Hi
@holllyparkes, welcome to the site.
I've had a look through your questions and hopefully given you an insight into my take on cake stands. Here goes...
1) do you think cake stands could be more sustainable/ environmentally friendly?
Yes, some cake stands are made from non-recyclable materials such as porcelain; however, these can be used multiple times and on many occasions, so even though they aren't recyclable as such, they will last you a long time if looked after properly so less wastage. There are other options available if you want them, such as acrylic, wood, metal etc.
2) do you think cake stands are affordable?
Cake stands are quite affordable in fairness, depending on how much you're looking to spend and what event you are using them for. If you want one for a wedding, then these can be quite expensive, but if you're just looking to showcase your home bakes, you can pick one up quite cheaply. Wedding ones, although expensive, will most probably be re-used by the 'cake maker' for multiple events.
3) what colours suit a cake stand best ?
As for colour again, this goes back to the theme and colours on the cake. A good cake stand will draw attention to your cake as that's the star of the show. Gold and silver ones can give an element of opulence, while clear stands with hanging crystals can give a wow factor due to the added decorations.
4) what is the best shape for a cake stand ?
A good shape of a cake stand will depend on the type of cake you are making. The most common is circular, square or rectangular. You want one that you will get the most use out of. So, probably a circle or square.
5) do you think cake stands could be more imaginative?
Cake stands could be anything you want them to be. The only problem with having a unique multicoloured design, for instance, is whether you are going to be able to use it for multiple events that cater for different colours on a cake. You couldn't have a fabulous galaxy-printed cake stand displaying a princess party cake. Cake stands could be unique, but as you want them to be environmentally friendly, you want them to be multi-purpose. Pretty plates can be used as a stand, as can a slab of wood for a rustic theme, but you have to work out how many times you could actually use these or whether they will give you the height and wow factor you're looking for.
6) do you reuse your cake stands ?
Yes, I use an acrylic cake stand to house some of my home bakes and then my turntable and a black stand, but if I make a cake for someone, I only sit them on a cake board and do not display it on a stand as such. Depending on the type of cake stand you have; you need to ensure that hygiene and cleaning are paramount, as although a cake will sit on the stand, it needs to be free from bacteria, dust, etc.
I hope this answers your questions, but if you need anything else, then please let me know. I have added a few links to my site so you can see some of the cake stands I'm on about.
If you want to add some height or depth to your cakes without breaking the bank, then why not use some of these handy tips and tricks. 1 Try using separators, hanging jewels or glass inserts to create elaborate designs and give you that much-needed height. 2 Add inexpensive cake toppers such...
www.helpmebake.com
If you are having trouble with a buttercream cake and need to hide some of the flaws you are experiencing, here are five ways you can hide, disguise or enhance your imperfections. How to cover flaws and imperfections on a buttercream cake. 1 Pipe roses on the cake to cover it. 2 Cover the...
www.helpmebake.com
For my Bob the Builder cake, I actually used my cake turntable to sit the cake on.
This is the recent Bob the Builder cake I made for my Dad's 70th Birthday. The cake is an 8-inch Madeira filled with jam and buttercream. It was then double iced in both white fondant and then pastel green fondant, which enabled me to get a smooth finish on the cake and ensured that nothing...
www.helpmebake.com
For my ladybird cake, I used my black cake stand made from metal.
This ladybird cake is a relatively easy design, and the decorations can also be made in advance. The cake itself was a 6-inch victoria sponge filled with strawberry jam and then covered in white icing fondant. The grass is lincoln green, and the blade shapes were made using a cutter. I made...
www.helpmebake.com
For my Reindeer Cake, I used a wooden board.
To finish off the year, I thought I would create another 2D cake, albeit this time make it into a Rudolph Cake. The cake itself is a sponge and filled with lashing of jam! I covered it using rolled out white icing and then applied the design using the following tools. To create Rudolph, I...
www.helpmebake.com
This was my daughter's cake that I recently made, but because of the weight of the three tiers, I didn't place the cake on a stand and just left it on the cake board.
Here is the 18th birthday cake I made for my daughter. It comprises of 3 tiers, a 5-inch, 7-inch and 9-inch cake. Two tiers are made of up of chocolate chip Madeira cake, and the base is a dummy tier. This is probably the most expensive, busiest, time-consuming, head-scratching cake that has...
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These are the Omada Tray & Cake Stand I have
I have recently been looking for a Cake Stand to display my cakes in after baking and came across this Omada Design Tray with a Domed Lid. Packaging The cake stand came in a brown box with a plastic bag around the lid to prevent scratching or rubbing inside. I binned the exterior box and...
www.helpmebake.com
Good luck with the cake stand and the GCSEs and if you get a sec, we'd love to know how you got on.
Best wishes
Angie
