Hello! For those of you who use styofoam dummies for display cakes. When using fondant, do you use a layer of buttercream on the styrofoam or do you apply the fondant directly to the styrofoam? Any input would be great. Thanks.

i just use some water on the styrofoam...
in the case of topsy turvy cakes and square cakes... i use some gumpaste glue, or pipping gel... but sometimes i forget and dont put anything!

You could use bc ...since it is a display cake and no one is going to ever eat it, I use elmers glue! I find it stays in shape and in place plus it is non perishable. I wouldnt worry to much on using craft suppllies on your display cakes. Good luck!

I've actually shrink-wrapped the dummy first, then smeared it with piping gel before putting on the fondant.

Having it wrapped in plastic preserves the dummy so I can re-use it.

I shrink wrap my dummies as well so that I can easily use them again. I use a pastry brush to very lightly brush water over the shrink wrap.

How do you shrink wrap the dummy? Is there a kit for this? I was just thinking about this last week as I was putting Glad Press and Seal around them. I knew there had to be a better way.

I just use a light coat of BC....it doesn't stick to plain dry styrofoam. I don't usually redo or reuse the dummies, but the shring wrap is a great idea.

I just use a water bottle and spritz water on my dummy and then add your fondant. When the fondant dries, it peels off and you can re-use your dummy. It isn't going to be eaten, so you can use it over and over again.

In classes I have taught I have students smear crisco onto the dummies with a pastry brush or use a cheap spray bottle of water. Fondant sticks perfectly-use buttercream for spackle though if you have dings in your dummy...LOL Dings in your dummy! I crack myself up!

I do the same as iamlis with the shortening.. I use royal to patch them up though. The light coating of shortening lets your fondant stick and makes removal a breeze so you can use the same dummies time and time again.

Water will make removal of old fondant VERY difficult and you will end up damaging your dummies. I use shoertening and have never once had a problem with the fondant sticking (or not sticking) or removing it after I was done.

I always use a spritz of water on the dummy to adhere my fondant. And getting the fondant off is easy. Just put the cake in the sink (or bathtub) and turn the water on. The fondant melts right off.

I use plastic wrap then royal then fondant, If showcasing a BC cake I do it in Royal icing, but always prep the dummy in some fashion (ie: plastic, shortening)so you can reuse if you need to.

I use crisco....you may want to push in the edges a little...especially for square cakes....that way the fondant does not pull apart on the corners or edges.

I just use plastic wrap-and sometimes heat it with a hair dryer to shrink-wrap it.

I've re-used dummies without wrapping in plastic as well....guess it just depends on what kind of mood i'm in!

The place I used to work wrapped their dummies in plastic, but if you didn't get it on just right, you'd see imperfections and wrinkles in the fondant.

I just use shortening. The last dummy that I re-used, I just popped the dried, hardened fondant off the dummy all in one piece!

Seriously, you guys are making this too hard. ALL icing comes off with water.

Thanks everyone. Any tips on using buttercream on styrofoam dummies?

jkalman I am totally switching to crisco!! i never thought of it but it makes a lot of sense! Yay, now i can save my dummies once they are faded/old!!