Welcome to the Cake Decorators Q&A

Hi I have always had a joy in cake decorating, and now by doing this with Paul, I am creating a portfolio. I was wondering whether I actually needed to make all of these cakes! It’s just a waste of cake! Is there any other ways of building up a portfolio? The polystyrene cakes are so expensive, I may as well bake. If anyone has any ideas I’d be truly grateful! Money is tight because I am unable to work due to M.S. but I have a kind of apt for this, I have even designed several cakes of my own!

Hi simone

You can see some more ideas here http://www.cakeflix.com/questions/faking-a-cake-dummy.

Hi simone – its great you are able to pursue this hobby although you have M.S. – I have read somewhere that the polystyrene cakes can be stripped and reused. Just had an idea you could make moulds from polyfilla – just line a cake tin with cling film and then fill with stiff polyfilla. Its worth a try !!!

Hi simone – another idea just make dummies with rice krispies – melt 50 g butter, 250g marshmallows then add 150 g rice crispies. Line the cake tin with cling film and then fill with the mixture – it will be as light as the polystyrene dummies but prob a lot cheaper if you use own brand rice crispies etc.

Hi Simone. It’s great that you enjoy it so much and its so addictive isn’t it. The polystyrene cake dummies can be used over and over as the icing can be stripped off so it would work out cheaper than always baking. Other members may have other ideas which could help x