Welcome to the Cake Decorators Q&A
Cake lace suggestion
Hi everyone,
Seeing Paul struggle a bit with his cake lace tonight on the new tutorial , I thought I would just share with you what worked really well for me recently while experimenting with the cake lace myself.
Sticking the cake lace with dabs of water or dabs of glue or piping gel just didn’t work well…..then it hit me….I steamed the whole surface of my cake ( therefore keeping the look uniform) and it worked like a charm, the steam made the cake just tacky enough for the lace to adhere perfectly….bingo !!!
Hi everyone,
Seeing Paul struggle a bit with his cake lace tonight on the new tutorial , I thought I would just share with you what worked really well for me recently while experimenting with the cake lace myself.
Sticking the cake lace with dabs of water or dabs of glue or piping gel just didn’t work well…..then it hit me….I steamed the whole surface of my cake ( therefore keeping the look uniform) and it worked like a charm, the steam made the cake just tacky enough for the lace to adhere perfectly….bingo !!!
Hi madeitwithlove,
it was me the other member 🙂
I tried the dabs here and there but either it would not stick or it would dissolve. And in the end I got it to stick but since it didn’t make full contact with the surface of the cake it didn’t look very professionnel (I was experimenting on a test cake so no damage).
I used a steamer, very lightly, just enough to make the cake tacky, it was a breeze, of course, the lace made full contact, just perfect.
If I may…just one more tip….to get a nicer seam at the back (I used the ophilia pattern, which can be awkward to connect) I connect it side to side but then I cut it in the center and remove a ”strategic” part of the design with my scissor so the design flows more naturally. ( Oh boy, I am sure that explanation was clear as mud LOL !! )
Anyway….
Here’s the link to the steamer I have, I love it !!
I have also read somewhere that you could use your airbrush with just water but since I don’t have an airbrush, steam seemed a good idea, and it was. Do you have an airbrush ?
Let me know if it worked for you
Hi madeitwithlove,
you are very welcome, I am glad it worked for you as it did for me. I also hope that your injuries had time to heal and that you are feeling better now…
Hi – just thought I would offer something to this thread. When I was trying to apply the softer/flexible cake lace band to the circumference of my cake I lightly brushed the sugar paste with Trex. It made it easier to move/adjust the lace with a paintbrush than if I used water or glue. As long as you are light handed – the sugar paste absorbs the Trex and there is no detrimental affect to flavour or appearance.
This method didn’t work applying the premixed Cake Lace ( I used the Alexandria mat as a snowflake design). I needed edible glue applied to the sugar paste NOT the Cake Lace as it dissolved and held in place for a minute to adhere.
Ah linev, thank you so much for posting this! Today I have heaps of cake lacing on four tiers awaiting me for tomorrow’s wedding. Last night I experimented with a few leaves which promtly dissolved. When I was at the cake show in March I asked all the cake lace sellers how to stick this stuff on and they all suggested a little cooled boiled water. I was asking on behalf of another member who had posted while I was there. Now I feel dreadful just in case the water didn’t work for that member. Can’t thank you enough for sharing. How did you steam the cake? have you got a steamer or did you just do it the old fashioned boiled kettle way? I wish I had bought the PME steamer at the show now!
Paul’s tutorial came a couple of days too late for me, I would have loved to use this design. I haven’t watched it all yet but it looks subtly stunning.. You could share your results on Paul’s facebook page too, I’m sure thousands of other followers would be grateful for the share. oxox T H A N K Y O U!!
Thank you so much again for taking the time to answer me, you’re an angel!!
I’ve taken on board your clear as mud explanation for cutting the lace, thank you for that too! I do have hubby home so he can help me cut the lace as per your instructions. My sight is so poor on close up work that you can bet your life something will go askew!
I’m soooo glad this cake is all done (except for the lace). How lucky was I to get your feedback?? I’m ecstatic with relief!!
I do have an airbrush so will try it out on a spare piece of sugarpaste and lace before attacking the real thing. My hubby also suggested using isopropanol which evaporates very quickly so won’t have time to dissolve the lace. All ideas are worth a go. I’ll let you know later on how it all pans out. oxox
ps thanks for the steamer link, it looks slightly similar to the PME steamer. I think I will definitely get one. x
I’m sure you have already thought about this…but just in case….do your lace cutting to get perfect seams before.
Do a dry run, pin the lace to your cake, cut as desire, remove your lace, and only then prepare your cake surface and stick your now- cut- to -perfection lace to your cake.
I will, thank you so very much!! I did have some trouble the last time I used the Ophelia lace (I’m using Ophelia and Serenity and a leaf mat of South African origin who’s name I forget). All your advise and suggestions are much appreciated and useful, not just to me but to anyone else who will be needing this advice on adhering cake lace successfully.
Tomorrow, I will be so happy, when the cakes are no longer my responsibility. I’ve really struggled this time because I’m recovering from an accidentl in which I broke my leg and smashed my ankle. Standing is excruciating! All the pins, plates and screws are rubbing and driving me insane! You know the hours we spend on cake baking and decorating, this one has been a killer. At least you have saved me potential grief. I’m off now to paint the cakes, monogram all sorted! Talk to ya later. x
Hi linev
I took on board all your advice about preparing the cake lace, cutting for perfect seams before steaming. I owe you a great big thank you! It certainly pays to spend that extra bit of time. My seams were seamless!!
The steaming part for me wasn’t so great because I haven’t got the steamer. I use the kettle which was a bit hit and miss but still made the cake tacky enough for me to position the lace. Bits which lifted I managed to stick down with edible glue, the water wasn’t doing it for my lace. I’m so glad this project is over, don’t you just love diva brides!! Your information is on the site now, it’s going to help lots of other members. Thank you again.xx
Hi catsmum
Thank you for taking the time to add your cake lace experience to this thread. It’s great to have a stash of different ideas in case one or the other doesn’t work. The more ideas the better so there can be something for everyone. x
I totally agree, the more ideas the better. Here’s one more, since the premixed cakelace doesn’t adhere as well…..what I do when I want for exemple silver lace, I use the silver first and then after it is dry I do a second coat with the white cakelace, it makes it more softer and flexible and easier to adhere to the surface of the cake.
Yes I’ve done that too and found it works better on the Clair Bowman mats than some of the others. The Crystal candy mats which I bought at the show didn’t like this method, the mix somehow ended up seeping under the already dry first coat. As you can imagine it wasn’t a good look! It works beautifully with Clair’s mats, I think this may be because the patterns are cut less deep. I’ve done it a few times with the crystal mats with same results. Perhaps I’m not allowing the mix to set properly in the leaf pattern. http://crystalcandyusa.com/ I haven’t tried it on the border mats yet.
I wonder if anyone else has had a similar experience?