Straw frosting
Has anyone made a cake that resembles a straw bale?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by jan daniel on
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Linda, this was pre-delivery, so yes, this was the cake intact, as it was meant to be... Susan thought the bale weighed about 30 ibs. I did use a cardboard separator between the two layers, per Gayl's instruction. I am not sure who served the cake... I will tell you gals that although I was a guest at this wedding, I couldn't stay. I was so embarrassed, in my opinion, this girl's wedding cake was ruined. As I am frantically trying to fix this, the bride was exchanging her vows over my shoulder, up a slight "hill" under the family's covenant tree. I think if I had not been as tired, I may have stayed and endured and been bubbly... as it was I was up all night ensuring everything was "just right"...
Linda Wolff said:
You know, Jan, from the pictures you really can't see any disasters. Were these pictures taken before delivery? That bale of hay must have weighed a TON! Four stacked, huh? Did you cut the cake so that people got the right serving size, or did someone else? Sometimes when you have a large cake like that, the cutter cuts all the way down to the board and serves too much cake. Did you have a cardboard between the four layers? How you placed your flowers and bandana-everything just had such an appeal to it.
I don't buy pricey things like extruders and such unless I do have a good coupon. I got mine from Hobby Lobby with the same deal. A 40% off computer coupon. Sometimes I think their prices are outrageous for this stuff! Those little pots of petal dust-$5.50!! Ridiculous!
jan daniel said:Linda, It's beautiful! I am in awe! I invested in an extruder and my bestie, Susan Fuller, made the barbed wire and stems with it. I love the extruder. I got it at Michael's and used a 40% off coupon. This cake was the first cake that I really have used gum paste for flowers. I did make bunnies with some a while back. Your basket is beautiful! Is that gum paste? I think what I really enjoy is problem solving, the "how do i get this to look like that".
I used four 11x15, 2-8" and 2-6" rounds and 5 9" pie tins. It served 232. As for charging... I didn't know what to charge, I far exceeded what I got for supplies.... and was going to ask for more... and then... the disaster. So I don't feel right about asking for $. However, an expensive lesson learned, I will charge from now on, but I am not sure how to. Help? The bride is such a close friend of the family too. We would do anything for these guys, which is why I guess I was so upset when this cake went pffft. If I get pics of the end product I will post them for you.
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Ah, so use a separator between each layer... smart! I am learning soooo much from you guys!
Lynne Salmon said:
........when you have a large cake like that, the cutter cuts all the way down to the board and serves too much cake. Did you have a cardboard between the four layers?.............
Yes, using a cakeboard between the layers is how you prevent cutters from serving super tall slices of cake :)
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Permalink Reply by Linda Wolff on
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One of my very first wedding cakes years and years ago, I didn't have a clue what I was doing and made a very tall bottom tier. It was beautiful, but I neglected putting those card boards in and two teenage girls were cutting the cake. Disaster! They cut these HUGE pie shaped pieces of cake and were serving them up. People had enough cake on their plates to serve six people! The bride came and complained to ME that I had not made enough cake! She should have had at least 50 servings extra above and beyond what she had ordered since she was a friend and I was going more for her vision rather than amount of servings. The girls she had cutting the cake were around 15 and 16 years old and I did supply a cutting guide....but...you know kids. I learned a big lesson on that cake. That had to have been about 20 years ago......
jan daniel said:
Ah, so use a separator between each layer... smart! I am learning soooo much from you guys!
Lynne Salmon said:
........when you have a large cake like that, the cutter cuts all the way down to the board and serves too much cake. Did you have a cardboard between the four layers?.............
Yes, using a cakeboard between the layers is how you prevent cutters from serving super tall slices of cake :)
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I did ask the bride if she had established cake cutters... she was actually using friends and I hoped for the best. The "coordinator" said, as I am tearily trying to clean up the cake, "don't worry, most guests don't care about the cake..." I disagreed with her and politely let her know that, even if that was the case, I cared about the cake. When it was all said and done, the bride texted me later that night (its the 2000's) and complimented the flavor, design, etc, that is was "amazing and rocked". Later her dad left a vm and saying it was fabulous and couldn't thank us enough. He also added that he was sorry we left before they cut it, but he understands I must have a hard time watching my works of art being cut. I told my husband that I love watching people cut into and enjoy my cake. It's the unplanned upheaval and ruination that I have a problem with.
Linda Wolff said:
One of my very first wedding cakes years and years ago, I didn't have a clue what I was doing and made a very tall bottom tier. It was beautiful, but I neglected putting those card boards in and two teenage girls were cutting the cake. Disaster! They cut these HUGE pie shaped pieces of cake and were serving them up. People had enough cake on their plates to serve six people! The bride came and complained to ME that I had not made enough cake! She should have had at least 50 servings extra above and beyond what she had ordered since she was a friend and I was going more for her vision rather than amount of servings. The girls she had cutting the cake were around 15 and 16 years old and I did supply a cutting guide....but...you know kids. I learned a big lesson on that cake. That had to have been about 20 years ago......
jan daniel said:
Ah, so use a separator between each layer... smart! I am learning soooo much from you guys!
Lynne Salmon said:
........when you have a large cake like that, the cutter cuts all the way down to the board and serves too much cake. Did you have a cardboard between the four layers?.............
