Cake Competition!

Decorating By annakat444 Updated 25 May 2014 , 6:38am by cazza1

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annakat444 Posted 2 Apr 2014 , 1:26am
post #1 of 23

Hello all! I'm considering entering my first cake competition as an amateur and have a couple of questions. The rules state that an amateur is someone who's had less than 30 hours of instruction - does this include craftsy classes? Also, they say an amateur is someone who's done cakes for 2 years or less. My first cake was August 2011, BUT I've taken at least a year and a half off because I got pregnant and had another baby, and doing cakes since I've had her has just been too difficult. So technically I've been doing cakes a year and a half. Would this be correct for the contest? I don't want to accidentally enter the wrong category.

 

Also any tips would be appreciated ;) I've seen several old threads giving advice for competitions which were very helpful - if you have anything to add I'd love to hear it! If we decide I can enter it, I'd be traveling 3 hrs away. Thanks!

22 replies
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Dani1081 Posted 2 Apr 2014 , 1:49am
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Your questions can only be answered by the person(s) regulating the competition. You might want to contact them with your concern. It would be really awful to do all that work, spend the money and drive 3 hours to be disqualified because you asked people here what to do instead of the people that are In charge of that decision.

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annakat444 Posted 2 Apr 2014 , 2:00am
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AGood idea, thank you!

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Elcee Posted 2 Apr 2014 , 2:03am
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Yes, absolutely check with the show's organizers about what division to enter. I was the chair of our local cake show for the past two years. If you asked me that question, I would have you do the next division up, since you started in 2011, even if you didn't make that many cakes during that time.

 

As for tips, read the rules really carefully. Make sure your work is as clean and neat as possible. Use as many techniques as you can and still have an appealing design. Finish your cake board nicely. Don't stick wires directly into your cake, even if it's Styrofoam :).

 

IMHO, there is no better way to hone your skills than to have judges scrutinizing your work and giving you feedback. I love doing competitions. Good luck and have fun!

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annakat444 Posted 2 Apr 2014 , 2:47am
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Thanks Elcee! I just emailed them, but you're right, they'll probably have me enter the advanced division. Too bad because I won't stand a chance in that division! I'm really excited because I'll be able to skip baking and go straight to the fun part so far in advance ;) I just hope I can make it, it will depend on child care since I'll have to travel.

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annakat444 Posted 2 Apr 2014 , 3:00am
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Well, she just wrote me back and said I can decide which division to enter. A little odd but at least I did my part by asking. Amateur it is!

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JWinslow Posted 2 Apr 2014 , 5:45am
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Quote:

Originally Posted by annakat444 
 

Well, she just wrote me back and said I can decide which division to enter. A little odd but at least I did my part by asking. Amateur it is!


Elcee is right about competitions and advancing your work through the judges critique.  I just looked at your pics - you should really go for advanced.  It will force you to up your game.  You can do it :smile:

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barmer Posted 2 Apr 2014 , 5:46am
post #8 of 23

The competition of selling cakes has grown fast. There are many online stores which are selling cakes at attractive prices to their customers. online delivery is also very fast and you can get freshly baked cakes of various varieties

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810whitechoc Posted 2 Apr 2014 , 9:04am
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Quote:

Originally Posted by barmer 
 

The competition of selling cakes has grown fast. There are many online stores which are selling cakes at attractive prices to their customers. online delivery is also very fast and you can get freshly baked cakes of various varieties


Hi Barmer, you joined yesterday and have posted two random posts about online stores selling cakes.  Let me look into my crystal ball, sometime in the near future are you going to post a link to a great online store that sells cakes hmmmmm

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annakat444 Posted 2 Apr 2014 , 2:10pm
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Quote:

Originally Posted by JWinslow 
 


Elcee is right about competitions and advancing your work through the judges critique.  I just looked at your pics - you should really go for advanced.  It will force you to up your game.  You can do it :smile:


Thank you so much, that's sweet! I've done tons of cakes since the ones I've uploaded but haven't put them in my albums because I wasn't thrilled with them (and really some of the ones I have uploaded shouldn't be on here, lol). I always try new techniques with each cake but my execution really needs to be cleaned up. I feel like it's still on the amateur level but maybe it's because we're our own worst critics.

 

Also, how many tiers should I be going for? I'm assuming at least 3?

