Reported by Dana Vitek
Taylor did a great job of telling you what was in the giant box that arrived compliments of Provo Craft, so I’ll just jump right into my projects and lessons learned by my trials (and errors) with my new Martha Stewart Cricut Cake.
After watching the included DVD and scouting around online for pro-tips, I picked up some Cricut Cake Gum Paste at my local Michaels, as well as a bunch of Wilton frosting colors, and some fondant.
For my first project, I envisioned a stacked cake with the dragon from the Pagoda cartridge on the top, standing guard. I used my polymer clay mixing skills, and started swirling colors together in an attempt to make black gum paste. It turned out to be more of a marbled green, but I really liked it. After I got the color mixed, I wrapped it in plastic wrap and put it in the fridge to chill out. I prepared the mat by brushing shortening on it (I used plain Crisco), and then rolled my chilled (but not too hard) gum paste directly onto the mat. I stuck it in the freezer for as long as I could bear to wait (probably 5-7 minutes) and then loaded it into the machine… here’s what I wound up with:
The gum paste cut perfectly… I was thrilled! I put him back in the freezer to firm up a little while I planned my next project. I managed to get him off the mat in one piece (admittedly tricky, even when frozen), and set him aside to dry overnight. Unfortunately, I picked him up a few days later and accidentally dropped him. Dried gum paste shatters, friends. It’s the nature of the beast. Literally.
Not one to get discouraged, I tried coloring and cutting some fondant. I had less luck with this media; fondant just is a little more gooshy than gum paste, even when frozen. It started out great,
but by the time the design (from the Cindy Loo cartridge) had finished cutting, the fondant had thawed too much, and sort of got squished:
The best part about your frosting media getting messed up is that you can ball it up and start over. I let it chill for a little while, and then rolled it out as thin as I possibly could directly on the mat. Thin, thin, thin.
I let it sit in the freezer, while I decided on a doily from the Martha Stewart Seasonal Cake Art cartridge. I cut a heart shape out of some sheet cake I’d already made, and covered it in white fondant. When my pink fondant was good and frozen, I quickly got it into the machine. I got a little nervous as I watched, but this time it was a success!
Right out of the machine:
Close-up:
Removal of the extra bits (I used a dinner knife, but any pointy, pokey thing would work):
And here it is in place, with candles for my daughter’s birthday!
With that success under my belt, I wanted to kick it up a notch… a tiered cake with a snowflake theme. I made a three-tiered cake, and covered each tier with white fondant. I colored up some blue and brown Cricut Cake gum paste, and then I rolled, and froze, and cut, and rolled, and froze, and cut, and you get the idea…
In the machine:
Out of the machine:
Because I only had one cutting mat to work with, I did a lot of transferring the finished motifs to parchment paper. This actually helped matters when it came time to start putting them on the cake; I was able to cut the parchment and use it to help smooth the cut gum paste into place.
This is the snowflake motif for the top of the cake:
And here it is all together:
Not too shabby for a relative novice, if I do say so myself.
Okay, so having used this machine quite a bit, I can offer my own (semi)pro-tips:
- Thin. Roll whatever you’re using super-thin. Then keep rolling.
- Cold. Freeze that super-thin stuff.
- Hold your breath while it cuts. This won’t help, but you’ll probably be doing it anyway, so consider this validation.
- Freeze it again before trying to get it off the mat.
- Buy an extra cutting mat or two.
- Use just a little dab of water to get your cut motifs to stick to your cake.
- Rookie mistake: covering your cut gum paste with a damp paper towel to keep it from drying too fast turns it into a very pretty puddle of oobleck. Waxed paper would be better.
There is a learning curve when it comes to figuring out how different media are going to act under the blade. The Martha Stewart Cricut Cake machine is a tool; it’s not magic. I had to learn the ins-and-outs of gum paste before I could get it to do what I wanted it to do. So if you’re investing in this machine, you’ll need to invest the time to figure it out.
