HI EVERYONE
I DO NOT GET TO PRACTICE MY DECORATING AS MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE. THE WAY I WORK IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO TAKE CLASSES RIGHT NOW. ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST WAY TO GET IN SOME PRACTICE AND WHAT SHOULD I CONCENTRATE ON FIRST.
THANKS
Well, that really depends on what you already know!? I am self-taught as I never have time for classes. I started out reading alot (ESPECIALLY on this website) and i also bought one of the Wilton packages w/some basic tips and the practice board that shows you how to do different borders, flowers, etc. Unfortunately, PRACTICE is the only way to get better. I realized that after I grew more and more frustrated by my first few cakes. I was using those cakes for "practice" and then got mad when they didn't turn out! I also have several Wilton books (not the yearbooks though) which give a lot of good ideas and instructions.
If you can, buy a few dummy cakes and practice on those. Pick one type of border or design and keep practicing until you get it! You can do it! 
Hi
Thanks MamaFrogCakes. Yeah I have felt that way. I guess I am trying to cover it all at one time. I guess it is kind of like learning to walk one step at a time. Do I have any particular border I should start to practice with?
Does Michaels have the dummy cakes?
My local Michaels don't have dummies---well cake dummies that is 
I bought mine at a cake supply store. There are several places that sell them online too. I started out learning stars, rope border and shells. Don't know if those are the easiest or not but it's what I wanted to do, so I started with that. I have a Wilton book that I like alot, cant remember what it's called but it has a lot of examples and how-to tips. Just pick something to start with and go from there. For the life of me I still can't do any kind of icing flowers. I'll just keep practicing and practicing and practicing! Guess it comes with the territory of not taking lessons and having someone show me, but I'll take the trade off!
Good luck to you! 
I agree with mamafrogcakes, I too am new at cake decorating and have no time for classes right now (I'm planning a wedding and working as much as I can to pay off some of those debts)!! I know I have a lot of practicing to do before I can be as good as everyone else on this website but it's something that I plan on putting my heart into and over time I know I'll do it.
Daniela
Just make up a big batch of BC icing one day when you have a few minutes. It will keep. Then get a practice board (comes with sheets that you lay under the board to see if you are getting it right). Or you can use an empty upside down cake pan lol! Or tape waxed paper to the back of an upside down cookie sheet (actually I like that because it is a bigger surface). Then just when you have the time do some practice. That's what I have been doing. I just left the icing at room temp in a covered tupperware. So long as it is the right texture and doesnt smell bad I will use it to practice with. I am not too sure I would use 2 week old buttercream on a cake, but to play with, it works.
Stars, ropes, shells and string are the "basics". Also if you want to impress yourself, try some drop flowers. It will also get you used to bag pressure and holding the bag/angles etc too for the other stuff like petals and leaves and etc.
I bought the Wilton course books and a few other books. (The Wilton ones are only like $4 or $5 a piece I think.) I think they cover the basics pretty well. Some of the flowers will take a lot more practice tho lol!
If I were you, I'd try and buy the Wilton Course I book to begin with. You can get them at Hobby Lobby I know for sure and I think are under $5. They cover alot of the basics like stars, shells, outlines and writing, leaves and simple flowers, plus the rose. Even after taking all 3 courses I still go back and look at that book for reference.
I use cake dummies when doing display cakes and I find they are VERY HARD to work with. They are light and it isn't the same as decorating a real cake. If you truely want practice decorating on a cake, then I think you should use a cake. You don't have to make big cakes every time. If you don't want the cakes in the house, then you can always give them to family and friends.
Wilton has a great source of ideas on their website along with directions on techinques. Boards like this are a good source of learning as well.
I try to keep a batch of butter cream made up and practice when I get the chance too. I don't flavor mine though when it's just going to sit in the fridge for practice. I just pick 1 or 2 things and have at it. Just keep your BC covered so it doesn't crust while you're practicing. Good luck!
To me the secret was to learn when to apply more or less pressure. When doing your shell borders more pressure has to be applied to the start of each shell and less at the end of each. And roses, AHHHH, that was a nightmare for me, but with a lot of practice I got it! It takes a lot of practice. The Wilton practice board and lots of wax paper helps with the cost. I had to take classes, there was no way for me to learn without them. Good luck to you.
I totally agree with the idea of making a batch of buttercream and making it your practice stuff. I did that and after practicing, I would wipe it off my boards before it crusted and just kept using it over and over again!
HI
THANKS EVERYONE. YOU HAVE GIVEN ME SOME GOOD POINTERS I WILL TRY AN INCORPORATE ALL OF YOUR IDEAS INTO MY PRACTICES. THE ICING FLOWERS WILL DEFINITELY BE A PILL TO SWALLOW. ANYONE GOT ANY ADVICE ON ICING CONSISTENCY HOW DO I KNOW I GOT IT RIGHT?
THANKS
I am currently in the Wilton Course 3.....I practice on my neighbors!!!! They all love me now. I also volunteer my cakes EVERYWHERE... this is good practice for me, as they know I'm learning...and also good advertising for potential customers. When I take the crown off the cakes before icing and stacking....I layer and frost the crowns and take them to the kids across the street. They're convinced that it's the best part of the cake. LOL Even tho I'm taking the classes, this website and others have been a God-send for ideas.
If you are in the Wilton 3 class, perhaps you should start charging people. You are going to go broke. If you volunteer too many cakes, people are going to always expect it. Unless it is only a hobby, you are probably good enough to do simple cakes.
Vicky, MO
ok ladies this is a wierd one but! isnt there something thats the same consistancy as icing that we could use but not the real thing? I have 4 kids and they will eat my icing up while I am at work so im wondering if i can use something else to practice with? any ideas????
No, I wouldn't do that. You have to get used to using the icing. Believe me, have your kids clean up after you, for example, cleaning up your icing mess after practicing and baking cakes. They soon will tire of the smell and "greasy" mess. The smell of icing will eventually turn them off, much less eating it. Ha Ha. I'm not stupid!! Also, tell them they are eating Crisco. They don't like the idea of that either. Also, try storing your practice icing in an empty Crisco can...
vicky, MO
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