Well, I went out and spent my first $150 on supplies, today. I'm sure that's just a drop in the bucket, right! Just what I thought was essential. I still have much more to get. On average, how much do you need to start off? I have a nice stand mixer and hand mixer, bowls, measuring devices, pans, spatulas, cake leveler, beginners decorator set and frosting design creator( not all items are new). Any suggestions on what my next little bit of mad money should be spent on?

What about cake boxes and boards? I am always running into problems trying to find something to deliver my cakes on.

Oh wow, don't get me started....... so many fun things, so little time.

Down the road put an AGBAY cake leveler on your list. I would have thought a lot of other things would come higher, but it really makes my cake making experience more pleasant! But down the road, not an immediate essential.

Get more spatulas (I use a LOT) some extra tip 3, 16, etc... that you use alot, I have discovered the joys of disposable bags (there is a great tutorial on CC where you wrap your frosting in saran wrap and then put into the decorating bag..... it is a miracle!), I hate washing the decorating bags, I never use the non disposables anymore! (A friend to the environment I am not), definitely need cake boards, do you have the cake PLATES? (the white plastic ones?) That is a must......

Gosh I could go on, if you let it, the supplies start to take over

Is there a place were you could take a cake class in your area? I would do that this would give you a real feeling of what you need. You can go to wiltons website and put in your zip code and they will come up with a class in your area.

[quote="alicegop"] do you have the cake PLATES? (the white plastic ones?) That is a must......

OMG, I've been doing this for a while now without these-what am I missing???
Kathy

i dont use these either
well i used it once for a tiered cake i did, but i added the cost of that to the cake because i never use them.

I don't think I'll ever be done buying cake items, and I have a lot already.

Allow me to suggest that if you have not bought them already, invest in the Magic Line pans that are sold here on CC. And did anyone mention an airbrush? There are some great threads on airbrushes here on CC. You can find them in the archives, or look into my posts. I participated in a few of them, referring others to threads here in CC that give valuable information on them.

If you are serious about cake decorating, and forsee yourself doing this as a business, or just for extra money, then I agree that you should invest in the Agbay. It comes highly recommended by many CC members.

Theresa

If you watch your newspaper ads for the JoAnn or AC Moore half off coupon, you can pick up the wilton decorator set that's like $125.00. I did that and got it for like $60. It has just about everything you need to start out, and it will give you doubles of the tips you use a lot that you just purchased in your beginner set. Good Luck

A turntable is a good investment. I have an old wooden one that I have been using since I started decorating (Little less than 2 years). I got some money for Christmas so I purchased the Wilton Professional turntable. I have used it once and so far really like it. A good variety of color gels. I like the Americolors best. If you get into working with fondant the Sugarcraft gun is nice too. There are soooo many things! I love ordering from Country Kitchen and waiting for that package to arrive at my door!

Hi AngiesIdea! You are right down the street from me! I'm in SCS.

Double-dog ditto on the turntable! I can't live without mine. And more spatulas than you think you need. I found this great Calphalon one - it's back, white and pink. Stiff on one side for stirring and softer like a regular spatula on the other. I LOVE it and use it the most now.

Stock up on boxes and boards so you don't have to go to the cake stores just for those (because you'll end up buying more stuff every time you go)

Def. go with the Magic Line pans.

Cooling racks, set of 2 that will completely fit your pans work best.

well depending on the type of decorating you are going to enjoy doing more (buttercrea, fondant, gumpaste, royal) is going to depend on what your essential tools are.

For me my best investments so far have been a good mixer, Magic Line pans, and a turntable.

I also use parchment paper like you wouldn't believe-i line all of my pans with it and on cookie sheets, and anywhere I just want to help keep things a little cleaner. This was actually the only thing on my christmas list this year and I have already gone through 2 rolls!

I prefer to do more buttercream decorating, however I have been forcing myself to do more detail work with fondant. (usually i just cover the cake with it then decorate with buttercream)
1)Icer tip
2) Multiple tips 3-4 each of tips 1 through 4 (round writting tips) and 3-4 each of tips 101-104 (rose tips) and 3-4 each of tips 18-28 (star tips)

And on the cooling racks, get BIG ONES! I have some 16x20's and those hold my biggest cakes (12x18 sheet and up to 16" round ... tight fit, but it works!).

If you want to splurge, get some of those stackable Pampered Chef cooling racks. They are ok for smaller cakes because you can stack some smaller cakes for cooling and save counter space, but I also use them to set my 16x20 racks on top of to elevate them off of the counters.

when I first started out, I sat down and worked out every thing i needed by looking at a web site shop, I added everything i wanted to the basket, then once i was finished i printed it out. I knew a guide price for each item and an over price. This is a really good site to use it seems to have every thing. Hope that helps and good luck
http://www.sugarcraft.com/