As for whether or not cookie cutters wouldn’t be less work, well, that’s true. But a cookie cutter can’t adapt to exactly the size you need, nor can you match the motif on your cake to create paper invitations or matching decorations for your party. While you shouldn’t cut paper with your Cricut Cake (not saying you can’t, just saying you shouldn’t… there can be heavy metals in scrapbook paper; you don’t want to ingest that dust), you CAN use the Cake cartridges in your regular Cricut machine.
Carrying coordinated motifs all the way through your event, from invites, to cupcakes, to goody bags… it’s a good thing.
Pros:
- Beautiful designs to coordinate your event decorations from start to finish.
- With some time invested, you can really create some impressive cakes.
- Mistakes can be
eatenreused. - People have probably been calling you “Martha” for years anyway… here’s one more way to live up to that!
Cons:
- Time. This is not as simple as slapping some paper on a mat and pushing “cut.” The learning curve can be steep.
- Rolling the gum paste that thin can be difficult. I’m going to invest in a food-only pasta machine (which sounds ridiculous, but my pasta machine is dedicated to polymer clay).
- Freezer space. I’m lucky to have lots of freezer space, but that’s something you should consider.
GIVEAWAY
The kind folks at Provo Craft will be giving one lucky winner their very own Martha Stewart Cricut Cake!
To enter, just leave a comment on one of the “Vendor Spotlight: Martha Stewart Cricut ” article. Answer any one of these questions in the Comments Section right below this article on our website.
Do what would you use the Martha Stewart Cricut Cake to cut? Are you a professional cake decorator or a hobbyist?
One comment per person, per article, please. You have until Sunday, November 21st 6pm CST to enter.
Fabulous giveaway! I would definately try to cut everything and anything – even sliced cheese!!!
Neat machine. I would love to win this giveaway,
this is an awesome machine. Love how it looks with cakes! I’d love to win one for my sis in law! She is the true baker in the family!
Just thinking about this give away,puts me in the mood to craft.would love to win it……..
I really enjoyed reading your review, Dana, now how about a piece of your cake? LOL
Thanks for a chance to win a cricut cake! How fun it would be to win; my daughter and I are currently taking Wilton cake decorating classes!
I’m a hobbyist but I’m married to an engineer… I totally see schematics for the coolest gingerbread house ever in my future!!!
I would use it for cake decorating mostly.
I am more of a hobbyist, but I think this could make my cakes look more professional!
I am definitely a hobbyist but would really like the opportunity to use this cool machine to improve my baking and decorating.
OMGoodness, Id luv to own one of these…Im not a pro but I might become one with this little beauty! Thanks for the chance to win!
I am a hobbyist and would definitely use this for cake decorating…everyone loves to receive a special cake…and I think your insights are wonderful!
I would use this to decorate all my cupcakes. I bake them just about every weekend. I am a hobbyist who wants to be a pro one day!
I have a daughter in Kindergarten and cakes, cupcakes and fun decorated edible items are HUGE crwod favorites with she & her friends! I would LOVE to win this machine to help me make some fabulous things for the kids. It would be great to help the kids be creative as well and be able to decorate their own delectable goodies!!!
I have wanted one ever since they came out. I love making cakes, cupcakes, etc. for friends and family and this would be great to make them even fancier.
I love all things Provo Craft, Martha & Sweet! How can you go wrong w/ the Martha Cricut Cake? I would love one & I love that it is white! Yummy
I have wanted one of these machines since the debut on HSN! I would love to make cupcakes for every family and church event and WOW everyone with my secret weapon!
Wow – this machine would make me want to actually attempt to make my son’s birthday cakes, as I am a complete novice. However, if I won, I would be tempted to give it to a friend (a military wife) who has a cake/dessert business out of her home, as I’m sure she would get alot of use out of it.
I am just a hobbyist, but I would LOVE to make a cake for my mom’s 72 birthday using this!!! She always makes everyone’s cakes – still! She made my wedding cake and she makes beautiful roses, but she would LOVE to see a cake made with this Cricut.
I would give it to my friend who is a cake decorator. She makes beautiful cakes.
