16 Replies

Hi, I am completely self taught in the art of cake decorating, thanks to watching countless you tube video tutorials and exploring cake artists blogs and websites. I didn’t take the wilton class either, nor received any formal training. Pinterest also has pages and pages full of cake tutorials. These are all good starting points. Then you just need to practice the techniques and your skills will grow from there. For material, start by buying some tools and fondant at Micahaels, if one is near you – use the coupons and you’ll get good deals. Good luck!

I agree with rooneygirl, youtube has some great tutorials!!

I too am completely self taught. You just need to play around until you are happy and confident with what you are doing. And the beauty of Sugar paste is if you’re not happy with it you can either roll it up and start again…or eat it!! You tube is fantastic, and after 2yrs of “do it yourself” cake decorating I’m going to a class at Pretty Witty cakes next week to do the birdcage wedding cake class. I want to get some tips on how to save time and money, and I’m curious to see if I’m doing it the right way and I’m sure I’ll learn loads anyway. Go for it, and you won’t regret it. Top tip…. don’t buy too much kit. Only buy what you will use. If you get an order, cost the kit into the cake because you might never use it again. Making your own silicone moulds is really easy, and you can save loads by making your own moulds. I made the sea shell moulds for my Beach hut cake last week and I’m over the moon with how they came out. Good luck, have fun, and remember to post your work for us to share. Everyone is so lovely and positive, and you’ll soon hooked on cakes décor. It’s a fantastic site.

Everyone has given you great advice. One other thing that I would like to add is check out books available at your local library. Since this is only a hobby for me and my cakes are given as gifts to family members, I try not to buy too much. You would be surprised what you can use around the house for decorating. I have even used bottle tops as cutters for some of my sugarpaste flowers. Best of luck to you.

I agree 100% percent with the other posters, but I wouldn’t dismiss the Wilton classes entirely. And if you have a Michaels Craft store near you, you might be able to get the class at half off. My Michaels seems to always be running a half off or BOGO deal on the Wilton classes. If you’ve never decorated, it’s nice to start out with some instructor based training. You might also want to see if there’s a decorator’s club in your area. They usually meet once a month and they will discuss new techniques and even have demos.

Cake decorating in itself is not a cheap hobby. The $25 (or 12.50 if you catch a deal) for the classes are a steal compared to the tips, pans, sugar, butter, eggs, etc. you will be buying.

I would absolutely LOVE to take the Wilton classes, but when I asked a year ago Michaels said it was $100 for each class :( If they’re only $25 I can swing those no problem!

Check out the craftsy online classes on cake decorating!

Do yu have a Joann in your area? I don’t know exactly what the Wilton classes cost but they’re definitely under $100, and Joann often runs specials. I am mostly self taught but Wilton classes are a great place to start.

I spent $30 for a years subscription to MyCakeSchool dot com. The ladies who run it are great, there are plenty of tutorials, videos from ‘baking a cake from scratch start to finish’-to ‘making a stacked cake’….
She has recipes, and message boards. Check it out, it’s a great place to start.

My Cake School is one of the best investments I have made!! Almost every cake I do , I have used something from that sight- Craftsy classes are great— wait for the sales— Jessica Harris’s class was so worth it!! Sharon Zambito has excellent videos (Sugarshack)-

I took a class at Michaels- it was the worst— the absolute worst!!! We didnt even finish it- what a complete waste of tie- Im a teacher and the instructor was awful!!

Everyone on Cakesdecor are amazing!! They are so helpful and supportive – not always the case on other sites-

Dont buy too much stuff- I continue to make this mistake- ugh— I posted a blog for us beginners I listed some tips etc-

Mo

Check out my website in my signature. I have lots of tips there.

You might also want to try our site, Pretty Witty Cakes. You can pay annually or monthly, and there are over 230 classes…

I started Cake Decorating when I was in desperate need of an income, because my husband just could not find work. Thankfully, he was blessed with work recently, but ever since, I’ve been very, actually extremely busy.

I also have followed no classes and is self taught. I started with Cake Decorating Books I bought at local stores and on various websites. Debbie Brown’s books are amazing. I found the books a better option that the You Tube option as it was less expensive and I can use it over and over. With You Tube you will need to pay for your bandwidth if you miss something and need to watch it again, unless you have lots available to you. I just adore my books.

I know have a full blown business and is so blessed. I always say, if you have a passion for something, you can only succeed!

I started decorating a couple years ago and am completely self taught. I read countless books and blogs about different ideas and You Tube has been a great reference for me on many occasions! I am also a stay at home mom and don’t have a whole lot of time for classes in the classroom. I know there is still so much to learn but it is definitely possible! My advice would be to just start baking and working with the basics for now- no need to buy much except maybe a few decorating tips. Wilton’s website has some step by step instructions for some of the basics without having to purchase a class. Good luck and happy caking!

You can do it!

I just joined Sharon Zambito’s online Sugar Art School! Best value ever! For only $10/month or $100/year, you get access to exclusive videos with Sharon and guest celebrity cake instructors, exclusive photo tutorials from Sharon herself and other cake celebrities, there’s a forum where you can discuss everything from the tutorials, to business, to just about anything, and I’ve met a few cake friends thru that already ;) You get complete access to a huge recipe bank, a photo gallery and articles on cake decorating, starting your own cake business or bakery, taxes, baking advice, you name it! You can also upload your own photos and recipes!! Oh, forgot to mention: there’s also a member photo tutorial section where you can upload your own tutorials and see what the other members have done! There is so much bang for your buck! www.sugaredproductions.com Hope to see you there!

LearnCakeDecoratingOnline.com is one of my new favorite sites, $9.99/month and some of my favorite decorators are on there: Verusca Walker, Hyandi, Jessica Piedmont…
You’ll get recipes and step by step tutorials, most are more advanced techniques though they do have a free video. I’ve heard great things from Sharon Zambito’s school.

The biggest mistake I made when I started was thinking I needed every tool available lol, I probably use my handmade templates the most :) but there are some basic things you’ll want to get started and yes, it is an expensive hobby! Very rewarding!

Some of my favorite blogs, right off the bat that I found super helpful in the beginning and now:

SugarSweetCakesandTreats.blogspot.com
CupADeeCakes.blogspot.com
Jessicakes
CakeCentral.com
CakesDecor.com
VivaLaSugarCake.blogspot.com
ArtisanCakeCompany.com
RoyalBakery via FB free tutorials
Craftsy (they have paid classes, free classes, and free blog tutorials)

Those are just off the top of my head but you can literally google anything you want, YouTube, or come here for help.
I’d probably start with mastering the basics; icing a cake smoothly, leveling and torting, covering with fondant, etc.

Everyone here is super helpful