help with icing ideas

Oh dear! I've agreed to ice loads of marie biscuits for a local animal shelter's cake sale. But they want me to do dog and cat faces - and I'm useless at those types of things and far more comfortable cooking than baking   

Any idea how I would ice dog and cat faces on marie biscuits and what I would use?!   

Ah could you not use those tubes that squeeze out the icing really thin in different colours? And then it would just be like line drawings of the dog or cat? I'm sure an outline and some basic features would suffice? Or how about that roll out flat icing, and then you could just made the basic shape and stick it down with icing sugar?

p.s that's a really lovely thing for you to do! I'm sure they will be delicious

Hey Rach, I don't think we get tubes of icing here but I do think we get the roll out fondant stuff. Would normal icing sugar and water work as a glue? (I sound useless   )

I'm looking forward to it - they're doing a fun dog walk on the day (all dogs to be on lead) and a big cake sale on a school's field afterwards to raise funds. Should be a great day out for the dogs and fun for us too.

I would agree with Rachel. If you're not artistic, print off a dog/cat face and use it as a stencil   

Oh a stencil - loving it!

Ooo, wonder if it would just be easier to get dog and cat cookie cutters and make biscuits from scratch with solid icing   

I think that would be much easier, definitely what I would do! I don't so much icing stuff though my mum used to be a cake decorator so could ask her if you're stuck sounds like a wonderful day! We don't get very many walks like that here

I reckon the cookie cutters would be easier. Some cake decorating shops have stick on rice paper pics for cakes/biscuits.  

Thanks! At least the walk is in May so I have some time to practice and taste. Stick on rice paper - loving these ideas!!

Lately we've had some great walks organised by a different shelter. They hold them every other month and they're such a nice day out for the dogs. It's taught us to be more relaxed around other dogs and owners and reminded us how lucky we are the Roxy and Vinny are so good with other dogs (they were in complete awe of an Irish wolfhound at the last one).

Ok, I'd better get googling more ideas? I'll have to post progress pics   

Mix normal icing sugar with water put it in a food bag, nip the corner off and you've got a piping bag, and a stencil I'd a great idea

Cat


Dog

Or cookie cutters.

Cat
http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/350827931054

Dog
http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/dog-cookie-cutter

Oh Hayley those are so cute! I'm going to try both ways, I think. Maybe I could do a couple bags of each even

Sounds like a plan Hun, and of course we'll need pics

I just found this clip on Youtube on how to make a paper icing bag, far easier to watch than me try to explain:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yMqLYkY5hE

Have a look for some pet shaped cookie cutters maybe something like these:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/St%C3%A4dter-066120-Cookie-Cutter-Stainless/dp/B004LK4CRM/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1397647495&sr=8-12&keywords=dog+cookie+cutters

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cookie-Cutter-11cm-Guaranteed-quality/dp/B0030ELLVK/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1397647495&sr=8-7&keywords=dog+cookie+cutters

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eddingtons-White-Dog-Cookie-Cutter/dp/B007MAJL4M/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1397647495&sr=8-2&keywords=dog+cookie+cutters

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/180390657/dog-face-cookie-cutter-puppy-head-35-new?utm_source=google&utm_medium=product_listing_promoted_en_gb&utm_campaign=supplies_low

Then just give them an outine of icing along with some basic features using the icing bag.

Thanks so much Kathy. That paw cookie cutter is gorgeous.

Also just found this image as an idea:

Or this one for a cat:

Oooo such a challenge for the un-artistic    But I must admit to getting excited at giving it a go!

They look like good fun, do you know anyone you could get to help you with them ?

I bet my OH will help - not only as a taster but he's a perfectionist so he can't help but get involved   

If all else fails I've just remembered my neighbour on the right is a professional baker - I just don't like to ask

Right, I've been shopping and am going to try 2 things:

1. homemade biscuits, cut in rounds with smaller round of fondant icing and little choc chips for eyes and noses with piped on mouths/whiskers/ears

2. Try to find a cat and dog cookie cutter and cut the shapes and pipe on features.

I'll start practising on the weekend   

Good luck Lisa, yes have a practice session and don't forget to video what you did, you will have a record then to look back at to remind yourself how you did them   

Great idea   

Good luck love

Good luck Lisa I would be useless   

Sounds like great fun!
With the icing, I always have trouble with just icing sugar and water as it never fully sets for me. You could try Royal piping icing which I think has egg whites in. Good luck and don't forget to show us the results