I've just made a '1' cake topper that is about 1/4" thick. While it was still pliable, I inserted two holes for toothpicks. Well, while doing that, the toothpick started to show through the gumpaste, and made a groove in the shape of the toothpick on the front of the number. Now, the perfectionist in me needs to re-do the whole thing.

Is there a different/easier way for me to put the number on top of the cake? Maybe once it's dry, I could put edible glue along the bottom of the number, and hope it sticks?

Please help!

you either need to insert something inside the number, or stick something to the back of it - edible glue on its own i dont think would do it, sticking the number inside the cake probably means it will go soft.

you might get on better with floristry wire, like for gumpaste flowers, they are a bit thinner. a flat wooden lillipop stick might work too, or spaghetti.
these things can all be stuck to the back too, either cover with a thin layer of gumpaste, or use something like chocolate or royal icing.

if you insert something, try to hold the number between finger and thumb (might be difficult though!), where it is going in, then you will feel very quickly if its too close to the surface.
xx

Why not try letting it dry then attaching toothpicks to the back with edible glue and another piece of fondant band-aid style...

Could you just roll it a bit thicker to accomodate the thickness of the toothpicks?

If you glue something on the back, then the topper is going to have an ugly side, which is okay if that side will be facing a wall, but if it's on a table where people might walk behind it, then you'd want the back to look as tidy as the front.

after i make my no. or letter or whatever.. i stick a thin skewer up into the no. and let it dry.. if the person is carrying it with them.. i put the no. on after icing in b/c or after covering in fondant.. don,t make it too heavy of course.. if i carry it to the venue .. i put the no. on when i get it there.. i put some icing on the skewers also.. hth when i am inserting the skewer. i use a twisting motion into the g/p or whatever i make it with...

I use florist wire, 24 gauge I think and just roll the gumpaste a little bit thicker than I normally would. I insert the wire while the piece is still horizontal, making sure that my fingers are on the gumpaste right above where I'm inserting the wire. That helps prevent the shape from distorting and you can feel where the wire actually is.

I use a thin wooden popsicle stick and attach with melted chcolate. Then I stick a straw, cut to the height of the cake, into the cake and insert the popsicle stick.

HTH,

Susan

I insert floral wire, lollipop stick or skewer in mine then allow it to dry. Just have to allow for the thickness of what you are using.