How To, Cake Topper?!?!?

Decorating By ashby1983 Updated 11 May 2012 , 5:18pm by carmijok

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ashby1983 Posted 9 May 2012 , 7:51pm
post #1 of 13

My daughter's birthday is this wkend and I need to make her cake topper. I have never done one like I want to this time and am hoping to get some help.

Her invite has a toddler on it and I'm wanting to replicate this as the topper. My planning is to make a stencil and cut the girl out of rolled fondant (flat image). My question is HOW do I get her to stand up on top of the cake?!?!?!?!?!?

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12 replies
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Rosiepan Posted 9 May 2012 , 9:16pm
post #2 of 13

You would need to use gumpaste and let it dry thoroughly but while it is soft I would insert 2 thin dowels in the gumpate so it needs to be thick enough to insert them.Or maybe do two silouhettes and stick together with thin doweling n the middleof them.

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carmijok Posted 9 May 2012 , 11:56pm
post #3 of 13
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rosiepan

You would need to use gumpaste and let it dry thoroughly but while it is soft I would insert 2 thin dowels in the gumpate so it needs to be thick enough to insert them.Or maybe do two silouhettes and stick together with thin doweling n the middleof them.




What she said!

Plus, make sure your skewers are long enough to support the topper. Too short and it can fall over. Definitely use gum paste. It dries faster, and lighter than fondant. I use Wilton's pre-made gum paste and get it at Michaels or Hobby Lobby with a 40% off coupon.

Gum paste colors can dry lighter than you want ...particularly the darker colors, but that is easily remedied by going over your dried piece with a little gel food color mixed with lemon extract. I like the extract because it seems to dry faster than vodka. HTH!

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ashby1983 Posted 10 May 2012 , 3:38am
post #4 of 13

Thank you both SO much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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shannycakers Posted 10 May 2012 , 1:58pm
post #5 of 13

how do you guys get black or dark colored gumpaste? anytime i try to color gumpaste it does not take dark colors?

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Rosiepan Posted 10 May 2012 , 4:44pm
post #6 of 13
Quote:
Originally Posted by shannycakers

how do you guys get black or dark colored gumpaste? anytime i try to color gumpaste it does not take dark colors?



If you can I would recommend buying it as it is a PIA to do.
Ideally I would start from a dark colour like brown or puple and then keep adding the colour gel. It takes a lot and can make the paste soft. Which is ok for other colours as you can add more PS but with black it leaves white residue and makes it more grey. I do it in stages and let the colour set as it tends to deepen when it rests. I use vodka to clean off the residue when the item is dried.
I always colour my own because as an hobbyist I cannot justify the high postage to buy it online.
I recently made a black and red cake and it probably took me as much time to get the deep colours as making the rest of the cake. I thought it may of tasted bitter with all that colouring in it but was told it tasted lovely.

I buy premade fondant as it is relatively cheaper here so don't know how it would affect mmf.
I am sure a bitter tasting gumpaste would nor be an issue as I don't know anyone who would want to eat it.

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arlenej Posted 10 May 2012 , 4:50pm
post #7 of 13
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rosiepan

You would need to use gumpaste and let it dry thoroughly but while it is soft I would insert 2 thin dowels in the gumpate so it needs to be thick enough to insert them.Or maybe do two silouhettes and stick together with thin doweling n the middleof them.




Definitely two silouhettes .

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arlenej Posted 10 May 2012 , 4:58pm
post #8 of 13
Quote:
Originally Posted by shannycakers

how do you guys get black or dark colored gumpaste? anytime i try to color gumpaste it does not take dark colors?



BUY IT! I made the mistake once of using gel paste to color black sugarpaste. Never again. Ideally, true black should be bought. [url]petalcrafts.com has colored gumpaste.[/url]

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carmijok Posted 10 May 2012 , 5:50pm
post #9 of 13
Quote:
Originally Posted by shannycakers

how do you guys get black or dark colored gumpaste? anytime i try to color gumpaste it does not take dark colors?




I really don't have a problem coloring fondant or gum paste black...even the white stuff. That being said, I gather older bits and pieces of colored fondant and mix together whenever I need black,

You need a big bottle of black gel food coloring (Americolor is best), put on some gloves (unless you want purple hands and black fingernails) and, after kneading your fondant (or gum paste) so it's pliable, make an indention in the ball and squeeze a whole lot of the black gel and fold it over, and starting kneading and stretching and mixing it in.

It will be gooey and messy, but keep adding the black until you get the desired shade. Sure it will be sticky and somewhat wet, but wrap it up in saran wrap and let it set for a while--overnight is best. You don't need to add any powdered sugar to stiffen it... just let it absorb and when you unwrap it, start kneading it again. You'll find it less wet. Even if it is still somewhat loose, just roll it out and let it get some air for a while and it will be easier to cut.

Now the problem with gum paste is that the darker colors tend to dry lighter than you probably want. I've found that after drying your decor completely, you can get some lemon extract and more black gel and brush over it and it will keep that darker shade you're looking for. Lemon extract dries faster IMO than vodka so I prefer that. HTH!

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ashby1983 Posted 10 May 2012 , 5:57pm
post #10 of 13

I don't know that I've ever looked for lemon extract before. Is it something you get from a supply store or do you think a grocery store would have it?

Thank you ALL. It is SooOoo incredibly nice to have a group of people ready and willing to help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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jgifford Posted 10 May 2012 , 6:04pm
post #11 of 13

You can also attach skewers to the back of your silhouettes with melted chocolate. thumbs_up.gif

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carmijok Posted 11 May 2012 , 5:17pm
post #12 of 13
Quote:
Originally Posted by ashby1983

I don't know that I've ever looked for lemon extract before. Is it something you get from a supply store or do you think a grocery store would have it?

Thank you ALL. It is SooOoo incredibly nice to have a group of people ready and willing to help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




Lemon extract is found where the vanilla extract is in the grocery store. Try and find clear lemon extract. Watkins is very yellow and will add color. I buy the cheapest store brand I can find...which is sometimes hard because apparently a lot of other people are using it for this purpose too!

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carmijok Posted 11 May 2012 , 5:18pm
post #13 of 13
Quote:
Originally Posted by jgifford

You can also attach skewers to the back of your silhouettes with melted chocolate. thumbs_up.gif




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