When Icing A Cake Dummy. . . (Help) . . .
Decorating By moralna Updated 31 Aug 2007 , 12:17pm by thems_my_kids
You can either permanently attach the dummy to the cake board or you can temporarily attach it to a board with tape or even some frosting. Place a piece of non-slip pad on your turntable as well.
If you are using buttercream or royal, cover the sides first so that you can hold down the dummy from the top. After that, the weight of the frosting plus the other methods will keep it place a little better.
Working with dummies is not easy. Just keep trying and you'll get it. You may want to throw it across the room first, but then you'll just have a big mess and a ruin dummy. 
Michele
Ice/tape the heck out of the bottom of the bottom layer and glue/tape it to your cake board.
I also will run some dowels through them is the get extra wiggly on me.
I put some icing on the board below it, and then put a heavy weight on top while I ice the sides. After you ice the sides it usually stays well enough to ice the top. Good luck!
I just figured this out this morning...take a piece of wood (I actually had a cake round for one of my stacked cakes) and screw it to the board. I put a piece of parchment between the dummy and board and used 3 screws. It worked great, I had 5 tiers done in about 15 min. I also used wall compound instead of royal icing. I heard it is easier to clean. Good luck and I can't wait to see your display Donna
I've only worked with a cake dummy once, but I took a piece of plywood and hammered long nails into it. I could then push the dummy part of the way down on the nails to hold it steady. After I was done with the icing, I was able to reach under the dummy and pull it up off the nails. It worked great.
Wow, you guys are energetic! I dont' go to NEAR that much work!
non-skid mat or tape on the turntable. I ice the dummy direct with BC ... no pre-treatment. Months later, when I'm ready to change the design, I run a knife under the BC and it pops right off. Run a damp rag over the dummy and I'm ready to go for the next one.
Wow, you guys are energetic! I dont' go to NEAR that much work!
non-skid mat or tape on the turntable. I ice the dummy direct with BC ... no pre-treatment. Months later, when I'm ready to change the design, I run a knife under the BC and it pops right off. Run a damp rag over the dummy and I'm ready to go for the next one.
Hi indydebi, if you are covering the dummy with fondant, do you add a layer of buttercream under it first....if so, how thick is that layer and then how thick is the fondant rolled out.
TIA
I cover the dummy with royal icing to fill the cracks, then let it dry (sand it smooth) and nail it to the board! Cover with pettinice / fondant as usual. I heard that to re-use the dummy, pop it in the microwave for a bit, then the pettinice comes of really easily and you can re-use the dummy (and its already prepared!).
Wow, you guys are energetic! I dont' go to NEAR that much work!
non-skid mat or tape on the turntable. I ice the dummy direct with BC ... no pre-treatment. Months later, when I'm ready to change the design, I run a knife under the BC and it pops right off. Run a damp rag over the dummy and I'm ready to go for the next one.
Hi indydebi, if you are covering the dummy with fondant, do you add a layer of buttercream under it first....if so, how thick is that layer and then how thick is the fondant rolled out.
TIA
I dont' do fondant.
. . how do you keep it steady? Since the styrofoam is light, when I try to ice it, it moves around. For those who have done cake dummies, how do you keep it from moving around and keep it steady on turntable?
I had that problem the one time I decorated a dummy. It was terrible! Next time I think I'll cover in fondant, since you can spritz the dummy with water for it to stick...and use buttercream for the other decoration!
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