I tried to use tappits to write happy birthday but could not get the fondant out..is there a secret to getting the fondant out and being able to move the letters with tearing them up?

Hi Winnie,
I used to have problems with this too. Until I started using gumpaste instead of fondant it becomes dryer faster than fondant. I also roll the gumpaste thin and make sure there is a good coating of powder sugar on the gumpaste and the cutting area. Then before cutting the letter out run your finger around the edges so you don't have to clean them up afterward. Then rap the tappit on the table and if the letter doesn't come out poke it gently from the other side. It should come out sometimes it just takes a number of tries to get the hang of it.
Just keep trying you'll get it.

I never use gumpaste on my tappit cutters but that will work too.

Ths is the way I do it:

1) I knead a lot of tylose powder in my fondant and roll out thin
2) let it dry for about 30 min or so until its nice and firm.
3) I cut little rectangles just big enough for the letter to fit on
4) I get the tappit and press it onto the fondant and rub hard back and forth on a table surface and this should allow for the excess around the letter to come off.
5) and finally, give it a good TAP or two on the table for the "letter" to come out!!

Hope this makes sense

What kind of fondant are you using? When I first got my tappitts, I tried to use my MMF... well that didn't work at all! Then I switched to Wilton fondant (a cheap solution). Make sure you are rolling the fondant really thin. It may also be helpful to wait about 5 minutes after you roll it out so it won't be so soft when you try to cut out the letters. You may also need to add some corn starch to the tappits (but I never need to). Hope you have better luck!

I've had my tappits for months and never use them for the same reason. Now I'll have to give them another try - thanks for the hints!!!

Ditto....if you have tylose add some. It works well to roll it out then let it sit for 5 or 10 minutes. I always also brush the top of it with powdered sugar. It works really well with gumpaste too!

The easiest way for me to use my tappits is to dust the tappit really well before using and making sure that my gum paste or fondant (use both with no problems whatsoever) is rolled VERY thin. Press firmly and even wiggle the tappit around a little to ensure you've got a nice clean cut. If your letter is stuck inside the tappit - just DO what the name says! Tap it! And you don't have to be delicate, either - whatever surface you've used to roll out your fondant on will do just fine just take the corner of your tappit and give it a nice "whack" until the piece comes out. If it's stuck by a small corner or detail I use a toothpick to carefully ease it out, then reshape on my dusted board so it can stabilize some before affixing to my cake Hope this helps!

Thanks for all the tips...can't wait to try it again...

I agree with the above with one added/other option that I learned here on CC.
After rolling out your fondant or gumpaste, place a piece of plastic wrap on top and press your cutter through the plastic wrap. I didn't believe it would work until I tried it
I dust my surface with cornstarch before rolling out so it's easy to remove the letters without warping. Some people use shortening so the letters intentionally stick to the surface not the cutter but with plastic wrap I don't have that problem.