What is easier to use and what looks best for making jewels?

Gelatin is probably easier, but I don't know how it would hold up on a cake. Isomalt requires heating, etc., so it's more labor-intensive, but it will look more like real stones.

If you have the silicone jewel molds, you can use crushed up jolly rancher or lifesavers

I tried the jolly ranchers here in Ohio a couple of weeks ago.....did not work out so well. They were VERY sticky. I will just use the sugar or isolmalt next time. Not sure why they did't turn out, but they were not usable.

two tricks

1) hard candy mix - its a dry mix (probably Isomalt, but with stabilizers or some sort) mix according to directions

2) coat the outside of the jewel in a bit of oil. And if it gets dull in a few days or a week, renew the oil. It will sparkle again.

I got some three week old "test" stones. A coat of oil and I could use them.

Thanks Leah - does the hard candy mix have a name? And, how do you store them once you have them made?

Hard candy mix is called "Hard Candy Mix." really. Comes in a bag. I have my test jewels "stored" in a glass dish on the kitchen counter and they've been sitting there for weeks. I'm not babying them. The oil's the key.

Thanks again Leah for your help and advice.

Leahs - where do you get the hard candy mix?

I ordered it from CK, but I've seen it at my local cake supplies shop.

Leah, what type of oil do you use to coat the jewels?

olive