Can someone please walk me through how various icings interact? I've read quite a few posts where things have fallen apart and I'm anxious to avoid that happening with my cakes. So, since Im really new to this whole decorating thing, I live by two rules:
1) If the cake is buttercream iced then it gets buttercream decorations. No fondant, gumpaste, or royal icing.
2) If you cover a cake in fondant, then decorations need to be in fondant, gumpaste, or royal. No buttercream.
I know thats not accurate becuase I see so many beautiful cakes with mixed media but Im not sure what goes with what.
Can you put royal icing or fondant or gumpaste on a buttercream cake? Can you use buttercream to decorate a fondant covered cake?
Yes you can put fondant or gumpaste on a buttercream cake. You can put royal icing on buttercream as well (Wilton has a whole course that teaches royal icing flowers that go on a buttercream basket weave cake in the end.
You can also use buttercream or royal icing on a fondant covered cake.
Yes you can put fondant or gumpaste on a buttercream cake. You can put royal icing on buttercream as well (Wilton has a whole course that teaches royal icing flowers that go on a buttercream basket weave cake in the end.
You can also use buttercream or royal icing on a fondant covered cake.
I know you already know this Texas Rose, but for the OP, Royal Icing has to be dry before interacting with buttercream.
I've actually piped royal icing wet royal on buttercream once. I had some left over and I was doing a quick cupcake cake for my friend's son. No problems at all. Didn't turn into a runny mess or anything.
I've also piped royal icing on wax paper that has been smeared with crisco, as well as a fondant covered cake that was coated in crisco, and again no problems at all with those.
I wouldn't close royal icing decorations, fondant or gumpaste up in an airtight container with a buttercream covered cake though. The moisture from the buttercream will end up softening or making your pieces wilt.
By the way, I'm TexasSugar. 
By the way, I'm TexasSugar.
People seem to use our names interchangably 
By the way, I'm TexasSugar.
People seem to use our names interchangably
Yes it seems so. 
I've actually piped royal icing wet royal on buttercream once. I had some left over and I was doing a quick cupcake cake for my friend's son. No problems at all. Didn't turn into a runny mess or anything.
I've also piped royal icing on wax paper that has been smeared with crisco, as well as a fondant covered cake that was coated in crisco, and again no problems at all with those.
I wouldn't close royal icing decorations, fondant or gumpaste up in an airtight container with a buttercream covered cake though. The moisture from the buttercream will end up softening or making your pieces wilt.
By the way, I'm TexasSugar.
Sorry about the name!
Now, I've had my royal icing melt on me. Are you using a particular recipie?
All my cakes are buttercream based and I use fondant and gum paste all the time as decor. I've used royal icing on my buttercream with no problems either. You can also freeze royal icing too I found out! Which is great for me because I always have more than enough left over.
Wilton's recipe.
Are you using a special shortning in your buttercream? Any time I've failed to make sure that I have no shortning on my tools, or that of my students, every flower melts. They can be placed on fine after they dry, but not while they are being made. What's your trick?
Crisco.
Keeping grease out of royal is important while you are making it, but one it is made, I haven't had any issues with it.
The only time I've had melting flowers in class is when the icing wasn't mixed long enough (it feels very thick, but doesn't hold shape) or when it is too soft.) Usually I let it dry before putting it on things, but as I have said I have piped on crisco coated fondant with out any problems, royal dried fine, and stayed there for over a year until I threw the dummy away.
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