I only use wilton fondant and receive great reviews. I use the NFSC recipe with the wilton fondant and the cookie tastes great. Wilton has improved the fondant.
I have done both right out of the oven or I brush water on the cookie and attach the fondant. Both ways work great it all depends if I have time to cut out the fondant before the cookies are coming out of the oven.
WOW Khalstead you gave her a huge deal. For that price I would say just the cookie. It is so true people will look at you like you are trying to rip them off.
I also have done the gumpaste throught a light box. The dairy of the whipmy kid cake in my photos was done that way. What I did was put the image I needed on the light box then wax paper and then the fondant. I was able to out line...