I have done numbers a couple times out of fondant and had a hard time supporting it to stand upright on top of a cake. They usually end up tipping over. Is there a trick to this that I am overlooking?? I was thinking a popsicle stick but am not sure of the best way to attach that to the number itself. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. TIA. If you need a picture to go off of to see what I mean I will attach link of one I found on pink cake box.

http://blog.pinkcakebox.com/1st-birthday-candy-cake-2010-02-16.htm

bamboo shiskabob skewers are a good idea.

I agree. Either a bamboo skewer or a heavier wire (inserted into coffee stirrers in the cake). If I am making a flatter number I have made two and then used edible glue to glue the wire in between them. I did make a number 8 in the style of the pink cake box number you showed and I stuck wire into the sides of the 8 and dried it. I had little flowers and stuff around the base of the 8, so you didn't see the wire at all. It worked really well. Good luck!

Thank you both. I am leery of the wire I have heard you aren't supposed to insert wire into the cake. Am I right about that? Maybe I will just go with the skewers. And you said to attach with edible glue...? Would clear corn syrup work?

put wire inside the coffee stirrers that look like straws made for Lilliputians and garden nomes.

Depending on the size I use a toothpick or two. You insert that into the figure using glue (gum glue, egg whites etc) when you make it then it dries and sets inside the figure. Then you stick the toothpick into the cake.

I was thinking about using toothpicks too. I will definitely have to try some of these ideas.

I use Bamboo skewers just because of their length, that way you can have skewer going into your fondant number and a fair bit of the skwer left over to go into your cake. never too much support I say.

I add tylose to my fondant and after the number/shape is cut out I insert a wooden skew, carefully as to not change the shape. Before inserting I gently dip skew into a mixture of fondant and water. I keep the number/shape laying flat until completely dry, may take a day or more.

Awesome thank you all!!

you can always use lollipop sticks! that's what is holding up my rope "3" on top of my cowgirl cake in my pics!

Thank you and tavyheather your cake is SO cute!!!

I use wires, I went to the craft store and bought the long wires for floral crafting. I make the fondant shape thick enough to hold up, let it dry and poke the wire through it almost all the way, maybe 1/4" from top. Push the wire into the cake. I clean the wires first just in case, but have never had any problems with the wires in the cake. If you want to be extra careful, like someone else said put the coffee stirrers into the cake first, then put the wires in. I use them all the time, they are flexible too, so you can angle your pieces any way you want them. Now the bigger birthday sign in the back, I used lollipop sticks, but I made it much thicker also.

See:

I let the number dry really good for a few days.Then I cut a wooden skewer and glue it on the back with the wilton cookie icing which is like royal icing.Sets up in about a day and ready to go..Stands up perfect!!

Thank you both!