I need help, and FAST! I've made a gumpaste shoe for a cake order I have THIS WEEKEND, and it seems like it doesn't want to dry. I have it laying on cardboard to give it the shape I want, but I'm wondering if that's what doing it- lack of air to both sides? Should I position a fan on them for better circulation? SOMEBODY HELP ME PLEASE!!! ANY TIPS WOULD BE APPRICIATED!

Hmmmmm...what kind of gumpaste did you use? Usually, it starts drying right away. I would wait a day or so before getting panicky.

I used a package kind, and added gum tragacanth to it to make it harden quicker. It is hardening, HOWEVER it is not doing it at a pace that makes me think I will be able to assemble the shoe and it's strong enough to support itself by Friday night, and that's my worry.

check to see if the cardboard that it is laying on is damp..close proximity to a moist object will retard drying

I would dry it on some foam rather than cardboard and turn it after 12/24 hours to allow both sides to dry.

make sure it is not damp anywhere and also little wind will not do bad for it. Tha best air for them to dry quick is dry warm and windy in my opinion.
If you see that one side is dryed turn it around.

I forgot to mention. Just in case it will not be dry enough and you need to make another one.( i don't really think so if you added gumtr.. to it) I discovered by accident a sugarmix that will dry very quickly. It dries very hard like a stone but the only problem with it is that you have to work with it very quickly. I use it to do the bases for my figures.

put in the bowl a little water and granulated sugar. boil til all sugar is meletd and bubbling pretty hard. Then put it in the KA and add to it gelatin 1 sachet ( it must be melted with little water first) let the mixer mix it til it is nice thick and foamy. It will go very foamy. And then start adding icingsugar til it is to the proper constinstency. Use immidiately.

It is very cheap and very fast drying paste. If you want to color it add the color at the same time with gelatine.

Sorry about my spelling but english is not my first language.
Hope it helps somebody.

Cover the piece with everclear vodka. That thing dries hard in a second.



-Sus