KIMBERLY – The cake plates are made in two parts. The top plate surface pieces, and then the bottom pedestal pieces. I throw them separately, and let them both dry to a wet-leatherhard stage while still on their bats. The plate surface is thrown upside-down, so it’s really just a shallow, short sided cylinder. The pedestal portion is really just a bottomless cylinder. When the clay is at a good stage, I stamp them very carefully by pressing the stamp inwards towards a support finger that I’m pressing outwards with at the same time. Even pressure. Very careful. One stamp at a time. I then let them dry further to a drier-leatherhard stage. That’s when I do a little trimming and attach the two together. Some slow drying and I hope for the best. The stamping is the least of my concerns. I think I’ve just been doing it for years so I have no fear. It’s more about the attachment and potential warping or slumping that I worry about. Good luck. Don’t panic. Be confident. Be assured. Practice. Have fun!!!