What Is The Pin Prick Method Of Writing
Decorating By dogluvr Updated 11 Aug 2007 , 1:33am by thedessertdiva
The pin prick method is great for writing text on crusting buttercream (but it does NOT work on icing that does not crust). I print out my message on the computer in whatever size and font I want on the cake. Then you trace the lettering with pin pricks (I use a corkboard tack or safety pin or whatever) and you get a pattern of raised dots on the backside of the paper. Then I cut out each word, lay it on the cake after the icing has crusted (very important) and lightly rub my finger over the words. This leaves a pattern of dots on the cake that you can just trace over.
I cannot write freehand at all on cakes and this works really well for me. I used to hate taking my time to decorate, etc. and try to make the cake look nice, clean and "professional" - only to mess it up with my sloppy freehand writing!
If you want to see how much it has helped me, you can look in my gallery. The "Congrats" on the purple cake was freehand - SO bad! But all the other writing on my cakes has been via pin prick method. Not perfect but much better.
Hi dogluvr,
I use the pin prick method all the time and find it very helpful especially since I can't freehand worth a darn.
This is what I do. Lay your picture on top of a piece of styrofoam. Using a corsage pin, poke holes on every single line of the picture. This will leave a raised impression on the back side of the paper like Braille.
Frost your cake and smooth as normal. I use a crusting buttercream( all Crisco) so I can smooth the cakes easily. ( Also use the Melvira method and/or Viva paper towels to get it super smooth)
Lay the picture on top of the frosted cake and gently rub over the paper with your hand. This will leave the poke hole impression directly on the frosting. Lift the paper and viola! Your image is transferred.
Next, outline every line using a small round tip ( #2 or #3) in black buttercream. Finally, fill in the lines with the appropriate colors to make your design.
It can be quite time consuming but I find it works best for me. Hope that helps!
KimAZ
print out your writing from the computer on to a piece of papr. Lay the paper on the cake I put I pin the the begining and end of the word to hold it in please thn using a pin poke holes through the frosing to the top of the cake once all is done remove paper and conect the dots with the frosting
I have also done this method: print your picture/text in mirror image (reverse) then lay a thin sheet of clear plastic (hobby shops carry them, like clear plexi-glass) over the image and "trace" with a sharpie. Then use a hot glue gun to trace over the sharpie, let dry completely. Once dry, lay the hot glue plastic mold on the crusted butter cream and then outline, folowing the lines in black, then fill in. This way you have a permanent image to reuse for future cakes and designs.
If I have confused you...I'm sorry, its easier to do then to describe.
I did this with the image I wanted to write ( it was a logo) and some wax paper and a styrofoam cup. I traced the image onto wax paper. I put the original underneath the wax paper. Then I put the wax paper on a styrofoam cup. I poked holes in the outlines with a toothpick. Then I placed the wax paper on the cake and pressed down. When I lifted the wax paper I had the outline of my logo that i could trace with frosting.
Dessertdiva, is the hot glue certified food safe? If it was, it would be a neat way to make your own impression stamps. Of course you can do your method with royal icing, but it's not permanent.
I couldn't tell you...its not staying on the cake, just placed on the BC for a moment to leave an impression.
Its probably as food safe as a high density foam roller from the BIG orange and black store or Lowes...and we all use those 
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