Hi, I'm new to decorating cakes. I was wondering what any of you do with your practice/test cakes? It is only my husband and me so eating a whole cake is not practical or healthy. I have take some to work but there are only four in the office so that isn't much better. Just wondering.
Sometimes I just flip over my pans and use them to fondant cover and then put design things on them.
I have donated my practice cakes to the homeless shelter to serve at the free lunch. (Sponsored by our Allied Churches ) They really are very appreciative of any amount of anything. Or, why not look into the women's shelter? There are always children that could use something special in their lives.
Hi ~ If you really don't want to spend all the time and money on baking a cake every time you want to decorate, I would say work on a styrofoam cake "dummy".
However, if you wish to keep on bakin', you can donate to your local post office. Or sometimes I'll put a note in my mail box for my mail carrier to come to the house, and I'll give her some to her. Or how about the attendants at the gas station that you frequent? When I bake, and know I'll have a lot left over, I often do this. 
I can always donate cupcakes or cookies to the daycare where my son's go. Other than that, people are extremely suspect of unsolicited food donations where I live. So for larger cakes, I just bake it, decorate it, slice it and freeze as individual slices, wrapped very well and placed in a gallon size ziploc. This works great when we have last minute company stop by for dinner or when we just want "a little something". If I get too many in the freezer, I drop a bag off to my husband's bachelor brother or other friends around. I don't think anyone's gained any weight over it yet!
Heather
Agreed, buy styrofoam dummies and reuse them. Or flip the cake pan over and practice your piping on that. Or bake little 6 x 2 cakes and torte and fill them and practice your skills then bring them to the office. Or a bible study. Or a church. Or to that cute neighbor down the street... 
You can also tell the folks at work that you would be willing to do cakes for their birthdays just for the practice -- that will help your skills and get your name out. Hope that helps some! 
You can also take them to work and share with your colleagues. It's a great way to get future orders.
Paul (& Peter)
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