I'm a 27-year-old veteran and Navy Wife. I got out of the Navy a year ago, and since then I've mostly been a housewife, working a few hours a week at a photography studio just for a little extra spending money. Cake decorating supplies are not cheap, and we are living on a single military income, so here's my question--what 3 supplies could you not live without? Other than the basics--cake pans, a mixer, that sort of thing--what products are you willing to splurge on a little because you just can't NOT have them? I want to build up my stash a little at a time, but I'm trying to figure out where my priorities should be. Thanks for taking the time to answer this!
I wouldnt be without my turntable and putty knife (putty knife was like $2 at the hardware store).....I bought the wilton professional turntable (with a 40% off coupon at Michaels......so it came to about $33 if I remember correctly).......... do you already have a basic decorating set (It's cheaper to buy the wilton professional bags than to use disposable)?
I do have a basic decorating set with a few of the professional bags--I noticed that the disposable bags were pretty pricey. I found that the Wilton products are quite a bit cheaper at Wal-Mart than Michaels. Of course, it's a much more limited selection, but I think I actually paid 4 or 5 dollars less on my decorating set than I saw it for at Michaels. I have just a basic turntable, mine was about $12 at Michaels (10 at Wal-Mart). Do I need to invest in the professional style turntable?
3 supplies hmmm...
I would say my tips its 39.99 at joanns so if you can get a coupon for michaels or there you can get that 40% off. A angle back spatula about 6.99 and a good decorating bag 7.50. You can do just about anything with these few basic tools.
welcome to life as a Navy wife. Hurry up and wait! My husband is a recruiter. Fun, fun, fun
no you do not need to go for the professional table.....I didnt have any at all for months, since you already have a turntable I would just see if that one is adequate (I just love putting that putty knife/paint scrapper down on the turntable and giving the cake a spin to smooth).....Walmart is cheaper, however if its a bigger item, its cheaper to use a 40% coupon at Michaels....
not sure what comes in the decorating set. but i also have the 12$ turntable, and it works just fine for me. i would get a set of gel colors, a set of tips, and some luster dust.
if you already have the pans and turntable and decorator set, you're probably pretty well set.
Thanks for the welcome! 
I've also been wondering, do any of you buy cake mixes, pudding, confectioner's sugar, things like that in bulk at Sam's Club, Costco, BJ's, etc...? Is it a really good value for those of us just getting into this hobby?
I buy powdered sugar in bulk from Sams (as well as chocolate chips & brown sugar...but that is for cookies).....I have heard some say its not real cane sugar (I can't see where it says either way)......and my icing seems to taste just fine. I think its worth it. I buy my cake mixes from Walmart for .93 or something like that....I cant seem to beat that deal.
Mine are inexpensive things but are time savers:
Buy at least 2 or 3 of the tips you use the most. That way you wont have to stop to wash them for a different color icing.
Also, I love the parchment paper triangles that you make your own bag from.
I agree about having a turntable.
Welcome to CC!!
3 things:
- foam board for your cake boards. The sheets come in 20 x 30 so you can get quite a few cakes per sheet. Best places I've found to buy them are Hobby Lobby and Michaels. Michaels runs sales on them often.
- coverings for your cake boards. Scrapbooking paper, wrapping paper, etc. and cover with a clear contact paper. While you can get cake foil in many colors and styles using other things can make it fun.
- a good tip set.
Now when you get in to fondant, that's were the "toys" can really add up! 
I buy my ingredients at Walmart mostly crisco is 2.98 3lb can, dominos powdered sugar is 1.32 for a 2lb bag and Duncan Hines cake mixes are currently .88 each.
Can't hardly beat that even in bulk, I have been checking it out at Sams And BJ's.
nannaraquel,
First welcome to CC. For me the three supplies I would have to say that I cannot live without would be my icer tip, my large angled spatula and Viva paper towels. Those are very important to me in my cake decorating endeavor. The rest you can add a little at a time. I also purchased the Wilton 101 piece Pro Decorator kit with a 50% off coupon at Michaels. That really gave me a good start with a lot of supplies and tools that I would need.
Bradymom
When I was starting out, I got several items (a turntable, some cake colors, spatulas, cake leveler, some books, decorating bags and tips, piping gel, and more) from a person I found on freecycle who was no longer into cake decorating. All I had to do was go pick it up.
I am a big fan of freecycle. Basically it connects people who want to get rid of stuff with people who are in need of those items. Check out the website and see if there is a freecycle group in your area. You can place a WANTED ad on there and see if anyone has anything that they may not be using anymore. The great thing about freecycle is that is has to be FREE!
I believe this is their link: www.freecycle.org
I have to agree, my angled icing tip is the best.
Here's my list....
1. my 10.00 turntable, I have had it for yrs and would not give it up for anything.
