24 Replies

Pamela I am not sure how strict the OSSAS judges are but I know the competitions I have entered they don’t like inedible dust. I tend to use the crystal color’s Antique gold by sugarpaste. All of their colors are FDA approved.

Advice on entering would be to read the rules very carefully and make sure you follow them so you don’t get disqualified.

Just be warned competitions are very addicting..lol

Thank you Prima Cakes! I know the rules state that disco dust is allowed, but only on lift off decorations only. My design has lots of royal icing piping that I was planning on using the highlighter on, so not sure if that counts. :-/

I have heard that they are addicting! I’m hoping it will be worth the time/effort/money I put into it!

Is would say if you are going to use it on the royal icing I would use an edible gold. Royal icing would not be considered Lott off decorations.

Hi, I’m also a first-time competitor this year! I’m excited, but really nervous! haha. I was also looking for some helpful tips/info from others who have competed before. I’ve been to the competition several times as a viewer, and I’m always in awe! Cake decorating is more of a hobby/side job, as I’m also a full-time online high school English teacher, and full-time mom to 3 boys. Ha! Anything to make this experience a little easier, less stressful, and more enjoyable would be welcomed! :)

I’m also wondering how literal, and liberal, other competitors are being with interpreting the theme of Fashion Week. I’ll admit, I had a hard time with this one, as it is not something I’m normally interested in. Haha. But I think I have a nice design worked out. :)

Hi Julie, I just went with something related to fashion. I’ve wondered about how liberal we can be with the theme. The rules say it is wide open to interpretation, so I’m hoping mine fits the bill. It will be fun to see what everyone comes up with. I just wish I would have started on mine sooner…I underestimated the time involved! Hope to see you there. Good luck!

Whenever I use an edible gold luster, I always tint the icing, fondant, gumpaste, whatever beneath it a “gold” color, (I use ivory and egg yellow colorings). The highlighter will cover anything, but the luster dust needs a color underneath to achieve a similar look. Also, with metallics, lemon extract usually works best to bring out the shine, and it smells awesome too. Good luck! Are you entering the wedding cake competition or a different category? So much fun, and I recommend trying cheesecake on a stick!

Thank you adorncakes! I am entering the wedding cake category. :-) And I definitely well try the cheesecake on a stick!

Hi ladies! I went to OSSAS last year and competed for the first time.

1. Gold- They are very strict and so I went with the reg gold luster dusts vs the Albert version.
2. Interpretation- You will frame a picture of the dress next to the cake. It has to be from fashion week. If it’s not it will be disqualified. However it can be from previous years of fashion week. As long as they can see where you pulled your design from the dress you are fine. However if it’s not easily seen then they may mark you off.
3. Time- It took me 3 months to do my cake. Although I did have lots of flowers. This cake show is all about precision. Much harder than any other show I entered. Also just fyi the goodies for the regular show are off the hook!! The winnings for the Wedding competition are for 1-10 I believe only.

Actually now that I remember it the cuffs around the draping are Albert Uster so I got away with it. LOL

Your cake is fabulous LoveBlossomsCakery! Thank you for your response. Now I’m quite worried! I’ve already spent over well over 50 hours and quite a bit of money on my design. When the rules stated “design ideas can be wide open”, I took that to mean anything in the realm of fashion…. OH NO!!!!!!! :-/

I went and reread the rules and you are correct Pamela she changed to wide open. So you are safe and carry on! Wish I’d known that I would have entered again. lol I couldn’t narrow down a choice. HA

Oh and I’m Jamie:) Nice to meet you

Wait correction I read it again. No it still needs to be fashion week and she put a year on it sooo….not sure but your still supposed to have an inspiration picture and your cake should be loosely based off that. Let me see if I can find my inspiration picture for my cake so you get an idea.

Bad color but you can at least get an idea. The theme last year was 50 shades of Pretty and a story about romance. So there ya go. As for the question of what you can and can’t do email kerry vincent or Loydene Barrett. They can help you with that part.

Kerry Vincent is very active on the OSSAS Facebook page, and replies to almost everyone’s comments/questions. That might be a good place to get some clarification about the rules. I chose a dress from 2011 Fashion Week, so I hope it’s not limited to just 2015 Fashion Week! Now I’m wondering… hmm

And Jamie, I agree with Pamela – amazing cake!! We really have a lot to live up to in this competition!

I emailed Loydene, haven’t gotten a response yet though. Maybe I should send it to Kerry…

Loydene replies normally in the morning. She will reply, she always does, just might have some delay this time because at this time they might be buried deep in mails as today is the deadline to mail forms. Also the sponsor gifts are coming in their doorstep so its quite busy on their end…
Tip * have everything documented, print out and keep it handy, also some process shots of some areas of your work will help to keep in your phone album , just in case the judges need to question your work. I have joined the competition in categories only because it is difficult for me to transport a wedding cake. Good Luck and hope to meet you there!

Joanne, what exactly do you mean by have everything documented and printed out?

apologies for the word “everything”, didnt mean to overwhelm you , i meant that you can take process shots or some short notes on special and new techniques you applied on your piece. This will help just in case judges get curious. In one of my entry, they thought that i used molds throughout the piece and it was just a “lick and stick” method , good thing i stuck a printed process collage underneath my display to show them that half of the jewelries were handpiped royal icing and some were over piped on the molded jewels. That short note/collage saved me from further deductions. Because once we paint over the piece it can look really deceiving and maybe mistaken for another technique. Iam attaching the photo of my piece.

Great advice, thank you!!!

here is a link of my piece that i posted here in cakesdecor. I had trouble uploading a photo atttachment on my comment awhile ago….

Thank you both! Joanne yes I get to see you. Fingers crossed. I too am doing categories. Your mask is insanely awesome!

Because Kerry Vincent is not a member she has asked that I copy and paste this answer:
There are rumours flying that the Grand National is about 2015 Fashion Week exclusively. Not so and if you are unsure, do not ask other contestants who are dishing out the wrong information! “Fashion Week 2015” is about any fashion week in any part of the world, any era, any fashion cycle, can be about the architecture of the runway, a magazine spread, the dresses themselves, from Zhandra Rhodes, Christian Lacroix, Carolina Herrera to Worth but not limited to them, Women’s Wear Daily, Vogue et al. The Grand National was always wide open to interpretation deliberately so. It is not about just 2015. It can be an ancient queen, such as Boadica, she set trends that exist till this day. No more talk of Fashion Week being exclusive to 2015 (2015 is only reference to the year this competition is being held!)

Ha, you beat me to it Cosmic Custom Cakes! I was so grateful to have this clarified. Kerry is awesome.