I made a cake for a family friend’s daughter. Her birthday is coming up and they’re celebrating this weekend. Here’s what I learned from it and what I need to practice

1. I tried to do a “groovy” pattern but it didn’t turn out quite right, it looks more marble instead. I should’ve frozen the cake instead of just refrigerating before smoothing it. I was trying to replicate the technique of @theyhayleycakesandcookies on TikTok.

2. I need to smooth my buttercream transfers BEFORE freezing them and make sure the back is level. Stitch’s ear fell off ???? I do definitely think it’s better than the last one I did. And the color match is a lot better than I thought it would be

3 Speaking of color, I need to stop being afraid to add dye to my icicng. The color gel I use it kinda cheap. I bake for fun, not as a job or anything so I don’t want/need the expensive super vibrant stuff.

1. I don’t need to color so much icing at once. A lot of icing went to waste because I colored it and I wasn’t gonna use it again. I think a good rule of thumb for me is to color about 3 cups of frosting at a time, even that might be a bit much though

2. I need to practice my calligraphy ???? I have trouble with speed and pressure when squeezing the bag so the frosting starts to coil on the cake and it’s just a mess trying to clean it up

I think that’s everything I’ve learned from this cake :) I think my next one will be a white monochrome so I don’t have to worry about so many parts. I can focus on the bare basics of piping