Who Are the Cake Decorators Out There?

[lkpaul]

Hi! I'm just wondering how many of us are cake decorators (at any level). I've seen several threads here and there and know who a few are, but I'm curious to know who you are, what you do with it (are you professional, hobbyist, friends & family only, etc.), and why you got into cake decorating. Plus I wanted there to be at least on thread in Specialty Cooking.

So I'll start. I got into cake decorating because I realized that I enjoyed finding fun kids cakes to do for my kids' birthdays. After a few, I realized that I should probably learn how to do it for real so I took some classes at Roberts. Now I pretty much just do cakes for birthdays and family weddings, as well as a few other family events if I'm in the mood. I'm not really interested in doing it professionally because I think I would get sick of it and learn to hate it if I did.

So that's me, how about you?

[jhcd]

Hi. I recently got in to cake decorating. Every time I went to Hobby Lobby I saw the cases with the cakes you could learn in class. I thought there was no way I could do something like that. Over this past winter I was brave enough to sign up for the first class.....I was hooked. I finished all the classes they had to offer. I am also only doing the cakes for the family holidays and birthdays. Maybe one day I will think of doing it professionally....

[nemo]

Hi I started doing crazy cakes for my kids birthdays. This year I knew I needed to get a job and I saw a sign up at Ream's looking for a cake decorator. I sent the boss an email link with all the stuff I had done and he hired me right away. I got some on the job training and I love it..it is work but at least I get to be creative and enjoy what I do. I still would love some more training though..

[Kitten]

Mine got started in very similar way as others that have posted so far. A few of my kids wanted birthday cakes for characters that were not so popular at the local stores and so I started into making my own. Then my kids got spoiled and figured out they could have so much more -- IE.. layers and fillings and such if they got Mom to make the cakes so now I have nice collection of items to help me with the task and it is something our family got me into.

[shawnii5]

My husbands aunt and a few of his cousins do very nice cakes. The problem is they are so pretty that I make some one else cut into them LOL.
Maybe some day I will get time to take some classes on something like this.
It sounds fun.
Shawnii

[ChristinaB]

I don't do cake decorating, but I thought those of you who do might enjoy this site: http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/ It's a hilarious take on professional cakes that are bad -- really bad! Every once in a while, she posts some amazing cakes too.

[Kristi]

I started decorating just because it looked like something I'd enjoy. I'm self-taught, first from Wilton books then from experience. I was up to the point where I was selling wedding cakes (among others). But I'm not good at self-advertisement, so I never really took off with it. I was still making all the family and friends cakes until a year or so ago. I just ended up with so much decorating stuff and have never found a good place to organize and store it. So it's just really a pain to try to make anything. I'd really like to get back into it if I can get my stuff organized!

[lkpaul]

My husbands aunt and a few of his cousins do very nice cakes. The problem is they are so pretty that I make some one else cut into them LOL.
Maybe some day I will get time to take some classes on something like this.
It sounds fun.
Shawnii

I always make other people cut my cakes (at least make the first cuts). I work so hard to make them that I can't stand to destroy them myself. On the other hand, I also don't want all that hard work to go to waste and just have it sit there uncut and uneaten. My family always argues with me that it's my "right" to cut the cake. I refuse every time.

[pinksandgreens]

My mom started a cake decorating business the year that I was born- so I grew up playing with her leftover frosting. She never really gave me any formal lessons, but was always there to answer questions. By the time I was 10 (or younger) I was helping with wedding cakes. I had my own business for a few years but stopped when I started having kids. It's just too much for me to do it full time. But I still do cakes for friends and family and help my mom when she needs it. I would recommend to everyone to let their kids play with frosting. Yes, it gets messy, but kids learn best by doing. Besides, they grow up too fast to not have fun making a few messes!

[purplejenn]

Same here, except its DH that does them for us. He makes WAY fun cakes. He reminds me of Duff from Ace of Cakes the way he carves the cakes out of just cake. He has even been known to go to the garage for a "tool" to help his cake along. LOL! I love to just sit and watch him work.
Its a tradition in our family to have Dad make the birthday cakes. Now we have friends, family and neighbors that are begging him to do them for their events/birthdays!


My husbands aunt and a few of his cousins do very nice cakes. The problem is they are so pretty that I make some one else cut into them LOL.
Maybe some day I will get time to take some classes on something like this.
It sounds fun.
Shawnii

[BargainSeeker]

Over fifteen years ago I took Wilton Cake Decorating classes offered at the J.C. Penney near me. I finished three courses. I got to the point of starting on wedding cakes. My instructor wanted me to come work with her, (she had her own cake and confectionery business), but life commitments got in the way, if you know what I mean. I still have the cake pans, (I used to collect them!), and have not baked a cake in over ten years! I think this might get me started again! Sounds great!

[ChristyR829]

My husband and I love to cook, but baking has always been my passion. I started with cookies, moved up to cupcakes and finally got the nerve to tackle a cake. I remember watching Julia Child on Channel 8 when I was a kid, and whatever I saw her do with a cake terrified me into thinking I couldn't do it on my own .. anyways, after the first cake, I was hooked.

I am pretty much self taught but I did take 1 Wilton class. I loved it. I would have continued with the courses but time became too tight for me to do so.

