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Cakeheads is an online cake-decorating school and community created by cake artist, Shawna McGreevy. For more than 10 years, Cakeheads has helped cake decorators of all skill levels learn professional cake-decorating techniques through detailed, step-by-step video instruction, project tutorials, recipes, and an active online community. The mission of Cakeheads is to make professional cake decorating approachable and achievable for everyone—from beginners learning the fundamentals to experienced decorators looking to expand their skills and creativity. At the heart of Cakeheads is an extensive library of hundreds of cake-decorating tutorials and projects. Members learn how to create beautiful, elaborate cakes while also mastering the individual techniques behind them. The library gives members the ability to learn at their own pace and return to techniques and projects whenever they need them. The tutorials range from fundamental cake-decorating skills to highly specialized and advanced projects, making the library useful to decorators at virtually every level. The tutorials cover a wide range of skills, including preparing and baking cakes, making buttercream and ganache, leveling and filling cakes, achieving sharp edges, covering cakes with fondant, stacking and supporting tiered cakes, creating decorative elements, sculpting, painting, working with edible paper, cookies, macarons, and many other specialty cake-decorating techniques. Cakeheads also provides foundational instruction for decorators who want to build strong skills and understand not only what to do, but how and why each technique works. Community is an important part of the Cakeheads experience. Members have access to a supportive group of fellow cake decorators where they can ask questions, share their work, get advice, troubleshoot challenges, and celebrate their accomplishments. Cakeheads is built around the idea of *Learn, Grow, and Connect*—giving decorators the education, inspiration, and community support they need to continually improve their craft. Cakeheads is founded and taught by Shawna McGreevy, a professional cake artist and educator. Shawna brings years of hands-on cake-decorating experience to her teaching and specializes in breaking complicated techniques down into clear, approachable steps. Her teaching philosophy is centered on helping decorators understand the techniques behind professional cake decorating so they can confidently apply those skills to their own creations. Shawna has been featured in several different magazines such as Cake Masters and American Cake Decorating Magazine and has been a featured artist at the Cake, Bake and Sweets Show, Australia and the Cake Fair in Florida. She’s also taught cake classes around the world, was nominated for the Cake Masters Cake Hero award and has been chosen as one of the top ten cake artists in the United States, 2017 by Cake Masters Magazine. In short, Cakeheads combines professional instruction, an extensive on-demand video library, practical techniques, creative projects, and an encouraging community in one place!

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basset puppy cake

Level - Advanced • 54m

Full length video of how I made this puppy cake.

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LINKS & SUPPLIES

Related tutorial: Modeling Chocolate video tutorial and live session recording (no separate video available)

