BLOG.FLORIDAICED.COM

New Judge Announced!

2012-03-25T21:05:47Z

Did you hear the buzz???? Edna De La Cruz of Design Me A Cake will be joining us again this year as a judge! We are so excited to have her back this year! Since last years competition she has competed and WON a Food Network Challenge!

All of the judges and everyone involved in making this show happen are soooooo very excited to see you all there and to see the amazing cakes you will bring!

See you ALLLL in a few days!!!!!

It's Almost Showtime!!!

2012-03-24T13:35:16Z

In just one short week everyone will be gathering in Ocala for the Florida ICED Cake Competition. Whether you're coming from near or far. Bringing a competition piece, competing in the LIVE Challenge, volunteering or just simply coming to marvel at all the beautiful cake masterpieces. We hope to see each and every one of you next weekend for a show you are sure to remember! See you at the masquerade ball!!!

Living Statues Coming to Florida ICED!!!

2012-03-15T19:57:09Z

That's right, the amazingly talented World Gate Entertainment will be at ICED for all of us to enjoy their amazingly talented Living Statues!

World Gate Entertainment offers excellent entertainment specifically designed for your event.Their acts are qualified masterpieces of movement,music and storytelling that take audiences on a fun journey of self discovery and imagination.

They create and produce all their shows and each show is very unique and gives a classy, sophisticated and prestigious touch to any event.It leaves a memorable experience to any audience, to become one of the highlights of your event.

Here is an example...

You can't miss it!

Satin Ice Book Signing!

2012-02-20T14:04:40Z

We are so excited to have Mercedes Strachwsky back this year. She will be doing a book signing in the vendor hall at the Satin Ice booth. How great is that??? Make sure you are at BOTH days of the show so you have plenty of time to see everything at the show. And stopping by to see Mercedes is a MUST on the Florida ICED itinerary!

Vendors, Vendors, Vendors!

2012-02-20T13:57:53Z

Have you all been to the FloridaICED.com website lately? If not, you definitely need to check out all of the AMAZING vendors that we will have this year. They'll even have their very own vendor hall! Almost like a mini convention. We are so honored to have so many GREAT people and companies joining us this year for our show.
There are waaaaay too many to list, but some of them include Publix, Simi Cakes, Satin Ice just to name a few. The list goes on and on....

Be sure to check out the vendor page on our website and be super sure to stop by the vendor hall during the event. You won't want to miss it!!!!!

Live Challenge!

2012-02-20T13:50:27Z

The First Annual Florida ICED Live Challenge is going to be great! We have some wonderful talent from all over the state competing and they are sure to thrill us all with there cakes! You won't want to miss this! If you love the Live Challenges on television and you ever wanted to watch one in person, this is the time to do it!

Saturday March 31 at 12pm. Be there!

Demo's are OPEN!!!!!

2011-10-22T15:44:02Z

That's right, we've officially opened up all our AMAZING demo's!
Go to http://www.floridaiced.com/Demos___Activities.html
To download the registration forms. There is one for Saturday and one for Sunday.

We have TWO days worth of incredible demo's for you this year. Get your registration in early, you won't want to miss out on your favorite classes!

More Amazing Prizes!!!

2011-10-22T15:41:21Z

Have you checked out the Florida ICED website lately??? Not only are we giving away a Cruise, a Kitchenaid and a year's worth of instruction. Now we have also revealed our LIVE Challenge Prizes, and once again they are AMAZING!!!

All six contestants that are chosen to compete will win something, can't beat that deal!
Grand Prize winner will receive:

One Icing Images Elite stand alone printer system which includes the stand alone printer system, the sponge free elite cartridges one pack of 8.5x11" premium icing sheets one pack of colored designer cutting sheet, bottle of cleaner and the usb cable and a 30 day trial of the iiDesigns. Donated by Icing Images
Plus...

