Why you should cover your cake boards 

Liz, I watched your video intently while building a buttercream cake and I wanted to tell you how good it was to hear the reasons behind decorating a cake board. I like how firmly you talked to get your point across. I know you did it bc you’re so passionate about the subject. It felt like motherly instruction. In a perfect way. Just wanted to say thank you and how much I appreciate you.

I don't think Liz is giving attitude. She's been there and done that. She knows the difference of a newbie and professional. She wouldn't be showing some of her early work if she wasn't trying to help. Love all of the tip that she's giving. And I'll admit, it's pretty embarrassing because I've done things that she mentioned. But u can only learn from mistakes. I, myself, don't think that cake board plays a role in a cake. I was wrong. Her cakes looked amazing! She just showed me a whole new level of stepping up my game. Cake board plays a huge role.

I rarely comment but I must say that I for one APPRECIATE all your advice. Where some say it’s a “rant” I say that it is “Wisdom” speaking. Liz does not have to offer her suggestions but she does so to help us improve our business and hopefully not make co$tly mistakes. Just like she did not have to reveal her famous LMF fondant. She could have kept that a secret and continued to make this delicious, easy to work with pliable recipe. Or better yet branded this product and made a ton of money from it. She chose to come on to RU-vid and share her own recipe in the hopes that it would help us produce a beautiful cake product that would not cost us next to nothing compare to all the commercial fondants out there. You can choose to listen to her advice or “rant” or you can go one to another channel either way I am grateful that she takes the time from her own schedule to help each and every one of us succeed in our own business. Thank you so much Liz!!! 👏🏼👩🏻‍🍳

What a great video. Up front, straight forward and to the point and why. No sugar coating, no hand holding, just straight forward info. Thank you,thank you, thank you. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of video.

I'm soooo glad I came across this video. I just started making cakes and I honestly had NO idea about covering cake boards at all. I've been using the white Wiltons cardboard, and I definitely DO have the time to upgrade my cakes/cake board. I know this will make my cakes look so much better and more professional which is what I want. Who doesn't want that?! lol you're awesome, thanks for the video!

That was one of the first things I learned when I took my first cake class. Even if I have to spend the $5, I would rather spend the extra money so my work looked more professional. Thank you for showing a less expensive way. ❤️

I'm not a baker or artist, cake decorator, I was interested in your talk. I think you're fantastic and absolutely correct. I love your line, to paraphrase, if you want quality customers, you have to have quality product. I can relate to quality in areas other than cake decorator and wholly agree with you. You're awesome.

I thank you for the helpful punch in the face. It didn't hurt in the slightest! I just looked through all my cake pics (and there's lots...) and checked just how many I DIDN'T take time on the board presentation and how much better and more professional the finished cake would've looked if I had. I tend to use returnable glass stands and specially pretty plates, but I even (eek!) found one on foil..! (in my defence it was about 35 yrs ago..!) But your enthusiasm and passion is familiar... I hereby promise never to hand over a cake without a decent board ever again.

I agree a covered cake board looks so much more professional and makes it look like a finished job. I cover all my cake boards. I loved your tutorial and enjoyed listening to you. Great information . Perth WA

What I love the most about this isn't the amazing fantastic tips, but how she really makes you think about your level of professionalism and if your excuses are real or if you're just being lazy. Love this video so much.

I found Liz down to earth with no sugar coating. Very informative and I learned a lot, things I was not taught in pastry school. Great Job and thank you!!!!

Im so grateful that I found this video! I literally just put some decoration on my first board using vinyl cut with my cricut and didn't realize how important this was. Im not super new at decorating, however, it's always been a side hustle while working full time so I don't make much volume and still suck at knowing what to charge. Thank you Liz!!

The best 38 minutes EVEEEER! Thank you very much for this advice!