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JWinslow Posted 2 Apr 2014 , 2:45pm
post #11 of 23

Anna,  is there a theme to this competition?  I would look at the rules first and find out if there is a theme and start drawing from there.  You might find you will do more depending on your drawing :)

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annakat444 Posted 2 Apr 2014 , 3:06pm
post #12 of 23

AThe theme is greeting cards, but maybe I'm confused - the categories you can enter are Wedding cakes, Greeting Cards (and it says to display the card you used as inspiration), buttercream only, and special occasions - so I thought that meant you only go with the greeting card theme if you're entering that category. Here's the event page:

http://www.quotaicingonthecake.com/home/registration/

What do you think??

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maybenot Posted 2 Apr 2014 , 3:32pm
post #13 of 23

AYou're looking at LAST YEARS registration form. The theme for this year is The Glitz of Broadway.

http://www.quotacake.com/

You choose what category, or categories you went to enter.

Be aware that in some competitions the judges have the right to bump your cake up to the next division if it appears that your work is obviously beyond the scope of of the lower division you've chosen.

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Rosie93095 Posted 2 Apr 2014 , 5:37pm
post #14 of 23

Sounds like a spammer

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annakat444 Posted 2 Apr 2014 , 6:54pm
post #15 of 23

Quote:

Originally Posted by maybenot 

You're looking at LAST YEARS registration form. The theme for this year is The Glitz of Broadway.

http://www.quotacake.com/

You choose what category, or categories you went to enter.

Be aware that in some competitions the judges have the right to bump your cake up to the next division if it appears that your work is obviously beyond the scope of of the lower division you've chosen.


HA! I didn't even notice, thanks for pointing that out...lol

 

I just want to be sure I'm understanding correctly - if I enter the wedding cake category, that means I don't have to stick to the Glitz theme, correct? The Glitz theme is only for people who enter that category?

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maybenot Posted 3 Apr 2014 , 12:13am
post #16 of 23


As I read the form, yes, a wedding cake entry doesn't (necessarily/have to) use the theme.  That means that theme cakes could be tiered, carved, etc.  Special ocassions would be birthdays, baptisms, etc.

 

Looks like Bronwen Weber is going to be a judge--so a heads up is that she appreciates good piping, carving, and insteresting structure. 

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Elcee Posted 3 Apr 2014 , 1:15am
post #17 of 23

Quote:

Originally Posted by annakat444 
 

Well, she just wrote me back and said I can decide which division to enter. A little odd but at least I did my part by asking. Amateur it is!

I agree with JWinslow, your skills are beyond amateur. If there are links to pictures from past shows, it would be beneficial to look at the those to see how you compare to others in the different categories.

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JWinslow Posted 3 Apr 2014 , 1:57am
post #18 of 23

I agree maybenot.  There are 4 clear categories with #2 being The glitz & glamour of Broadway.  looks like a fun one.  I now have that song "Putting on the Ritz" stuck in my head - lol

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JWinslow Posted 3 Apr 2014 , 1:58am
post #19 of 23

I'm sure I got the title wrong but you know what I mean :lol: 

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annakat444 Posted 4 Apr 2014 , 2:57am
post #20 of 23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elcee 
 

I agree with JWinslow, your skills are beyond amateur. If there are links to pictures from past shows, it would be beneficial to look at the those to see how you compare to others in the different categories.

Thank you! I really am flattered but if you saw my cakes in person you can tell my technique really needs improvement. I feel like I get worse with every cake I do but maybe that's a sign that I'm learning more, who knows!

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WhitLasater Posted 23 May 2014 , 11:32pm
post #21 of 23

AHi! Can someone tell me how I can view all of your wonderful photo galleries? I know this isn't the "right" place to post but I am trying to look at AnnaKat444 photos, so I don't want to lose this thread!

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pastrypet Posted 25 May 2014 , 4:22am
post #22 of 23

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhitLasater 

Hi! Can someone tell me how I can view all of your wonderful photo galleries? I know this isn't the "right" place to post but I am trying to look at AnnaKat444 photos, so I don't want to lose this thread!

 

At the left side of AnnaKat444's posts, you will see her avatar with her name under it. Hover your mouse over the name and you'll get a drop down list.

Click on the first one (View Profile). When you get to her page, scroll down to til you come to "annakat444’s Photos."

On the right side, it says "View all photos." Click on that and you should see all of her pictures. You can click on each one and that will take you to that photo's page, which has a bigger picture.

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cazza1 Posted 25 May 2014 , 6:38am
post #23 of 23

How did you go, Anna?  Did you decide to enter or not?

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