I took wilton classes in 1977 after high school (my that was a long time ago). Decorated for friends and family until I had my two girls and then it got to be too hard with little ones so I quit.
Last Christmas, my daughter annouced her engagement and instantly I wanted to do her wedding cake. I am now so addicted to this site and to decorating that I think I am driving my family crazy with it all.
I just want to do wedding cakes, even if I have to do them for free.
I've only been decorating for 5 months. I've finished my course 2 wilton course and I like it better with every cake I decorate. Boy I have a long way to go though. I love looking at everyone's cakes. Talk about creative!!!! That's my problem. I'm not very good at coming up with ideas and that's what makes this website so awesome!!!!
You know, DiscoLady, my son loves to help me in any way he can (he's 4!) - he's even "helped" me knead a batch of MMF! LOL Hopefully, he'll stay helpful and have an interest in it, even if it's just the baking part. After all, I want him to be a better cook than his father! (Thankfully, I don't have to eat his food anymore since we're divorced....and my dh now can cook!)
Your children did an EXCELLENT job! 
I know a few of my aunts do cakes also...anyone else in your family in the business? 
I played around with frosting with my Aunt as a young child, but got really interested about 6 years ago. I took a couple classes through a local bakery, and three Wilton classes. Now I'm hooked!
I hope to pass on this interest with my daughters when they get older.
I have been decorating cakes since I was about 12 so about 4 years. And in that time i've decorated tons of cakes! last year at Valentines Day my granddaddy asked me to make about 15 cakes! 
So I must be good!
Happy baking!
Jami
I have been decorating for about 9 years now. Started with my oldest daughter's 2nd birthday cake. I used canned frosting on that one. I have learned a lot since then, and even more so since coming to CC.
It's so interesting to read everyone's responses! I took a short non-Wilton class (ya know, roses, shell border, clown *hate clowns!*) about 13 years ago. Then I never did much with it until my son was born and I did the character pan/star tip for his birthdays and that was about it. Last April, my I made a cake for my friend's bridal shower and that's how the addiction began! The rest has been self taught, mostly with tips from this site! I notice some people have said they've been decorating for X years, X professionally... what makes someone a professional? Do you get some sort of certification if you take wilton courses? Just curious! I wanna be a professional too, LOL!
I've just really started about 3 months ago, but have been around it my whole life. My grandmother (whom I lived next door to ever since I was about 2) has always done cakes. She did my wedding cake almost 6 years ago. I remember when I was smaller, going over there and watching her and getting to lick the beaters clean when she made icing. She taught me how to make roses and other flowers when I was about 7. She had to teach my bible school class at the last minute (our teacher got the flu) and couldn't think of a craft, so she brought a sheet cake every day & taught us how to decorate. I still have alot to learn, but am loving every minute of it.
My granddaughter and I took wilton classes a little over a year ago. We have been having a blast doing it. She hopes to turn it into a business someday. I love it. I took the classes because she was only 14 and the teacher wouldn't let her take them alone. The funny thing is I think I have had more fun then she has. We both love it.
I have been decorating for about 30 years. I have about 300 pans and a Kopycake projector and airbrush and a cannon printer for edible images. I never took a class but taught myself. and had a lot of trial and error, I have done all kinds of cakes, but really don't like to do fondant. I stay at a level that I enjoy. I have to figure out how to post pics so I can post some. I love this site.
I have been decorating just over a year now, started around spring of last year. Easter cross cake was my first cake. I never took any classes, don't know if I ever will. It almost seems more fun and rewarding doing it on your own, with the help of the people at cc.
kgunn
It's so interesting to read everyone's responses! I took a short non-Wilton class (ya know, roses, shell border, clown *hate clowns!*) about 13 years ago. Then I never did much with it until my son was born and I did the character pan/star tip for his birthdays and that was about it. Last April, my I made a cake for my friend's bridal shower and that's how the addiction began! The rest has been self taught, mostly with tips from this site! I notice some people have said they've been decorating for X years, X professionally... what makes someone a professional? Do you get some sort of certification if you take wilton courses? Just curious! I wanna be a professional too, LOL!
By looking at your cakes, you are a professional. I just think people mean that they either started up a business or that they are finally selling their cakes for a profit.
In our Wilton class you got a certificate weither your cake was beautiful or terrible. So you definately can't go by who finished their Wilton course and received a certificate.