I'm pretty new at cake decorating and I didn't know this was a big thing. I usually buy that $9 Wilton foil paper but I'm going to try doing the fondant from now on.😳

This is the longest video I have ever watched and kept my eyes open and attention on. Not only do you have the best attitude ever, you made every single freaking point I ever try to make to my husband. LoL I enjoyed watching this so much (even tho I knew all this) because I just want to be your friend! LOL Im kidding, but seriously you are awesome and I couldn't have said ANY of that better. Cheap work aint good, and good work aint cheap! I have been doing this for alittle over 3 years and you are SO right. The look of the board changes EVERYTHING!!!!! I use the contact paper over scrapbook paper thing but I also use tissue paper, wrapping paper, even those plastic table clothes or fabric to make my cakes stand out and it 100% makes the difference in the look of the cake and DEFINITLY the price! Amen sista! You get an A+ for this long ass video. Worth watching! =D

Thank you for the free class! As someone who is new to baking and decorating cakes, I learned a lot from you.

I'm very new and have such a small budget on what I can afford so this was super helpful for a way to elevate my cakes! Thank you for this!

Just want to say THANK YOU for this video!!! I am a newbie and honestly never really thought about covering my boards. You made such fabulous points and showed great examples. The day I watched your video I went out and got some stuff to try. I made two covered boards today and while they aren't perfect, they are definitely a HUGE improvement. Also, I love how you are to the point and you don't shy away from constructive criticism!! Thanks again!!!

Girl-la I LOVE YOU!!!! Preach the gospel!!!!! Yes!!!! That aluminum foil cover job drives me friggin crazy! I mean this in the friendliness way, you are such a cake nerd! Thanks for all the information.

I absolutely love you! Stumbled across searching for buttercream dahlias and watched the entire thing (the kicker, i didn't even need to learn about cake boards! LOL)

I'm a glass artist, so not a pro, hobbyist, or even a person who loves baking...but as an artist I know the value of one of a kind touches...So thank you for encouraging me to excel in my presentation when baking for family celebrations...

I don’t understand why only 200k subscriber? U are awesome!!! And thank you so much for the advice.. I’m a housewife that try to sell my cake.. so far only to friends & family.. no wonder why there is no stranger buying my cake.. I think because I always cover the DIY cake board with tin foil. And to be honest it make cake looks ugly.. now I know how to make better DIY cake board... thank you so much Liz...

Now that I have seen this I want to cover all my cake bords! It looks so much more polished and professionnal. Thank you so much for taking the time to help us be better.

I just discovered you on here and I LOVE THIS VIDEO! You are so right! I'm VERY new to baking in general and have just started learning to decorate. I made a pretty butter cream cake with piped flowers that I was so proud of but there was something off about it. I realized it was the white board I had it on but didn't even know there were options or cool techniques to have pretty boards for my cakes. Now I can't wait to make another one on a pretty board to see the difference it makes. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and passion.

Oh jeez Liz, now I'm so ashamed of myself. But you know what, it was a helpful punch in the face that I needed! Damn but I wish you could write a book on steps to take take in setting up a business. It's always the business side that gets my insides gnawing. But I do have an app't to see SCORE and am going to a free seminar on steps on starting a business. You, Liz, are what I strive to be in a cake decorator!

I LOVE THIS WOMAN! Iv been saying the same thing! but no few bakers wanna take the time or few extra bucks to do this, BUT ITS SO WORTH IT! makes a HUGE diferance!

I can honestly say that I began to take interest in my cake boards and they make the cake look even better. It looks professional and clean. Even going as far as using the foam core board to make the "feet" under the board makes a huge difference!! Thank you for your Enthusiasm and knowledge!!

You've convinced me. You're a hard ass lol bur you're right. I'm in the UK and our Amazon stock is slightly different but I think I'm going to follow your advice x

fantastic!!!!!! im a homebaker who has gone pro for a couple of months and this peice of advice to cover a cake board is an eye opener. i wouldhv never thought about it if i hadn't bumped on your vid...thanks a tonnnnnne😉

I adore your spirit. You can tell that you do put a tiring amount of time into the things that you do, but that you are indeed happy at the end of the day. I'm hoping to try that out myself at the end of either this year or next year.

Gah! I love this girl. Her honesty and the way she talks like I would talk to any of my friends or family is so damn refreshing! love ya Liz!