RECIPES
- White Almond Sour Cream Cake (WASC)
- Modeling Chocolate

SUPPLIES
- Threaded Fitting Floor Flange, Malleable Iron, Black, 1/4": https://www.amazon.com/Threaded-Fitting-Floor-Flange-Malleable/dp/B01KG5FRKQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?fst=as:off&qid=1567018747&s=industrial&sr=1-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mcgcak-20&linkId=6893538390762789d73a445a65d056b6&language=en_US
- Anvil Steel Pipe Fitting, Hex Bushing, 1/4" NPT Male x 1/8" NPT Female: https://www.amazon.com/Anvil-8700128807-Fitting-Bushing-Female/dp/B0058DHSDQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?fst=as:off&keywords=black+iron+pipe+nipples&qid=1567019935&s=industrial&sr=1-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mcgcak-20&linkId=ed2e55369d02747ae65a16b5b5d637f0&language=en_US
- Anvil Steel Pipe Fitting, Nipple, 1/8" NPT Male x 1-1/2" Length: https://www.amazon.com/Anvil-8700136958-Fitting-Nipple-Length/dp/B0058DIAXS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?fst=as:off&keywords=black+iron+pipe+nipples&qid=1567019688&s=industrial&sr=1-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mcgcak-20&linkId=a1159fff1c503ec074ebacce1b5408a3&language=en_US
- Threaded Fitting 90° Elbow, Malleable Iron, Black, 1/8": https://www.amazon.com/Threaded-Fitting-Elbow-Malleable-Black/dp/B01KG5NP5U/ref=as_li_ss_tl?fst=as:off&qid=1567018632&s=industrial&sr=1-4&linkCode=ll1&tag=mcgcak-20&linkId=2be45872872d109810c84fe6650eee61&language=en_US
- Anvil Steel Pipe Fitting, Nipple, 1/8" NPT Male x 2" Length: https://www.amazon.com/Anvil-8700136958-Fitting-Nipple-Length/dp/B0058DIB1O/ref=as_li_ss_tl?fst=as:off&keywords=black+iron+pipe+nipples&qid=1567019688&s=industrial&sr=1-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mcgcak-20&linkId=c5fb63d884de1609e128ff6d3af673ca&language=en_US
- Anvil Steel Pipe Fitting, Nipple, 1/8" NPT Male x 5" Length: https://www.amazon.com/Anvil-8700136958-Fitting-Nipple-Length/dp/B0058DIC22/ref=as_li_ss_tl?fst=as:off&keywords=black+iron+pipe+nipples&qid=1567019688&s=industrial&sr=1-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mcgcak-20&linkId=01a37fdcd50239b1eb76c80abea82cd7&language=en_US
- Threaded Fitting Tee, Malleable Iron, Black, 1/8": https://www.amazon.com/Threaded-Fitting-Malleable-Iron-Black/dp/B01KG5KH9M/ref=as_li_ss_tl?fst=as:off&qid=1567018632&s=industrial&sr=1-11&linkCode=ll1&tag=mcgcak-20&linkId=07ffc6a896f5e5e3760eb653124448b4&language=en_US
- Anvil Steel Pipe Fitting, Nipple, 1/8" NPT Male x 4" Length: https://www.amazon.com/Anvil-8700136958-Fitting-Nipple-Length/dp/B0058DIBMI/ref=as_li_ss_tl?fst=as:off&keywords=black+iron+pipe+nipples&qid=1567019688&s=industrial&sr=1-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mcgcak-20&linkId=3abe8593c5d797d88ea9df7dd66b4285&language=en_US
- #12 x 1/2" Stainless Flat Head Phillips Wood Screw (100 pc): https://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Phillips-Screw-Bolt-Dropper/dp/B079Y8G61P/ref=as_li_ss_tl?keywords=Screws+#14+x+1/2%22+Flat+Head+Wood+Screws&qid=1567092138&s=industrial&sr=1-7&linkCode=ll1&tag=mcgcak-20&linkId=37d6fdcb63050a044683fd425efdcd81&language=en_US
- Ateco Stainless Steel Cake Knife, 14 Inch Blade: https://www.amazon.com/Ateco-Stainless-Steel-Knife-Blade/dp/B000KEUKPG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?keywords=ateco+knife&qid=1566916926&s=arts-crafts&sr=1-1-catcorr&linkCode=ll1&tag=mcgcak-20&linkId=c222697ec66c0423b453057116ae81d6&language=en_US
