trick to outlining - Page 3

judydp
yes, the cornstarch will wipe off. I usually take a paper towel and lightly wipe them. I don't do anything with Crisco though. Maybe only to put on my hands before I color the MMF.
By the way, do you recall the price of the rolling pins at BB&B?

linedancer - can you tell me about this pearly making please?

I usually don't pay much attention to the cornstarch. I don't use very much, but on dark colors it will make streaks. I find as you roll it, that goes away. Then when you cut the fondant, cookies are not huge, so you really don't notice. As particular as I am, this is something that just doesn't bother me. By the time you add impressions, embellishments, luster dust, etc..It does not detract from the overall design of the cookie IMHO. If there is a little cornstarch left, you could brush it off with a dry brush, or use the criso if you wish. Now, if you were doing a cake, it could be a different story, but alas, I am not much of a cake maker, so I can't help with that.

linedance...Thanks, I might use a little dust of some sort, even though the napkin that I am copying is a matte finish. Actually, today, after I got away from it for awhile, it didn't seem bad. As you, I guess I am too much of a perfectionist....trying too hard. THANKS to everyone...




linedancer said that they are $7.00 at BBB. Also, I assume that linedancer measures equal amounts of fondant...rolls it in a ball with the palm of her hands, then dusts it with pearl dust, etc. Goodluck! HTH

JudyDP- I know that I have been out of the conversation today but I go a different direction than Linedancer just because like most of us we have self taught and asked lots of questions from different people to see what works best for us. I have never used cornstarch when working with MMF. I did forget in my earlier posts to tell you that I keep a very small can of Crisco that I only use for my MMF. I always work without gloves (I get better control but also because I am allergic to latex) and dip my hands into the crisco before I start to roll each new ball out. I use the small Wilton fondant rolling pin. I will say that it took me a little bit to get used to it. Also I usually roll a small amount of MMF on a sheet of wax paper. After rolled I run a very thin spatula under it. You can use a decorator knife. I have a small spatula that I got from Pampered Chef and it works perfectly. I run the spatula under the MMF prior to cutting it so when I cut it does not stick. After cut I stick the spatula back under the MMF and it comes out perfect. Like I said earlier it is all a matter of pereference and you will see what works best for you. The only time I have ever added anything to my MMF is when I am working with large sections to cover a cake and then I use powdered sugar prior to rolling the large section back onto the rolling pin. If you do not like to use wax paper you can apply a small amount of Crisco to a clean counter top and roll that way as well. This way the MMF will not stick to the counter. But you will still want to run the spatula under it like before.

Also one more thing if you are working with any of the luster dust you can use Vodka or Lemon Juice to mix in with the powder prior to brushing it on and it will not affect the MMF. I like the vodka better since it does not change the taste of my MMF. That is what I used to paint on my Goldfish that I posted earlier.

Jill

JudyDP- I know that I have been out of the conversation today but I go a different direction than Linedancer just because like most of us we have self taught and asked lots of questions from different people to see what works best for us. I have never used cornstarch when working with MMF. I did forget in my earlier posts to tell you that I keep a very small can of Crisco that I only use for my MMF. I always work without gloves (I get better control but also because I am allergic to latex) and dip my hands into the crisco before I start to roll each new ball out. I use the small Wilton fondant rolling pin. I will say that it took me a little bit to get used to it. Also I usually roll a small amount of MMF on a sheet of wax paper. After rolled I run a very thin spatula under it. You can use a decorator knife. I have a small spatula that I got from Pampered Chef and it works perfectly. I run the spatula under the MMF prior to cutting it so when I cut it does not stick. After cut I stick the spatula back under the MMF and it comes out perfect. Like I said earlier it is all a matter of pereference and you will see what works best for you. The only time I have ever added anything to my MMF is when I am working with large sections to cover a cake and then I use powdered sugar prior to rolling the large section back onto the rolling pin. If you do not like to use wax paper you can apply a small amount of Crisco to a clean counter top and roll that way as well. This way the MMF will not stick to the counter. But you will still want to run the spatula under it like before.