Silhouette SD personal electronic cutter
Instructional DVD by Linda McClure
Blade holder and blade for cutting gum paste
Instruction book on using Make the Cut; how to print and cut; and adjusting the blade.
Cutting mat
Tylose (enough to make a recipe of gum paste)
Also, as another bonus you will also get:
The Creative Designs Cake Decorating Method set includes:
- 3-DVD set of instruction and practical application for using your electronic cutter
- DVD with video files teaching how to use Make the Cut! to develop and manipulate designs
- CD of over 200 ready-to-cut designs
Donated by Linda McClure

Second Place will receive:

Icing Images Elite stand alone printer with sponge free elite cartridges one pack of 8.5x11" premium icing sheets, a bottle of cleaner and the usb cable and a 30 day trial of the iiDesigns. Donated By Icing Images

Third Place will receive:

1 pack of each of Icing Images blacks, brights and pastels designer color electronic cutting sheets. Donated by Icing Images

Fourth Place will receive:

1 pack of each of Icing Images bright sand, pastel, designer color electronic cutting sheets.
Donated by Icing Images

Fifth and Sixth Places will receive:

1 Year Membership to II Designs! Donated by Icing Images

How great are these prizes??? Be sure to get your entry info in quick! We will be choosing 6 contestants on January 1st. Entries MUST be received by midnight on December 31.
Challenge is open to all Advanced and Professional Decorators. Please see www.FloridaICED.com
for rules and registration.

PRIZZZES!!!!!!

2011-10-11T18:45:15Z

Have you seen the AMAZING Prizes Florida ICED is offering up this year???
After seeing these amazing prizes for the winners, why would you wait to send in your competition entry form? After all, we can only accept 150 entries this year, so space is LIMITED!
Hurry, Hurry, Hurry, we are getting entries in every week!
Don't miss out on these PRIZES!!!

Best in Show Youth Division: The Winner of this category will receive an AMAZING Mentoring Package courtesy of Marivi Bassabe

Marivi Bassabe, a retired professor from the School of Culinary Arts at Miami Dade College, through Marivi's Custom Cakes Inc., is offering a one year mentoring as an award for the Youth Best In Show Winner. This mentoring includes 4 courses: Basic course of 6 week, a sugar flowers course of 10 weeks, a fondant course of 10 weeks and an advanced course of 10 weeks (108 hours of mentoring).

At the end of the 36 weeks the student will be able to design and construct another award winner piece of art.

Best In Show-Open:
Icing on the Cake Dec Products is proud to present a 4-day cruise to the winner of “The Best in Show- Open Winner”

Your cruise will take you to the Bahamas for 4 wonderful days of swimming, snorkeling and sightseeing! Best of all, while you are on board ship, you will have free access to eat, eat, and eat. Gourmet foods or just everyday fast food, whatever you choose, It’s all-free! Drinks on board however are not free, but inexpensive. Drinks with your meals are free.

Icing on the Cake Dec-Products, is located in Ocala, Fl at:
850 NE 36^th Terrace, Suite C at the Midway Plaza, 34470.
The hours are Monday- Friday, 10am to 6pm. Sat 10am to 4pm.
Stop by for any of your cake decorating needs.

Josie and Jerry Jennings

Icing on the Cake-Dec Products

Owners

People's Choice: The Winner of this category will receive a KitchenAid Stand Mixer Courtesy of Cakes by Lisa!!!

What baker in the world wouldn't LOVE a Brand New KitchenAid Stand Mixer? Even if you have one in your kitchen already, one just never seems to be enough. Your kitchen will thank you for winning this wonderful mixer if you win the People's Choice category!KitchenAid's are amazing, you can use them to make practically anything. From Ice Cream to Pasta and yes, of course, everything cake related!
Thank you Cakes by Lisa for this Sweet Prize!

FREE Photographic Cake Pose!!!

2011-10-09T13:38:58Z

We are pleased to announced, this year, Tammy Portrait Art will be giving each entrant a FREE photographic cake pose!!!

How exciting is that? Here is a sample of what it may look like with our show chairwoman Lisa Menz...

She will also be offering upgrades for a nominal fee. Here is an example of a business card she could produce for you...

Amazing quality work, thank you so much Tammy Portrait Art!

Tammy Portrait Artist, Award Winning, Certified Master Photographer, has been commissioned to photograph all entries.
Assistant: Elise Kersey Photography
Be the first and pre-register with Tammy to get your cake photographed, no waiting in line. Show up on time and be the next cake photographed.
Go to: Tammyportraitart.com/cake to sign up or call 352-622-7255

Photography Available
Saturday - 7am to 3:30pm (judging begins @ 4:30)
Sunday - 7:30 am to 7pm-

Upgrades are available upon request.
$20 - Full resolution for advertising print reproduction & business cards only. per pose.
$10 - Website file size per pose
$15 - Custom composition for business card, promo pieces per pose.
$25 - Change in background to accent cake style.
$15 - Detail images per pose.
$75 - Display Print (must invest in Full resolution file)

What's this LIVE Challenge Talk???