- Merckens Coating Melting Wafers, Super White, 5 lbs: https://www.amazon.com/Merckens-Coating-Melting-melting-chocolate/dp/B01N6WSV1P/ref=as_li_ss_tl?crid=20XZONSG34SV4&keywords=merckens+super+white+chocolate+melts&qid=1566951058&s=gateway&sprefix=Merkens+super,garden,156&sr=8-3&linkCode=ll1&tag=mcgcak-20&linkId=a1d6fcc9cf127f37358c658316015c03&language=en_US
- Innovative Sugarworks Sugar Shapers: https://www.amazon.com/Innovative-Sugarworks-Decorating-Sugarcraft-Chocolate/dp/B00WQUOFOE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?crid=3A5CD22ELTA2&keywords=innovative+sugarworks&qid=1566862892&s=gateway&sprefix=innovative+sugar,aps,149&sr=8-5&linkCode=ll1&tag=mcgcak-20&linkId=40bf6c814efc9d286d96d2726b930956&language=en_US
- X-ACTO #1 Knife, Z Series With Safety Cap: https://www.amazon.com/X-Acto-XZ3601-X-ACTO-Knife-Safety/dp/B005KRSWM6/ref=as_li_ss_tl?&linkCode=ll1&tag=mcgcak-20&linkId=9b6ddbf7b396fbfe91ef7686b6a5b56f&language=en_US
- Clairella Cakes Airbrush and Compressor: https://www.amazon.com/winning-Clairella-Cakes-Airbrush-compressor/dp/B01N3OX5I4/ref=as_li_ss_tl?crid=59G4CPU1LJDM&keywords=clairella+cakes+airbrush&qid=1566934671&s=gateway&sprefix=clairell,garden,160&sr=8-3&linkCode=ll1&tag=mcgcak-20&linkId=2ea2b4e165de65e8853af684a8335d2f&language=en_US
- Airbrush Spray Booth, Cakesafe: https://www.cakesafe.com/store#!/Airbrush-Spray-Booth/c/12169190/offset=0&sort=normal
- Food Coloring AmeriColor Nifty Fifty AmeriMist Kit, 50 x .65 Oz Bottles: https://www.amazon.com/Food-Coloring-AmeriColor-AmeriMist-Bottles/dp/B0798VGTHW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?crid=14D3MORBIJRRL&keywords=amerimist+airbrush+colors&qid=1566933940&sr=1-4&linkCode=ll1&tag=mcgcak-20&linkId=ac4bde71411edabd229ea42729300047&language=en_US
- CK Products Confectioners Glaze, 8 oz: https://www.amazon.com/CK-Products-Confectioners-Glaze-oz/dp/B00KCUNSV6/ref=as_li_ss_tl?&linkCode=ll1&tag=mcgcak-20&linkId=8ccc6721fd94fa48ca070d6eb40d5032&language=en_US
- CK Products Confectioners Glaze Thinner, 8 oz: https://www.amazon.com/CK-Products-Confectioners-Glaze-Thinner/dp/B00KCUNU46/ref=as_li_ss_tl?&linkCode=ll1&tag=mcgcak-20&linkId=431478a8bf95b409408959eb750e44fb&language=en_US
- Wilton 418-9616 Grass Icing Tip: https://www.amazon.com/Wilton-418-9616-Grass-Icing-Tip/dp/B01DVRMWHW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?keywords=grass+piping+tip&qid=1566835932&s=gateway&sr=8-3&linkCode=ll1&tag=mcgcak-20&linkId=d0fc9e24d7bc92f52a49645ab6e8d63b&language=en_US

Up Next in Level - Advanced

00:00

Ballet Theater Cake

Ballet Theater Cake

Note: FlexFrost edible fabric sheets would be perfect for the drapery on this project instead of the fondant/wafer paper! Check out the bassinet cake video tutorial on this site to see how I used the FlexFrost sheets in a similar way!

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LINKS & SUPPLIES

Related tutorial: Making a wood floor!...
1:01:35

Elephant Cake Tutorial

Elephant Cake Tutorial

Link to elephant (side) inspiration photo at the size I used... https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Vja-ghRgU5fFM1Kbb8UDSPPjicOH0Lwmt3lnYw4IBf0/edit?usp=sharing
Link to elephant (front sitting) inspiration photo... https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LxcvpLlprqqb-WdlKbkhOkAk_BzmTHChYAXbNjrhl_8/ed...
30:58

Blowing Sugar Bubbles!

Blowing Sugar Bubbles!

Related tutorial: recorded live session "All About Structure" for more info and details on creating structure: https://cakeheads.com/2016/11/16/live-all-about-cake-structure/ (external blog link, may break after cakeheads.com closes)
Related tutorial: Section 3 (Making Ganache) of the Fundamental...