I love making cupcakes right now, so would use it to make cute embellishments to put on top. Thanksgiving and pumpkin cupcakes decorated with a turkey on top – darling!
My sons have always asked for home-baked cakes for their birthdays and special occasions. This would allow me to kick it up a notch and THAT would be a good thing.
I am just a hobbiest but I would use it make make some very impressive cakes
!
Thanks for the chance.
I had no idea you could cut cookie dough also! That would make cutting holiday cookies out so much easier.
I think it would be lots of fun to make cakes and cookies and the like with this Cricut. I have 2 Cricuts already and I would love to try my hand with the “cake”.
I am most definitely a hobbyist. I make a TON of cakes/cupcakes for parties and would love to kick up my cake decorating skills up a notch with this incredible machine. I most definitely could use this for the upcoming baby shower I am throwing to welcome my first grandbaby!
Awesome giveaway! I would cut everything I could with this machine….it would really come in handy for other things than cakes, such as cards, applying cutouts to clothing etc. I would absolutely love to win it!
sfread171@hotmail.com
I am so impressed with the projects you made considering you said there was a huge learning curve. Of course we don;t know how much time you spent getting the projects done. But I love your results. Cookies, cakes, what fun it would be for the holidays!
I’m a hobbyist – but also the go to person in our circle of friends when someone needs a cake!
birthdays, easter, football game, you name it, there’s cake
I decorate cakes the traditional way, with piping bags and decorative tips. If I had the Martha Stewart Cricut Cake machine, my decorating could go in an all together different direction. I would love to win this…Thanks for the chance!!
I loved your daughter’s Birthday cake!!! I’m sure she felt special to receive such an awesome cake. The cake with the snowflakes was also lovely!!! You made it look so EASY to do this, eventhough you stated it was a learning process.
For a novice cake decorator, I think you did a VERY professional job!!!
I would love to have a chance to “play” with this machine!! I would cut all kinds of designs to put on cakes, cookies, cut brownies, dipped pretzel rods, etc. I could take a very simple Rice Krispie Treat, cut it by hand with a template created with cricut cake. Dip Krispie shape in chocolate and cut a layered embellishment in multi-colors the same size as Krispie shape and attach on top. This would make adorable Christmas treats(santa’s, christmas trees,etc)
I also would like to try cutting chocolate modelling clay with the Cricut Cake. The modelling clay can be dyed any color and would definitely make my cakes, cookies, brownies, etc look AMAZING!!!!!
I also could make the cutest edible centerpieces!! Wow, think how easy a cookie bouquet would be to decorate!! It could be in any theme!!
After sharing all these ideas, I’m ready right NOW to get started, I just wish I had the Cricut Cake Machine!!!
The cakes you made were beautiful. I still can’t believe they have cake decorating machines. The best of two worlds…paper and sweets! Thanks for the opportunity to win. Nnitabugg@gmail.com
I Love to bake. I am just a hobbyist but recently disabled and am looking into several “crafty” ventures I can do part time on days i feel good. The Cricut Cake would be fantastic to help me out! Thanks for the chance to win.
Oh my goodness….if I had a Cricut Cake everyone in my family would have an amazing 3 tiered cake for their birthday. I would try to rival “Cake Boss” in originality!! FINGERS CROSSED~~~
I’m not much of a baker, but I can make a mean rice krispie treat, so I plan on making a big block and covering it in fondant for my daughter’s “Rock Girl” themed party. This would be great for the intricate details of my imagination.
lkziegler[at]gmail[dot]com
I’m definitely a hobbyist but do a lot of baking and contributions for work functions and school volunteerism
I am a small cottage bakery and would love to win the cricut cake!! I think the first thing I would cut would be a wreath for Christmas, they are so detailed and time consuming. the cricut cake would help me have more time for more cakes and my family!! We hope to this the cricut and would make Martha proud!!
I’ve been dying to try one of these! The results look so professional! I could never hand cut such intricate details! I’m only a hobbyist but this looks like sooo much fun!
