Tuesday, June 17, 2014

TieredCaker App and Giveaway

Full Disclosure Time: This post includes a giveaway sponsored by Calculated Cakes.  They are providing the prizes, but the opinions are mine alone.  I will not receive any compensation for this post.

I love my gadgets - I'm usually not very far way from my iPad or iPhone; I just like the way programs seem to work!  There's always some little something going on with my desktop computer, but my tablet is rock-solid!

I have found myself using my iPad a lot during consultations.  I can pull up images, look through a bride's Pinterest board, etc.  A few months ago I found out about the TieredCaker app by Calculated Cakes and agreed to help beta test the product.  Now I've been at this cake game a while and I know most of the standard cake tiers and how many they feed.  But this app makes it really easy, and they offer lots of customization options!

Just start out by entering how many servings you need and instantly it will pop up a multitude of configurations.  So if you want a cake to feed 120 the app will return that a 14" and an 11" cake will do the trick perfectly.  And then the client says "But I want something that really makes an impact - can't we make it taller?  Like 4 tiers?"  Well, just scroll on down and the app will tell you that a 13 / 10 / 7 / 6" will do the job.  But you don't keep odd size pans... then the 12 / 10 / 8 / 6 will be the way to go.  You can even tell the app which pans you own, so it won't suggest combinations you can't deliver.  And since you enter your price per serving in the app ($3.75 in my case), you already know you're talking about a base price of $476.25.


Once you have chosen your configuration you are presented with a visual representation of your cake.  This is where things get neat!  Let's say that we want that 2 tier to be a squatty tier.  We'll just drag the size down to a 2 inch tier.  And they want some color on that squatty tier?  Just click it with your finger and you can change the color to light pink.  If you want a double-barrel design, you can extend the tier and make it twice the size.  Note that at the current time changing the tier height in the app will not alter the number of servings.  It is my understanding that this feature is being worked on for a future update.  It's easy enough to account for though.   I can also use a 2-finger swipe to rotate and tilt the cake.  If my design will have lots of things on the top tier it's nice so I can print it out with a good view of the top.

Once I get the cake looking like I want it, I can then print that out and get all artsy on it.  Before this app I used Microsoft Powerpoint's drawing tools to make my standard cake tier sizes and I drew on them.  This is better because I get any custom design on the fly, with the base colors, and it's shaded so that it has a dimensional 3D look to it. Not to mention that tilt / rotate feature.  And it's SO much easier.

And this app will even take the cake you have just created in literally minutes and it also offers you a cutting guide - for that exact cake!  It even allows you to choose between straight and classic cutting guides.  Once the cake has been settled on I just print out that cutting guide and add it to the client's folder.  One less thing I have to worry about!

This app has seriously changed the way I do my consultations.  It saves me from remembering wrong and from fussing about with a lot of paper during the consultation.  And the client gets to get a pretty close representation of their cake on the spot.  It has saved me from stacking pans so the client would know how certain sizes look together.  The product has been developed by fellow baker Jennifer Flesner and her husband Chris.  They are very open to suggestions and have made many great enhancements to the product since I began beta testing way back when!

Now for the best part!  Are you ready to try out the TieredCaker app?  Well the good folks at Calculated Cakes are offering not one but TWO free copies of the TierCaker app to the winners of this giveaway.  Just leave a comment here on the blog and just for fun why not tell me who your favorite cake artist is right now.  Any comments left between now and Sunday June 22nd will be included in a random drawing..  Winners will be announced next Tuesday!  Good Luck!

58 comments:

  1. One of my favorite cake artists at the moment is Sarah Myers and CakeRock's along with so many others. They are not only friend but helpful to newbies. They are always there to answer questions and help others no matter what. I am amazed by all of the cake artists to be honest. They are all my idols!

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  2. Sounds great! You do fab work and I really appreciate you posting and sharing all your "secrets".

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  3. I am in love with the work done by Hello Naomi! Her creations are typically done in light pastels with very simplistic designs, and they are breathtaking! Sometimes less really is more!

    Thank you for the giveaway! The app sounds like a major convenience!

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  4. I have heard so many great things about the Tiered Cake App. My current favorite cake artist is Jamie Hoffman of Yuma Couture cakes. So artistic and edgy and yet always stunning.

