You know those decorations sprouting from the top of cakes? They are on what looks like wire with stars, balls, flowers etc on the ends of them? Some are straight and others bend over the sides of the cake...
I don't know what to call them, but can anyone tell me how to make them? Can you just use regular wire? What gauge for the straight ones and the bendy ones? How do you attach the fondant/gumpaste to them without it falling off?
Thanks!
I normally use gumpaste, since it dries rock hard, on the end ot the wires. I dip the end on the wire in water before I insert it into the gumpaste. You just need to make sure that whatever you put on the wire, it has time to dry do it won't slip off the end. Depending on how big the item is, I use at least 24g covered floral wire, Sometimes I'll use 22g. I stick it directly into the cake but some people insert them into plastic coffee stir sticks first.
On one of my cakes (you can see my photos) what I did was I made the balls and let it dry for about 5 min. and then just pass the wire trough, you can put a little melt chocolate so they can stay on place and lay them on parchment paper 'till they dry, the same with the stars. 
I hope this help. 
Elissa, good question. I always have trouble with "those wirey things" too. I use the 22g wire and on the end I make a very, very, very small hook, then I press it on the back of the gumpaste or fondant, what ever I'm using at the time. Sometimes it looks ok and other times the object on the wire is all messed up. I've tried pinching the wire on the back of the gumpaste and fondant. I ususally just give up! It's a very delicate thing to do. I can't seem to manage inserting the wire either, it usually messes up also. Help us!!! What's the secret?
Elissa, good question. I always have trouble with "those wirey things" too. I use the 22g wire and on the end I make a very, very, very small hook, then I press it on the back of the gumpaste or fondant, what ever I'm using at the time. Sometimes it looks ok and other times the object on the wire is all messed up. I've tried pinching the wire on the back of the gumpaste and fondant. I ususally just give up! It's a very delicate thing to do. I can't seem to manage inserting the wire either, it usually messes up also. Help us!!! What's the secret?
I actually use floral wire (20 or 22 gauge); it's very bendy but steardy and CHEAP. I got a back of twenty-four 18 inch pieces for $.88! 
Typically the little details I put on them are gumpaste and then I just poke a water-misted floral wire through. I have used royal icing before on one occasion that was rather messy. I made royal icing (4th of July cake in my gallery) stars, let them dry and then butted the flat bottoms together (with more royal icing) on to the wire. It worked but was super messy. 
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