Sharing my research - pt 1. - Preparing your cake...

Here are some very important steps and tips that you first need to follow before you start being creative with fondant... First, make your cake (obviously)... now follow these steps to prepare your cake:

1. Level the cake - remove your cake from the oven.  Immediately place your clean kitchen towel over the cake.  When baking larger cakes, you will need to use two or more towels.  You want the towels to cover the entire cake.
• Starting in the middle of the cake, use your hands to push down with gentle pressure.  Move your hands from the centre of the cake to the outer edges.  Be sure to apply a steady, even pressure as you go.
• You want to do this several times, making sure to start in the centre each time and move outwards
• Remove the towels and you will notice that you now have a nice, level cake.  If it is not yet level, simply repeat the steps above several more times
• It's important that you do not cool your cake before using this method.  So, use as many towels as you need to keep from burning your hands
2. Secure the cake - Before you begin to fill or frost your cake, you want to make sure to secure the cake to a cake board so that it doesn't slide.  Using a metal spatula, place a couple of tablespoons of icing on the middle of the board.  Use your spatula to spread the icing a little, but not too much.  You want the icing to be a little thick so it can properly hold the cake in place.  Centre your cake layer with the bottom side of the cake down if you are filling the cake.  If you are not filling the cake, place the bottom side, which is the smoothest side.  Press the cake into place on your cake board.  You are now ready top fill the cake or frost the cake.
3. Fill the cake - The most common way to fill cake layers is with icing or frosting.  This method is used when stacking two or more cake layers of the same size.  The icing between the cake layers helps secure the layers in place.  If also adds more flavor to your cakes.
• Using a metal spatula, place a good sized glop of icing on the top of your cake layer
• Spread the icing over the top of the cake, being careful not to lift your spatula as you go.  this will help not to make cake crumbs
• Use a simple back and forth motion to spread the icing over the cake until the top is covered
• Get the icing as even as you can.  You want the icing layer to be about 1/4" thick
• If the icing goes over the side of the cake a little, it's fine.  It will be smoothed out later when you frost the cake
4. Stack the cake - When you secured and place the bottom cake layer on the board, it was placed with the bottom side down.  You want to stack your second layer just the opposite, with the bottom side up.  Simply place your second cake layer on the top of the first.  Make sure the two cakes are lined up evenly all the way around.  Secure the second layer in place by pressing it down onto the filling on the first cake layer.  If you are stacking more than two layers, stack them in a way that is the most even looking all the way around.  However, always make sure the top layer is stacked bottom side up.  This will ensure that the top of your cake is level as well.
5. Frost the cake - Firstly, ice cake whilst frozen (cake decorators secret... sshhh).  Before you can frost your cake you will need to prep your cake.  If you have a rectangular cake, trim the edges off.  The next three steps are essential to frosting a cake:
1. Crumb coat the cake.  By applying a thin layer of icing (crumb coat) on the cake the icing will pick up any crumbs right off.  Start off by placing a good sized amount of frosting in the centre of your cake and using a spatula spread the icing across the top of the cake from the middle out and down the sides of the cake.  Holding the spatula upright, go around the sides of the cake to smooth out icing and make sure all areas are covered
2. Final frosting layer.  Now that we have applied our crumb coat and let our cake air dry for a bit, its time to apply the final layer of icing.  In the same way as before, place a large amount of icing in the centre of your cake and spread icing across the top of the cake.  As you reach the edge of the cake, push any excess icing over the edge and down the side of your cake.  Use the excess icing to cover the sides of the cake.  Hold your spatula upright to go around the sides of the cake to apply your layer of icing.  Make sure you have a good thick layer of icing covering the entire cake
3. Smooth icing.  Get some water heated up to smooth the cake.  Grab a large microwave cup and fill it with water and put it in the microwave for about 6 minutes.  Dip your metal spatula in the hot water, hold it sideways and run it from the bottom of the cake up the side over the edge and slightly over the top.  Dip spatula in hot water again and repeat this process all the way around the sides of the cake.  Once the sides are smooth, do the top of your cake.  Dip your spatula in the hot water and start at the edge of your cake going toward the centre.  Go in on direction - not back and forth.  If you pick up some icing on your spatula, simply wipe it on the edge of your cup.  Repeat until the top of the cake is smooth and taa-daa...