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  5. Hello!
    This app sounds like a must have!
    I'm a big Sharon Zambito fan from way back. Very original at the time, now she's famous in the cake world.

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  6. I would love to try out the app. It is always a little tricky figuring servings and cake designs. I recently discovered Silvia Mancini Cake art & Co. Great figures.

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  7. There are so many cake artists that I love to follow and admire their work, but Lindsey and her staff at A Wish and a Wisk Cakes are beyond amazing! Their work always blows me away and I love everything they create.

    Thank you for the giveaway! I've been eyeing this app for a while and would love to have it! :)

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  8. As a self, youtube, and facebook-taught decorator, Liz Marek of Artisan Cake Company is my hero!

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  9. This looks like a great app! My favorite cake artist is Ron Ben Isreal. He's definitely a "sweet genius"!

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  10. This app looks great! My fave sugar artist is Tracy James of Cotton & Crumbs. Love her romantic, chic style.

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  11. What an ingenious app! I love it.

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  12. Sounds like a great app. I would love to give it a try. My favorite artist at the moment I think is Peggy tucker as I am starring to get into isomalt.

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  13. Sounds like a "must have" app for any sensible caker, who wants to the ease and flexibility in getting quotes and calculations. This leaves no room for any mistake, which can happen to the best of us. I would really put this to good use, so that I don't have to tell my client that I will call them back for a quote even while I am away from my spreadsheet or chart. I can give the quote right there and then. Saves me and my client time. It's hard to choose a favorite caker because there's so many of them who have inspired me and my daughter to start a homebaking business, but from the start until now, Edna De La Cruz is on top of our list. She spends time interacting with her fans, she answers questions patiently. She even has a great personality and sense of humor. I love her!

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  14. You inspire me. I love your honest YouTube videos. I can relate to you. I also love Jessicakes tutorials. Her style is clean and classy. I'd love this app since I'm still learning sonething new everyday.

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  15. thankyou for sharing this app. i love handi mulyana's cake drcorating style.straight edges, neat, and just so nice to look at:)

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  16. Wow! Would love to win! I love so many artists. I think I love to file BronnieBakes, Veena, and Leslie from Royal Bakery.

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  17. I'll always love me some Cake Boss!

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  18. There are too many artists out there to name just one. However, I love to look at the Icing Smiles FB page and see all the donated cakes

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  19. I soooo need help with this...I don't know how to price my cakes

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  20. This app is amazing! My favorite cake artist is McGreevy Cakes! I've learned so much!

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  21. Wow would this be a lifesaver!! I need all the help I can get with pricing, designing etc.
    As far as favorite cake artist there really are so many great ones it is a hard decision. This week I would have to say that Nina Notaro from Cake Studio. I asked how she made a cake and she took time to message me with all of the info I needed - love how decorators share!!

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  22. My faves right now are Queen of hearts couture cakes. Q

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  23. My favorite is Dawn Coffin-Parrott. She is so talented and is a fantastic instructor. Loved the classes I took recently at Sweet House in Las Vegas

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  24. I just love Laura from Kraft Kool Cakes in Texas. She is amazing. Her and her husband do amazing cakes and love sharing what they do. Thank you for this giveaway.
    Thelma

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  25. hello, my favorite is colette peters, i Love her designs

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  26. I would love to have this! It would help alot.. I would have to say I have learned do much from Laura and Arm is of Krazy Kool Cakes in Texas!! Amazing cakes and awesome tutorials!!

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  27. This app looks amazing I would love it my favorite is Liz Marek at the mo she does amazing work from Artisan Cake company xx

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  28. Sounds like a really good app!
    My favourite cake artist at the moment is Kara's Couture Cake, she's so generous with her knowledge and her designs are beautiful.

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  29. This app looks amazing! My favorite cake artist is Lesley of Royal Bakery.....she does beautiful, clean work and generously shares her knowledge!

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  30. I use several charts and Excel to create quotes for cakes, this app would sure save a lot of time! Thanks for sharing.

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  31. What a great giveaway. It is however, difficult to pick just one "favorite" cake artist. I have several DVD from Sharon Zambito, and watch Liz Merak videos quite often.

