I'm up sooo late...waiting on one more cake to finish baking....zzzzzzzz...lol. And for some reason, I started thinking about all of the things I've learned since I started teaching myself how to make/decorate cakes.

Such as:
Room temp eggs, butter, etc. make a big difference in the end result (for me)
Measuring out all my ingredients first really cuts down on time & the mess I'm left with in the end!!
Chilling the cake before I torte is a must! Much easier to do when it's cold, IMO
Fondant or MMF is nothing to be afraid of...in fact it's one of the simplest things I've learned to do when it comes to cakes!

I'm sure I could think of more if I kept going....but I was wondering what things everyone else has learned, or figured out easier ways of doing, little tid-bits of knowledge that you knew nothing of when you started out on this little cake adventure?? lol And this could be really helpful to newbies out there who are full of questions. Sooooo......

What have you learned???

there is not enough time or room to list ll I ahve learned... I adore this site , being here has helped me do things I never thought I would have the guts to try... like color flow, FBCT, and cookies...

-using the icer tip to cover a cake (I don't use it anymore but it helped in the beginning)
-using Viva to smooth a cake ( this one is HUGE!!!!)
-how to do a Frozen Buttercream Transfer and Chocolate transfers
-using a flower nail in lieu of a heating core
-how to use lustre dusts
-how to use fondant (love it!)
-how to re-size pictures on a computer (very imprtant to post those pics!
)

Most importantly I have learned that this is something that I love, love, love doing!

I have learned so much from this site in the short time I've been here. In addition to many of the things already listed in the posts above, I've learned much more about the busniess side of this great hobby. I quickly found out that I have been underpricing for too long, my work is worth more than that!

Above all else I've learned that there is a world full of wonderful, generous, caring, friendly cake decorators out there who can always make us smile, forget our goof-ups, and compliment us on our work when we overcriticize ourselves. Thank you all so much!!

I have learned so many things here on CC.

1. Covering cake boards
2. FBCT
3. Up-side-down icing method
4. Smoothing with paper towels
5. MMF
6. Cupcake cake
7. Freezing and thrawing cakes and the condensation
8. Tips on decorating
9. Edible Imaging; hope Santa brings me one
10. Airbrushing

I could go on an on.

1) How helpful, caring and willing to share everyone is on here!

2) then just ditto all the above.

I've learned that:

1. Frosting stains the walls...but only if you miss the person you fling it
at.
2. Throwing a 2 layer 10 inch iced cake at someone's head is considered
assault, even if it is a really great tasting cake.
3. When deciding to throw the cake...make sure it's angel food cake,
so they know that you did it with the best of intentions.

Hi Dale,

I just love your good sense of humor.

I still haven't recovered from your midget, slingshot and camcorder banter

That above all-this sight is a MUST in everyones lives!!! It is our cake Bible, diary, moral support, constructive criticism site etc.

1. Using flower nails when baking instead of a baking core.

2. Italian Meringue Buttercream. (My newest discovery, and I love it!)

3. Frozen Buttercream Transfer. (Never heard of it until I came to this site.)

4. How to Doctor a Cake Mix.

5. Working with Gumpaste.

6. And so on, and so on, and so on!

7. How helpful and willing everyone is to share their talents and knowledge!

- how to decorate cookies
- doing icing with meringue powder (sp?)
- gingerbread houses

and many more. And as an extra: learning a lot new words and phrases in english as well as refreshing the english stuff learned 100´s years ago in school

I just learned that they are lots and lots of caring people that like to share all they wonderful techniques and secrets thank you to all my new found buddies.

Oh my God! I am going to post an entire new thread about what I learned this weekend doing my first paid wedding cake. (I'll post it when I am not feeling so haggard). It was a nightmare, and included having to rebake the cake 3 TIMES...but I did learn a huge amount that I will never, I repeat, WILL NEVER do again. But I'm not bitter, and that's the important thing!

Just from this site....

-Using a flower nail in the cake
-Salted vs. unsalted butter (I never even paid attention to what I was getting before!)
-All sorts of fun acronym things- MMF, FBCT to name a few
-To get a 2nd bowl for my KA cheaply (from an appliance store, "refurbished")
-Americolors, need I say more?
-Lorann flavorings, YUM!

That's all that comes to mind right now, but I'm sure there's more!

Kelly

Ditto everyone's comments but especially the support and willingness to share. Thank you to everyone!!!!!!!!!