Hello! I'm sure there are more out there than just me, right? I'm new. I've baked cakes here and there for fun. I love trying new recipes.

My first big cake is coming up and I have NO idea what I'm doing!!! It's for my nephew's 1st b-day coming up in September and it's going to be a themed party. I do plan to start some Wilton classes coming in August. I'm excited about them!!

I love it here so far but I'm pretty lost when it comes to abbreviations and have to look them up. Anybody else?

It's cake overload but it's also exciting to learn. The cake that is coming up will most likely be a 3 tier cake and I have NO clue about stacking, SMS, and all that jazz.

Just wwanting to call out any newbies!

I'm not exactly a newbie, but a hobby baker. I only make 6-10 cakes a year and have taught myself everything I do by constantly stalking this site and LOTS of trial and error. Youtube has lots of great tutorials and the people here are very helpful with suggestions, ideas, and tips. Good luck on your first big cake and remember that it's supposed to be fun!

Hi and welcome! I'm a hobby baker for a couple of years, so only do a few cakes here and there for friends and family. I've learned with a class at my local community college which I think was similar to the Wilton classes at Michael's hobby stores. I've learned different techniques on here thru photo/video tutorials and also by watching many you tube videos. Just google the technique you might be interested in and bunches pop up. The best thing to do is remain patient and learn from any mistakes you make or by listening to others here. This has been a great website thus far for me. What you can't find here I am sure that one of the fellow CC members will be able to direct you where you need to go. And just simply have fun with it!

Hello! I'm a hobby baker but still consider myself a total newbie. My advice would be to read as much as you can because the cakers on Cake Central are all pretty awesome. There is a ton of information on this site! Making cakes for an event (as opposed to just doing it for fun), can be completely terrifying so I wish you the best of luck. Make sure to practice before you actually do it but so many things can happen especially when you are a new decorator!

Appreciations: http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-2926.html

Check out this thread for links to information on stacking and more...

http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-605188-.html

Hey! I am somewhat new as well as a hobby baker. I took all of the Wilton courses but that was about 5 years ago and so much has changed!!! I also find myself looking up a lot of abbreviations. I will say that I love this site and am so glad I joined. Everyone on here is so willing to share their knowledge. Anything you want to know ask on the forum and someone will reply. Good luck with your cake. Can't wait to see it.

OMG, I'm such a newbie I'm almost embarrassed to be here.

A dear friend of mine who is a hobby baker convinced me I too, can bake and decorate a cake. She's coming over next week to help me with a topsy turvy I'm baking for my three daughters, who are having a huge birthday party. After reading tutorials, looking at pictures, and checking out tools and supplies, I'm starting to think this might just turn into a new obsession for me. The husband doesn't know whether to be happy or sad about this, LOL.

I've already gotten some great advice from these boards so I'm very glad I found my way here.

I would definitely check out the you-tube videos, or you can just "search" any topic and I can pretty much guarantee that there will be something available to teach you. I remember when I was doing my first wedding cake and needed to know about how to stack it, I just searched it and learned from there. And the cake didn't topple over! Best of luck

Hey there! I made my first cake this past march and had so much fun decorating it that I now consider this a hobby. I bake about 2 cakes a month for family and I bake cupcakes and specialty cakes every wednesday. I still have so much to learn! I learned a lot from the wiltons course 1 (completed in may/2011)and now I'm starting on course 2. My biggest advice for you is to look at dozens of pictures! Develop a plan of what you want to do and prepare everything before you start. Also, do the cake in stages. My daughters birthday cake was my first big cake and at first I was overwhelmed so I took it step by step. Baked on Thursday and crumb coated the same day, Friday I finished icing and stacking, Friday night I worked on decorations and Saturday the day of her party, I added all the final touches and used a steamer to make everything shiny. Private message me if you ever want to discuss your ideas.

Thanks for helping me feel welcome and that i'm not alone.

Yes, youtube has been my friend for makeup, soccer, and now cakes!

I will definately practice. I need to practice my buttercream and mmf. I haven't decided which I want to use yet. I love BC but have yet to put my hands on fondant. We shall see...

Hi,

I too am new on here. I did a decorating course that was done over just 12 hours. I have been addicted ever since. I recently made my first wedding cake. I was nervous but it looked amazing. I have always used fondant. I only use butter cream as a filling. If you need any help then please inbox me and I will help as much as I can. I love making sugar flowers so if you need any help please ask.

I am a self taught hobbyist baker, I have made my cakes for my childrens' birthdays and friends birthdays for years.. I am in the process of making my first wedding cake this weekend, this is my biggest cake yet!! I have learned alot from this site and of course Youtube is my friend How did we ever live without that? haha..

I have been working with MMF for a few years now.. I decided to try out Michele Fosters Fondant and let me tell you it is pure heaven!! It tastes very good, just like buttercream frosting, and I love the consistency of this fondant, its not as elasticy as the MMF.

