Help With Gum Paste/fondant Figure Modeling!!!
Decorating By ButRCream Updated 5 Jan 2015 , 11:19pm by Emme07
FlourPots, thanks so much for all the tips. When you are making figures to top a cake, how far in advance do you have to make them so they dry and hold their shape when you assemble the cake? I'm sure it depends on the size of the piece, just looking for a general guideline - 1 day, 3 days, a week...
Also, how do you know when you need to add structural elements like tooth picks or skewers? I am nervous about making figures that fall apart, and don't have time for a dry run!
Thank you for your help!
I make mine weeks ahead of time. This way if I am not happy with the result, I have time to do another. I am making a cake for my great-niece for Feb. 16 and I already have the figures done.
PartyFlours' I was reading the posts and saw you use MMF. My first thought was... how nice you were to have answered and shared your knowledge. My second thought was... she gets MMF to behave? I also read about how nice your work is. My next thought was... and it looks great!?Then I read all the posts from everyone asking for the recipe and your notes! THEN I had to get a look at this.... THEY R ALL CORRECT... Your work is amazing and you used MMF!
... (you know what I'm going say next right?) "ME TOO, ME TOO!!!" PLEASE send me the recipe and tips!
Weeks before that though, I'm planning like crazy, searching Google images (even when it's familiar items), and in some cases experimenting with spare fondant (if I think something will be too challenging).
Thanks, FlourPots! I have been the queen of procrastination so I'll be putting together three Pokemons to top a cake tomorrow for Sunday. I'm debating whether or not to try to get them to do any standing on their own; more likely, I'll wrap Rayquaza (a snakey-dragon) around his Pokeball (sort of like an egg), sit up Deoxys against its Pokeball, and see if I can get Cobalion (looks kind of like a swedish horse) to stand on his four feet. It'll be an interesting day, that's for sure! I'll post it if I can figure out how... such a newbie
Hi all, I'm a newbie in cakecentral.com...
I'm impressed with your work FlourPots, would you like to send me some tips too?
Appreciate your help, thanksss
oh wow FLOURPOTS!! i've just seen your pics! AMAZZZZZING!!! This is what i'm looking for right now! plz plz plzzzz can you also PM me the modelling reciepe, would really appreciate it! xx
I agree. To get the gumpaste to meld together and stop forming cracks, microwave your lump of gumpaste for just 8 to 10 SECONDS, then with shortening on your hands, knead it warm from the microwave and you won't have a problem. There's also a homemade gumpaste out there that came with my Cake Silhouette program from Linda McClure that's different from any other gumpastes I've touched - more tylose powder and gelatin in it - it's more "rubbery" and won't crack. Another good one is Platinum Paste from England but it's wicked expensive. Linda's recipe mimics Platinum Paste. Hope this helps.
Is gumpaste and sugar paste the same thing? i need to make some upright standing models and am confused which one to use. Plz help xx
Flour pots, I am such a newbie I have tried a few times to post pictures and couldn't get it to work! Hopefully this will do the trick...
<a href="http://cakecentral.com/g/i/2936509/a/3274764/pokemon-cake-with-rayquaza-cobalion-and-deoxys/sort/display_order/#order=3&albumId=3274764&nextId=false&prevId=2872451&imageId=2936509&imageESOId=7486792&fullUrl=%2Fg%2Fi%2F2936509%2Fa%2F3274764%2Fpokemon-cake-with-rayquaza-cobalion-and-deoxys%2F%2Fsort%2Fdisplay_order&fullSrc=http%3A%2F%2Fcakecentral.com%2Fimage%2Fid%2F7486792%2Fwidth%2F900%2Fheight%2F900%2Fflags%2FLL&thumbSrc=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn001.cakecentral.com%2F7%2F71%2F50x50px-ZC-71452b03_PokemoncakeBegenreduced.jpeg&description=Pokemon+cake+with+Rayquaza%2C+Cobalion%2C+and+Deoxys&original=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn001.cakecentral.com%2F7%2F71%2F71452b03_PokemoncakeBegenreduced.jpeg&setName=&urlSlug=pokemon-cake-with-rayquaza-cobalion-and-deoxys"><img src="http://cakecentral.com/image/id/7486792/width/400/flags/LL"></a>
OMG that link is so long! There's got to be an easier way.