2011-10-01T15:55:53Z

You heard right, Florida ICED will be hosting our first ever LIVE Challenge!!!!!

Are you a fan of all of the Live Challenge type of television shows on the air these days? Have you ever watched at home and thought, I could do that?
If you answered 'Yes!' to these questions then do we have something for you!

LIVE Challenge will be held on Saturday March 31st 2012 from 12-3p

There will be HUGE prizes for the First and Second Place winners courtesy of PhotoFrost.
The best part is, EVERY competitor walks away with something!

The Challenge is open to all Advanced and Professional Cake Decorators who wish to take the plunge into the LIVE Challenge.

But, there are only 6 spots. So see our LIVE Challenge link on the website for entry and information.

**Rules and Regulations will be posted soon.

It's going to be GREAT!!!

This years Beneficiary Announced!!!

2011-10-01T15:51:35Z

We are very pleased to announce the beneficiary of our 2012 show,
The Arthritis Foundation-Florida Chapter

Striking one in every five adults and 300,000 children, arthritis is the nation’s leading cause of disability. The Arthritis Foundation (www.arthritis.org) is committed to raising awareness and reducing the impact of this serious, painful and unacceptable disease, which can severely damage joints and rob people of living life to its fullest. The Foundation funds life-changing research that has restored mobility in patients for more than six decades; fights for health care policies that improve the lives of the millions who live with arthritis; and partners with families to provide empowering programs and information.

We are very pleased to help raise funds to help this foundation find a cure.

First Competition = Success!

2011-09-20T18:33:19Z

The 1st Annual Florida I.C.E.D. Cake Competition is now over! On Sunday, March 27, 2011, fans of the sugar arts descended upon Ocala, FL for what was definitely the largest cake decorating competition the state of FL has ever seen!

With over 100 competition entries, the cake gallery was full of gorgeous pieces to gawk at and photograph. And we lost count of show attendees when we hit 300 mid-afternoon!

The best news of all, of course, is that we were able to raise a little over $4,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central & Northern Florida! Thank you to everyone who competed, attended, purchased raffle tickets, donated prizes, sponsored the show, and volunteered at the show. All of you were crucial to making this dream of Mel's and Lisa's a reality!

For those who don't already know, next year's theme is Masquerade Ball! We are also opening the competition to Children and Youth entries, and it will occur over 2 days. It just keeps getting bigger and better!

And the competition winners?
Cupcake 2nd Runner Up = 706 Christy Hormel
Cupcake 1st Runner Up = 702 Sherry Goolsby
Cupcake Grand Prize = 703 Sherry Goolsby

Wedding Accessories Novice 2nd Runner Up = 604 Mary Santos
Wedding Accessories Novice 1st Runner Up = 603 Mary Santos
Wedding Accessories Novice Grand Prize = 601 Marlene Callahan

Wedding Accessories Advanced 1st Runner Up = 502 Jennifer Gigler
Wedding Accessories Advanced Grand Prize = 500 Sophia Bryant

Wedding Accessories Pro 2nd Runner Up = 408 Roxanne Moore
Wedding Accessories Pro 1st Runner Up = 404 Norma Hernandez
Wedding Accessories Pro Grand Prize = 403 Patrice Drinkard

Wedding Dress Cake Novice 2nd Runner Up = 312 Joyce Osorio-Pinto
Wedding Dress Cake Novice 1st Runner Up = 304 Martha Chrinos Teruel
Wedding Dress Cake Novice Grand Prize = 303 Marlene Callahan

Wedding Dress Cake Adv. 2nd Runner Up = 205 Janine Picone
Wedding Dress Cake Adv. 1st Runner Up = 207 Diane Williams
Wedding Dress Cake Adv. Grand Prize = 210 Amita Singh

Wedding Dress Cake Pro 2nd Runner Up = 110 Roxanne Moore
Wedding Dress Cake Pro 1st Runner Up = 104 Pam Greenwell
Wedding Dress Cake Pro Grand Prize = 115 Angela Schnellbach

Decorator's Choice = 115 Angela Schnellbach
People's Choice = 115 Angela Schnellbach

Congrats to everyone! Stay tuned for show photos by our official photographer, Elise Kersey Photography! In the meantime, check out our Facebook Fan Page for photos from show attendees.

