Hi Everyone!

We are looking for some new contest ideas!
Post here with ideas on new contests that we can have!

I have a couple:
1) Have seasonal themed contests on cakes.
2) Have cookie decorating themes.
3) Have gumpaste flower themes.
4) Fondant/Gumpaste items/sculpture themes.
5) Bridal cake themes
6) Mini cake themes
7) 3-D cake themes
8 ) Cakes that can only be decorated in one color
9) Our worst cake disaster from that month

kids decorated cakes and/or cookies and what m0use said!

Getting that diamond pattern on a cake of any type! I love it! For that matter, any pattern on a cake would be good because I can't do that too well!
Ditto what m0use and thecakemaker say!

With Mother's Day coming up (maybe too soon) I was thinking a theme contest celebrating motherhood. Also one for spring flowers (any medium). We could also have a contest to design a Cake Central T-Shirt or Apron that could be given away as prizes during each contest. I would really like a Cake Central T-Shirt or an Apron.

Lots of good ideas! I like the apron or t-shirt idea too! We could do a "CakeCentral.com" cake and use it on the apron or t-shirt. Sort of like Lisa said only designing a cake and using a picture of it on the item.

hey! Don't give away all my surprises!

Ooops ! You know what we want before we even say it.

Oh, the apron & tshirts sounds great!!! Great idea Lisa!! Why not sell them too!!!!! I would by a few tshirts & an apron!!! But I would rather win one LOL!!

You all have great ideas!! I was thinking the same things. I think a winner for best cake in every catogory would be neat too. HMMMM I can't wait for you to tell us Jackie!!!!!!! I'm soooooooo excited!!!! I hope that post will stay fresh because some days I can't check posts. I don't want to miss it!!

YA'LL HAVE A WONDERFUL AFTERNOON!!!!!!! I'm getting off here to go grocery shopping.. I hate that!! I'll see what's been going on later tonight~

I love this idea! I'll continute the motion for all nominated ideas!!!!!


Amy

These are all great ideas!

One thing I certainly need help with is deciding on the contests for the different skill levels.

For example, I was thinking about a "Spring/Summer" Contest for beginners. This would be a great area for people to post thier first basketweaves, buttercream roses, etc.

I can think of loads of ideas for the beginner skill level, its really the intermediate and advanced areas that the idea well is running dry.

Also, I would like to get some feed back on what you all consider Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced

I want to make these contests as fair as possible so that every has an oppotunity to win prizes!

THanks!

I was wondering how you would do that too (decide between beginner/intermediate/advanced). I've been decorating for a little over 2 years. Never had any classes or training. There are still a lot of things I can't do. I would consider myself Intermediate. But how will that be decided...years decorating experience? number of cakes done? classes taken? That's a hard one.

Here's some of the guidelines other contests/competitions used. I thought it might help.

http://www.ohioexpocenter.com/osf/downloadbooks/special_events/division35.pdf
BEGINNER has less than two years decorating experience, was
self-taught, or has not taken more than two courses of cake decorating
lessons.

INTERMEDIATE is beyond beginner's skills, has decorated more than
two years, and/or had some classes beyond basics

ADVANCED is for persons who have decorated more than two
years or taken at least three courses in cake decorating.


http://www.thehoustoncakeclub.com/dos/CCrules.pdf
ADULT BEGINNER - Decorating experience of 2 years or less. Self-taught or less then 30 hours of instruction in cake decorating or sugar art.

ADULT INTERMEDIATE - Reasonably skilled with 2 - 4 years actual cake decorating experience. More than 30 hours, but less than 60 hours of cake decorating or sugar art instruction.

ADULT ADVANCED - More advanced skills with 4 - 6 years actual cake decorating experience. More than 60 hours of cake decorating or sugar art instruction.

PROFESSIONAL - High level of skill. More than 6 years actual decorating experience. More than 90 hours of hours of cake decorating or sugar art instruction. May be decorating for profit or working as a decorator.

MASTERS - Expert in sugar art. Is known to have mastered specific mediums and techniques. May be an author, instructor, or work in the sugar art business. Has had more than 120 hours of instruction.



