I am so stuck on how to take my cake decorating skills to the next level! I do ok, I guess, but I can't create a cake that really wows! I look at all these amazing cakes on here I get so jealous because I want to be able to to do that as well. I don't do cakes for a living, just for a hobby, but I absolutely love cake decorating but I can't seem to progress passed the "bakery" look style cakes. I have so much equipment, spent so much money on DVD's, books, tools, etc. ( my husband thinks I am nuts), yet, I just can't do it! I would love to take some hands on classes but I can't afford the higher end ones. I have taken Wilton classes several times and that gave me a great base to start, but when I see these towering, neat, perfect confections, it gets me down! Am I just being crazy!

You are being crazy! Looks like you can do it allwhat specifically do you think you can't do?

We are our own worst critics I, too feel the same way...when will I ever get better??? It's going to take time and practice! You are on your way...keep up the good work.

I feel the same way (esp today as there seems to be an inordinate amount of amazing cakes on display).

Wow am I right there with you Chrissypie! I have spent a ton on cake decorating supplies! I've had a lot of trial and error with all of them, but it's always fun! My husband is getting pretty ticked, but his hobby's are pretty expensive to so he can't say much I think your cakes are great chrissypie! Keep on baking! I figure the more we experiment on our friends and family (they have to say its great) the better we will get!

I quess alot of us feel this way. I'm always a little embarrassed when I post a picture. They always look so sloppy compared to the other cakes posted that day. I am surprised whenanyone even takes the time to look at them! I'll keep working at it and learning from my mistakes because I enjoy the challenge.

Chrissy, I see what you mean. You definately have flowers down to a science, I'm jealous. I can't make a rose to save my life! My wish is just the opposite of yours, wish I was better at the "bakery style" cakes; AKA: cakes with flowers.

Try this: Make a cake for no reason. Just for practice, find a recipe you have been wanting to try and/or a technique or two you have never done before but are interested in learning. Then research the heck out of it on here and give it a go.

Since it's a practice cake, there is no pressure if it doesn't go quite right.

I try something new on every cake, which means none of them go smoothly but something new is learned each time.

I feel the same way. I tell myself I'm new to this so I can't expect to be perfect yet, but then I see awesome stuff done by people who say they've been doing it for a lesser amount of time then I have.

You're cakes are beautiful and professional looking to me. Are you talking about your style looking like bakery cakes? If that's the case, I agree with the PP about baking a cake for no reason other than practice. Pick one off this site or from a book or magazine, whatever you like and makes you wish you had that kind of style, and see if you can emulate it. I usually see cakes on here that give me inspiration and I try them out, but change things here and there to give it a bit of my own flair.

I feel EXACTLY the same way...I've spent a small fortune but am I really any good at this at all???

I've tried many techniques (fondant, gumpaste, chocolate transfers, tiered cakes, RKT etc) and I think there is a little creativity there for a newbie, but I just can't seem to get them smooth and level which is the most important part!

Heck, I'm still trying to get my photos uploaded so I can get a few critiques!!!

I find myself in the same situation as the OP; being 'just a hobby baker', I don't get the requests to do the cakes that stretch my imagination and creativity. So here's what I do: I create the cakes that challenge me and that I try new techniques on for my family and close friends. The ones in my photos that I am most proud of are indeed those cakes. It has been great for my confidence level as well. For years I felt like I was stuck doing 'cookie cutter cakes'. Now I feel like my portfolio of work has grown such that I'm getting those special requests from actual paying clients. It's taken me a while (I've actually been doing cakes for close to 20 years); but what I have learned/gained along the way is priceless

first off, your cakes are beautiful! like herekittykitty said, i can't make a rose to save my life lol! that being said, i noticed most of your cakes are buttercream. if you look through "most saved", a great deal of those cakes are fondant. i'm not saying either is better, but maybe if you practiced with fondant you'd get more of the results you want? also, if you don't want to keep baking just for practice, order some dummies! they can be used over and over and its super easy to make a 5 tier cake w/o worrying about settling or structural support play around with new techniques, or if you see a cake you like try and replicate it. you're a great decorator, just have fun with it and before you know it you'll be proud to upload any picture

Wow! Thank you guys for responding! Your tips and ideas are all so great! I do think I really need to just do more for practice so there is no pressure or anything. I wish I could have the self confidence to push myself. I fear I am too critical on myself. I think I will start this weekend on something new and different. I appreciate your comments more than you know.

LOL! I'm with you. If anyone asked me to do a topsy turvey the answer would be Yeah... No. Not quite ready to take that project on yet.

With dummies, you have all the time in the world to work on the "cake." You don't have to worry about spoilage and your edges are already straight. When you just can't figure out why you can't get the top edge to look right, you can walk away, do some research, and come back to it.