Wilton I Class Tonight, Instructer Showed Us The Viva Method
Decorating By Cubsfan85 Updated 14 May 2006 , 9:20pm by playingwithsugar
And I'm sold! I loved the results. 
I have posted mine and my mom's cake. My reverse shells are absolutely horrendous. I can do them just fine on my practice board, but not a round cake. 
I didn't really care for my pattern either but I was done first so she used my cake as an example of how to use the design presses. Oh well. Next week is roses I'm excited but scaaared.
My mom's reverse shells were a lot better and our instructor showed her how to make a cute little body and antenna for her butterfly. 
The cakes look great. But I have a question: What is the Viva method? I have an idea but I'll wait to see your answer
Barb
Wow, beautiful job! I'm gonna have to get me some of that Viva!
The cakes look great. But I have a question: What is the Viva method? I have an idea but I'll wait to see your answer
Barb
After the icing crusts slightly you put a Viva paper towel (because it has no pattern) on the icing and lightly rub. I couldn't believe it, it worked so well! I believe there is an article on this site on how to do it. I'm so glad my teacher showed me though, it was nice to have someone over my shoulder explaining exactly how to do it. 
Now I just have to work on keeping my fingers from jabbing it after its smooth. 
I kinda thought that was what it was, just wanted to make sure though 
Thanks,
Barb
I usually use parchment paper to smooth my cakes, but when I was making my sister's cake this past weekend I thought I would go ahead and try the viva method. I will no longer use parchment paper on my cakes. The viva paper towels are great. My icing did not try to stick at all. I am now a believer!
HEllo,
I would like to try this method but i don't knox what it look like viva towel does somebody have a picture of this viva towel please???
I try with paper towel and it stick on my cake. i see some exemple on website but i really dont understand::
So can you explain me step by step please??
Thanks
Doudoun
Doudoun, Viva towels are paper towels without a pattern on them.
VIVA!!! I tried the parchment paper yesterday. YUCK - didn't work well at all for me, I will never forget the VIVA again. Even though the icing had crusted - it kept sticking to the parchment. Learned my lesson. Everyone of the cakes in my photos was smoothed with the viva method (except the fondant ones of course!)
BTW - your cakes look beautiful!!! That reverse shell gives me fits too....
I got the hang of the reverse shell on my final cake. It's much easier on straight sides! I think it was the round cake that was throwing me off. I did an "e" border on the bottom, and learned how to do sweet peas and roses on top. My roses weren't too bad for a first attempt, they just have way too many rows of petals, lol. My icing was also soft by that time so I kept having to tip my rose nail back and forth as my base teeter-tottered. 
The pic is too big to attach but here's the link; it's already in my photos.
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-photos_display_86_-38193.html
Course II starts in a week or so but I am already scheduled to work on those days. There is a course I starting on Sunday afternoons so hopefully they do a Course II on Sunday as well b/c my mom and I both are off work on Sun.
My reverse shells were a nightmare the first two cakes I used them on. Then I watched a friend of mine, who is a pro, do hers. She just whips through them like they're nothing, and now, mine are much nicer and faster than before.
I have never used the Viva method for faux fondant, and I will definitely try it soon, but I hear nothing but praise for it from everyone who uses it, so I guess the phrase of the day would be
Viva La Viva!
Theresa
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