I was also thinking that each contest would include all skill levels but be categorized according to skill level. Beginners would only be judged in comparison to other beginners and so on...

LOL
as long as it don't involve MMF...I cannot for the life of me get it right! HELP!!!

Wow I would love a contest. It challenges me to do my best even more so. And it lets me get in more practice... Can't wait!!!

Jackie,
I think your idea to separate decorators into levels is great.
In the last contest, the winner's cake was absolutely beautiful and truly deserved to win, but with only a few months experience under my belt at the time, I was a bit intimidate by the other cakes

I'd enjoy some sort of contest.

I have just started Course III and as I was reading the different skill levels, that would make me advanced when I complete the course in four weeks only I have only decorated a total of five cakes.....I know the techniques but don't really have actually experience......what a tough call for the judges in determining who is judged in what category! I'd love a contest though, give me an excuse to really take some time and do a really nice cake.

I think a contest is a great idea. I also agree with everyone that the contest should be judged by skill level, even if we all do the same theme. I have taken all three of the basic Wilton courses (just those they give at Michael's), but I know that my cakes cannot even come close to comparing to others on this site. I look forward to finding out the theme of the contest. I am sure that whatever theme you decide, the contest will be great.

I can't post anything!!!! All my thoughts are already here but in other peoples post!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I like the idea of a contest too. And I agree with Ladycake about the break down. The number of classes taken doesn't necessarily reflect the level skill acquired and used by the individual. I've taken 1 1/2 Wilton classes myself and have taught myself quite a bit on my own. There are some out there who haven't taken any classes but do wonderful work. I don't envy you these decisions. I do think the theme ought to be the same for each level. That way we are all striving for the same thing, the results will just be varied because of where we are in our individual skills. I don't do rolled fondant/mmf so if the theme is that one month I'll just kick back and watch the rest of you wok. Ü No problem. I'll jump back in when the theme changes the next month. It sound pretty fun to me!!

I also like the weekly challenge idea. More so than the contest for me. I just want to learn more. That's why I've ben whining about finding a group of cake enthusiasts in my general area to share ideas and skills with. I don't like fondant so I don't work with it. That's the only reason I mentioned what I did about fondant. Plan on Jackie, I'm pretty interested.

I like the idea of the contest or challenges and skill levels but may I make another small suggestion??

How about small bi weekly skills practice..... We all have things we are not skilled at , I can not for the life of me make a good buttercream or royal icing rose..... but I can make gumpaste and candyclay roses ..... so those that are skilled give advise...... the rest of us practice and show results even on cupcakes or purchased ding dongs for that matter

Things I need to practice string work, garlands, roses,fondant,BCT

I would love to do a cake contest! I have only just begun cake decorating, but I think I have caught the bug big time!

Hi. I really like msmeg's idea of making it like a weekly project. There are a ton of decorating techniques that I haven't tried or am not good at yet. And I am trying to build up my confidence in the cake decorating arena. Contests are good, but I don't think that I would enter. I would be too embarrassed with some of the mishaps that I have had. maybe you could do both, Jackie. And let us choose which we would like to be involved in. But hey, I would love a Cake Central t-shirt!!!
Tanya

I think Jackie should pick the themes. Have a theme for each month. If I have a theme to go by then the worlds the limit to decorating with that theme! It's soooooo fun!! If you don't want to do the theme thing you don't have to. It's just up to each person. No pressure & not too involved. I don't always have a lot of cakes due but when I do I couldn't do one weekly. No way. Once a month sounds great!.

PS... Jackie....... I LOVE LISA'S IDEA ABOUT APRONS & T-SHIRTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hint, hint!!

Wondering what you all think of the Only One Entry rule? I didn't read that til I'd done my cake and it's not really great, but was going to enter and then see if I could make another one later before the deadline. If someone puts in the effort to make two, shouldn't they get the chance to enter two? They told me it was decided this way because it would be unfair if someone entered multiple times, but I think if you do that much effort you should get that chance to. They suggested I ask here and find out what people think.

Blessings,
~AngelWendy