Hi; I want to enter a contest and only styrofoam dummies are allowed. I have never used them- any tips? I want to do a fairly tall structure. How do you carve them? Electric knife?
TIA
I've used styrofoam dummies many times for show cakes. First, I either file down or press down the top and bottom edges so they're not so sharp. If there are any big holes or chunks out of the styrofoam, I filled them with royal icing. For buttercream cakes, I just frosted the cake just as if it were real cake. For fondant covered cakes, I spread a thin layer of shortening on the stryfoam, then covered it with fondant with no problems.
If you need to carve, use a serrated knife or better still, use a hot wire cutter made for cutting styrofoam. They can be purchased at craft stores. Hope that helps.
KimAZ
[/u]
I've used styrofoam dummies many times for show cakes. First, I either file down or press down the top and bottom edges so they're not so sharp. If there are any big holes or chunks out of the styrofoam, I filled them with royal icing. For buttercream cakes, I just frosted the cake just as if it were real cake. For fondant covered cakes, I spread a thin layer of shortening on the stryfoam, then covered it with fondant with no problems.
If you need to carve, use a serrated knife or better still, use a hot wire cutter made for cutting styrofoam. They can be purchased at craft stores. Hope that helps.
KimAZ
[/u]
Thanks for the great advice!
There are all sorts of companies offering shaped dummies, which are so much more easy to handle than one you shape yourself. If you do purchase a hot wire, please make sure you get one with a 4" tall clearance. I purchased one but it only could handle a 3" tall cake dummy.
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%