I've been toying around with it for a couple of years, just doing my kids' birthday cakes. Didn't really get serious about trying to learn new things until last summer. I still have quite a ways to go, but I love this site, I'm always learning new things!!
i started making kids birthday cake when i had my daughter 8 years ago ( I've had 3 more children since)..
When i found CC about a year ago i was amazed at what people were doing with fondant and gumpaste, so i started teaching myself. Then is september last year started selling my cakes.
i did my first wedding cake in early December and i am up to number 5 at the moment...
Basically CC has been my teacher, there is so much talent here, I think its all you need...
cheers
kylie
There is no real time frame I could give you.
It is a combination of how much you practice, if you take classes or not and also just natural talent.
I have been decorating for about four years now and my cakes don't begin to touch some of the cakes of new decorators. Then I have also seen cakes done by people who have been decorating for years and they arent as good as some of mine. (not to sound concieted or anything)
I personally have never taken a class and dont have nearly as much chance to decorate cakes as I would like to.
Like sweet_as_tisse said just keep plugging away at it and learn from the site.
Carla
I learned the basics as a kid, and made a few cakes here and there for birthdays and such, but never got "into" cakes until after starting on my art degree. I have a lot to learn in art, and a looong way to go for cakes, but am finding the two go hand-in-hand and that one helps me with the other.
I do have to say that the two princess doll cakes I made 13 months apart (one for dd's 4th bday, and one for her friend's 5th bday) are night and day. To learn anything, you have to practice. Between practicing, read and study and look for examples and tutorials. If you get your brain around it, it goes better when doing hands-on. I usually try an idea, then read up on it to find the answers to questions that came up during the practice.
I had gotten better bit by bit for the first 20 years (read MAYBE 30 cakes in that time, starting at 7 years old). While others asked for cakes, I would NEVER have charged because I thought they looked like crap, and looking back they really did. Now, after the last year and actually TRYING to improve, I've gotten to where I would sell my cakes for a fair price if I could get legal.
My best cake so far, I'd say, is my latest princess cake. The worst cake that I have pictures of (I was so proud of it! 
) is no longer in my photos. I'll try to attach it here. Both the princess and this one (supposed to be a cup of coffee) were covered in mmf. Can you see what a year of practice can do? Hopefully in about 10 years I can get as good as some of the greats on here - Tuggy, Aine2, Shirley, and the others. My kids will probably not get to enjoy that level of cake while they are young, but my goal is to be there in time for their graduations, quince, weddings, and baby showers. THEN, I'll be able to spoil the grandkids rotten. Since the kids are only 5 and 8 now, this is really a long-term goal.
If you don't sell cakes, you obviously can't afford to get the experience of those who do cakes every day. Just remember that CC is for ALL levels of decorators, from those still using canned icing to the professional decorators who can charge $20/slice for their level of artwork. We aren't in competition besides the fun monthly contests, and we are all hear to learn and support one another.
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