I just wanted to know if anyone else out there only decorates for free, for family and close friends. I've been reading alot about customer relation nightmares dealing w/ everything from upset clients, bad contracts, under pricing and so on. I started decorating for my own children for their birthdays( love doing a theme party). I now give a cake as a gift for my relatives. I also have a home day care and love making a cake that suits each child's personality as part of their gifts. The children and parents are always so grateful and pleased with what they receive. But I get total control, after all it is my gift to them. In a way I'm relieved that I don't have todeal parent dmanding every detail or expecting something fantastic for very little money. And since the day care are children they are very easily impressed and don't seem to mind any imperfections that wouldn't be acceptible if someone was paying. I think that I will stick to my hobby and hats off to all you talented decorators that have to deal with customer relations and all that entails. so does anyone else do this just as a hobby, freebie only ?
Yes I do! I make them for my kids and for relatives as gifts. This way it's a gift to them and I get to practice my decorating. I have been asked to make a cake for payment but I always turn them down. As a newbie to decorating I would feel awful if I mess someone's birthday or special occassion.
I am a freebee decorator, friends and family. And I also do them as birthday presents. I like giving cakes as presents because shopping, for someone else, can be a pain. I love decorating and everyone close to me is encouraging me to go into business. I just wonder if making a business out of something you love doing would turn it into something I don't love doing anymore. So many horror stories, especially with brides, and then paying bills, rent, taxes, etc. makes me wonder. For now I guess I'm a happy freebee decorator.
Even though I do sell my cakes- I give away just as many. It is a great way to help at school since I can't volunteer now with a 1 year old. This year I did a volcano cake when they were studying them! I also donate cakes to different ministries at my church. They have a teen moms program and throw baby showers every so often. As well as for close friends and our military unit.
Out of six cakes this week- 3 are donations. It feels just as good to give it away as to sell it- I am with you there is less pressure and hassle at giving it!!!!
I just got started as a way to make cakes for my son that I know are safe for him (peanut allergy). I have also done my Dad's birthday cake and plan to do other family and friends as gifts only. I don't want the stress of being paid so that it must be perfect- especially since I already have a job.
Yes, this is a hobby for me. I've been making cakes for family. This helps me build up my skill level although, I don't know if I'm interested in having a business. If I ever got to that point, I think I could probably only handle one cake per month because I have a full-time job. I've been making cakes for my cousins' children so they give me the theme and I do whatever design I choose.
I am currently doing cakes for free to get some experience. I have only been decorating for a short time but would like to make a career of it.
My biggest challenge is soon to come for my brothers wedding. My future SIL wants a 3 tier Black and White fondant cake but the challenging part is the cake she wants it to be electric green for the middle tier and hot pink for the bottom tier. I hope I can get the color to come out right so she gets the WOW! factor she's looking for when the cake is cut.
I also do both...give and sell! I am in control when I choose to give as a gift or donate to different organizations as fund raisers. I am pleased to say that we have a yearly cake auction here for the Handicapped Association and one year one of my cakes went for $2000.00! My vet had the winning bid and the room became silent! I was shocked to say the least!
My daughter also runs a preschool and I a do a birthday cake for each child. I ALWAYS let them choose the theme and the flavor for their cake. We had one little boy who told me for 6-7 months what he wanted on his cake! He was so excited when his birthday finally came and he got his cake! I know I got more of a reward from his excitement than if I had been paid for it!
It is always MY choice if I offer to do a free cake. Over the years I have made several wedding cakes for special friends as my wedding gift. IF I decide it will be a gift, I do not tell them that it will be a gift when they 'order' their cake. I have them select the style and flavors just as if it were to be a paid cake...I find that this will help keep them within THEIR budget so to say....they don't go overboard on their requests. I sort of 'put off till later' the payment and when they arrive at the reception they find a special card next to the cake with my love and best wishes and a 'paid in full' notice!
im just staring so i dont dont sell my cakes ( i would like to someday 
) for family and friends i ask them if they want a cake for whatever occasion and all i ask is that they buy supplies. so i get to pratice and build my equipment. they still love it and are super impressed even if its not prefect. 
I'm doin' the freebie thing too. Mostly for friends and family but kind of venturing outside of that circle to get more experience. I would love to someday be able to make a business of it, but judging from the expenses we ran into starting our other business (& the constant expenses of running it) I'm afraid that just might not be possible 
. I can dream though right!!! In the mean time, I enjoy decorating as a hobby. The payment is in how happy everyone is when they get their cakes (despite all the flaws!!!).
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