I'm so impressed with you. I love the way you think. Thank you so much for posting this. I can't stop watching.

Ever since I came across this video I have not used foil for my cake boards!! Thanks for the much needed slap in the face :) I love that you didn't just tell us to stop doing it l, you gave us the tools and ideas we needed to be better. Lots of love from Nicaragua!

Thank you so much for making this video! I have been decorating for about 7 years now but only on the side maybe one or two cakes a year but it's always been something I wanted to do for a living. I have recently left my husband and am broadening my cake decorating skills and trying to make money with it, and looking back at my past cakes they look sooooooo unprofessional and boring. However, after seeing this video I now know why in part and I thank you for the awesome advice! Hopefully I can get more clients now that I know how to dress up my cakes for fairly cheap. I was definitely in the dark on covering my cake boards, I didn't even know that was a requirement for professional bakers. Awesome videos and cakes!!!!!

At first I thought this video was kinda aggressive but honestly if you going to decorate cakes, especially at the level she does with her realistic cakes, then this video makes total sense. With the videos she puts on here on both her channels, I've learned so much. So I wouldn't dog her video because you don't like what she's saying since she's right.

Never thought much of it but now I can’t stop seeing it!! My eyes are suddenly drawn immediately to all that cardboard!

You are so very right, in anything that we do we must have a teachable spirit!! Be willing to learn people!!

I agree with covering cake boards. I took your advice and it's the best advice ever. It really does make a huge difference. THANK YOU THANK YOU

Fantastic! Looking at some of my past cakes I couldn't understand why they seemed so.. plain, but now that I see a huge error I'll be making changes. Thank you!

...and for newbies -and I am a newbie, a covered cake board lifts the whole look of the cake, even when your finish on your decorating isn't quite at the level you want it to be, the finished cake board ,which are so easy to do make a huge,huge difference. With LM ALL THE WAY ON COVERING BOARDS -they are an integral part of the total look.

Thank god someone stood up and said this !!!! Thank.. You ... Liz! I cringe every time I see foil boards or non fondant boards, people build and incorporate it into your cake it completely transformers it!! Viva la Cake 👊🏻

I absolutely LOVE your forwardness and no BS way to explain the importance of this. Especially for us little broke home bakers trying to gain more clients on a less than existant budget. These points are so valid & like you said, what makes the difference in the trajectory we want our business to go. I've watched so many videos of yours & the Liz in this video is my favorite! I love your rawness about it all...you're amazing!

I just love how real and genuinely helpful you are.

"I'm gonna reach thru this phone and slap you in the face" ...sooooo funny.. thank you for making me laugh today for one ...and helping this new to cake decorating novice that is me..great tips..and your cakes are beautiful. 😉

Just stumbled on this video and you are absolutely right! I cover my boards because it definitely upgrades the looks of my cakes period.

thanks so much for pointing this out Liz. i thought i was over pricing because i was considering the quality of work and materials i put in my cakes. plus you gave me so much more tips in this vid. very helpful really. thanks so so much!

I always covered the cake boards but this time I put the anti slip thing on bottom on the cakes this week n it was life changing

Thank you so much for this video! You have given me so many ideas. I was going to start covering my cake boards and now I know how. And for the record, I don't consider anything you said to be criticism, just honest, straightforward advice on how to step up your game. Thanks again for taking the time to share your knowledge :-D

Yoy know those peeps that complain about the price if covering or buying special boards? Listen very closely...you ultimately charge the customer for it!!!!!!! When youre pricing it out, you add this cost in for supplies. I dont know how many more times i have to say that. You dont just say ill make a cake for $50 and not consider the price its costing you. If that board costs you $10, then that $50 is now $60. I work for a business and the owner is so cheap that she wont buy some options of expensive products. But what she needs to realize is that it doesnt matter wherher we paid $50 or $100, that item is selling for double or more than whatever we paid. Theres a reason this statement exists, "you have to spend money to make money"

so fortunate to stumble over this video, I have learned so much. Thanks a great deal

I love your video. Straight up and forward. Great advice!!! I my self understands and get what you mean. Very true because when i first started i used just boards never the foil but then i started to decorate the boards and realized it looked so much better. You're awesome Liz. Thanks girl. I love your work.