Another thing I recently started doing is making the WASC. I have seen it on here for awhile, but have usually either made my cakes from scratch or used a straight, non-doctored cake mix. I will never go back to either of those two options after trying the WASC. So far I have made a white, strawberry and french vanilla versions and they are all delicious and oh so moist!!

I have a lot of things to learn, most of all patience.. I find myself trying to rush through alot of steps becuase I am so excited about the end product, but I have to learn to pace myself.I find this place so helpful, and there are so many talented cake artists on here, I could only wish to make cakes as beautiful as thiers!

Nice to *meet* you!!

LOVE IT!! I'm a hobby baker as well, and make cakes for friends and family. I am still a NEWBIE! I've loved to bake for years, but it's only since about January this year that I've gotten serious and tried to decorate nicely. And I might add, I still have a TON to learn about baking. Nice to talk to other newbies !!!

First of all, WELCOME!! You found the right place! I love it here because everyone is very generous and helpful.

I am a hobby baker also, I have been at it for almost 3 years. I started with a Wilton class which got me hook into cake decorating.(I LOVE WILTON , but) ... : do not buy everything Wilton! There are some things that are good and most others that are a waste of $$$$$$, Their new MOLDS are very good, the small leveler is good (small cakes only) Do not go crazy like me, buying all kinds of icing tips! Before making a purchase, get inform about the product.
I hope no one gets upset with me for my opinions.
Enjoy your new hobby! I do, I like to make people happy.

Good luck

Hi to all the Newbies! I, too, took a Wilton class just because I felt I was becoming boring. My life consisted of everybody's life but mine. There was nothing about ME any where. I suddenly found that I actually enjoyed...and stressed...over the cake baking. It was like nervous therapy! I am learning so much each time I bake. I have to force myself to step outside the box and try new things and CC has really helped me to branch out. When my oldest son started school, I didn't even know how to make cupcakes and guess who became the room mom?! LOL Now my husband wants me to stay away from the grocery store and never mention cakes in the classroom because everyone wants one - budget has been busted with this hobby on several occasions! Stacking and transporting still terrify me. I have a lot to learn. CC just feels famliar now - the members have certainly come to my rescue on many occasions. Hubby thinks I'm becoming addicted! Happy baking and I hope any and all will pm me if they think I can be of any help!

Woohoo! Awesome that there's several of us and all with the same enthusiasm!

Rpaige- funny you mention budget! I spent way too much on this last cake I tried to make but the ending was worth it to me. Nervous Therapy is the perfect description! Maybe it's an adrenaline rush? I don't know but I get so stressed but in a therapeutic way.

Soledad- I have taken that advice because I keep seeing it here. I won't be buying (unless it's clearance or something) anything I don't need just yet. I have a cupcake stand and some plastic tips that didn't fit my bags ready to go back because I don't need them. I just wanted them!

Awilder- The cake recipe you mentioned is one I have yet to try. But yes, everyone keeps talking about it on here... will have to try it!! Is the Michelle Foster Fondant on CC?

Tracie- I will be PMing for sure, thanks for the offer! I want to taste the MMF one of these days to make sure it's yummy. I'm excited to make it!

Jessiescreations- I have looked at tons. I'm pretty sure of the cake I'm going to make. I'll send it to you. It's one that I saw on here but I'll put my own touches to it.



Thanks for all that responded, especially about having fun with the cake.
What I need to do is break it down, find out what I need, what method, and how to do it. Then just start researching each topic 1 by 1. I keep thinking SMS, MMF, BC, WASC, tips, Filling, etc.. because I'm excited but I just need to start on 1 thing and go from there!!!

So do all the newbies have a stand mixer? That's my biggest temper tantrum lately, that I WANT 1 NOW! So far, I've just used my hand mixer and it's worked but I'm ready to go up to the next level.

Hey there

I would still consider myself a newbie. Everything I've done is in buttercream, so I've yet to mess around with fondant.

I actually started baking with baking bread. And while bread baking has it's own challenges, I wanted something that required various techniques and abilities. Not that bread doesn't but cakes are a bit more involved. The only thing with bread, is that it's a bit cheaper.

But as far as stand mixers go, I have a sunbeam, and it works alright, but I would really like one with a paddle attachment rather than beaters. It's kind of like a glorified hand mixer LOL!!

I was like you, I wanted to do it all and it was hard to force myself to take things one step at a time. It still is hahah!!

Welcome!!!

Since you mentioned the abbreviations, the ones that have a dotted underline in posts have the definition there, if you hold the mouse over the word.

I've never taken any classes. There's so much info available online that you can learn how to do almost anything you want to do on your own. I've been decorating cakes as a hobby for about four years now, maybe five...with a year off in the middle because I didn't feel like doing cakes after I moved. Now that Texas has a cottage food law, I'm planning to start a business in September.