Sidney from Simi Cakes Makes Headlines!

2011-02-21T23:42:00Z

One of our show vendors & sponsors recently made headlines when she participated in ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." Sidney Galpern owns and operates a bakery called Simi Cakes in Palm Bay, FL with her family, but she's really starting to make a name for herself as an amazing sugar artist. She is proficient in isomalt (that really hot sugar that can be pulled, blown, etc) and has developed new, innovative techniques for working with it. At the Florida ICED Cake Competition, she'll be doing demonstrations at her vendor table so be sure you stop by to say "hello"!

Oh, and did we mention she's 15 years old?! Yea, she's impressive!

Check out the write-up about her on FloridaToday.com and her website at SimiCakes.com.

Free Kid's Corner by Cakes, Etc!

2011-02-07T14:37:00Z

While you're at the Florida ICED Cake Competition on March 31st and April 1st don't miss the FREE Kid's Corner!

This interactive feature is designed to encourage youth up to age 17 to experience cake decorating. This is a free hands-on activity where the participant will be provided icings and fondant, as well as tools and other accessories to decorate a cookie. This will be a great introduction to the world of sugar art to young visitors who have not had any experiences with cake decorating and a great means of expression to some who are familiar with it!

This activity is sponsored by Cakes, Etc. of West Palm Beach, FL. Merrie Lee Reese, owner, is an ICES member and a Wilton-trained teacher with 20 years of teaching experience. Cakes, Etc. has been in operation for 12 years. They regularly hold classes on all levels of cake decorating, candy making, cookie gingerbread houses, and the Cricut Cake! Check out their class schedule here .

Check us out on theknot.com!

2011-01-28T00:04:00Z

The Knot, a bride's premier source for ideas, inspiration, and resources, has listed our event on their website! Check it out ! And, if you're a Knot Bride, you get $1 off with their ad!

Mel's Tips for Successfully Entering and WINNING Cake Decorating Competitions!

2011-01-20T02:29:00Z

Well, the Florida ICED Cake Competition is just around the corner! If you're planning to compete (which you should), you're at least beginning to think about your entry.

At most cake decorating competitions, the competition pieces are actually completed ahead of time. Typically, the competitors decorate "cake dummies" which are Styrofoam pieces in the shape of cake tiers. And then they decorate them using edible mediums like buttercream, royal icing, fondant, gum paste, modeling chocolate, etc. There are many places to buy cake dummies, but I buy mine from Dallas Foam. In fact, if you use another source, leave it in the comments!

Here are my 10 suggestions for how to successfully enter and WIN cake decorating competitions:
1. Know and Understand the Rules

Competitions come in all shapes and sizes with very different rules. Read through the rules a few times, making notes in places that are unclear or raise questions in your mind. Don't be afraid to ask the show coordinators your questions! If something is unclear, I'm sure they'd be more than happy to help you understand.
Don't be disqualified or lose points in the competition because of a simple rule misunderstanding!

2. Know Your Judges and Their Likes & Dislikes

The judges make the ultimate decision of who wins and loses so please them with your entry. If you know one judge is particularly fond of stringwork, use it! If you know one judge absolutely hates "elephant skin" on cakes, be careful to avoid it at all costs.

3. Think Outside the Box

Most cake decorating competitions have a theme. Go above and beyond the theme with your entry! Make people think, "Wow, why didn't I think of that?!" Draw the eye to YOUR entry and impress both the public and the judges with your creativity.
For example, the FL ICED Cake Competition theme is Romantic Wedding Dresses. Think crazy! Do a wedding dress from the Victorian Era, or one from the future, or one made entirely of peacock feathers!

4. It Must be Your Original Work

It is OK to draw inspiration from other cakes or works of art, but you need to change them to add your own twist. You cannot and will not win if you are merely copying what someone else has already done.

5. Make Your Entry Visually Appealing and Appetizing

Use appropriate color combinations. That's not to say you can use black and hot pink - as long as it looks nice and goes with the theme. But don't use colors like black, orange, and red if it's a Christmas-themed competition!
This is a tricky thing to do correctly. In the long run, you're going for a design that has mass appeal. It's ok to go funky at times, but there has to be something in it that everyone will like. For example, if you go with the peacock feather wedding dress: Not everyone would like that kind of dress. But you'll appeal to the masses because they'll be impressed with your use of color and your talent in pulling off a difficult technique like that.

