Summer Meadow Cake Decorating and Baking Tutorial

Paul creates two simple handmade templates, then uses them to cut out the flower paste. He then uses moulds to create the patterns for the butterflies. He then creates a couple of simple formers using cake box lids. 

NOTE: Paul uses dummy cakes, but if you need guidance on stocking and covering double barreled cakes please see our COVERING and STACKING cakes lessons.

To help with the meadow effect, the white paste needs to have a tint of colour. This is perfect use of the airbrush. Keeping a good distance, gently layer up a light blue shade to be sky like. Paul then adds some dusted clouds for extra effect.

Time to get the paint out and Paul starts by brushing on the grasses. It can be a therapeutic experience. Start brushing using  a dark thicker base then getting lighter as the grass grows to the top of the cake. 

Using a selection of colours added as paint dots, you will get an amazing meadow effect. You don’t have to be artistic to get this amazing look.

Ensuring that the butterfly has set and body added,, it’s time to add some colour. Using a mix of blues, white and black, Paul paints beautiful patterns to really bring this butterfly to life.

NOTE: The butterflies should be left for as long as possible (minimum 24hrs) on the former to set. Before painting, the body is added and stuck with a small amount of edible glue. Paul suggests standing the butterfly on a cake dummy, supported by cocktail sticks and paste. This will allow the butterfly to be painted in position and reduce the chance of breakage.

In this lesson Paul creates a more structured butterfly design. Similar colours to the abstract butterfly, but a completely different look and design.

Paul offers lots of helpful hints and tips as he adds the butterflies to the cake. In this lesson he also explains how to get around it if your butterfly breaks. Why? Because it happened to him!

Paul shares some other ideas you can try out during this project. We’re sure you’ve some of your own, and we’d love to see what brilliant alterations you’ve made.

Paul shares some insider information about the cost to make this cake. He also shares his advice on pricing and other vital information necessary for any professional cake designer.