I've done cakes for family and friends but i've also done a couple wedding cakes also. I love, love, love it .. if I could quit my full time job with no money worries, this is what i'd do all the time. I think its my way of being artsy.

[Tressa]

I'm like most everyone else. I was self taught for a long time until I took some classes and learned a little more. :) I do family cakes, and I've done a wedding cake before as well. I've always loved making fun cakes, so it is just fun for me. I can't ever see doing it professionally. But, I do enjoy it. :)

[UndertheSun]

my grandmother is a cake decorator but i sadly am not

[Mommasue]

Same here, except its DH that does them for us. He makes WAY fun cakes. He reminds me of Duff from Ace of Cakes the way he carves the cakes out of just cake. He has even been known to go to the garage for a "tool" to help his cake along. LOL! I love to just sit and watch him work.
Its a tradition in our family to have Dad make the birthday cakes. Now we have friends, family and neighbors that are begging him to do them for their events/birthdays!
I'd love to see pictures of his cakes!

So where should I start? I'm not sure but would like to learn how to decorate.

[luckystars]

I am just a beginner and would love to learn! I signed up for the wiltons class at michaels a few years ago and was the only one signed up so they cancelled it. I have taught myself a little but have a long way to go...I'd love to see pics of your favorite cakes!

[abstowe]

I grew up thinking that decorating cakes would be so much fun. And it is! Not to mention stressful. I took all 3 wilton classes about 9 years ago and have been decorating ever since. I do mostly birthday and wedding cakes in Utah County and love love love to see the cakes once they are set up and finished! The downside? I hardly ever eat cake any more. And it used to be my favorite!

[singsing]

I started 20 years ago doing cakes for roommates and eventually took classes and mostly do cakes for family (40+ neices and nephews), that's a lot of weddings). I enjoy being creative but I stress so much for each 'big' cake it's not worth it. Plus I usually do them for free as a gift and never get much thanks for my 20 hours work and money put in. blah blah.... But my kids enjoy my birthday cakes. A few of my cakes can be seen at Cake central (some on here) but unfortunately some of my best cakes never got pictures of or camera got stolen or something... I do get the bug every once in a while and since birthdays are spread out pretty good in my family that about covers it. Truth is I don't even really like cake! I would rather have a pie.

[pdfc]

I used to make and sell cakes, but I get too nervous. I have made 2 wedding cakes, both for family members.

[cake_lady]

I started decorating cakes when I was 10. I put them in the county fair and they went to the state fair. By the time I was 12 I was decorating huge gingerbread houses and hitting the yard sales to find pans. I worked in a bakery and watched the ladies do their thing! I was fasinated. I took a 4-H class from a lady in town and she was great. By the time I was married I had been doing cakes for friends and family and the word was out. I stayed at home and started decorating for more people. I live in a little community so there is a bakery in our store but they dont do much. Word of mouth keeps me crazy with cakes and sugar cookies. It is a fun way to make extra money, and I can do cakes whenever I want. My neighbors love the leftovers and my kids like the mistakes. If you want my sugar cookie recipe I put it on the recipe contest. It is the best! I am glad so many people are interested in cakes.

**Earth holds no pain that Heaven cannot heal**

[heatherbade]

Ok, I know I'm a little late when ya'll started this thread, but I just found this website. My bff called me and asked if I would take cake dec. classes @ Michaels craft store with her. So I agreed, it was so much fun (she gained weight from eating the icing we were supposed to be using in class). Anyway we went through all the classes and we both started making cakes for others.

It is sooo much fun. I have accumulated about 40 or so cake pans from square, circle to character pans. Tons of tips, dec books, etc. I was making about 1-2 hundred a month on cakes but then the kids got so busy I had to cut down.

I am sooo NOT crafty, but I can actually decorate the hell out of a cake. It's alot of fun. The end result is worth it!

[RachelDawn]

This is a fun thread! I started my cake decorating because I refused to spend $650 on the wedding cake I wanted. Well, a few weeks of practice and I did it. I spent less than $100 and had a delicious, beautiful cake. And I got a TON of compliments on it, so that alone was worth it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/IAmDreaming/l_7970d4b4bd2f1b12f4734ce210de5784.jpg

[Kimsfourgirls]

I am looking for someone to make a sweet 16 cake for my daughter. Her birthday party is scheduled for the 30th this month- Jan.
We really do not have a cake in mind I know she wants something specail not just a sheet cake.
We live in the West Haven/Ogden area.

Any takers please email or PM me

Kim
mphkhh@aol.com

[rooster1]

I also am looking for a cake/cupcake decorator for my son's 6th birthday coming up in april...anyone know someone who can do a super mario bros cake?

[nemo]

I am always up for a challenge

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/4374666056_e22beb61d2_m.jpg


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2703/4325326715_ac689c0526_m.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/4352108424_d00230a2d1.jpg

[bdear]

My sister-in-law and I got hooked in Ace of Cakes. We decided that we could do it too. We had my father-in-law's 50th birthday coming up and we went all-out. We made a cake that showed off all his hobbies- skiing, mountain biking, running, yoga, swimming, rock climbing, and the business he owns.

This led us to make an aunts wedding cake, several birthday cakes and anything else people want. I just made a dumb truck cake for my cousin's baby boy's 1st birthday.