I have used my CK bead maker one other time, I am working on a cake right now and am wondering...

I just watched the youtube video that Edna (She is awesome) made on making pearls/beads from a mold, she is using a mold by First Impressions, and I noticed that the back of her pearls/beads come out flat. The mold by CK that I have completely surrounds your fondant/gumpaste and leaves a little edge on the back of the beads, I have just been turning that side towards the cake and it hides it, but then I started wondering if maybe I am not doing this right.

Any instruction or hints/help would be greatly appreciated.

TIA

thanks for posting this question! I think you're reading my mind.. I bought the CK 8mm bead maker about 2 weeks ago and it leaves a bit of extra 'stuff' between the beads... I didn't like it much, so I just piped the pearl boarder instead of making fondant beads.
I also watched Edna on her you tube video and I was wondering where she got her bead maker!!
I even tried to take the bead maker back to the store where I bought it... ( I live near country Kitchen/CK products..) they told me that it's normal to have the stuff between the beads.
I can't wait to see the replies you get!

The First Impressions one that Edna uses is different from the CK bead maker. The First Impressions bead maker makes beads that are flat on the back. The CK bead maker makes the full round beads.
The benefit of the flat back is, well, that it is flat which is helpful for putting on the sides of cakes. The benefit of the round is that it looks more like a pearl, rather than a half.
I know the First Impressions ones are available from Global Sugar Art.

Hope that helps!

Also, the First Impressions has space between the beads also. Try pushing the beads closer together to eliminate the gap.

The First Impressions mold, if I'm not mistaken, is like half of the CK mold, so maybe if you put your fondant into only one side of the CK mold, you'll get what Edna gets from the mold she uses. If you put your fondant in the mold in a certain way (putting it into the middle of the mold and pressing it toward the edges), you don't get as much stuff left over at the edges. I have to say, though, that I find these molds too much trouble, and just make my beads by extending fondant to about 3/8" (or whatever you need to make the size bead you want) and punching out circles with a tappit or a round #10 icing tip. I roll all these circles into little balls and shake them up in a ziplock bag with whatever color luster dust I want them to be. I either stick them onto the cake one by one or string them on dental floss and drape them.

Thanks, Marianna46.... I'll have to try that method!!

Thank you for the replies!

Marianna46- I too am going to give that method a try. I can't say I love this bead maker, by the time I push the extra stuff in and arrange them so the edge doesn't show, I could have probably rolled them out individually. Thanks for the help!

By the way, I forgot to say that this idea isn't mine originally. I got it from a post here on CC by langranny, whom I can't thank enough for having posted it.

I love my CK bead maker! I roll out a sausage shape then squeeze it in the form, removing the extra with my finger...the little piece that you are talking about between each bead in normal and easily fixed...just put your beads on your cake then take a little pearing knife and push between each bead...this also helps push the beads securely to the cake.

I ADORE my CK bead makers!!! I love the whole pearl look. If you look at the cakes in my gallery, all are made with this mold and my pearl clay. It makes the most beautiful, realistic pearls in my opinion.

They really are very easy to use, I just think some don't know how to use them. That seam is normal, you just put that towards the cake and you don't see it.

Jennifer

Jennifer...I was FINALLY able to watch the DVD... of yours, of course.....my dvd player doesn't work in my laptop so I had to use the old fashioned desk top computer

so... I made the recipe that you've given on the dvd..... BUT.... I ONLY have fondant that is premixed with chocolate etc. ... I swore after the very first time I made your fondant, that I would never, EVER cover a cake in fondant, unless I am using your recipe/method!!! My last cake turned out pretty nice, and one tier didn't have ANY decorations!!! *~*

however... I forgot that NONE of my fondant is PLAIN fondant... so I didn't have as much success with the beads as what you have in the dvd!!! I have about 15 pounds of the premixed, Jennifer fondant... YES... That's what it's called... "Jennifer Fondant".......so..... I'm not thrilled with my bead maker!!! I even tried to take it back to Country Kitchen... I didn't have the original packaging so they wouldn't take it back!
SO... to your credit... I have decided to buy naked fondant, and do as you have instructed... after all...if I have success in covering a cake, everything else should work out just as well!
I'm surprised you aren't in California at ICES!

Hi CD -

You need to make the pearl clay. Really.... it's very leatherlike and it really does make the most brilliant pearls (as you might have seen in the DVD).

I am THRILLED you like my semi-homemade white chocoalte fondant!! YAY!!! I'm beaming at the keyboard!!! LOL

Nope, no ICES this year.... I have two back to back classes out in California this fall so I figured one long trip out there this year is enough Next year for sure! NC here I come!!!!

If I can help more, yell. If you make the pearl clay, use Pettinice and Mercken's....very important. The pearl clay is thicker than the white chocolate fodant and is much easier to use in the molds. If I can help more, yell ok?

Sweet regards and happy pearl making...

Jennifer

New pearl mold I tried out today! Sunflower Art brand I think. (It's pink)
Anyhow, I can hardly open it, it is sooo stiff. Once I get the gumpaste in, I can barely open it to get it out!! Any tips? I am serious folks, it is almost as though one person needs to hold it open while another digs out the pearls....

I also love the ck pearl maker and that they sell, rope, oval, etc. It makes a prettier pearl than the first impressions. My friend has both, and she like the ck better also.