Cake Decorating Tips

I recently took a cake decorating class and I thought I would share a few tips that I learned that are really simple, but make your cakes look really good.  For these specific tips, they apply best to a round cake.

Frosting the Cake
I never used to do this until I took my cake decorating class, but you should level the tops of both layers of your cake.  Once the layers have cooled, I do this by take a knife and cutting off the doom so the top of each layer is flat.  This makes decorating a lot easier.

When frosting the cake, do one very thin layer of icing.  This is called the crumb layer.  Put it is the refrigerator for an hour and then apply a second thicker layer.  The crumb layer keeps the crumbs in place so when you add the second layer of frosting, it will look a lot smoother.

Decorating the Cake
I recommend getting a simple cake decorating kit with a few different icing tips and icing bags.  I bought mine at the local craft store.  Experiment with the different tips to see what designs you can come up with.  A lot of the kits will come with instructions on how to use the tips as well.

This is a cake I made just experimenting with the different icing tips.

When it comes to icing, consistency is the key.  For borders and flowers, you need stiffer icing.  If your designs/borders aren't holding its shape, just add some more powdered sugar until it is to a stiffer consistency.  For writing and lines you need thinner icing.  You can make it thinner by adding a little bit of water or milk.

One of the tricks we were taught was to use cookie cutters to make imprints on your cake.  Then fill the shape in using your icing bag and different tips.  You can use cookie cutters to create all kinds of scenes on your cakes.  It is really easy and turns out looking really cute.

I used cookie cutters to create the design on this cake.

Second easy trick we learned was using piping gel to put pictures on your cake.  Piping gel is a clear gel you can buy in the cake decorating aisle.  It comes in a little tub.  Pick out a simple image you would like on your cake, like something from a coloring book with distinct lines.  Place some parchment paper on top of the picture and trace the picture with a small paintbrush using the piping gel.  (I would only use a brand new paintbrush, just saying...)  Once you have traced the picture with the piping gel, flip the paper over on top of your cake and press lightly.  Peel the paper off and the piping gel leaves a clear outline of the picture.  Use your icing bags and tips to fill the picture in.

I used piping gel to transfer this image on to my cake.

Those are just a few tips I learned in my class.  If any of you have tips for cake decorating, I would love to hear them!

Menu Chalkboards

A few weeks ago, my sister and I made chalkboards that could be used to plan out our weekly menu for dinner.  It was pretty easy and I thought they turned out really cute.

Here is what you need:

Mod Podge, Chalkboard Paint, Paper, Paint (optional), and
a piece of  sanded Wood (We bought ours at Walmart for around $3)

First, we painted the boarder with craft paint and applied the chalkboard paint.  We had to put on a couple of coats of the chalkboard paint and then we set it aside to dry.

While the paint was drying, we cut out strips of paper to use as a border for the chalkboard.  Once the paint dried we glued the paper to the wood using mod podge.  I'm not a mod podge expert so my sister had to teach me how to use it.  Just so you know, you do this by first adding it to the back the paper, stick it on to the wood and then on top of the paper as well.  This was the trickiest part for me, because it is hard to not get bubbles in the paper.  Also, make sure not to get mod podge on the section you want to use as a chalkboard.  My sister also used mod podge to apply letters for each day of the week on her board.  I left mine blank so it could be used for writing notes/lists as well as a menu.

And now, the final product...

This is how my chalkboard turned out. 
(We made these around New Year's Day.)

This is how my sister's chalkboard turned out.

Glass Magnets

This is my first time posting on poshISH, thank you Eliza for the invite. Here is a really simple craft my sisters and I did together. We used decorative glass stones to make really cute magnets.

Here is what you need:

Tacky glue, round glass decorative stones usually used in vases (you can find these at any craft store or in the home decor section of most stores), magnets and scraps of paper (I tried to choose paper that matched the color scheme of my kitchen).

First you cut out circles about the same size as the stones, I recommend tracing something like a quarter.

Second, you apply tacky glue to the flat side of the glass stone.  Next glue one of the circles of paper face down to the stone.  Press down on the paper firmly (it is good thumb workout) and wipe off the excess glue.

Third, you don't have to do this, but it worked out well.  Once the glue is dried (we waited maybe 45 minutes) we brushed a little Mod Podge over the paper and flat side of the stone so the paper wouldn't peel off.

Last, once the Mod Podge is dried, if the magnets have a sticky side (which is the kind I recommend getting) stick the magnet on the flat side of the glass stone on top of the paper in the center.  If the magnets don't have a sticky side, use the tacky glue or a hot glue gun and wipe of the excess.  Once again, press firmly.

Applying the magnet.

And now for the final product (drum roll please...)

Ta da!!

I thought they turned out really cute and now I have magnets that match my kitchen.  My very creative sister-in-law Katie did this but instead of using decorative paper, she used pictures of her kids and gave the magnets as a gift to my mom.  They turned out to be an adorable and thoughtful gift.