I am new to cake decorating (finishing Wilton Class 3 this week) but would love to enter a local contest. I have some serious time constraints and was wondering if I can use cake dummies and make them about 4 weeks in advance of the contest? If so, what kind of icing would be best? I tried royal but it dries before I can get it completely smooth 
Can anyone help me out!! I know I want to do the little decorating with royal but other than fondant what can I use to give the entire cake body a smooth finish?? Thanks!
Your safest bet is to get a copy of the rules and read them very carefully. If you have any questions, you should call and ask. I heard of one contest that demanded everything above the base board had to be edible. The entrant had make their own rock candy as one of the decorations and was disqualified because they had left in the string. HTH.
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