How Do You Plan Your Decorating Ideas?
Decorating By MomLittr Updated 8 Apr 2006 , 1:48pm by pinkopossum
I have been looking at all the wonderful cake designs in the Gallery section. How do you decide on a design - do you just go with whatever pops in your mind at the time, or do you plan/draw out a design first? I always have an idea in mind, but it never seems to come out and figure maybe I should (roughly) draw my idea before even picking up a pastry bag.
Deb
I have a color wheel that I've been consulting for complimentary colors. I browse the CC gallery, watch food network and flip through the wilton year books. Do you have Tivo? I record cake shows on the food network on Tivo, then watch them repeatedly. I pause and use slow motion for ideas and techniques. When I see something I like, I practice on paper plates.
If you have Tivo, type in "wish list keywords....cake, icing, frosting, baking". Lots of shows out there.
Good luck!
I've done both but mainly I like to think on it and sketch it out first. MANY times other ideas hit me in the middle of doing the cake but it's usually better than my original thought anyway!!! Sometime people ordering a cake have their own ideas as to exactly what they want in a design too.
Great question!!!
blessings
elly
sometimes I draw out an idea, other times I just go with what is in my mind, othertimes, I get ideas from several pictures and combine them into one. Since I am not selling my cakes and there just for family, they like all my cakes and think that I have some amazing talent. lol.
Sometimes I draw it out so I can see where to place things or if they fit together OK. This site is the most help for anything!!!
I like to look at the wonderful works our fellow CC folks have done and look at the past Wilton Year Books I have collected and pick this I like from this cake and that from another....and come up with something. Occasionally I get ideas from other things I see. I had a cake to do for a bridal shower with a tropical theme. I saw a box van with a sunset mural on the side. I thought that would make a beautiful cake. So I went home and got the digital camera, took a picture of it and did my version in piping gel on this cake. (It's in my photos if your interested)
When I'm doing a cake I usually get some "feeling" about what kind of cake I want to do because most of what I've done is for people I know well. For those I don't know as well I like to talk to them and get an idea of what they like. I think it helps everyone be happier with the end product!
I am a bit like zamode, I dream about cakes a lot as I am so constantly thinking of them!
I rarely draw a picture, but do write down notes of what will be incorporated into the cake as it is not good to get to the end and realise that I have forgotten something!
Once I modelled a pig's bottom and meant to do the face too, but forgot and at the end the only room for it was around 8cm away. I tried to tell my husband that it was two different pigs with the other halves of their body hidden, but he still laughs about my huge pig!
Sometimes I go with whats in my head, others i attempt to sketch it out. I also print it out on my pc sometimes (i'm not good at actually drawing things) with a print shop program; of course, there are always ideas from magazines that i attempt to cut out and put away for future reference. don't forget the great cakes and ideas on CC !! Sometimes , I'll just type a keyword in the search box and see what kind of hits I get. Hope this helps
I get an idea and then I sketch it out and try it with different colors (my kids crayons). I usually change the drawing 2 or 3 times before I decide what I'm going with. I get inspirations for my ideas by looking on here, looking at cake books, and just from all around me. My daughters cinderella cake I liked a roll of princess wrapping paper and used that in my design.
Thank you all 
for your replies. I am doing a cake for my daughter's birthday and have 2 or 3 ideas of what I want, so am fighting with myself as to which one to do! Will post a pic of what comes about once it is done. Luckily it is the birthday month in our house (my dad, 2 sisters and 3 children) so I will have lots of places for ideas!
Debbie
Sometimes I "wing it" and go with whatever is in my head, but I generally feel better if I sketch it out and have some general idea of what I'm doing. I like to use Print Shop to add colors and details if I have enough time to do so. Seeing all the different combos before you put it on the cake always make me more confident in the end result,
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%