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dmhart
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 03, 2008
Posts: 65
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 Posted:
Thu Oct 02, 2008 4:34 pm |
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Is there someone that would be willing to give me a few tips for writing on a cake. I hate to sound stupid but I just can't get it right. My writing looks like my dog did it. I keep thinking practice is the only way to get it right but is there any other things I can do to help.
It looks like it would be the simple part. But I get my cake done and love it, I write on it, then I want to throw it in the thrash. 
I need some help.  |
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grossoutqueen
Newbie
Joined: Jul 01, 2008
Posts: 17
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Thu Oct 02, 2008 4:48 pm |
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Wilton makes a nifty message imprint set that comes with a plastic hold that you slide the letters into, to spell whatever it is your writing. You then press the message lightly into the icing and just trace over it. I love it because it really helps me be neater with my writing.
It comes in Italic and script (i think) so you can write messages that are fancy or fun. |
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Kavingate
Regular Member
Joined: Sep 12, 2006
Posts: 106
Location: GA
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Thu Oct 02, 2008 7:48 pm |
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littlecake
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Sep 18, 2006
Posts: 1642
Location: the fine line between genuis and insanity
Birthday: Nov 21
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Thu Oct 02, 2008 11:20 pm |
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it helps if the icing is thinned.
i like printing curly letters more than cursive script, it's just easier to me. |
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indydebi
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jul 07, 2006
Posts: 15085
Location: Indianapolis IN
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Fri Oct 03, 2008 5:01 am |
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wilton presses all the way. |
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dmhart
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 03, 2008
Posts: 65
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Fri Oct 03, 2008 12:00 pm |
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Thanks for the tips, I have tried thinning my icing. I think I get it too thin so I have backed off a little on it. I will check on the wilton presses. I just hate to mess up a good cake with the sloppy writing.
Thanks for your help!  |
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neomommy
Regular Member
Joined: Feb 12, 2007
Posts: 198
Location: South Texas
Birthday: May 11
Gallery Supporter Member
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Fri Oct 03, 2008 12:16 pm |
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I have ruined more than one cake with my writing, so I know what you mean. I have the tappits and wilton presses. I also find that I do alright drawing or tracing a picture, but worse on writing. It helps me to turn the cake so I'm writing upside down. Sounds weird I know, but then I'm concentrating on drawing a shape not writing. |
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dmhart
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 03, 2008
Posts: 65
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Fri Oct 03, 2008 1:07 pm |
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| neomommy wrote: | | It helps me to turn the cake so I'm writing upside down. Sounds weird I know, but then I'm concentrating on drawing a shape not writing. |
That sounds interesting...Hmmm. I have tried everything, mainly practice but it is still bad. My hands shake, mostly when I go to write. I don't have that problem doing anything else on my cakes. I am going to get a set of the wilton presses. I do okay when I trace, maybe I am not as focused on making a mistake. I thought there has to be an easier way. |
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BCJean
Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 12, 2007
Posts: 735
Location: California
Birthday: Apr 03
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Fri Oct 03, 2008 1:27 pm |
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I like writing which looks like the decorator wrote it and not perfect. I was told once by a supervisor, make it happy writing.
When you write, you need to move the entire arm, not just the wrist. Steady the right hand by touching it midway between the elbow and wrist, with the left hand. Make the letters tall and skinny, it fits the space better and makes the handwriting not look like it is taking up the whole cake. If you slant the letters it is more appealing than straight up and down. I almost always use cursive unless it is for a child who would be too young to read cursive...then I print. Block letters are never as fun looking, so I don't ever use them. I think it looks more artistic if you make the capital letters quite a lot larger also. |
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ranbel
Frequent Member
Joined: Feb 24, 2007
Posts: 231
Location: Callahan, FL
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Fri Oct 03, 2008 1:32 pm |
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My writng has always stunk. I also have the wilton press letters.