Hi do you have a recipe that you would share for making figures? I want to use fondant but find it doesn't hold its shape as well as I would like.
Hi, Dolphan,
I just read this post and thought I'd post the recipe for fondant figures that I really like. While I use gumpaste for all my flowers, I recently started making figures from Elizabeth Marek's recipe. It is a modified MMF and is incredibly easy to work with. I found her video on making Christmas elves and it is all I use for figures now. Here is the recipe: (Incidentally, this is the only reason I'd ever use Wilton fondant as I am a confirmed Michelle Foster Fondant fan!)
E LIZABETH MAREKS’S FONDANT (FOR FIGURES)
1 lb Bag Marshmallows, (Cheap brand)
½ C. Shortening
3 T. Water
2 lb. Powdered sugar, sifted
1 ¼ lb. Wilton fondant
Microwave marshmallows about 1min 30 seconds. Check after 1 minute see if mostly melted.
Stir, heat 30 more seconds. Stir until completely melted and puffed up.
Add 3 Tablespoons of water and place in KA bowl with dough hook.
Add ½ C. shortening. Turn mixer on low and add Powdered sugar, 1 C. at a time, till almost clears bowl. About 90% will be mixed. There will still be some remaining in the bowl.
During this time soften Wilton fondant in microwave.
Turn into large bowl with remaining powdered sugar and into the middle, place Wilton fondant.
Knead well. It is ready to use at this point.
Add a little tylose for figures, (faces to dry quickly)
This cake I made recently after using this recipe. I had no difficulty, even when applying over an armature as in the horse.
<a href="http://cakecentral.com/g/i/2918797/a/3301268/for-my-grand-daughters-5th-birthday-she-wants-to-be-a-cowgirl-so-this-was-her-theme-although-it-doesnt-show-in-this-photo-she-is-wearing-a-fringed-buckskin-skirt-and-a-buckskin-jacket-with-fringe-on-the-sleeves-the-cake-is-a-simple-7/"><img src="http://cakecentral.com/image/id/7187772/width/400/flags/LL"></a>
I hope this helps you. Have fun with your figure making.
Jan
Thanks FlourPots! (It only took me 6 weeks to check back, LOL! I'm not busy or anything!) ;)
Hi
I love your work....... Can you pls pls send me the recipe??? Im from Sri Lanka and its extremely humid here. I tried a batch of sugar paste with Nicholas lodge recipe but the figures were all gooey by the morning :( Pls help
Hey Flourpots,
Thanks a million for the msg. I tried replying to you but I have exhausted my msg quota for the day :P
We don't have that Marshmallow brand here in Sri Lanka. Is there a particular quality that I should look for??? I have tried the MMF with tylose before and they started sweating and melted away :( My figures never dry properly. Could it be becos I microwave it on high???
I have to make a teddy bear by friday and don't know what i'm gonna do next :( :(
You are exceptionally creative and I looooooooooooooooooooooove your work.......
Thanks again xx
Hi Flourpots,
I made the cake with a teddy bear. It wasn't super neat but it was presentable
Made it with MMF and mixed tylose powder as I went along. Should try another batch later.....
Thanks again for all your help :)
Madu
No problem Madu85...
Thanks Lizziescakes...the tips are on pg 7, recipe on pg 8, of this thread.
I wanted to mention here that I've recently begun experimenting with Wilton's fondant...
A decorator I admire (& stalk on FB), Lesley Wright (Royal Bakery), swears by Wilton brand for her figures and accent pieces, AND she doesn't add any tylose!
I've only worked with the red and white so far, but I loved it.
Lesley says she would never cover a cake in it, and I wouldn't either, but for figures and things, it's great.
(of course it's also very affordable with a store coupon)
I don't know if I'll ever switch over completely...I like my recipe, and it works well for me, but I'm glad to know I have another option, should the need arise.
Can I jump on this request thread FlourPots and ask if you can send it to me also? I've been struggling with my figures drying out or cracking and have tried so many different techniques!
Thank you!!
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