How do I make split cakes?

[Wildcatfin]

I get the feeling 'Chrissy' is 1 of those people advertising her paint brand only - 5 posts all with more or less just the name... Apologies if you aren't but you do see it a lot on chatsites.

Anyway; split cakes; make them!
For large/ bulk split cakes I stack whole cakes of colr and slice down with a palette knife. Or just slice the cakes separately and place in an empty cake container in the order I want.

For smaller amounts;
get a leak-proof container that suits you. Be warned Sanz 'eats' a the very least Grimas and DFX/ wolfe containers so use its own type for it.

I then gouge chunks out of your existing cakes. My tip is to stick to 1 brand per split cake, and 1 type of paint from that brand - otherwise you may find the parls wear away faster than the 'normal' colours, etc.

I squish mine/ roll them by hand.
I do NOT reccommend heating them in any way; most don't need it - hand heat and a water spritz tend to do the job.
Layer up, cut to shape if needed and squidge in. Wipe over the top with a sponge to tidy up and hey presto.

 If it doesn't work no problem you can separate the bits and return to their mother cakes:)

Cat x

[Alison]

That's a great description, Cat.  I just dig in - get it all over my hands (but hey - this is face-paint, isn't it).
Shape it like play-dough.

I don't like to do it.  Ick.

[sparklingfaces]

I have a you tube video on how to make small split cakes.
you can watch it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Et0-ysWLUVQ
dont have one for the big cakes yet...sorry

[reginanewsum]

I make my own split cakes, really easy, not too messy. This is what I do, I buy the little containers at hobby lobby, get them right where all the artist supplies are, not the craft part, but where the oil paints are. They come 10 in a package for $1.99, you get two lids, so you can stack them.
I use an exacto knife to cut the colors wanted, slice them right out of your paint cakes, use a ruler if you need to, to get a straight line, thats what I did in the beginning, now I can cut them all pretty straight, after you cut them, I take an old THIN bladed butter knife and slide it under the paint strip that I cut, and loosen it up from the cake, lift it out of the cake with the blade of the knife, and cut it to the length of the purchased container, the containers are 1 inch by 1 inch so it doesn't take much to fill it, I have up to 6 color strips in one container! For the color picks to go into the containers, just visit one of the sites that sells split pots, check out their color pots, and then match them! If you are doing a split pot for dolphins, I made one in this order, dark blue, light blue, whit, light blue, dark blue. Five colors, works great, My fire split pot is black, red, orange, yellow, white, remember black is very strong and will over power the colors next to it, so on my fire split cake I just put a very small strip, the red is the largest. if you can get them in the pot so the colors are straight try this, I had to do it in the beginning until I got it down to a pat! Everyone has plastic milk container! Cut a strip that is as wide as the container from the empty milk container, make it about two inches tall so you have something to hang on to. place your first color in the container, slide the strip into the pot up against the color and press against it, this will make it flat and straight, now add your second color and do the same thing, and continue with all the colors, you will get a nice looking split pot by doing this, remember too you can put a plastic zip lock bag on top of it when you are done to flatten every layer flat! and it you cut a strip out of your good full cake, just reflatten it with the ziplock bag! ahh you will never know even some has bee taken out!

[Sherry]

Thanks for the info guys.  These posts help tremendously!  I struggled making split cakes last summer.  Now, I feel like I have a few different things to try.

[Party Picassos Facepainting]

So funny that you are all talking about caking making. I've been using the paint I just got at the trade show and cutting away. The artist from Wolfe had a folder of his paints and each round container had 2 colors - a light and a dark. Sooooo, now I am putting a lt yellow and gold together; sky blue with royal, fuschia with coral....you get the idea. What's nice is that you have double the amount of colors in one pallet! And it is nice for blending as well. I love getting new ideas to make my business better! Thanks!

[sparklingfaces]

yeah it's a great idea to have that option!

[Alison]

What a great idea - would quickly add a wow to just about anything you paint

[Sherry]

The Wolfe brothers recommended this as well.  For example, a light green split with a dark green in a regular size cake.  You would have the light and dark and when you needed a medium green, you could mix in the center for that.  I noticed that the Wolfe brothers and Kurt and April from Wolfe fx mentioned in their classes that they started out in the Disney themeparks face painting, so I think this is why they have similar methods and with face painting every day in a theme park, a lot of helpful techniques.

[Party Picassos Facepainting]

Yup, it was Kurt and April at the Trade Show. It was his pallet that I saw with the half and half color combos. Always learning!

[Alison]

It's been about an hour now - since I came to the studio to make my split-cake set up.
Still reading, haven't even taken out any paints yet.

That's a beautiful video Vi.  It just lulls me right into peace.

[sparklingfaces]

hahahhaha yeah

If you are using my method, Don't forget to pre moisten your cake a day or two in advance.

Red, teal, and yellow tend to need more water ( wolf / DFX ). White, black and green less water.

Spray your paints a day or two in advance so the cake can absorbe it all the way through befor you cut them. It makes it way easier and no crumblies ( as in my video )