But, I tried something differnt on the last cake I done. I got it from someone here on CC.
I printed and put dots on end of each letter...hard to explain. You can see it on the gator cake that says happy birthday chuck. This was my first time writing like this and I was impressed, helps to hide the imperfections....I think I am going to stick with it....it looks pretty cool too. |
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kimblyd
Regular Member
Joined: Apr 13, 2007
Posts: 113
Location: Tuscaloosa, AL
Birthday: Sep 06
Gallery Supporter Member
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Fri Oct 03, 2008 1:47 pm |
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I have the same problem and have tried all of the suggestions made so far. I even bought a cheap projector from Hobby Lobby and ordered the stand to go with it. For piping on a cake using the projector gives me the best results, but I have to get the room fairly dark to have the writing show up on the cake and it is a PITA to get everything working correctly. Of course you could always buy a KopyKake projector (would love one myself) but they are too pricey for me.
When I want to write on the cake board, the thing that works best for me is to type on the computer then print out in the exact size and alignment I want it to be on the board. I then cover my cake board with wrapping paper or cloth, then wrap with clear food-safe cellophane. I leave one side un-taped and slip the print-out underneath. Pipe the letters, pull out the copy, and finish taping the cellophane to the board. If you mess up you can wipe it off again and again. The only thing is you have to be very careful putting in and removing your copy and taping up the board.
The next cake I do I am going to try printing on a transparency sheet and just leaving it on the cake board.
HTH
Kim |
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crisc23
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 24, 2007
Posts: 71
Location: Oklahoma
Birthday: Jun 12
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Fri Oct 03, 2008 1:58 pm |
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Tappits!!! They are the only way to go. You will be in love once you get the hang of them. |
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tracey1970
Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 30, 2007
Posts: 572
Location: Ontario Canada
Birthday: Mar 21
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Fri Oct 03, 2008 1:59 pm |
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I can't write worth a darn on a cake either. If it's a "plain" cake, I use the Wilton presses. If it's a fancy cake for a big occasion, I choose a font, size it the way I want, and type out my message. I print it off, lay it on something sturdy (cookie sheet, plexiglass, etc.), cover it in waxed paper, and trace the letters with royal icing or color flow (thick). If I make a mistake, I wipe the letter off and do it again. I always make extra for breakage (and there will be some). In about 24 hours, it's dry, and I carefully use my icing spatula to lift off the letters. When I am decorating the cake, I cake place the letters however I want. Just be sure to choose a font that's not too thin and pipe the letters a bit thicker depth-wise, so they have some strength. I can do some funky lettering this way. |
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ksgirl
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 02, 2006
Posts: 86
Location: Kansas City Metro
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Fri Oct 03, 2008 2:07 pm |
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This may also sound weird but one thing I have found is that if I wait until the buttercream has crusted on the cake to do the writing, I can usually take a straight pin or Exacto knife (ones reserved for my cakes only) and am able to sort of pull the writing off. Sometimes it comes off in a string and sometimes it breaks. But many times I am able to pull it right off. I don't thin out my icing for the writing so this could be the reason I'm able to pull it off. Hope this helps! |
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Kim_in_CajunCountry
Frequent Member
Joined: Apr 19, 2008
Posts: 385
Location: South Louisiana, smack dab in the middle of Cajun Country
Birthday: Sep 08
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Fri Oct 03, 2008 2:35 pm |
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I do the same thing as ksgirl, I wait until my frosting has crusted. I thin my icing enough to flow smoothly, but not so that the color transfers onto the buttercream. Then I can use a straight pin, toothpick, or even a soft paintbrush to lift off any unwanted writing.
I think my writing is OK, but I fell in love with the Funky Alphabet tappits from FMM when I saw them on a cake recently. As I type, the set of Funky Alphabet Letters, as well as the uppercase and lowercase sets of script letters are on their way to me from globalsugarart.com!
I can't wait to try them! |
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