I'm making a cake for a home party I'm going to and I thought I'd try to do something special. I have two quick questions - how do I create a combed look without going out to buy another tool? And to do pull out stars and bottom border rosettes it calls for Wilton ready to spread chocolate fudge icing - is there something I can substitute?? I don't have time to run out to the store today or tomorrow to get this done. Any tips or ideas would be great!

I haven't found anything that works better for the comb texture than the metal cake triangle. Maybe someone else will have an idea on that. As far as the icing, just make your own recipe of buttercream and it will be just fine. Wilton tells you to use their product, because they are promoting their products. You can substitute any icing that you want for decorating as long as you make it the right consistency for piping. Wilton icing is usually too soft for me.

You can use a fork for the comb look. For the icing unless you have a store bought icing in fudge. That would be the only thing I can think of. Good look and let me know how it went.

You could probably cut a piece of vinyl/plastic (like kids use for report covers) to simulate the wavey pattern. I think it would work in a pinch. Or if you were only going to use it once, maybe a piece of cardboard, like foil rolls or wax paper come in.
No clue what to substitute for the frosting, sorry.

Do you have pinking shears? You could cut a piece of plastic which would give you a makeshift comb. As far as the icing goes even my Wilton instructor told us not to ever buy it! Too soft! You are better off making your own buttercream to make designs.

HTH!

i actually like the wilton fudge icing. yum on brownies!