AI am new to this site and also new to world of fondant and fondant figures. I would like to try and make a small giraffe figurw for my daughters first birthday cake this Saturday. I have not decided if I want to do a rice crispy figure covered in fondant or if I want to do just fondant. A friend of mine said fondant figures need to dry and I should have done it days ago if I was doing just fondant. My question is why does the fondant need to dry? And how could I make it dry quickly since I won't be making it until friday evening and her party is Saturday afternoon? Also would it be easier to do just fondant or fondant covered crispies?
In my opinion doing just fondant would be easier. I make all my decorations days in advance as well. Mainly for structure. If your doing a flower the peddles must dry in forming cups for days before assembled so that they hold their 3D shape and don't just fall into each other. The only thing about a giraffe is its head and arms. you have to make sure it will stand up properly. Doing a figurine days in advance is more of a precaution. I wouldn't want to put a wet figurine on a cake. if you use spaghetti for the head that will help give I structure. also if you add tylose to your fondant it will help it dry 10x faster. Or you could use gumpaste instead and that will do the same thing.
I hope this was helpful, best of luck!
If it is relatively small, just do fondant/tylose/gumpaste.
If it is going to stand on the cake, skewers or dowels could give the support needed for the legs and the weight of the body...and go into the cake, Toothpick or stirring straw for the neck support. If it's stable enough you dont HAVE to let it dry. It just handles better with the drying time.
Ahttp://icingonyourcake.wordpress.com/2011/05/07/cutest-giraffe-cake-ive-ever-made/
im planning on using the site above as a kind of template & tweak it how id like it to be...any advice is greatly appreciated.
That looks pretty easy,, no long neck to worry about or you don't have to worry about him standing. The only thing to worry about is not squishing him when you put him on the cake if he hasn't had any drying time. But very do-able. I'd probably still put a tooth pick between the head and body to stabliize it.
You are welcome. 
I've never tried to put them in the oven with the light - but I know humidity or heat is not a good thing when it comes to fondant. I do put a fan on mine to speed drying time.
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