Amazing giveaway, would love to win having been dying to try this!
Neat! This would be awesome to win and would be able to make the best cakes ever!
I am not a professional cake decorator, but oh how I would love to have the Martha Stewart Cricut Cake! If I had it, I would use it to create cookies and cakes for all my family, friends, organizations, and co-workers, all personalized, and use the heck out of it during the holidays! This is a wonderful give-a-way!
I have only made a few cakes, but this Cricut Cake makes me want to bake one everyday. If I win, I will be the hero of the week at work.
That is a pretty cake for a newbie. I’m also getting into cake decorating after seeing my auntie doing it I got captivated by it. Though, I can’t afford a cricut cake so winning one would be fabulous!
Thanks for this awesome review!
i would make cup cakes for grand daughters party.
used to make cakes for family but now i have lose bones in my hand it’s to hard to squeeze the bags to make things.
Wow, what a prize! Great review. what would you use the Martha Stewart Cricut Cake to cut? cupcake decor — the big images scare me. Not even a decorator hobbyist — total newbie to the circut.
I am a hobbyist and I would love to use this amazing machine to cut gingerbread decorations for gingerbread houses/cakes.
i could do soooooo much with this cricut. great giveaway!! cchandler61@hotmail.com
I am a hobbyist for sure but this seems THE opportunity to get my cake decorating to a higher level and maybe even start being a proffessional. Fabulous give-a-way!
Thwnks for the Great tutorial! I wouod cut everthing from cupcake & cookie decorations to cheese and piecrust! I am a hobbits and proud of it!
definitely a hobbyist – I do the cake every year for a friend on mine’s little girl. Last year I considered using my regular cricut for cutting fondant. And then thought better of it. The cricut cake came out shortly after!
Definitely a hobby cake decorator, but I’ve been DYING for one of these since they came out. Can’t afford to buy it, so I’d love to win it!!!
I’m a hobiest. I normally make all the cakes for families birthday parties so this would be great to make them fancier and to be able to cut muliples of the shapes at one time. I normally use the Fondant shape cutters and that can take a while. I can hit cut and move to my next task while this baby does the work for me. Sounds like a dream come true. Thanks for the chance to win.
fabulous give away. I would love to get my hands on the Cricut Cake machine because it would give us a reason to make more cake! yum
This is yet another oh so cool Provocraft machine! I would love, love, love to win one and play with it. I love Martha’s graphics too!
Lysa
Wow! Great projects and a wonderful review! If I won, I would make beautiful cakes for birthdays, holidays and just because! I am not a professional cake decorator, just a hobbyist! Thank you for the chance to win!
I would really love to try one of this I am a new baker I have mastered cupcakes !!
I would love to try and cut any flat food, maybe cheese for Hors d’oeuvres. I am a hobbyist and have no plans to become a professional cake decorator.
Carol B
OMG I would love to win! will try anything and everything as I continue reading all the blogs/sites. My 6yr old and grandkids would be thrilled to have cakes and more 4 them and their classrooms! therefore making me a lil ol’ hobbyist:)
parkernana5@cox.net
i have a feeling this would keep me busy for quite a while. I would love to give it a try
I would love to win this machine! I love decorating cakes for my daughters.
What a fun thing to play with! I’d love a chance to try it!
Amazing job on the decorations! I would use the machine for cookies and cupcakes more than likely. I’m an experienced crafter, but a novice with all things cooking. Better to start small and build up!
What a cool tool! I would use it to make extra special holiday cookies. They’d make great gifties and I’d be the talk of our Cookie Swap
I would totally use it on gum paste. I’m a hobbiest, but you could bet I would give it a workout!
I would love to try it out on fondant.
I’m just a hobbyist, and a TOTAL NOVICE, but with five kids at home, I need to learn to make pretty, child-acceptable birthday cakes.
I am a hobbyist but would love the opportunity to take my skills up a notch! I’ve looked at this for sometime now and would love to win one!
