Hi all!
Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions on how to improve letter writing on your cakes. ie. Happy Birthday, etc.
I did a cake tonight for my in laws anniversary for church and well lets just say I had to dig out the Wilton lettering kit for some much needed help. I tried as I've done before the reverse printing off my computer and then transferring via wax paper/piping gel but I must have left my icing crust to long and it wouldn't stick. It was a mess. I then tried to freehand but ended up scraping it all off and left some smudges of color on my white icing. It didn't look at all like I had hoped it would and I fell about an inch tall looking at it and I know I could have done better.
Anyone have any suggestions on how to improve????
Thanks for the input.
- Paula
Sorry I don't have any advice for you because I'm in the same boat. I can never get my writing to look good...which is surprising because I've always been told that I have very neat handwritting on paper. It's so frustrating!
Whenever I need to put writing on a cake, I use the chocolate transfer method. Piping lettering is my downfall. I usually print out the letters I need (in a font appropriate for the cake) from my computer as a mirror image . I place it under clear plastic such as a report cover and using candy melts in one of those plastic bottles, I trace them. I pop in the freezer for a few minutes, take them off the the plastic and place them on the cake with with either my fingers or tweezers. Take a look at my cakes with writing...much nicer than piping.
I have always found that most people have a tendancy to try and write very slowly and carefully. If you are printing then it is different. I start with making sure my bag has enough icing to do the writing I need, I then twist the bag well to keep the icing from coming out. Once I start, I do not stop. I keep the same amount of pressure on the bag and let it flow, this keeps the writing from getting jagged. I also add a little piping gel to my icing so that it is softer to work with. Use your starting letters as a guide to keep the writing straight. Some people will lightly use a ruler and put a slight indentation on the cake. Use one hand to squeeze and the other to help guide your hand, this will also help from shaking. Just squeeze and go. Hope this makes sense. The more you practice, the better you will get.
The pin-prick method never fails me! I simply print out the message in whatever font I want on my computer, then pin it to a flat styrofoam board, then I use a straight pin to "prick" holes through the wording, creating a "brail" effect on the opposite side. Simply place the piece of paper on your already CRUSTED buttercream (brail side down, of course) and GENTLY rub over the words to transfer the dotted image to your cake! Now, you have a pattern to follow with your icing! I also add a little corn syrup to my icing that I'm going to write with to help it flow more smoothly and not break. Take a look at my gallery....99.9% of all my writing is done with this method!
I have seen many topics on here about this and it seems like the "pin prick" method would work best in this case. I am not 100% sure exactly how it works but if I remember correctly you would print out the lettering from your printer and with a pin of some sort or a toothpick follow the lettering and make dots on your cake. Then trace over that with your icing.
When I very first started decorating my boss at the time sent me home with bags and some mock cream and I practiced writing all over the kitchen bench! Sounds really stupid but after a couple of hours of full on writing I really got the hang of it. My normal handwriting on paper is terrible but on cakes its really quite nice. Take your time writing dont ever rush it. If you need any further advice just ask. Good luck!
...Simply place the piece of paper on your already CRUSTED buttercream (brail side down, of course) and GENTLY rub over the words to transfer the dotted image to your cake!
Cambo, that sounds like a good idea!
My writing is really bad even if I do the pinprick method. I went ahead and bought the tappit letters..i think that's what they are called..they are made by FME I think. I cut them out of gumpaste. I think I did good writing only ONCE..I believe it was a fluke!! haahahaha.
I have them posted under birthdays ... my writing says H.B Mommy the one with the FME cutters says H.B. Heather
I remember reading that someone took a pretty font from their computer and printed out in black words frequently used - Happy Birthday, Anniversary etc. The put them under a piece of parch. paper and practiced and wiped off over and over. Sounds like a good use of that left over icing!
I always do better when the icing is thinned down. It seems to be smoother and sticks to the cake better.
Good luck!!
Just wanted to bump this topic. I also need help in this area and most of the time the "pin prick" method doesn't show up enough for me to follow it.
I'm not the best cake writer but I am improving. I've learned that if I move my entire arm as one unit the writing is better as opposed to moving my wrist as if I am writing on paper.
This is Absolutely True!
My handwriting is TERRIBLE on cakes! I finally just bought the letter press sets (print, cursive, the one with individual letters and the one with frequently used phrases already on one press).
So far for me, royal icing piped on wax paper over printed copy has worked the best. I like doing it right side up instead of mirror image as it then looks more piped which to me matches a piped cake better. I guess it could depend on the type of cake you're doing!
I think I'll now have to try the pin prick method, except I'm afraid it won't show up well enough for me to trace. On wax paper I manage to make plenty of mistakes that I can wipe off and re-pipe. Can't do that on a cake so I'm kind of a big chicken!
Okay ~ here's a different one. When printing the words I first turn the cake around so that I'm looking from the top instead of the bottom. Then I lightly draw the letters in the crusted buttercream with a toothpick (yes, everything is backwards from that viewpoint). Then I pipe the icing upside down as well.
What I have found is that by writing the letters backwards from the top side I do a much neater job because I am not tempted to write in my normal handwriting. Is that weird or what????? 
I am going to have to try the pin prick method, especially with cursive writing. Thanks for the idea! 
Okay ~ here's a different one. When printing the words I first turn the cake around so that I'm looking from the top instead of the bottom. Then I lightly draw the letters in the crusted buttercream with a toothpick (yes, everything is backwards from that viewpoint). Then I pipe the icing upside down as well.
What I have found is that by writing the letters backwards from the top side I do a much neater job because I am not tempted to write in my normal handwriting. Is that weird or what?????
I am going to have to try the pin prick method, especially with cursive writing. Thanks for the idea!
That IS weird! I'd get totally confused!
Before I got it, I would write everything out with the same color icing as the cake. If it didn't turn out okay, I would scrape it off and not leave a color behind.
That's genious! 
I'll have to try that next time.
I am a calligrapher (been one for over 25 years) and even I have trouble sometimes with cake writing. I'm NOT happy about the Christmas cake in my photos... anyhoo...
PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE. It's the best way.
In my case, remember, never write on a cake after midnight! (oy) 
Each letter is a shape. Remember learning to write in 1st and 2nd grade? Practice like you're learning to write - start with repeated straight lines, then C's, then O's, and all the components of letters. Then start putting them together. It does help.
Practice boards are a good thing.
Make sure your icing is thin enough for writing. I always thin mine down with Karo syrup. It makes a huge difference, and adds an elasticity to the icing that helps with writing.
the pin prick method is good.
I would think a cake projector is a good tool if you have really horrendous handwriting.
Oh - and as a former scrapbook teacher - NO one and I mean no one, likes their own handwriting. So what may look like crap on a half shell to you will not look that way to others. Seriously.
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