Yes, using a cakeboard between the layers is how you prevent cutters from serving super tall slices of cake :)
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I know Jan, you put all of your heart and love into doing something you want to be so special, and when it doesn't meet your OWN expectation, then it is hard....but keep in mind that other people do not have the 'gift' of baking that you do, and that they cannot 'see' the vision in your own head of what your expectation is, so they don't 'see' the disaster that YOU think it is. Rest assure, you did a good job, and no matter how hard you are on yourself, do NOT give up! Every single cake is just another opportunity to learn how to do it better the next time. As a decorator myself, I can see every ounce of LOVE that you put into that cake! You did a really great job! You keep saying how good mine are, but Jan, I'm 61 years old! I'll bet I have a few years (as well as many disasters) already under my belt than you do. You really really did do a good job! Put a big smile on your face, pat yourself on the back, and also take a deep breath of relief that this one is DONE! lol!
jan daniel said:
I did ask the bride if she had established cake cutters... she was actually using friends and I hoped for the best. The "coordinator" said, as I am tearily trying to clean up the cake, "don't worry, most guests don't care about the cake..." I disagreed with her and politely let her know that, even if that was the case, I cared about the cake. When it was all said and done, the bride texted me later that night (its the 2000's) and complimented the flavor, design, etc, that is was "amazing and rocked". Later her dad left a vm and saying it was fabulous and couldn't thank us enough. He also added that he was sorry we left before they cut it, but he understands I must have a hard time watching my works of art being cut. I told my husband that I love watching people cut into and enjoy my cake. It's the unplanned upheaval and ruination that I have a problem with.
Linda Wolff said:
One of my very first wedding cakes years and years ago, I didn't have a clue what I was doing and made a very tall bottom tier. It was beautiful, but I neglected putting those card boards in and two teenage girls were cutting the cake. Disaster! They cut these HUGE pie shaped pieces of cake and were serving them up. People had enough cake on their plates to serve six people! The bride came and complained to ME that I had not made enough cake! She should have had at least 50 servings extra above and beyond what she had ordered since she was a friend and I was going more for her vision rather than amount of servings. The girls she had cutting the cake were around 15 and 16 years old and I did supply a cutting guide....but...you know kids. I learned a big lesson on that cake. That had to have been about 20 years ago......
jan daniel said:
Ah, so use a separator between each layer... smart! I am learning soooo much from you guys!
Lynne Salmon said:........when you have a large cake like that, the cutter cuts all the way down to the board and serves too much cake. Did you have a cardboard between the four layers?.............
Yes, using a cakeboard between the layers is how you prevent cutters from serving super tall slices of cake :)
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Permalink Reply by Gayl Colding on
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Jan I agree with Linda. We will see every single flaw when we look at our work. When other people see it they just see the talent. Rest assured you were the only one that knew everything that was wrong with it. I have been doing cakes as a hobby for 20 years & I still think there is pleanty of things wrong with them when I set them up. When I later see photos of my cake I think gosh that thing looked good. What happened to all the flaws.LOL Keep doing them, and relax and enjoy your talent.
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Jan & Linda
What is an extruder? Although I have done cakes for 20 years, I have only just begun to try out fondant & gum paste. Not sure what tools I need to invest in.
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Gayl, an extruder is a clay tool that I found over in the area where they sell Fimo clay tools. It has all kinds of different kinds of plates that you can insert (kind of like a cookie spritz maker only smaller) and then you can turn the handle and make ropes, strings, all kind of shapes that you can twist and manipulate for your fondant or gum paste.
Gayl, this is the first year I have ever been 'brave' enough to try fondant and gum paste myself. I've always been a butter cream person too. It actually intimated me because how high priced it was and I was afraid of all the waste if I messed up. The extruder that I got is made by Makin/s and cost $24.99, but if you have a coupon, especially one for at least 40% off, that is the time to nab one. Hobby Lobby has one on line right now for any regular priced item. I'm not sure if Michael's has one or not right now. I bought the Makin's brand because Edna De la Cruz from Design Me A Cake recommended that brand and I love it.
Gayl Colding said:Jan & Linda
What is an extruder? Although I have done cakes for 20 years, I have only just begun to try out fondant & gum paste. Not sure what tools I need to invest in.
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Oh I am going this week. I have a 50% coupon that is just begging to be used.:) Thanks.
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Gayle, Michael's no longer carries the Makin, this is the one I got with my 40% off http://www.michaels.com/Clay-Extruder-Set/gc1628,default,pd.html. It has a plastic storage box and retails the same as the Makin/ The handle is a "turning" one, like a crank, sorta, easy on the wrists and hands.
Gayl Colding said:
Oh I am going this week. I have a 50% coupon that is just begging to be used.:) Thanks.
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It looks pretty similar to the one I have!
jan daniel said:
Gayle, Michael's no longer carries the Makin, this is the one I got with my 40% off http://www.michaels.com/Clay-Extruder-Set/gc1628,default,pd.html. It has a plastic storage box and retails the same as the Makin/ The handle is a "turning" one, like a crank, sorta, easy on the wrists and hands.
Gayl Colding said:
Oh I am going this week. I have a 50% coupon that is just begging to be used.:) Thanks.
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Permalink Reply by Rima on
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post a photo
Gayl Colding said:I had to make a bale of hay a few months ago. I tried a few different tips & knew it would take forever going that route. I finally looked around my house & came up with this. I iced the cake in buttercream & then used a hair pick & ran it back & forth over it until it resembled hay. This worked perfect & some of my cake friends have already adopted this idea.
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