I’m just a hobby baker, but would love to have this to take my cakes and cupcakes to a higher level when I decorate them for birthday parties or other family gatherings.
I never would have that there would be a die cutting machine for food products! I am so lame at decorating cakes, so I guess anything I make with the “Cake” would be an improvement. So the answer to the next questions is answered, I am not a professional, maybe not even a hobbyist, just a mom and grandma baking so “love cakes”
I would love to win this, and would use it to cut just about anything. This would give me a reason to try my first fondant covered cake!
I have looked at the Cricut Cake and wanted one but it’s still priced out of my current budget. I would love to cut out some flourishes and flowers and decorate a cake with them. Awwww the beauty!
Oh. My. Gosh. I had no idea there was a Cricut for decorating cakes! This would be a blast for making super-personalized birthday cakes!
I’d love to win! I used to decorate cakes with frosting bags and tips but never tried any gum paste or fondant. Might be fun to try!
I am a hobbyist, but a very serious one =). I love to bake, and this would take that love to a whole new level. LOVE LOVE LOVE Cricut products!
Could any of us really still be hobbyists after we made a cake or two with this??
It would be perfect!!
Ok COOL – great sample!
Great i would definitely use it as a hobbyist Thanks
I am not a cake decorator, but could you cut clay with it? If not I would love to give it as an AWESOME gift to a friend of mine who is a wizard at fondant!
I would love to try the Cricut Cake! I already own a Cricut and if money was no object I would buy the cake too! I would love to decorate some cupcakes, cookies and cakes.
I am a hobbyist wanting to get my grubby little hands on this machine, cakes, cupcakes, cookies, gingerbread houses, oh me oh my. Thanks for a chance to win.
doramiyi
doramiyi at gmail dot com
I’m a hobbyist, and I would love to expand my horizons with this innovative machine! Thanks for the chance to win!
I’m a hobbyist who loves to decorate cakes. I am in *love* with this machine and can’t read enough about it. What a fabulous giveaway!
It’s a lost art to bake and create at home….family traditions and childhood memories. I am so lucky that my mom was someone who made it a big deal to choose a pan for our birthdays and baked with love. This machine would help pay it forward to others, for such nice memories.
I am only a hobbyist but I would love to win a Martha Stewart Cricut Cake! Thank you for the chance! It would be a fun and different way to decorate my cakes and more!
Wow ~ thanks for the great review! I have been wondering how the Cake would do when cutting out intricate stuff like a doily or flourish.
I love to share the treats I make with my friends & family…I’m always trying new things. This past Sunday I made peanut butter & bacon cups for my veterinarian; he LOVED them!!! I would use the Cake for decorating cakes, pies (oh…how about maple leaf accents on apple pie for Thanksgiving), cutting cheese for decorative accents on veggie plates…if it was thin enough I would probably try it!!!
Thanks again for this detailed review & for a chance to win a Cake!
D
I’m a hobbyist but this looks like fun. I would use it to decorate goodies and cakes for the holidays, birthdays, etc.
Wow what a great giveaway and thanks…lol I agree with Donna VW…I would try anything thin and edible that I could cut, what presentation this would add. And I am just a hobbyist…but I would also donate the use to some friends, who are in the cake business. Since I am only hobbyist I wouldnt be using it 24/7 thanks!!!
I saw this demonstrated before and have been dying to try it out! Great giveaway!
I would use the Cricut Cake to make fabulous birthday cakes for my kids!! I am a complete novice, I’m sure we would end up with lots of cakes that didn’t look so nice until I got the hang of it. The good news is that the mistakes taste good too!!
I would love this machine!! I am just an amateur baker, but I’m sure I would put it to good use cutting fondant for cakes and cupcakes.
Would love to win thie machine and make pretty cakes for my family.
i’m not sure that i would like to make baked goods. i wonder how the fondant tastes. i would rather cut paper and fabric.
I would totally give this to my girlfriend’s daughter. She wants to open her own bakery some day and now makes giant muffins for the restaurant she works in.
