I have learned so much from everyone here and i wanted to thank you all for helping me (directly or indirectly).

I also have bought a lot of new tools (toys, whatever) based on discussion i have read.

What I would like to know is what is your favorite thing you use for cake/cookie decorating that is not originally intended for that purpose.

Perhaps it is a garden tool, scuplting tool, or something you crafted or adapted yourself.

Please include a description of how you made the tool and how you use it for those of us with less experience.

And in advance, thank you all for sharing! you guys are the best.

Julai

Hi!

My new favorite tool is my pasta accessories that I have for my KA. It makes rolling out fondant for my bow loops, or impressions a snap. Best 80 i ever spent.(got a 20% off coupon from linen and things, they have them in stock there) Mine is the 3 piece set. I also use the fettucini one for making the fondant twirls for tops of my mad hatter or party cakes. The spagetti one is good for hair for molded figures or a birds nest, etc... Can you tell how excited I am about this.

THe other things that I live the most are my textured rollers and special pieces that I bought from the AMAZING Marco Antonio Lopez. This is a gentleman from Columbia. He and his wife Sonia are so outstanding. I had to joy of helping him in his demonstration in Austin, while at the cake competition. I am currently working with them to hold classes in July at a bakery in Plano, Tx. So eager.

What are some others?

Dawn

I saw some way cute abc magnets and I use those for a font for lettering. I used them on my pic of my baby's 1st birthday cake.

I also use hair ties to tie my bags up.

PVC pipe for forming bow loops and castle turrets

Scrapbooking exacto knife for cutting fondant

All kinds of scrapbooking stuff for textures and shapes like punches and such.

I love to use thread or dental floss to layer my cakes.Even though I'm pretty good at layering evenly,this is super quick and will work on a large cake when my knife will not reach from side to side.

I would absolutely go nuts without my pasta machine. I bought it at Michael's after reading about it in a Colette Peter's book and now I use it for anything I have to roll out......fondant, gumpaste, pastillage, etc. I get a piece that is always even and even thinner than I could get it rolling it out by hand. It's a HUGE time saver. NOw I'm actually looking at getting some of the embossing plates made for clay and metal foils to add texture to cutouts and for sculpted looks.

I love the usuals......the putty knives for frosting the cake, makes it super easy hold it in place and spin your cake........I love pvc pipe with all the fittings to roll out cookie dough and fondant to the perfect thickness.....each of the fittings is about an 1/8 of an inch thick......depending on how thick or thin I want it I just add more fittings over top of eachother..works like a charm......children toy footballs and basketballs, deflated and used to make the impressions of leather onto cakes and fondant......my kids' toy food.....lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, (gotta remember to replace them, they're in with my cake stuff) they make very good and realistic impressions in fondant when making hamburger cakes, etc.