Covering Your Cake Boards- All That Fancy Paper
Decorating By cohen1 Updated 18 Jul 2007 , 3:42pm by Krisy
Please be aware that FanciFoil, wrapping papers, colored pattern Contac(t) paper, scrapbooking papers, etc. ARE NOT FOOD SAFE. The foil color and pattern colors most likely contain LEAD and that will leach into the food touching it--particularly food heavy in fats (i.e. buttercream and cake).
It's necessary to put a barrier between the cake/icing and the covering--a thin cake cardboard, parchment paper, wax paper, saran, freezer paper, etc. Some of those options may tear easily and bits may get into cake slices during the cutting, so choose carefully.
My personal choice is parchment cut to about 1/4 inch larger than the cake tier seated on the decorative board.
Rae
Really?? I would think that Fanci Foil being made by Wilton for cake decorating and therefore, serving food, would be safe to use. It should have regulations to follow to be allowed.
The Wilton gold, silver, and white (if you can find it) Fanci-Foil IS FOOD SAFE. I mis-typed and I'm sorry (too late to edit).
Most of the above discussion is referring to the pretty colored foils--Floral Foil-- that are found in craft stores and flower shops (lead is used to color them). My cake store sells it by the foot 
with no disclaimer about it not being food safe, but others have contacted the company and been advised of the lead in the coloring.
Sorry for any confusion.
Rae
When I use wrapping paper or other decorative paper, I cover it with clear food-safe cellophane. You can buy it by the roll at most major craft stores. The pic in my photos of the 1st b-day cake has one sheet of pink tissue paper covered with food-safe cellophane.
Bec
With the clear contact paper, you cover the wrapping paper AFTER it has been applied to the board. Cut the contact paper so it's a little bigger than the board, lay it flat then carefully pull off the paper backing so it's laying sticky side up on the table. It wants to roll back up and/or stick to itself, so I anchor the sides down with a coffee mug 
Then plop your board down, flip over, rub to smooth, wrap edges around sides and attach to back. Works great, doesn't tear easily, practically clear.
The foam board can be found at Hobby Lobby, Michael's, etc, near the picture framing mat material. Usually white. It's like two pieces of shiny cardboard with a layer of styrofoam in between.
They have 1/4 inch and 3/16. I always get the thicker 3/16 for strength. It's about $4 a sheet, but they're pretty big. Cut with an exacto knife then wrap with decorative paper.
You know, sometimes I ask for them back but I always feel weird about it, like they think I'm being cheap or maybe unsanitary (although I always use a fresh covering!), so I'm torn about it.
What I love is when someone offers to bring them back! Saves me the awkwardness of asking!
I usually ask for the return of the decorative covered underboard---if it's a reasonable thing for the person--and especially if it's the 1/2 inch because that's expensive and rarely on sale.
Because I use a foamcore board (cut to the exact size of the bottom tier) under the bottom tier (often with a piece of parchment between it and the decorative board), that decorative board is usually in pretty good shape.
I use carpet tape to hold all of these things together, so I just peel it all off and I'm left with a pre-cut piece of foamcore ready to be re-covered.
I don't ask for the foamcore "separator" boards back. Even though the paper holds up extremely well (I don't cover those with anything), I would never recycle those.
Rae
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