Please help with icing colors for a cake

I tried to make a cake for my son for his first birthday. This is what I was going for :



This is what I got: Keep in mind, that I really was just trying to do a sample, not make it "clean" I am also missing antennae and feet.


My green and red look more like light green and pink. I just used regular green and red food coloring and put a lot in, but it didn't change it at all. Any suggestions. Should I use the wilton colors from michaels or something.
Please don't make fun of my cake - Its my first attempt ever at something like this and I know it looks funny.

Re: Please help with icing colors for a cake

I made an Elmo face for my dd one year and I had to put in pretty much the entire bottle of red. I know it feels like you've added a lot but keep adding, all of a sudden the color will get a lot richer.

I think he's cute!

Re: Please help with icing colors for a cake

That is great-I would definitely get the wilton coloring, you can get much vibrant colors. Also, when I did a cake (and I have only done one so I don't have more experience than you-and I don't know too much about decorating! ) I put parchment paper under it-one piece on each side. I slid the paper out when I was done and there wasn't as big a mess around the cake. It wasn't perfect but it did help. I think you did a great job!

Re: Please help with icing colors for a cake

I am taking cake decoration class and the lady that teach the class said that if you want to achieve a dark red first use pink and then a lot of red. For the green, I just made that color green today. First I mix some blue and green icing I had, than I add white icing and a more green coloring. I use Wilton colors GL

Re: Please help with icing colors for a cake

He's cute! It's a first good try. But you will get more control over colors using Wilton gel colors AND you won't change the consistency of the icing. If you keep adding liquid color, your icing gets more watery. As for getting it smooth, I recommend using a cake spatula and a turn table. Dip the spatula in HOT water and wipe off, and then start smoothing the icing. It will make it look perfect.

Re: Please help with icing colors for a cake

Def use the wilton colors. And for the red they have a "no taste" red that doesn't have the bitter taste that red dye has. I made this cake for DS birthday and had to pretty much use the entire little tub of the wilton red.

Re: Please help with icing colors for a cake

Also, it looks like you used regular grocery store icing? If you use the Wilton Buttercream recipe, the icing will be stiffer and easier to work with. The store icing is much softer and is harder to control.

ETA: Buttercream recipe

Message edited 8/26/2009 10:54:35 AM.

Re: Please help with icing colors for a cake

Liz I have no advice for you
BUT
it def made me laugh