Can anyone give me some tips/secrets/tricks to getting perfectly smooth buttercream? I want to make a cake for my husband and he isn't crazy about fondant, but I need a very smooth base for the cake I want to make. I thought I'd heard something before about paper towels and computer paper, but I can't quite remember what. Thanks for any and all help you can give me.

You can use VIVA papel towel and smooth like fondant. There is a tutorial here and another one on You Tube. I can't remember the title, sorry.

you can dip your knife in hot water,shake it off and smooth your cake.you may have this do this several times to get as smooth as you like.

Tonedna has a great video on youtube that will help you.

You have to try the foam roller method, I'll see if I can find the old thread on it. It works like a dream. The first time I used it on a sheet cake, my husband walked by, stopped, walked back, and said, "Wow, that frosting is smooth!"

Here are a couple of the threads. Melvira is the one to thank for this.

How to:
http://forum.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-582957-foam.html+roller+smooth

Where to find:
http://forum.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-593307-foam.html+roller+smooth

here are 2 of my links that might help:

melvira method all the way, baby!! you'll never use anything else again!

I started using the cake icer tip(just bought it and i love it)

And i'll ice the whole cake with it then smooth the icing with a spatula...THEN.....I'll spray the cake with a spray bottle filled with water, of course....and smooth againg with spatula...adding water as needed

Just a little trick my wilton instructor showed me...and it totally works!!!

Good luck!