Have any of you tried cutting out shapes with a Sizzix? I've got one and was just wondering how it would work. If I don't hear otherwise from anybody, I may give it a shot when I'm "playing" this afternoon.

What is it, Crimsicle?

I haven't tried it but I imagine it would work if the fondant isn't too sticky.

Sweet Success -

It's a little machine used to cut out shapes - mostly for scrapbooking. One of the dies I've got makes gift tag shapes. I can just see one of those done in fondant and "tied" underneath a fondant bow with a message on it.

If this works, it could be great for cutting out letters and numbers, too. The alphabet and number dies are waaaaay expensive, though.

The thing applies quite a bit of pressure while cutting. I'm probably going to try it with waxed paper on both sides of the fondant. I'll report back later in the day unless someone comes on here and says "don't do it!!!"

i'd give it a try- can you give it a light coat of crisco? maybe try that to make sure it won't stick- let us know

I was just thinking about that also since I have one too. I would definitely do the waxed paper on both sides so it doesn't stick to the die itself.

Update:

I've been working with this for the last couple of hours or so. I don't think this is a real possibility. I have five "tags" to show for my work, and a couple of them are not very good.

I tried waxed paper, greased with crisco, greased with Pam and heavily coated with confectioner's sugar.

I tried waxed paper on one side. Plastic wrap on the other.

I tried plastic wrap on both sides...plain...greased with Crisco...greased with Pam.

I tried cellophane, greased both ways.

Tried glassine paper, greased both ways.

I also tried adding a single layer of paper towel under the fondant, thinking that would give a cushion and the die would then go ahead and cut through better. Nope.

After all that....Plastic wrap on both sides works best. Doesn't seem to matter whether it's heavily greased on heavily dusted with confectioner's sugar.

The problem is the cutting action. For whatever reason, the die doesn't go all the way through the fondant. I even tried this on a brand new die, thinking maybe my package tag die was worn. Nope. The cuts are rough...not clean as with paper. I may give it a shot one more time when I get my shipment of wafer paper later this week. But, I'm not hopeful.

Too bad. They have some super dies!

having worked with the teacher version of those....

I'm betting the problem lies in "thickness"

the dies are made to cut at most card stock (= about 5 sheets of regular paper)

betting you'd have to roll the fondant between the plastic wrap or wax paper until only as thick as card stock. at that point fondant that thin is practically unworkable and fragile

I'm not sure what it is you are talking about, but i have used those paper punch press (which sounds similar to what you are using) It does work on gumpaste, never tried with fondant, but what i do with gumpaste is run it through a pasta machine to the thinest or nearly thinest setting, let is crust up slightly then press it out, i have one of the edge cutters that works well too. It cuts a lacy heart edge.

I got the stuff pretty thin...figuring I'd peel off the top layer of plastic/paper and let it dry with the bottom layer still on it before trying to handle it. I think it was thin enough. Just to be sure, I cut through several layers of other kinds of paper, and I think my fondant sandwich was well within those limits. Maybe the fondant is "healing" after the cut. Maybe I'll go back in there and try making it tissue thin and see what happens. I hate to give up on the concept...they have so many neat dies.

another possibility..

paper is dry, and semi-brittle (if you will)

bet sizzix wouldn't cut wet paper very well either

so...what if fondant was allowed to get semi-hard or even almost all the way hard. bet it would cut better.

roll out some and let set harden, then give it a whirl

You're a genius, Doug. I rolled it to the thickness of card stock. Let it dry for a while (probably could have dried longer, but I was impatient). It worked great! I left the bottom layer of paper on it for final drying, so it was easy to handle, even though it was so thin. I'm planning to use wafer paper as a backing sheet when doing this to apply directly to cakes. That way, I can leave the paper on and just slap it on the cake. It'll hold its crisp lines that way and not get bent out of shape.

The machine is expensive, so I don't know if I'd encourage anybody to go out and invest in this. But, if you've got a machine already, it's neat to know you've got this in your bag of tricks. Some of the layered cutouts can be really nifty.

I'm attaching a picture of my last tag. It's probably a shade under 3 inches long. I'm planning to write birthday greetings, etc., on this with edible marker and then attach it with a thin strip of fondant, probably under a bow.

YEAH!!!! glad to see it worked.

now I finally have a reason to get one too. (and do it' when half-off at AC Moore or Michaels or w/ a coupon...speaking of which Michaels has a 50% off for today and tomorrow -- uh oh...I feel a shopping trip coming on )

Wow! That looks great! Cool tool. I don't have one but I would definitely use it with fondant after seeing your results.

question:

wonder how it would work w/ rice/wafer paper alone? (or maybe two or so sheets at same time???

think of possibilities for taking them and coloring them (doesn't sizzix have a butterfly pattern?)

another question:

I wonder if it would work w/ the impression/embossing dies????

______________

oh, dear, this is getting serious...just found out the machine is on sale 1/2 price at A.C. Moores!

This is an AWESOME thread!! I'm so glad you posted this. I've wanted one anyway, and now I have an even better reason to get one!!!!

I'm so excited to do this. I will definitely wait for the next 50% off coupon however!!!

Thanks guys!
Suz

Wow, Crimsicle, the tag is really very nice!

I'm sure it would work great with wafer paper alone. I've cut lots of different things with mine. And, yes...they do have butterflies. The dies are so much more detailed than anything you can get with a typical cutter. I'm thinking about it for music notes and little boy and girl "dolls" that can be dressed and made up with different hair, etc. Lots and lots of possibilities. I spent at least an hour on their website today thinking about cake applications for various dies. One of these years I'm going to get one of their alphabet sets. But, those are really high dollar. Not this week!

Has anyone been using the Sizzix machine since this was first posted?

IF so, how is it working out for you?

thanks

Debbie

Are they similar to paper punches if not give them a try..... just dust with cornflour and roll gumpaste nice and thin ....it works great .....I used one to cut out all the small butterflies (200 of them) for some mini wedding cakes. I've got a heap of them now.......hearts, stars dragon flies, music notes etc, etc......now to find something to use them on!!!!

Trudi,
thanks for the reply!! So it works fine with gumpaste? What about fondant?



Debbie

Question
Is the fondant not making the die cut sitcky? I would think that it would mess up your die cutters and make them where you couldnt use them for paper again.

That tag looks great, I'd like to see what else can be done with it. Keep us posted.

Sweet, I'm definitely going to try this!

yay!! im going to get a sissix today!

This just made my day!!! I just bought some of ABC's from a friend who wanted to get them out of her house because now that she has 4 kids she does all digital scrap booking.....which I still love to do...but I am super excited to get these...also you can go on the Sizzix site and get some stuff on clearance!!

Once I get mine I will make some letters and things of that nature I will post pictures and let you know how things go!!

I've been toying with this idea too as i really just cannot afford the Cricut cake.

I have some edible icing sheets - they are thicker than the usual edible image sheets - more like card. I already use them by colouring them through the edible printer and then I use paper punches - they produce lovely shapes so was thinking can't see any reason why you couldn't use them with the Sizzix. Can pick up the new big shot express in UK for £86 which compared with £400-£500 the Cricut will cost me is a no-brainer.
Here are some cupcakes I made using the edible sheets and a paper punch. So you can see from that top photo how thin the edible sheet is - I'm sure it will work with the machine.



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I have a sizzix and I love it for cuuting out gumpaste I roll very thin and then let it dry a little on both sides then cut out my shape. It works great!!

Can you use any dies in the sizzix