I made a backyardigan cake that I was pleased with. It was my first time making any sort of figures. I was proud of them. Then I saw doodle-cakes.com backyardigans cake and it was so vivid and shinny. Then I looked at mine again and it was dull and cracked.

I have attached a picture of mine and doodle-cakes.com figures so you can see what I am talking about.

Help me understand how to get mine to be so vivid and fun!

Thanks!
Jill

Did you brush yours with a little bit of shortening when you were finished? That helps fondant look shiny.

It looks like your fondant is dry. Is it MMf?

To get it shiny I've heard you can steam the fondant.

A small hand held clothes steamer works great. A few seconds is all it takes.

it looks like your paste was too dry.
Steaming will def help with the shine

Perhaps they were made with modeling chocolate--that will stay shiny for quite awhile, especially if it's warm weather.

Rae

Steaming, rubbing with shortening, or spraying with a little PAM cooking spray works

What so you use to steam it ?

to me, it looks like all you needed and need to do, is , put a little shortening on you finger and MASSAGE it into your small peices of fondant,g/p , as you work with it. nicholas lodge , always tells us to do that when we are working with our mediums. hth. no spraying or rubbing shortening on after it is dry will do it. you have to massage the shortening INTO the medium.

I agree with massaging crisco into your gumpaste or fondant. It will keep it crack- free when drying.

I "third" the motion of using shortening mixed into your fondant before shaping. Also, you can mix in a little chocolate clay or use chocolate based fondants for a little more working time

The one I did I used fondant gumpaste mix. 1/2 & 1/2. I did use some crisco when I was making the figure. Maybe I did not use enough? It some times seems that if I am used to much crisco it gets sticky....how do I prevent that?

I have seen Cake boss use the steamer...maybe I will ahve to try that also.

Thanks for all the answers.

I agree with the crisco part. I always mix my fondant/gumpaste with a little crisco and knead it really well. Then allow it to rest for a few minutes, until it firms up a little and gets easier to work with. It'll look shiny and smooth.