When I done my first FBCT it did come out very good (which I had no idea what the heck a FBCT until CC) but the only then I didn,t like was
not being able to see what it was going to like like until I put it on my cake. So now when I do one I do it on a piece of plexiglas. I tape wax paper on one side and my design on the other.So now I can pick up the plexiglass untape one side of my design and see how its going to look.I hope this tip helps. I would like to say onething about CC the people on here are so great .If you have a problem , a question or a tip this is the place. I think our goverment needs a website like this

I do the same thing and it really helps to know if you are getting the colors filled in right. I don't use wax paper though, I use a clear plastic wrap and so I can see EVERYTHING. I put the picture in a sheet protector taped to the plexiglass and then I can remove the picture from the sleeve and put it back exactly where it was before without worrying about things shifting.

Melissa

good tips! I have just tried FBCT's, AND I LOVE THEM!!!!! What a great tool to have! I used to do a lot of color flow plaques, but the FBCT are another GREAT option!

After I finish I always place a piece of wax paper on the back and untape the front wax paper and flip it over so I can see the front of it.

Thanks for the tips : ) I love to do these.

When I used the plastic wrap on plexiglass, the plastic stuck like crazy to the plexi after freezing. How do you get it to release?

When filling in the transfer. Do you make like lines and it smushes together when you smooth out the back? I am going to try this for the first time but I need all the information that I can get.

Yes, pipe the lines first. Then begin filling i what would be in the foreground first. For example, for an eye you would do the iris first, and then the white eyeball. Since the iris is already next to the plastic or wax paper you can fill in the whole white right over the already piped iris. Keep your tip buried, icing a little thin and make sure there are no gaps. I used the plexiglass so I could look at it from underneath and then go back and fill in any tight areas that I'd missed. Tapping lightly on the underside of the plexi with your hand helps to "seat" the icing. My very first FBCT is the graduate in my photos, and he turned out very nicely. You can do it!!

I have troble getting mine to release and stay hard enough to remove. Whats a good tip? When yours are frozen are they hard like ice?

Thank you so much I think that I am going to try it. I found this site and it is so wonderful. I am getting to learn different things that I didn't know before. I have been decorating for 8 and half years and some of this stuff I am in awe. Now with the help of CC I know that I can learn a whole lot more. So thank you all. I love this site!!!!!!!!

Does the buttercreme need to be stiff or do you have to thin it to fill it in?

Okay I will make my icing as I usually do. I use like a medium concistancy. I know that for the actual outline it needs to be a little stiffer but not to stiff. Wish me luck I will post pictures of the finished results.

Don't use plastic wrap for a FBCT. I've found it causes more lines than you want to deal with. Use parchment paper. It is worth the buy because not only does it release nicely from the plexiglass/board, you can see through it.

I like to use Duncan Hines chocolate or dark chocolate for my outlines. It is precolored, things look fine outlined in brown, and it's stiff enough to resist pressure from the fill-in icing. I out line all at once and then let it sit for 15 minutes to harden slightly.

My fill-in icing is softer in consistancy than the DH icing, but not runny. I like to use a non-crusting BC for filling in, it will work with crusting, but there are less lines with the non crusting.

Plexiglass is THE BOMB when making a FBCT. After you fill-in and cover the top and edges of the design with the background color, remove the coloring sheet. Take an off-set spatula and push and smooth. Lift up the plexiglass and look at the design. Still some lines? Press and smooth that area, look again... Fine? Fill in the back hollow created by pressing with more background icing. Still lines? Keep pushing until they're gone. You may have to add more background icing as you push.

I completely freeze my FBCT. In fact, I usually make it the day before the cake is due and let it freeze over night. Then you can easily handle it to place it correctly on the cake. If you have any little cracks or breakages, place your transfer and then wait for it to thaw. You can smooth it back in as needed. If you kept your colors from the day before (recomended) you can use them to fix any little mistakes that may happen.

Thanks for the great tips, I will definitely try the DH frosting. My tip is that I usually copy my coloring page onto a transparency which helps a lot if you need it to face in a specific direction because you can pipe on either side.

Also I bought baby snack cups from Dollar Tree (in the baby aisle), 6 cups w/lids in a pack which are the perfect size for storing/freezing small amouts of icing. I can fit several in a large ziploc freezer bag.

Question for those who use DH frosting, can you freeze it and use it later, or do you use a new can for each fbct that you do?

I just buy a new can. My kids usually get the rest of the leftovers spread between graham crackers as their lunch time desert for the next week.

I use the cheap fudge icing in a can to do outlines because the consistency isn't as light and whippy like....also you don't need much but if you want add some black americolor to the chocolate and you get a wonderfully black outline....it also thins it out just enough to pipe it without it breaking

Thanks so much for starting this thread. I am getting ready to try this for the first time for a cake for my BIL this coming weekend. all these tips are great and hopefully will keep me from having any trouble.

Hello Excuse me of sounding stupid, but do you use the Duncan Heins frosting in the tub to do the outlines? Thanks to all.

I would use the cheaper store versions of the chocolate icing....OR you can use the Wilton chocolate fudge icing, but it is a little more expensive

I do use the DH in the tub because that's the flavor my kids like best. They finish up the rest of the can on cupcakes, or, like I said before, on graham crackers.

Thank you for the reply. I didn't think that the frosting in the cans would get hard enough to use for the outlines. Thanks again.

These are awesome hints thank you!
 

Can anyone tell me if this holds up on a cupcake? I see some have made cupcakes with the FBT but I wonder if a shape would keep it's shape.  I want to make viking helmets, and this would save time.  Going to a family reunion and will be making the family crest on our cake.

Thanks for everyone who shared on this thread, all the information is very good!! I can't wait to try!