This is a cake I did for a shower yesterday. Using all the hints and suggestions I got from you guys--I got the icing SO smooth!! It was a first for me--I have never been able to smooth it out properly.
I'm very happy with the results and now feel like I could try the faux fondant with my new smoothing skills!
I was even able to use the icer tip successfully. You guys were right--I was having problems before because it was too stiff. I used Dawn's bc icing and thinned it with 2 T of whipping cream. I needed it pretty light and fluffy, so I beat it on low for a while (till it was how I wanted it). I made it a day in advance, so it would have time to rest. Then I stirred it with a wooden spatula and the air bubbles almost all came out. The few that were left were very easy to hot knife away.
So--thanks for all your advice--it totally made this cake successful.
Lisa
I think it looks awesome 
you did a great job on it !!
Did you smooth using the Viva paper towel? Tell me about it please.
Thanks
Lisa
Actually, I used hot knife and Viva.
I iced it with the icing tip. Smoothed it with the offset spatula. Hot knifed it with boiling water (a mistake I had made in the past--not using boiling water) and then let it set up a bit. I smoothed out any edges with the Viva. Mostly it was the hot knife that did the trick, though.
Lisa
Congrats on your new found skills. I'll have to try the boiling water trick. Thanks!
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