I Want To Try Some Carving, But........
Decorating By KrisD13 Updated 20 May 2007 , 11:40pm by KrisD13
What is a good book, in your opinion, to start with? Something that maybe has good detailed pics on the technique, instructions on everything from "A to Z", etc.
I'd like some idea before going to the library and then buying a book (most likely online, cause I've already checked at the bookstores in my area 
)......sigh....
Any help you lovely, helpful, incredible ladies can impart would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Kristine
I wish I could help, but I have never tried carving either. Let me know if you find anything. I would love to get a book or other help too.
I wish I could go to the library and check out these books.
I "shop" for library books online from home and have searched for Debbie Brown books. It's a city-wide search of every book they have.
Unfortunately, they don't have ANY of her books in the system.
I have done a few now and i dont think you really need a book. There are a lot of good threads here on cake carving. that was all I really needed anyway.
My pointers are to:
Start with a dense cake, like a pound cake or an extender recipe
Freeze the cake before carving
Use buttercream for filling
Plan out where you are going to carve before you start. I do a sketch and figure out how high or wide etc it should be. Do as much detail before hand as possible so you dont cut the wrong parts!
Having some kind of model helps a lot!
Good luck! Just start with something easy and go for it!
I have two of Debbie Browns cake book 50 easy party cakes and enchanted cakes the book are great an instructions are easy if you go to her web site
www.debbiebrownscakes.co.uk
click on books then click on the book covers it show you all of the pics in that book. I had to order mine from Borders it took about a week to get them in.
Val
Kristine, I purchased "Storybook Cakes" by Lindy Smith. It's a soft cover book and was pretty inexpensive. I must say though, I agree with merissa - I've never really used a book as a guide. Here's some tips that I do -
I always, always, always draw out the shape on parchment first - and make it larger than the actual cake will be. I cut it out and toothpick it to the top of all the cake layers (Before filling). Once I get the basic shape, I fill all the layers. I only use IMBC and find that it works beautifully on carved cakes and is sturdy enough for the filling as well.
Next, I start carving! Shave, don't take huge chunks out! Remember - you can always take more off, but can't put back what you hack! lol I don't freeze my cakes before carving, but I know some people do and if you're just starting out, it's probably a good idea.
Once the cake is all carved, frost it. I like IMBC because it's very smooth and very forgiving... it also gets incredibly hard in the fridge. This is good when you have whacky shaped cakes because if there are any ridges or lines, you can take a piece of wax paper over the spot and rub it smooth!
It's also good because its smoothness works great under fondant - which I feel is a must for carved cakes!
Anyway - check out my photos - I have a few sculptured cakes on there that were all done this way. HTH!
OMG, heavenlycakes!
I just checked out your cake pics. I wanted to add every one of them to my favorites! 
I will be making a practice cake using the great tips I've gotten from this little thread.
Thank you, ladies. These have helped more than you know. I now have a plan for the cake I want to make for a Surprise for a friend of ours. It's on June 1, but don't know if I should post the pic. He collects military stuff, mostly the German items, but loves the Canadian stuff as well. I don't know what the reaction would be if I posted a German officer cap cake in the gallery.
I'm just glad he doesn't subscribe to the WW2 German line of thinking. Whew!
Anyway, I will let you know how it turns out. Oh... and how the practice cake works out, too.
Kristine
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%