I'm a newbie and was wondering what are the basic tools you need from icing your cakes to using fondant and gumpaste? Thank you!

For covering with fondant: I'll start with the obvious...a rolling pin! Also a pizza wheel is very handy, and a plastic smoother or two. A fine needle to remove air bubbles. A pastry brush to brush on a little water to make the fondant stick. They're pretty much the basics. A mat for rolling out on can be handy, but is not essential.

For someone just starting out Sugarshack's (aka: Sharon Zambito) DVD's.

Her instructional video's cover just about everything you need to know about icing a cake with buttercream or covering one in fondant.
http://www.sugaredblog.blogspot.com/


Stand mixer
spatula
icing bags
tips
rolling pin
pizza cutter
fondant smoother
cake boards