2. a tip set, our walmart has a set that i think is 20 or so tips for 14.00-15.00.
3. water, a cup and a microwave-for cleaning up, makes it a snap.
I have found powered sugar at the dollar general store for a 1.00, but that's the only special i have found interms of ingrediants.
HTH
Patricia
Thanks so much for the freecycle tip, that's a great idea!!!
I bought a 7 lb. bag of confectioner's sugar at Sam's club last night for just over $4. The price isn't much different from that at Wal-Mart, but that seems to be one of those items that I'll need in bulk! lol
My favorite things for buttercream decorating:
*Basic Tips- star, basket weave and rose
*Parchment- I buy it on a big roll and make my own bags. No Washing and it lasts forever!
*Really good quality food color- especially red and black
(And I couldn't live without my airbrush!)
I've heard other people say that they use parchment instead of bags--how exactly does that work?
they teach you how to make bags out of parchment in the wilton 1 class I believe........I have noticed that duff on Ace of cakes uses parchment when he does most of his piping.....(like last nights episode)....you can buy them already cut into triangles (ready to make a cone) at the hobby stores, otherwise you would need to cut them. I have found them handy if I am making a cake with lots of colors, but personally I prefer the professional bags (but yes you would then have to clean them).
you sort of fold one end down to the point and wrap the other end around until the opening at the bottom is small enough....then usually they teach you to turn the ends over at the top and put a little cut in it so it will stay....but tape works better (IMHO)
http://www.wilton.com/decorating/basic/foldingparchmentbags.cfm
here is the link for instructions on how
It interesting that with all the decorating related items I have, I am agreeing with most people - the things I use the most are my inexpensive TURNTABLE (I keep considering the more expensive, but the inexpensive one plastic one works fine) duplicates of the frequently used TIPS and the one thing that I find for me is really worth the money is the DISPOSIABLE DECORATING BAGS. The package seems to last a long time and usually purchase with the Micheals 1/2 off coupon.
The other things I would recommend is some of the good quality gel colors (you do not need to use very much to get a nice color, and you can aquire a nice selection of colors over time) and good quality decorating sugars (especially the reds). You do not need much of the good quality sugars to have a very nice effect on cookies or cakes.
There are some old thread where people have asked what would you NOT buy that are helpful too-some things that seem like they would be great jsut do not turn out to be worth the money !
I join in the welcomes to this wonderful site!
Thank you all so much for your suggestions!!! I will have to check out the what-not-to-buy thread, thanks!!!
Freezer paper and Duct tape !!
Seriously. I buy a HUGE roll of white freezer paper at Wal-Mart/Sams and make icing bags from it. Cut and fold as with the parchement but with the slick side on the inside. You can make millions with one roll. Plus, use it to wrap your cake boards with the slick side out. It's bright white and shines--looks good. Or cover an ugly wood board before final cover of nice fabric. The duct tape will hold the paper and fabric in place for ever!
Check Goodwill or other such bargain shops,too.
Well what would i not do without... hmmmm thats hard as i have so many but trying to decide i would say:
My gel colours
My nonstick mat
My muffin tray i have converted to use as a flower former.
sorry have to add a fourth. My chalk pastels as i can scrape these down to a powder for dusting is cheap as can buy up to 24 colours in a box
But just a few tips i can give that cansave you heaps at the beginning are:
* Drinking straws- you can cut them to make the smile end for figures
* Muffin tray- drill hole in centre of each muffin cup nail wooden dowel onto each corner for legs (th muffin tray i use isnt a deep muffin one ans is rounded muffin cups)
* Piece of 4x2 timber- drill small holes not right thru about 2cm apart and use this for standing your wires in when make flowers leaves etc
* Sponge- i have a piece of sponge that i have cut a hole in the middle to fit my tylose glue bottle in and a little hole in one corner to hold my glue brush (sponge like you use in the bath)
* Ice cream containers- here we have ice cream containers made of plastic which are great for making templates out of easy to cut and cut around
* Film Cannisters- i use empty film cannisters for holding pins, making empressions on tyres for my modelling, diluting colours with rosewater for painting
Well hope that helps... also here we have awebsite similar to your Ebay that i buy supplies from and i do the rounds at the salvation army shops or OP shops..
Good luck and look forward to seeing your creations
Happy decorating 
Hi,
I am also new to cake decorating and just started my classes last week. I had to buy pretty much everthing. I wait until Michael's had their 40% off coupon (they usually have one every two weeks) and I decided that the 101 piece caddy was the best deal with the coupon costing about $75. I ended up taking my family shopping with me. LOL They also purchased 2 additional items for me with their coupons. I got a turntable and a sheet cake pan, both were 40% off. I got the essential things first and will wait for the next coupon sale and do the same for the additional extra that I want. Just a little way to save on some supplies that I know I will definately need.
Countryatheart32
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