There's so much info on CC that it's almost overwhelming if you try to take it all in at once. I usually focus on one thing at a time. I didn't see the Melvira method in your list to check out, but it's a great way to smooth buttercream.

When you're buying tools, it's easy to get carried away. I think the most important tools are an offset spatula and a turntable...start with those and then add on as you need things. Sign up for emails from Michaels and they'll send you coupons. I usually wait until I have a coupon to buy cake tools.

One thing I wish someone had told me when I was first starting out was to buy Americolor gel colors, and not the Wilton colors. Americolor doesn't leak and the colors are usually more vivid. They sell them at Hobby Lobby and at the cake decorating shops.

Oh, and don't obsess about stand mixers You really can manage without one at first.

Klutzy-baker- I started with baking bread also! It's so much cheaper to make and I think if I ever open a storefront I will also sell all types of bread. So yummy!

The KA mixer is on my wish list but Santa Baby has said NO. Funny, the two John Deere tractors were a YES but not a mixer!!!

I have managed to do just fine with my hand mixer and even an old Sunbeam that is probably 30 years old! Neighbor loaned me her KA while she was on an extended vacation and I loved it! Since baking is my ministry only, there are no funds to support a lot of supplies - although my baking closet would dispute that fact.

I have spent money on trying to stay organized with plastic bins and labels which has been helpful. The cake supplies are all small and easy to lose or much too easy to simply dump in a bin because it is quick when you're tired! I have tried to do better in that area.

I love my decorating turntable the best. I also enjoy the Melvira method of smoothing bc. It is challenging to be a Newbie but kind of fun to see our personal progress with each cake! We need to inspire each other!

I have only been baking/decorating for less than a year now, but it quickly became an obsession - especially once I found CC!

It all started with my niece who decided she wanted (HAD TO HAVE) a Wizard of Oz cake for her 4th birthday party. Well, one cake turned into three cakes for one party. I managed to pretty much tell the entire Wizard of Oz story on three cakes. CRAZY!

Since then I have done lots of practicing and giving away of cakes to friends and family for any and all celebrations that they could come up with.

I just did my first wedding cake last weekend. Talk about nervous!! But I got to try out so many cool techniques that it was totally fun! The Bride and Groom loved it so I couldn't have asked for more than that. Of course as I sat looking at it, all I could see were the things that I could have done better I guess that gives me a reason to do another one - practice makes perfect.

Hello everyone!
I'm a newbie too...in fact this is my very first post. I've been caking for a few months now and I've read and learned so much here. There is so much information and so many great ideas that I get overwhelmed at times.

I haven't taken any of the classes but I plan to because I would really like to learn how to use the decorating tips to make flowers, etc. I started out with fondant and have tried a couple of recipes including MMF, which seems to be my favorite so far.

I also plan to start a small business in September and it's right around the corner.... I still have so much to learn, but I'm really excited.

Hi ya'll! I started baking 1 year ago and feel that I am right at that border between newbie and intermediate decorator. I make about 2 cakes a week and recently people who I don't even know call me to make a cake. The biggest temptation for newbies is supplies, supplies, supplies! I speak from experience, just wait until it goes on sale. I have 2 KA professional series mixers, over 150 tips, 46 pans, all kinda of cake sets, expensive fondant/gumpaste tools and most recently 2 refrigerators. Sure, it got out of hand a bit but I told myself I needed it! I also took the all 3 Wilton classes and several buttercream/stacking classes. The best investment I ever made was buying the ALL of Sharon Zambitos DVD's. They are worth the money. My husband thinks I checked them out from the Library for an extended period of time. Have fun baking!
Fedra

Fedra... your buttercream and swirls are beautiful!! I went into your gallery! I have been into cake decorating for 2 1/2 yrs and I am not even close to your level. I can finally smooth out the buttercream, but can not make anything else with it That only thing I can make with my tips is the grass thing tip and any size star. That is why I prefer to work with MMF, for my cookies and cake.

I would like to learn how to make bread, but for now I will sharpen my skills as a cake decorator. I sure need to get an extra bowl for my KA, an airbrush, some new Wilton molds. My family have it very easy with me, whenever they have to get me a gift they give me MICHAELS gift cards!!!!


CIAO

Soledad: Thank you so much for your nice humbling comment! There is still so much to learn but patience and practice are my best ally. I swear by Sharon Zambitos DVD. That woman changed my buttercream life!
Fedra

I just read the entire SPS thread. Yowzas! My eyes are>>>>>

I'm a newbie. No matter how much i read, or practice, there is wayyy more out there for me to experiment with and get better with. I love coming to this site. so much info at your fingertips. amazing. anyway, welcome.