Help!!! I Have An Ouchie!!!!!!

Decorating By Lazy_Susan Updated 14 Mar 2006 , 8:34pm by tanyap

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Lazy_Susan Posted 12 Mar 2006 , 9:27am
post #1 of 22

I have been making fondant pearls using and my finger is very very red from the edge of the tip as I press down to cut out the discs for the pearls. If I make many more I am afraid my finger is going to start bleeding. I really want to make these and not have to purchase them. For some odd reason I have this "thing" about making everything from scratch! LOL
Any way, how can I prevent any more damage to my finger and still continue to make my fondant pearls? Is there a trick to it that I'm missing? Do y'all hurt your fingers too?

Lazy_Susan

21 replies
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LeeAnn Posted 12 Mar 2006 , 9:29am
post #2 of 22

When I use cutters I use kitchen paper between hand and cutter. Good luck.

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Lazy_Susan Posted 12 Mar 2006 , 9:33am
post #3 of 22
Quote:
Originally Posted by LeeAnn

When I use cutters I use kitchen paper between hand and cutter. Good luck.




Thanks but the tip is so little. Would I be able to hold it and the paper?

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jscakes Posted 12 Mar 2006 , 10:52am
post #4 of 22

How about using a band aid over the end of your finger, like quilting to protect your finger?

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leily Posted 12 Mar 2006 , 10:59am
post #5 of 22

what about those rubber thimbles to place over your finger? Many people who sew use them to protect their fingers from the needle. Would this help? They make the metal and plastic ones, however i prefer the rubber ones myself, just a little more flexible. Otherwise a thick band-aid or two for an on-hand fix.

Leily

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gcc Posted 12 Mar 2006 , 11:08am
post #6 of 22

I was wondering if you might use a finger guard like a seamstress uses for handsewing? I have one and for the life of me I dont know really what they are called. It's a little rubber that slips over the end of your pointer finger to stop the sewing needle from sticking into you when you are handsewing.
Probably won't help you now but in future it might be the answer.
Short term I can only think of a bandaid too.
Karen

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anabrown Posted 12 Mar 2006 , 11:10am
post #7 of 22

You should consider to invest on a bead cutter.
Have a look on Bead Makers at http://www.sugarcraft.com/catalog/gumpaste/beads.htm and also the pictures demonstrating how to use it at http://www.sugarcraft.com/catalog/gumpaste/bead-dir.jpg

They have various sizes and I always use them.

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gcc Posted 12 Mar 2006 , 11:14am
post #8 of 22

Leily, looks like great minds think alike. icon_wink.gif
Teaches me not to feed the dog before I press the post button.
Karen

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Lazy_Susan Posted 12 Mar 2006 , 1:17pm
post #9 of 22

Thank you everyone. I'll definitely take all these suggestions into consideration icon_smile.gif

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ballmom Posted 13 Mar 2006 , 5:51pm
post #10 of 22

If you are using a decorating tip you can put a coupler and ring on it. Makes it easier to hold and will not hurt your fingers.

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Lazy_Susan Posted 13 Mar 2006 , 6:45pm
post #11 of 22
Quote:
Originally Posted by ballmom

If you are using a decorating tip you can put a coupler and ring on it. Makes it easier to hold and will not hurt your fingers.




Oh my gosh!!! See I really AM blonde!! LOL What a great idea. Thanks icon_biggrin.gif

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projectqueen Posted 13 Mar 2006 , 8:03pm
post #12 of 22

Lazy_Susan, how are you doing with the pearls? I was thinking about making some myself but I was wondering if I would be able to get them even close to uniform in size. The molds look cool but they are expensive. Please let me know how you make out, have you rolled them yet? How did you get the fondant level? Did you use a pasta machine? I don't have one....

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Rexy Posted 13 Mar 2006 , 8:09pm
post #13 of 22

ProjectQueen,
When I made my pearls I followed the demo from Earlenescakes.com website. She had a great tutorial and I was extremely pleased.

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projectqueen Posted 13 Mar 2006 , 9:39pm
post #14 of 22

How many pearls would you need to make to go around the base of a 6" cake and a 10" cake?

Approximately, of course. Would it be like 50 or 100 or 250? I have no idea.

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Katydidz Posted 13 Mar 2006 , 9:53pm
post #15 of 22

It would depend on how big you're making your pearls. I know I've seen something somewhere that says how many different sized pearls you need for each size cake... maybe earlene's... I'll see if I can find it for you.

Nope, it's on cakesbysam.com under shopping.

Thanks Sam!!!

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projectqueen Posted 14 Mar 2006 , 12:20am
post #16 of 22

How do you attach the pearls to bc icing after it is crusted? Would you have to put a dab of bc on each and every pearl to attach?

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golfgirl1227 Posted 14 Mar 2006 , 1:45am
post #17 of 22

I have a pearl mold and to tell you the truth, I'm not in love with it. I've used it a couple of times, but most of the time I just cut them out with a tip and roll them.

That of course does not solve your pain problem, but just letting you know that I don't think you are missing out by not having a mold.

Good luck,
Suz

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Lazy_Susan Posted 14 Mar 2006 , 5:56am
post #18 of 22

Here are a few of the pearls I made. Anyone who tries this using the decorating tip please put the coupler on it or you will kill your finger!!! I found this bit of information out from ballmom after I made approximately 600 of them. Also, it worked much better after the fondant had dried out a bit. Then I just put them in one of those little tiny plastic GLAD containers with a touch of Pearl Dust and gently shook them up (after they had dried for about 4 hours). I love them and can't wait to use them on a cake in the near future. I recieved my cake dummies today so soon I will be making a wedding cake to take pictures of icon_smile.gif

Lazy_Susan
LL

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lastingmoments Posted 14 Mar 2006 , 6:05am
post #19 of 22

just beautiful

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projectqueen Posted 14 Mar 2006 , 8:24pm
post #20 of 22

Just bumping so I can find out how to attach the pearls to bc icing. Do you have to put a dab on each pearl to attach after the icing has crusted? Otherwise, how would they stay? If you push them in they wouldn't look round anymore. Confused... icon_confused.gif

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aliciaL_77 Posted 14 Mar 2006 , 8:33pm
post #21 of 22

they look wonderful I have to go make some now icon_smile.gif

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tanyap Posted 14 Mar 2006 , 8:34pm
post #22 of 22

yes, it's best to put a dab of icing to attach pearls...I've found it easier if you are putting the pearls in a row (like at the base of a tier) to pipe a super thin row of icing (like a #1 or #2 tip) and then attaching the pearls to that.

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