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 July 2013

Welcome to the first Sugar Craft Newsletter from Crafts Bee!

We hope to bring you lots of exciting news about classes, new products, exhibitions and much more including answers to your cake decorating and sugar craft questions.  As this is the first one please bear with us as we work out what we need to include and if there is anything you would like to see covered please do get in touch!

You can e-mail us with suggestions or your sugar craft questions at cakedecorating@craftsbee.com , we would also love to see your pictures of cakes you have made perhaps following attending one of our classes.

TTFN (Ta Ta For Now for younger readers!)

Claire

Dates for your Diary

The following classes are booking up quick, book your place now!

August 10      Introduction to Cake Decorating
August 18      Modelling in sugarpaste
August 18      Cupcake Decorating
Sept 7             Introduction to Cake Decorating
Sept 15           Learn to decorate a square parcel cake
Sept 22           Beginners Royal Icing
Sept 28           Cupcake Decorating
Sept 28           Modelling in sugarpaste
For more details and to book click here.

Essential Kit!

It can be daunting to work out what equipment you need to have when staring out with Sugar craft as there are so many products available. I am a true believer in only buying what is necessary, using tools for more than one job and making use of household items! In each newsletter I will try to give you tips on what it is good to have. I am starting off by recommending some essential items.

Artist palette knives

Lidl does a fantastic set in a zip up case for about £5/6 keep your eyes open for when they have craft items in stock.

A good quality craft knife

This can be bought from any good art stationer or craft shop and is one of my most used items!

Paintbrushes

Perfect for adding fine detail, applying sugar glue and of course painting and dusting. Have a selection of different sizes to hand including some very fine ones. Can be bought from art shops or picked up quite cheaply at places like The Works. I would recommend nylon bristles and plastic handles for ease of cleaning.

Rolling pin

If you are a keen cake decorator a non-stick rolling pin is a great investment Cake Craft World in Bromley/on-line has a good selection. If you are not quite ready for that investment then a length of PVC piping from a DIY store will do just great and it can be put in the dishwasher!

If you have discovered a sugar craft use for a household item why not let us know so we can include in the next newsletter.

Cup Cake Decorating

Learn to decorate beautiful Cup Cakes just like these on one of our classes.

Dates available

Sunday 18 August
Saturday 28 September
Sunday 10 November

Questions and Answers

Every month we will answer your cake decorating and sugarcraft questions.

If you have a question you would like us to answer email us at cakedecorating@craftsbee.com

‘When I make cakes after they have cooled down they go sticky, do you know what I am doing wrong?’ Leanne

Hi Leanne, often cakes get a sticky layer on them as the sugar in them attracts moisture, not much you can do to stop that. I always cut the ‘crust’ of my cakes before icing to give a better surface to ice. Make sure you don’t store them in plastic containers even once cooled as that will cause a sticky top. I usually wrap my cakes in 2 layers of cling film and store in fridge until I want to ice them. It is often a sign of a lovely moist cake which is what most of us want to have! So just go with it and slice a thin layer of to get rid of sticky bit!

‘I am baking a topsy turvy cake and want to try freezing and then carving the cake. How long should I leave the cake in the freezer for and should I wait for it to be defrosted before I start carving and filling?’ Sonia

Hi Sonia, great idea to freeze cake before carving as it makes it much easier. Cake does not really freeze rock hard and defrosts very quickly so you can carve straight from the freezer. Make sure you have a sharp finely serrated knife to help you and have fun!

‘What was the powder you put in water to make the glue?’ Leanne

Hi Leanne, the powder you refer to is Tylo Powder also known as CMC powder. It is a synthetic gum that makes great and cheap sugar glue and also adds strength  to sugarpaste allowing it to dry much harder too.

Have you tried Royal Icing?

Master the techniques at our Royal Icing Class.

Dates available

Sunday 22 September
Sunday 10 November.

New Product

Sweet Lace

You may have seen the incredible lace designs from Sugar Veil at the exhibitions recently but found it a little pricey, well there is now a more reasonably priced product called Sweet Lace.  Sweet Lace is an innovative way of creating beautiful edible lace which retains its flexibility.  You can buy Sweet Lace online and from Cake Craft World, Bromley.

Cake and Bake Show Earls Court, London

Why not book some tickets to The Cake & Bake Show at Earls Court, London 13-15 September. Great place to pick up tips, watch demonstrations, meet the stars of sugarcraft and perhaps find some bargains! Click here to book your tickets.

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