Here is my first cake, I haven't even really decorated before- but it came out better then I thought it would. this is my first time doing tiers as well, it was lots of fun to do

this isn't for any event, just a practice. I was asked to do a friends wedding cake (very small wedding) later on this month, which is why I decided to practice the cake I did.

anyways, so I thought I would post it, let me know what you think

Wow, that's fantastic for your first cake!!! Your piping is so even. Did you make the flowers as well?

thanks! no the flowers are silk. Im no good at roses or anything yet

Wow, your cake looks great. Keep on practicing.
You'll get better.
I was told, once you do one you really like and you can replicate it. Then you are good to go. So, I am still trying!

Wonderful job!

What a beautiful cake for a practice cake! That means the actual wedding cake is gonna be even better! Looks like you have quite a knack for this!! Jen

You did a lovely job!! Your scrolls and borders look great. Can't wait to see your wedding cake!

Cindy

boy! thats a great first cake, the colours are lovely and the photography looks professional. Im sure your friends wedding cake will be a hit.

You did a beautiful job!!

angie

Thank you very much =) Im anxious to do the actual wedding cake. I had planned on having a white cake with pink flowers...but this was my first time making the butter cream frosting..and well, it didnt come out white because of the butter (ah). so I did the color instead. thats one of the things I didnt like much, I think the frosting color is too washed out, no? not the pink I wanted

anyways, thanks again! and I am the wedding photographer as well for this event- not my first wedding, I normally would not do both the cake & the photography, but like I said before this is a very small wedding (30 people) Im anxious for the date to get here.

Great first cake. Just an FYI make sure if your BC calls for vanilla you use clear or you will not get the crisp white that you are seeking!

thanks Vicky30, here is what I did (I pulled it off of this website)

1/2 shortening
1/2 cup of butter (I used margarine...bad?)
4 cups of confectionery sugar
2 tea spoons of clear wilton vanilla

maybe the fact I used margarine instead of butter is my yellow reason?
btw Im not inlove with it, much too sweet. hmm.

Wow, your cake is very nice for your first try. Keep on practicing and practicing and you will get better with each cake.
Looking forward to seeing the actual wedding cake!

I like the recipe you used. I think it tastes soo much better using some butter instead of all crisco. But the down side is that it doesn't come out a crisp white. You can use some white coloring. I'm sure americolor has it. I also found some Lorann? at our restaurant supply store. That helped mine a lot! Your cake is absolutely beautiful. I'm sure they'll love the cake you do for them.
Keep on decorating.

Your cake looks fabulous!!!

Great job! I can't believe it's your first cake! I think the color is really pretty; nice soft color. The more you practice the better you'll get but I think you must have a natural talent by the look of your first cake. Can't wait to see the wedding cake!

thanks everyone. I'll have to check it out with the coloring. I was reading yesterday that a touch of violet helps with a whiter look too, right?

the cake I REALLY want to try is the lightning mcqueen cars cake, 3D in fondant for my sons 4th birthday (July) but Im not sure it will come out any good, lol but here is to trying!

I've always used butter! So far my favorite reciept that seems to make the whole family happy is Odessa's BC here on CC. Sweet enough but not over the top! it calls for crisco and butter.

Beautiful cake! You did a great job!

WOW!!! For your first cake this is incredible. Keep it up. The more you practice the better it gets. You know I use the same recipe for my BC and I agree with you it comes out a bit off-white not pure white. I'm not sure if the white food coloring would help I've never tried it. But someone told me that using just Crisco makes it pure white but I'm not to sure about how it would taste. Anyway, as you make your cakes post them I'd love to see. Good luck on the wedding cake. You'll do great

Wow your first cake is a practice wedding cake, very impressive! You did great and will only get better

Great job, I can't wait to see the rest. Keep them coming. Can't believe this is your first.

WHAT A GREAT CAKE!!

BC tastes so much better with actual butter!! There is an awesome thread that has been going on since like 2005 that has everyone's favorite tips from CC on it that mentioned several times about using violet to whiten your BC just like AMY83 mentioned!!! I wrote it down on my favorite tips list for myself.

I would say do regular BC and add the violet and see how you like it, so if and when you want white you will know!! There were rave reviews on the thread I mentioned about using the violet to get white, so I have to assume it works!

That is so pretty! I like the pink color! You did a great job!

You mentioned using MARGARINE. That is usually much more yellow than butter- and different brands of butter seem to have avrying degrees of yellow color. Also, margarine doesn't hold up as well as butter- I wouldn't substitute it in you buttercream.
I use more of a 2 part shortening to 1 part butter ratio if I want WHITE-WHITE. Then if I want more butter flavor - I use artificial butter flavoring with my vanilla or almond flavoring. (Butter flavoring is not as good as using real butter, but it helps add some richness to the flavor.)
Use CLEAR vanilla ( or other flavor).
If you do try the violet color trick- USE A VERY, VERY TINY BIT AT A TIME!!! It does work though!
Great cake! Your bride will love it!

You have definitely got the touch for this kind of work. Very pretty cake.

Beautiful!! ALOT better than my first cake lol. Its beautiful

I just tried the Violet trick in my buttercream last night and it does work. I was so amazed!

Great cake! I use the violet trick all the time. I find that at first (maybe my lighting) the icing looks slightly purple but either it fades out or I get it in the proper lighting and looks crisp white.

your cake is beautiful