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  32. What a great idea for an app! That is a nice giveaway! I love Marina Sousa (hope I'm spelling her name correctly). Her sugar brooches are fantastic!

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  33. This is a wonderful app!!! My favorite artist at the moment is Edna De la Cruz.

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  34. Being highly challenged in the drawing dept. this tool would be such a HUGE blessing to have. I'd so love to win one of them. :)

    There are literally 100's of cake artists I keep track of to see what they are doing. I am so impressed and inspired by all of them. Tough to pick just one, so here goes with a few off the top of my head... Shawna - McGreevy, Callie - Callicious Cakes, Lisa @ LM Cake Design, Veena - Veena's art of cakes, Rumana @ incrEDIBLE Cakes, Pavani @ Firefly India, Lizo Marek @Artisan Cakes, Rudy @Man Bakes Cake,... I could go on and on.

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  35. I follow so many different artists...It's so hard to choose...Karen Portaleo is always amazing! Janet Blazek does amazing buttercream work! Liz Marek, Avalon Yarnes, Sachiko Windbiel...all amazing artists!

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  36. My fav artísts are: Mc.Greevy, Rosy Cakes, Sweetapolita.

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  37. this sounds very interesting and useful! My favourite caker is Shawna McGreevy of McGreevy cakes! :)

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  38. Liz Marek and Sarah Myers are 2 of my favorite cake artists. So blessed to have both in my life and call them friends.
    Looking forward to seeing who the winners will be!

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  39. My favorite artist is Pasttici di Molly

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  40. My favorite cakes are done by Arti Cakes. I found them on facebook. She has the most beautiful flowers that completely made from buttercream. I have never seen anything like it before.

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  41. This is an awesome giveaway, thank you!! It's so hard to choose just one favorite cake artist! I'll say Shawna McGreevy of McGreevy Cakes. Love her style of both cakes and her writing!

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  42. Love this giveaway! My fave cake designer is Bronwen Weber and her hubby. They are amazing people as well as cake artists!

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  43. Mike of Mikes amazing cakes !!! :)

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  44. Start with the easy bit. I would LOVE to try out the cake app. It looks amazing as a time saving device and a visual representation! My favourite cake artist is harder to comment on. I like lots of people for different reasons but if really pressed I'd say Shawna McGreevy is tops right now as much for non cakey things as her sugar talent. LOL

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  45. I love Sidney Galpern's creations and would love to try this new app! Sounds like the perfect tool for consultations!

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  46. Just watched your video on icing a square cake - brilliant! Am always having trouble with my corners! I love Carlos Lischetti - his figures are stunning! This app sounds like it would solve my portion size headaches :)

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  47. Lorraine Mckay! I would love to have this app! Thanks for sharing.

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  48. My idol lol and who I aim to reach skill wise...Ron Ben- Israel is my fave now and has been for years. Edna De La Cruz too...gorgeous and talented. Not only do I want this app...I soooo NEED it. Good luck everybody.

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  49. I have to say that my TWO favorite decorators right now are both my daughters, Lauren Gregory and Jamie Gregory Grant. They are both self-taught and spent untold hours watching videos to learn and have come through like champs through tears and late hours...and working for their mom! We now have such a following that we have to turn down cakes every week! This wonderful app would help ME do a better job of consults, which in turn would make the decorating job easier as well. Thanks for this opportunity to win!

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  50. Lorraine Mckay is one of my first cake heroes for sure! She is funny and very giving of her talents. :) This app sounds like it would be very helpful. Good luck everyone!

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  51. I would love this. New town and no one here believes pricing rules. My favorite is Shawna McGreevy love her style and wit.

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  52. I love Robert Haynes' sugar work! This looks like a great app.

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  53. Shaile's Edible Art's gum paste flowers are divine.

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  54. I was literally just looking at this app last night! Thanks for sharing your review! Being an Aussie I would have to say my fav cake artist is the talented Handi Mulyana :)

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  55. What supplies would I need to make the banjo cake besides fondant and obvious things? Do you have a tutuorial written up on it?

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    1. The closest thing I have to a "tutorial" is this post:
      http://cupadeecakes.blogspot.com/2013/06/banjo-cake-armature-design.html IT was a hard design, I won't lie! Good luck!!

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