I am making a Kung Fu Panda cake for this weekend and the person wants a border in bamboo. I have never made bamboo in buttercream or in fondant so I am looking for any tips that anyone may have. She is using characters that she has purchased on top so I have to come up with a background. Any ideas would be appreciated! Thanks
I saw somewhere in this web site...think it was a square wedding cake...the woman made the bamboo out of b/c icing...she colored it the brownish color....then she piped it with a plain tip that is round...to her desired thickness...then she got darker brown or black almost...and every few steps she did lines down ...for the bamboo dark ridges...hope this helps....you can even two tone the brown or hand paint streaks on it once its dry.
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l l l l this is how the marks would look once piped ...sorry best I can do. good luck....
. . . although this is not a border, it does give you some idea how to make authentic looking bamboo . . . http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=476993
here is a couple of styles of border . . . http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=33617
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=24308
good luck . . . and be sure to post your finished masterpiece . . . 
Rebecca Sutterby also showed how to make fondant bamboo on one of the TV appearances that she does - check out her mini-tutorials at
http://www.myspace.com/sugarcreations
Bamboo is 4th from the bottom...
Thanks so much for this! I was just looking through old American Cake Decoratings last night looking for the same thing - I know it's in one of them! 
I actually just did a cake with a bamboo border not too long ago. I just used buttercream and a #12 tip. I wanted to go back and paint a darker brown down the cracks where the bamboo started and stopped but I forgot! 
Anyway, the cake is in my pics if you want to take a look.
. . . oh yes, Brandi's is fabulous if you are looking to do the entire side of a cake . . . http://www.truveo.com/Fondant-Bamboo-Take-II/id/1365754900
Did this a month ago... the Bamboo Handle of the purse:
Here is a picture of the finished Kung Fu Panda cake that I have been stressing over. Thanks for everyones advice and instructions with the bamboo fondant. I wasn't that happy with it but the child liked it and the parents were happy.
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