Love this video! You are my kind of woman-direct and honest! Thank you!

Thank you for your insight! I found this video very helpful and will use your advice.

Also when it comes to the wooden cake boards for the wedding cakes you can charge a fee. They pay a deposit of $25. They have a certain amount of days to return it. When they do they get the money back. If they don’t you keep the deposit and have enough to replace the more expensive board. Same goes for cake stands but obviously the charge/ deposit should cover the cost of the stand/display.

I learned a lot very useful information. I used to do this. Most cake makers are artist but not business people. If I ever do this again I will remember this information!

Thanks so much for your video! I've been looking at so many videos to learn about cake decorating, and this is one of the best I've found. Hopefully, I can start making them for my kids' birthdays. I'm not a cake decorator, but, as a graphic designer, I understand that presentation is everything. I never considered how the board influenced the cake design. After seeing this, I will be covering my boards. I've always done a lot of crafts, so your suggestions look very easy to do.

This is an awesome video! I am not a professional baker or culinary artist, but I do enjoy the art and I like to really invest my self in anything I make. Hearing from an artist, that is doing this professionally and sharing your knowledge is so helpful! it is so helpful to have the big picture and helps to expand perspective. The tips on how to make a professional, cost effective matching boards were great and I will definitely work towards building this skill. I don't think you were harsh at all, just pragmatic. Thank you!!

I love this so much! Thank you! I'm a culinary arts grad and I absolutely love these types of videos and tutorials because I'm always learning how to improve!! And you're my kind of humor person so this was very enjoyable to watch as well!!

Hi Liz, thanks so much for this great video! I make cakes since last year, and I am a beginner in this business. Last week I made a cake for the daughter of my neighbor, and there was something that really bothered me, but I didn't know exactly what it was until I watched your video now. I saw the pictures with the silver cakeboard and one '"designed" and ther e is a big difference indeed! Thanks so much! I will never use a silver or gold cakeboard anymore!

I like how you’ve explained this. You are direct and I really appreciate you. I’m a new subscriber and will incorporate your recommendations into my cake decorating. Thx

Thanks for the tips! I'm always trying to up my game, and this is a great way to do it!!

This is a great video. I think this is definitely something I needed to see. I just didn't do it before because I never really thought about it. this will definitely help my cakes look so much better. thank you!

OMG! She hit it right on the nail! So much info we never think about! Thanks soooo much! Loved the video!

I just love that you share so much knowledge and wisdom. I could listen to you all day!

Thank you, I love your style and delivery! I'm just starting out and really want to make cakes that look as professional and amazing as possible so this has been so helpful to me.

awesome video!!! I was always so focused on my cake design and never the cake board. But now I see the difference it makes :) I will be covering my cake boards from now on. Thank you!!!

This video just changed my life!!!!! I can't wait to get off work and start working on my cake board for a baby shower cake that I'm making this weekend. Being a beginner cake decorator I am more than pleased with that punch in the face lol! Thank you!!!!!!

This is the best video I've watched today! I've been interested in making cakes for a few years now. I've been binge watching cake tutorials today. I'm definitely following you.

Girl! I sincerely thank you for this tutorial! You just kicked my cake business up several notches! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

A great eye opener for me! Thanks so much for sharing ! Felt blessed to have come across this video 🙏😊

I absolutely LOVED this video! Had me in tears 😂! Thank you for keeping it real!

I totally agree with you, uncovered cake boards are so unprofessional and look as if there is something missing. I have always covered my cake boards and they look so cool. thank you for your video

Thank you for this! I'm a baking newbie and this is really helpful!

Gurl!!!! You are sooo right! Thank you!! That foil covered board definitely says “ I’m a amateur “

your so right I'm going to start to cover the board I get it know why I was not love my cake it was always missing something know I know and it was that easy and never looked at it and it was in my face I lo e seen yall I love hearing it straight up I show that yall care for use from the bottom of my heart I thank you so much

Ouch! Did not realize it was that easy and with your LMF I am ready get covering. Thanks for the heartfelt talk.

thank you so much for this! I usually double up on the white boards and wrap the edge in a corresponding color ribbon..but theming the board with the cake is sooo much better!!!

