Using a non-crusting buttercream frosting is lovely...but, it makes it difficult to transfer over a pattern on my cakes. Pinpricking doesn't work 'cause the frosting sticks to the paper, so I played around til I fell upon this idea:

I use edible rice paper with edible markers to copy a design, cut it out and lay on the cake. I snug it down into the frosting a bit and easily outline my picture and fill in!

The rice paper absorbs the moisture in the frosting, and becomes soft and no trouble when cutting the cake.

I hope that someone else can use this idea, really works for me. When I get a chance I'll post my last 2 cakes using this trick (Star Wars & Pooh).

Finally got my Star Wars and Pooh cakes posted....