I am still very new at this and it has become an almost therapeutic hobby for me. mostly i like to make cakes just because and usually find excuses to make them for people. so i want to start making cute figures and bows and decorations for my cakes. My problem lies with i have no clue if you use straight fondant, fondant and gum paste mixed or even when to use Gum Tex.....

if someone doesn't mind explaining this to me i would be so grateful or at least point me to where i can find all this out. I have been searching so i wouldn't double posts but i can not seem to find my answers.

Don't be offended if I'm telling you something you already know - - just trying to cover all the bases.

Fondant is mainly used to cover cakes as it has a nice smooth finish. You can make decorations out of it, but they just take a little longer to dry. Gumpaste is mainly used for figurines and flowers. It rolls thinner and dries much faster.
Gum Tex is used with powdered sugar to make gumpaste, or you can add it to fondant to stiffen it up. I think the usual ratio is 1 tsp to 1 pound.

A lot of bakers use a 50/50 mixture of fondant and gumpaste to get the benefits of both and it's easier to mix fondant with gumpaste than with Gum Tex.

I cover my cakes with modeling chocolate which I make myself. I usually add half gumpaste to make flowers or decorations that need to hold their shape. I personally don't like to use straight gumpaste to make flowers because to me they look like they have a chalky/papery finish. Unless, of course, that's what I'm going after.

HTH

I am definitely not offended by any means... thanks for the reply. I just see a lot of postings and tutorials and people just say fondant, but i know that some use a 50/50 ratio and wanted to know what i should use for what. I have also heard of modeling chocolate and think that i would like to try it one time to see how i like it as well.

Thanks again!