Toleshed - if you are working with any of the luster dust like linedancer you can use Vodka or Lemon Juice to mix in with the powder prior to brushing it on and it will not affect the MMF. I like the vodka better since it does not change the taste of my MMF. That is what I used to paint on my Goldfish cookie that I posted earlier. Also, they carry the same rolling pin at Linens and Things and they are also around $7.00 for the junior size.

Jill

JudyDP- I know that I have been out of the conversation today but I go a different direction than Linedancer just because like most of us we have self taught and asked lots of questions from different people to see what works best for us. I have never used cornstarch when working with MMF. I did forget in my earlier posts to tell you that I keep a very small can of Crisco that I only use for my MMF. I always work without gloves (I get better control but also because I am allergic to latex) and dip my hands into the crisco before I start to roll each new ball out. I use the small Wilton fondant rolling pin. I will say that it took me a little bit to get used to it. Also I usually roll a small amount of MMF on a sheet of wax paper. After rolled I run a very thin spatula under it. You can use a decorator knife. I have a small spatula that I got from Pampered Chef and it works perfectly. I run the spatula under the MMF prior to cutting it so when I cut it does not stick. After cut I stick the spatula back under the MMF and it comes out perfect. Like I said earlier it is all a matter of pereference and you will see what works best for you. The only time I have ever added anything to my MMF is when I am working with large sections to cover a cake and then I use powdered sugar prior to rolling the large section back onto the rolling pin. If you do not like to use wax paper you can apply a small amount of Crisco to a clean counter top and roll that way as well. This way the MMF will not stick to the counter. But you will still want to run the spatula under it like before.

Toleshed - if you are working with any of the luster dust like linedancer you can use Vodka or Lemon Juice to mix in with the powder prior to brushing it on and it will not affect the MMF. It will make your pearls look more realistic. I like the vodka better since it does not change the taste of my MMF. That is what I used to paint on my Goldfish cookie that I posted earlier. Also, they carry the same rolling pin at Linens and Things and they are also around $7.00 for the junior size.

Jill

Happybug98 those are good suggestions. I also keep crisco on hand, grease my mats with it, so it leaves some on my hands to work the fondant. The reason I use a little cornstarch is because my rolling pin seems to roll it out better and not stick to the fondant. I never use gloves either.

I usually dust my cookies with dry luster dust. Once in awhile, I will paint with it, but usually use vanilla since we have an alcohol problem in my family and I don't want to take any kind of a chance. If I know, for sure, the cookies are not for my family, I will use vodka, and I think that it does dry faster.

Wow, everyone should be on overload with information, isn't it great that there are so many ideas floating around here?

My computer froze last night when I was trying to make my post above so I did not know if it actually accepted it. I am sorry that it posted three times.

Linedancer- Thanks for the info on the cornstarch I will have to try it next time.

I make a little dusting bag by taking a handiwipe (the kind of dry cloth wipes), cut it in half, put a little cornstarch in the middle and tie it up with a rubberband. You can clip the top off if you feel like you have too much handiwipe left. I usually give mine a haircut. You have a dusting bag that lasts a long time, is refillable, spreads just a little cornstarch and is fairly cheap, My Wilton instructor suggested it, and it works great.

I had a question. I didn't see it in the other posts, but might have missed it. I know you put the mmf on the cookie when it is warm. do you outline or even frost when it is warm too or do you let it cool first? thanks.

Lovetofrost- I usually add my MMF after my cookies have cooled. I add all of my detail then.

Linedancer - What brand do you buy and where is the best place to get them? I just want to make sure that what I get is safe for food.

Happybug98 - Handi Wipes is a national brand. They are made by Clorox. I cound not find out if they were food safe. I would think they would be better than a knee-hi stocking, which some say to use. Wilton makes a bag you can buy, that is more than likely food safe. But I did not like it. If you decide to go the handi wipe route, I probably got mine at Walmart, but they are readily available.

Lovetofrost - I know some folks here on CC like to put their fondant on warm cookies. But I usually bake around 10-12 dozen at a time. It keeps me busy just getting them baked. So I bake one day and decorate another. It lets me enjoy the decorating more and doesn't wear me out so much.

Thanks for the info.