As a hobbiest I would use this to decorate cakes for my children and nieces and nephews.
I LOVE Martha….she is the bomb when it comes to crafting and I’ve been following her for years! If I won, I would give this to a friend of mine who’s 40th bday is in January….$$$ is tight for her and she has a small side business of doing cakes for friends….I’d love to surprise her with this!
I would wow all my friends and families with my super baking skills!!! LOL They already call me Martha, so why not kick it up a notch?
This one makes you to wnat to bake and to decorate cakes- things I never do!!
neato..i never knew i would want this cricut but i am definitely lusting after the cart for the borders!thanks for the chance to win- i would start small with cupcakes then try my hand at fancy cakes. Of course paper is my fav to cut! kathy b.
Thanks for a great review! I love the idea of cutting cheese slices with this
or fondant, I’ll try them all!
I used to make cakes to sell, but stopped doing it due to the time involved. I would love to have the Cricut cake to make fantastick birthday and holiday cakes for my family.
I would use this to make all kinds of beautiful desserts. Our family traditions always involve some kind of dessert and I could really be creative and have that WOW factor. I am a hobbyist.
Fabulous giveway, nope I am not a cake decorator.
I love my cricut, this will be awesome
Maggie
http://passionatelyartistic.com
Great giveaway, stellar write-up!
I’ve used a bit of simple syrup (sugar water) to “glue” items to the cake after cutting w/ the Cake. Just a small tip.
I would consider myself a hobbyiest baker because I only bake for my family and friends and our small social events. I love reading blogs about new and excitig things and the giveaway of the new Martha Stewart Circut Cake Machine stopped me in my tracks.
You may wonder why? Well, I love to make special cakes for my family on their birthday’s and I am improving but, this machine would make me look like a pro. Well that isn’t anything special some might say, and I would agree. But this blog, on this day, this year brought me to tears, because it would mean the world to me,To win.
The ending date for the giveaway is my sister Jessica’s birthday,(November 21st) and it would mean more than I could ever put into words to win this machine and celebrate her life with her favorite thing in the world cupcakes, arranged like a scrabble board.
For thirteen years Jessie waited for a kidney transplant and she finally got one in March of 2009, which meant she could eat all the cupcakes, and a lot of other foods she had been restricted from.The cupcakes were her all time favorite. However, our joy was short lived her Lupus started attacking her new kidney and it failed. She passed away on January 17, from complications. Last year it took me three hours to make her a really bad replica of a scrabble board cake (lol) but, she smiled and hugged me like it was a gold medal in mint condition. I think we made, bought and cooked almost every flavor of cupcake before she passed away. I only wish I could have had this machine to make her some very beautiful cupcakes before she passed away. Since I couldn’t, I would love to celebrate her memory with a better looking scrabble scrabble cupcakes this year if, I could.
I know I could never afford a machine like this on my own, and there may be others more worthy, but I thought I would try. It would be a would beautiful gift to have cupcakes at her memorial service. God Bless you for consedering me, pray for my families continued strength it is hard without her and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families. Donna Edwards
I’m a hobbyist and would definitely use this for cake decorating and would give them as hostess gift. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
So what would you use the Martha Stewart Cricut Cake to cut? Are you a professional cake decorator or a hobbyist?
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OHHHHHHHH, I would so LOVE to have this. It looks like just plain FUN, first off, but I could see becoming a pro after learning how to use it!! I’d love to make some cakes for my kid’s classrooms and for their friends too. Very cool.
Thanks for a chance to win it.
I like your tips & i too found to put mine in the freezer and then cut.
My sister would love it.
Would love to win the MS Cricut cake! I am a hobbist. I would start with cutting cookie dough, then move on to cutting lots of other foods.
I bake for fun and I would love to use this to make cakes and cookie decor for my daughter!
Let me try again. It didn’t post my last comment. With this Cake Cricut even the least creative person could make lovely cakes. Do our regular Cricut cartridges work in it? I will read the article after I’m done working. Just wanted to post here before I forgot.
What a fun machine to create with!