little pond on top of a sheet after you mix the color and stir you can just put it on with your spatula!

I always just spoon my piping gel "water" in the cavity I created and smooth it with the back of the spoon or a spatula.

Julee...In making a swimming pool, I'll have a 9" round area to fill. I don't want to risk tearing up my icing underneath....you don't have issues with this?

I used piping gel for the entire top of an oval cake (10 x 8 or so), and did it with a spoon like Juleebug. I let the icing underneath set a little bit before putting the piping gel, and there was no problem. You can see the cake I am talking about in my gallery--it's the seashell one.

Don't know why I'm so paranoid about something so simple! Guess becuase it's new. Did y'all just spread a thin layer of the piping gel?

I think my piping gel layer was about 1/4 inch thick on that cake.

Same as the others here. My layer of colored piping gel is about 1/4" thick and I just spread it out with the regular angled icing spatula. Never had a problem with it messing up the icing underneath, but I will say...

If you're doing a pool? Make a small border so that your gel doesn't run off the cake. Spread the gel inside the border using a spoon or spatula. THEN, go back over your border to clean it up a bit. it's not necessary, but looks better. HTH

For my dog bowl I placed a 6 inch pan inside an 8 inch pan and baked the rim of the bowl that way. Just be sure you put something in the 6 inch to weight it down... I learned this the hard way.

Thanks ladies! I'm think I'm ready!!!