I have been a computer engineer for about 25 years. I have been decorating cakes for only a few months. I love it. I want to start a new profession, baking and decorating cakes. I just hope that I will be as good as some of you one day. There are some beautiful creations on this site.
I decorated my first 2 cakes at Christmas 2005 (a Christmas tree and a Snowman) and didn't do another one until May when I did an Over the Hill cake for a girl at work. (It's posted if you want to see.) Ever since then I've been hooked. Jave decorated arond 11 since the Over the Hill one. Started the Wilton classes last month and now am in the middle of Course 2. I definately found something that I love to do and am planning on opening my own business within the next two years. (Waiting to get my BA first). Practice, practice, practice till then! 
Hi everyone, I'm a newbie here. Just discovered this site the other night. I was laying in bed with all these thought s of my daughters upcoming wedding and yep, you guessed it, I will be doing her wedding cake. I needed some ideas, it's a fall wedding, it was 1 am , and i got up and just started surfing and it didn't take long for me to find this site. The good Lord love's me 
. Well, Iv'e been decorating cakes for about 18 years,mostly at my job in three different retail stores over the years. I learned most of the decorating techniques... quick icing, air brushing, borders, roses, character cakes and most recently, wedding cakes. I have a lot of experience decorating, but with these stores, the cakes are all ready baked for you. Soooooo, i just want to say thank- you to CC and all you wonderful people for the advice you share on here. I hope to be baking the cakes myself, so i'll be picking all of your brains in the next couple months for advice. Thanks again. 
I've been doing cakes here and there for about 5 years but have gotten more interested the past 2 years or so. I took Wilton Course I then had a baby and moved so can't figure out how to fit in more. But, I really enjoy decorating. I don't have many pictures posted because I don't do that many cakes and we just recently got a digital camera so many that I did do, I couldn't get pictures of. I'm addicted to this site though - love it!
I started decorating cakes for my stepchildren's birthdays 
who were 3 and 4 at the time. The first cakes I did were HORRENDOUS 
, at best. The kids are now 10 and 11, so I guess around 7 years part-time. I only do cakes occasionally (between 6 and 10 per year) because I work full-time, take care of a house, 6 bunnies and 2 guinea pigs. Oh yeah, and two stepchildren. I love it, but have so much to learn and so much more practicing to do to really call myself a cake decorator. Here is my latest practice cake - if I can get it to upload.
PS any other crazy animal lovers out there?
Since February 2006-I am totally obsessed with it! I would do it all day long if I had the time...I am a stay at home mom with 3 boys under the age of 5. I am dreaming about when they will be in school so I could do cakes all day! LOL!! Hopefully I will have a reason to make them! I am so envious of the beautiful cakes that are posted here. I only hope that one day I can be so fantastic!
I have been since May 2006. l had enough of the store bought cakes. I am a SAHM/WAHM of a 1 & 2 yr olds. So I have completed Courses I & II waiting for Course III in Sept. I have been asked to do 2 wedding cakes so far....still haven't decided if I am capable yet. I too am dreaming about the kids being in school to make cakes maybe one day it will grow into a full time business.
I am sooo addicted to this site....I wish I woulod have started this sooner.
I started in 2003 and became really serious in 2005. I went into a cake decorating store just to look at some books. When I saw that they offered classes, I signed up for one. I've been hooked on cake decorating ever since. I can't get enough of it. I will spend all day on cake decorating sites if I could.
I'm on vacation this week from my full time job and can't get any work done around the house b/c I'm on cakecentral.
response to NEWTODECORATING: a little over a year and you're already a FORUM FANATIC?
I have been decorating for 24 years. My friend twisted my arm to get me to take the Wilton course I with her. I didn't want to spend the money! I enjoyed it and when the course was over and Course II was announced, she was the one who forced me to take it! I am thankful now. (by the way, I don't know what it costs now; but in 1982 it was $15 for the course and $28 for the starter kit.)
TWO WEEKS!!! I am kinda crafty (I scrapbook regularly) but only got interested in cake-making because our local bakery did not do Buzz Lightyear cakes. So, I bought the figurines off ebay and copied the picture they came with. My first cake...for my son's first birthday and now I love it. I just did some really cute cupcakes for the 4th of July. Also, starting my first Wilton class tonight.
one year as of July 14 ( my 6th wedding anniversary) I made a cake for my boss as a gag witha ball and chain for his wedding and he has been ordering 2-3 cakes a month ever since
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