Thank u for the advice..i am at the very first starting point of my cake business and i completely that the board is part of the whole presentation of the cake...an uncovered cake board looks just that-unfinished/uncovered....when u cover the board in theme with the cake it takes ur artwork to the next level...i appreciate the passion u have and the info u gave...i subscribed to ur channel &im anxious to learn more from such a professional😉❤

Preach it Sister! You did a fantastic job explaining everything! Love it!

Thank you for this. It is an eye opener! Thank you for sharing how you can cover a cakeboard. Its been a daunting task for me thats why I never do it. This makes sense now. I will do it from now on!

I love your video. It opened my eyes so much more about things I misted.

This best 38minutes of my cake life...thank you so much...I have learnt so much...💝

I just used the fondant covered board method for a wood look result and it looked pretty darn awesome! Thanks for all your tutorials!

Amen! Preach on! Thank you very much - this was incredibly inspiring!

Good tips! I prefer a covered cake board. Looks much more professional and pleasing to the eye. Never heard of the mason boards.

I buy the drums in bulk but I still cover them! I do the Masonite for heavier cakes. When I first started I asked for gift cards for Christmas etc! So I could invest more money into supplies. Even now someone asks what I want for my bday I tell them cake stuff lol I have things on my list on Amazon. My mama bought me hi ratio shortening for my bday. It's definitely a learning curve! You just have to take the ego out and do what's best for your business.

You are a rock star Liz! I loved every minute of this periscope.

You are sooooooo right........thanks for this wake up call..........awesome.......

I know this video is old, but I'm just now coming across it. Wow.....I never once thought about how important of a role my boards could play in my presentations. I am so glad I watched this video, especially as I plan for a wedding cake coming up in a couple of weeks. I have NEVER liked my boards. I cover them in the "nice" gold or silver foil. The quality is definitely better than Wilton's brand, BUT, I don't like it because it rips when you're cutting a cake, it doesn't match everything, etc. Considering that the majority of my cakes, at this point, are buttercream covered, I feel like I can for sure afford a box of pre-made fondant and use 5oz (more or less) to cover my boards. I have been doing what I was taught to do, but never satisfied. Now I know what to do. Thank you!!!

Liz, I appreciate this video because I am starting a baking business and this information was truly beneficial.

Such a simple but cool way to make your cake pop. Congratulations on having a fondant named after you.

Thanks, I love all these tips! I only make for special birthdays for a very few friends or family as a very long time hobby but I like them to look professional. I use foam core from the Dollar Tree, it's $1 for a large sheet. For the bottom base I cut out 3 or 4 pieces & hot glue together & then cover with contact or metallic wrapping paper + ribbon. I'm gonna start covering with fondant for sure!

This was very useful information!!!! I am not a pro by any means but i like to make birthday cakes for my close family and friends. This will really step up the wow factor when they are presented. Presenting a cake is like showing a house for sale. One small, seemingly insignificant detail can make or break that showing. Thanks for taking the time to make this video!!!

I am just beginning and this was very useful! Thank you!

Thank you!!! i'm starting and i like the ideas you just gave. besides ribbons I use washitape and it comes in a huge variety of models and its so fast, you know no glue gun burns or anything. btw your rants are amazing :D and your book splendid !!!

Good stuff soo very grateful to have this info as I start this journey

OMG am a newbie to your channel!! you're amazing!!! feel passionate about boards as I feel it makes your final product look awesome!! thanks love your energy 😉

Thanks for the tips and suggestions. You've shown some great examples that are very cost effective and don't take a lot of time.

thank you so much for all the tips. I wonder why I didn't see this before. now I feel how important it is to cover the cake boards. I never use the silver ones but liked to use the black or white ones which look way better than the silver ones but from now on I'm going to use my left over fondant to cover the boards. Thank you so much for the lovely advice.

omg I LOVE this!! 😆. This turned into a tough-love motivation video!