Okay, so.. there may be a thread already on this topic but I haven't been able to search (for some reason my computer's not letting me search using exact words or is it the website? Either way..) and I just have a couple of questions.
I've been baking and decorating for about four years now and my hand still shakes! Which means I still suck at piping with buttercream. So...

(1) Why are fondant scroll/damask cutters so expensive? I've searched a few websites and sometimes for a SINGLE cutter they're $15-20! For a set the price was around $60-65.. are there websites with cheaper cutters anywhere?!

(2) In case I can't find/use cutters, I was thinking, would cardboard cut outs work? I was thinking of using an exacto-knife and just cut all of the patterns out but it seems like it'll take too long.

(3) If I do use the cardboard cutouts, do I make them myself or are there places to find cardboard damask cutouts?

Thanks for your help in advance!

I would get a cricut cake and use it to cut out the scroll work. There are plenty of cartridges for that. I use the wilton sugar sheets and modeling chocolate for all of my cut outs.

I love using the cutters. Yes, they are expensive and I've paid well over $20 for one! But you'll only pay that price once. You can also combine the cutters in a variety of ways to create unique designs. I like them so much better than Cricut cut motifs.

If you go on Ebay, there's a seller called Blue Lake (I think) that sells cheaper cutters. However, they are cheaper and less well made than the ones I think you've been looking at that are very high quality. The Ebay ones are OK - they work. Just search for gumpaste cutters and they should come up.

Metal cutters are priced by the manufacturer according to the number of bends, so you can see how scroll cutters would get expensive real quick. Also, well crafted cutters are made to be seamless. Cheap cutters usually overlap and are soldered along the overlap.

Really good cutters, like those by Stephen Benison, are able to cut on both sides--they have no rolled edge--so you can do mirror image/right-left cuts.

I think they're a marvelous investment.

Rae

Rae is correct. Most cutters are hand made, not machine made. The more crimps and folds, the longer it takes to make them. Thus, the price goes up. They are a good investment. Much easier than trying to hand cut.

Jennifer

I do love Stephen Benison's cutters. They are very high quality and should last a lifetime.

I can't imagine trying to cut out damask by hand with card board cutters. Maybe I'm just not that talented (please no comments LOL). It was worth it to me to buy the beautiful damask cutters that Jennifer Dontz sells on her site.

Thanks all4show! Glad you like them. I did everything in my power to keep the price down as much as possible.

Jennifer

there is a small ruler like stencil you just press you do each letter seperately but they are small and a pain in the a@@# to work with unless you just have to get the hang of it. jennifer what kind do you have

Ninatat -

We currently have 5 different sets of damask cutters on our site.

We also have some beautiful scrolls, swirls and curls sets that can be put together as well to make damask designs.

You can see all on our homepage.

Jen