I can't be botherd to make a cake this week for class, after 3 cakes this weekend for Easter, espically since i am positive no one will eat the fondant covered thing.

What exactly is a dummy, and can i find one at hobby loby or michaels??

a dummy is styrofoam shaped like a cake round or square. I live in Canada so I can't say whether Michael's or Hobby Lobby carry them.

Micheal's doesn't carry cake dummies where I live and I don't know about Hobby lobby. I have used an inverted cake pan as a dummy in a pinch and no one noticed and it worked fine. The rolled edge on the top of the pan is the only annoyance, but with a border it's as good as gone.

My Hobby Lobby doesn't carry the dummies, but in the floral section at Hobby Lobby & Wal-Mart they have different size styrafoam pieces that you could probably cut to size.

I made about 3 a couple of month ago since I couldn't find the dummies. I went to dollar tree and bought 6 (2 per dummy) of the floral styrofoam rings and hot glued 2 together..works like a charm..expecially when you get 3 dummies for $6. They equal out to an 8 inch round cake. They are already covered in plastic when you buy them, leave that plastic on and put some saran wrap or glad press and seal over top of it. That way it will be easy to remove the icing and still keep the styrofoam protected.

I've heard of some members using a hat box as well.

I just ordered some round (6, 8, 10, 12 & 14 inches) and square (6, 8, 10, 12 & 14 inches) on Ebay for only $37.95!!!! And that also included shipping!!!! I can't wait to get them in. Each set was $12.99. That is such a bargain. It's even cheaper them making them your self. If anyone wants to order any, I got them from foamfun on Ebay.

This address has several neat ideas for other things, including Rice Krispies.
http://members.nuvox.net/~zt.proicer/cakepict/CAKEHINTS.htm

Melissa

For one of my classes I made a batch of rice krispies (see the square present cake with yellow bow in photos) and formed them in my pans. took me about 20 mins until I was ready to "decorate" the cake. I put on my layer of icing and finished the fondant in class.

HTH

I just went by a local foam company and of course if made me curious. I was wondering how easy/price effective foam would be to use as dummies?? It seems like the surface would be tacky enough for icing to adhere to, and simple to cut into any shape?? Currently, they sell giant scrap bags, ( 36" X 36" X 62) which contain every kind of foam-from the really expensive to the really cheap.

So, I called, asking if they would consider doing cake forms and/or sell scraps using a specific type foam; whatever would be cost effective for us, yet be able to withstand the weight of the icing.

They agreed to do it, and are now working out a pricing structure. They will call me with details once they have it figured out. I'll start another thread with the prices and to see how many people would even be remotely interested. If thier pricing is low enough, we would have to give it a few test runs to make sure it works out well.

There are several foam companies online that make cake dummies and they are very cheap, even with shipping, cheaper than my local cake supply shop. They come in sets or singles and even have the sets for whimsy cakes. I am ordering some soon from Dallas Foam (Texas) to use as supports for a whimsy grooms cake.

Melissa

www.dallas-foam.com

Has the best prices.
Just ordered:

2 16" round dummies
1 14" round
1 12" round
1 10" round
1 8" round
1 6" round

All that with shipping was $37.00

I've also used an inverted cake pan as a cake dummy! It worked great and by the time I added the bottom border you couldn't see the "lip" of the pan! I plan to decorate several small sheet pans this week so I'll have some graduation cake designs to promote!

Great question! I am baking a cake right now JUST so I can take pics to promote my cakes!

So, I went to the dallas foam site and they are cheap! I am going to order the rectangle sizes 11x15 and 12x18 but need to have at least $10 to make an order.

So, I want to get some rounds for a tier cake to practice on. What sizes are most generally ordered? I don't want something too small or big and was thinking of three rounds. So, what sized rounds are best to get???

For me a 6", 8", 10" are the typical stacked cake sizes I do. So that might be good sizes to have.

Melissa

So we have Dummy cakes, but what about dummy frosting and fondant? I simply cannot afford to use my ingredients on practice cakes. Royal icing takes eggs, and I know they don't seem expensive, but even eggs and powdered sugar add up if you make 3 cakes a week to practice on. PLUS, I ran out of people to give my practice cakes to....lol.....My kids get a little testy if there isn't any food in the house. "MOOOMMMMM why did you make a green bean cake??!?! I was gonna eat those!!!"

antylucifer that is the funniest phrase Ive ever heard. did your niece or nephew really write that to you!?

I am planning on making some dummy cakes for my portfolio next week. I am planning on using some left over buttercream and fondant. I figure that since these cakes are only for pictures and no one is going to eat them, it will be ok to use slightly "expired" icing. Plus, I won't feel like I am just throwing it away since I will be putting it to good use first.

Thanks for all the help. I ended up using some flower basket foam stuff. The cake didn't turn out well at all. It was HUGE compared to what i should have had, and i had a very hard time trying to get the fondant covered all the way around it. Had to cover lots of mistakes with the flower blossoms. this one is definately going in the disaster file.