I've been wanting to make a really large elaborate cake but don't really have anyone to eat it.

I was reading the newspaper and our local Easter Seals is having a charity event where people pay $50 to get in and they eat desserts and auction off items. This event will have some of the wealthier people in our area there.

Anyhow, I called up and volunteered to donate a cake. The event organizer said could I make one large enough to feed 100-200 people? I said sure (since I want the practise)

So now I have a couple months to work on techniques and design a gorgeous cake for the event. It's in the Valentines Day theme. I'm really excited and I'm thinking I might try to do more of these to build a portfolio.

oh man what a great idea!!! good for you. not only do you get practice but free exposure too!!!!
wow, that is awsome!!!
melody

Congrats ... sounds like a fabulous opportunity!

I actually have a similar opportunity on a completely different scale... what do you guys/gals think?

The social committee at the office where I work is having a bake sale to raise $$ for a kids' Xmas charity, and of course, asked if I would bring a cake.

Well I know darned well that in a bake sale there is no way they're going to be able to sell one of my cakes for anywhere near what it would be worth, and it really bothers me to think that someone could buy one for $20 and think that's a fair price for a cake!

I agreed to make a cake IF they would raffle it off rather than trying to sell it. A raffle wasn't part of their plans, but when I explained that I would not de-value what I do (and would not allow them to do so) by selling a cake at a fraction of its value, they understood completely!

They're even having separate posters made up just for the raffle which will have a bunch of my cakes on it! Now I just have to decide whether to actually make a cake, or to offer a gift certificate for a cake worth up to $XX.

I have never done anything like this but I think it would be a good idea to do a gift certificate. That way the winner would most likely order the cake for an occasion where other people will see it rather then just win it and take it home to their family ... and probably throw some of it away.

I think it would be cute to do like a mini cake and a gift certificate to give them something to taste.

If you are into scrapbooking you could always make a little book with a picture and decription of some of your cakes and on the last page put the gift certificate.

Like I said though ... I've never done this and only decorated one cake in my life so I don't know how much help I am being but I know if I won a big beautiful cake in a raffle I wouldn't have anything to do with it but sit it on a counter top.

Hope that helped a little.

Tell the teachers that which ever class donates the most amount of canned goods for the local food shelter will win a dessert buffet provided by you.

with smaller classes this could mean just a few cakes.

I think it's a great idea to help your community and give you a reason to practuce your skills.