i would like to try to start sculpting cakes and would like to know what are some of the basics, maybe some hint and tips, recipes that anyone thinks is the best to use. eveything and anything is greatly appreciated.

You might PM Doug. I think he likes sculpting/3-D cakes and he always has great advice!!

We have a great search feature on this site. You may want to try it and raed some of the questions that have been posted in the past about the subject of sculpting.

I could use the help, too! I'm trying to sculpt a 3-D ladybug and ready to stab it with a spatula

I have always used pound cake when carving cakes. I find it is much easier to control. I am wondering if half of the sports ball pan would work for a lady bug. You could carve the head out of cake scraps and piece together with icing.

Good luck!

A few past posts about sculpting....

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-10148-sculpted.html+cakes

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-11572-sculpted.html+cakes

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-6014-sculpted.html+cakes

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-12974-sculpted.html+cakes

I made a lady bug once, out of half of the ball pan. I used chocolate candy melts and a small bowl as a mold for the head. You could also use a ding dong or hoho for the head shape as well.

Traci, I didn't know about the sports ball pan until afterwards....I bought the doll dress pan and used that for the body and two 6" layers for the head. It's going to take some practice but I definitely recommend freezing the cake--works pretty well! I just used a serrated steak knife!

Texas Sugar, great cake! I also love the quilt designs you have on the main part of the cake. Thank you for the links!

Texas Sugar,
Great job on your cake!

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-14708.html

Looks like we have two of the same topic going.

Here's my post on that other thread, in case you don't make it over there:

I use pound cakes to sculpt, and the tools I use most are my tapered angled spatula and a brush. I rarely use fondant on my sculpted cakes because I prefer the taste and workability of buttercream. Crusting buttercreams work better than non-crusting ones. I also use my basketweave tip to lay icing on the cake as if it were a little bitty cake icer tip.

Do you have a project in mind? If you are looking for inspiration, try lawn ornaments. They tend to have chunky shapes and are inexpensive in case you decide to buy one and use it as a pattern.

Here is a link to our cake club's workshop on cake sculpture. I'm teaching it, and I'm using a lawn ornament bunny as a guide. I had several of them that the students passed around to use to help them with the shaping. Maybe you can get some ideas by seeing the in-progress cake I'm demonstrating.

http://www.sugarwonders.com/photosSculptureWorkshop.html

Hope that helps...

Deanna

thank you everyone, you all have been so helpful.