6. Demonstrate a Mastery of Techniques

You must use precision, uniformity, and (near) perfection on your competition entry. You have to demonstrate that this is NOT the first time you've attempted a technique (even though it may, in fact, be). You need to make the techniques look very cleanly executed and as if they were easy for you to complete.

7. Demonstrate a Number of Techniques

This is another tricky one. The judges will want to see that you are well-versed in many different cake decorating/sugar art techniques. Can you cover a cake with fondant? Can you make fondant figures? Can you do stringwork?
However, there is a fine balance between demonstrating that you can do many techniques and overloading your cake with "over decoration" just to demonstrate the techniques. Choose your favorite techniques - ones that go with the theme, fit your cake design, and show the highest level of difficulty - and use those.
A cake decorating competition is not typically where you want to try a new technique for the first time, unless you are confident that you can MASTER it (see #6).

8. It's All in the Details!

Make people stop at your entry and try to get closer to examine all the fine details on your cake. Give them the impression that they need to admire your cake for hours to get a full appreciation of everything on it.
You want to impress the judges and the public with your overall design...draw them over for closer inspection...and blow them away with the little details!

9. Prepare for the Worst During Delivery

Things happen - bumps in the road, bad drivers, etc! Prepare an "oops" kit so that you can repair ANYTHING that gets damaged upon delivery to the competition. At this point, you've spent hours on your competition piece. If something breaks, take the time to repair it!
Similarly, take advantage of the set-up time the competition organizers have allowed you. If they give you a 3-hour block to set up your piece, get there early! If you have time leftover, great! But you never want to run out of time setting up.

10. Please Yourself

At the end of the day, YOU are taking the cake home again. Are YOU happy with the design? Are YOU happy with the effort you put into it? If YOU aren't happy with your competition piece, how can you expect anyone else to like it?!
Please yourself and learn something from your competition experience. Talk to other competitors about their experiences and techniques they used.
AND HAVE FUN!

Amazing Demonstrations by Some of Our Talented Judges

2011-01-17T14:00:00Z

We have a lot going on at our show:

the cake gallery (of course!)
PhotoFrost demonstrations
FREE Kid's Corner
vendors
raffle prizes to benefit this years chosen charity
AND AMAZING DEMONSTRATIONS BY SOME OF OUR TALENTED JUDGES

These demos by our judges are NOT TO BE MISSED! We've scheduled this years demos for both days so you can plan the rest of your weekend activities around them. The tools and tricks you'll learn in these demos are priceless.
Please view our Demo's & Activities Page for more information.
We will only be selling a select number of tickets to each of these demonstrations so don't let this amazing learning opportunity pass you by! You can purchase the tickets by mail or by person if you are in the Gainesville/Ocala area.

Icing on the Cake Home Parties

2011-01-02T21:55:00Z

Every once in a while, a company comes along and really steps up for us. We met Jerry and Josie Jennings of Icing on the Cake Home Parties and Products in September 2010, and since then, they have gone out of their way to help out the show.

They are donating a BIG PRIZE for Best In Show! And they'll have a vendor table at the show so you can get your shopping done right at the show!

But what is Icing on the Cake Home Parties and Products ?

Jerry and Josie have created an innovative way for people to learn cake decorating techniques and hone their skills in the comfort of their home. During the Home Parties, the Hostess invites at least 5 friends to her house for the 3-hour class. A trained instructor conducts the class and provides all necessary tools to the students. Additional tools and supplies are also available for purchase through the Icing on the Cake Products store located at 850 NE 36th Terrace Suite G Midaway Plaza Ocaal, Florida 34470.

So, are you interested in taking private cake decorating classes with your friends? Or do you think you have what it takes to be an instructor? Check out the Icing on the Cake Home Parties website!

Elegant Lace Impressions Donation!

2010-10-15T00:44:00Z

Carol Webb just announced that she's donating SEVEN of her Elegant Lace Impressions molds to the raffle! Each of these molds is valued at $24.00 so this is a total value of $168.00! That's huge!

I personally use Carol's molds all the time on the cakes I decorate. They are flexible, durable, and so versatile! I absolutely love them. Here are a few photos of her beauties:

Note: Molds pictured above are not necessarily the ones donated to the raffle.

Thank you, Carol Webb and Elegant Lace Impressions!