Hey everyone. I had to cover some cakes in fondant and I HATE transferring the fondant to the cake. Yes, yes, I've read all the posts about how easy it is...but it isn't so easy for me!

Anyway, I went to Michael's framing department. You can buy a huge sheet of foam core back there. Buy a heated craft knife. Take board home and cut concentric cirlce about 3" apart as big as you want. This will take a while but it is WELL worth the time.

Note: Before you separate the rings, turn the board over and make marks on the back that will show you how to line them up again because chances are you're not cutting a perfect circle. If you don't mark the exact placement, it will be VERY hard to line them up correctly again.

Cover the top of the rings with clear contact paper. Smear with crisco before rolling fondant out over top. Separate the ring you wish to use from the other rings, lift up and over the cake. You're done! No pinching, no tearing, no sticking, no fuss, no tears. One person can cover a very large cake.

BTW, the commerical version (Bakery Craft carries the cheapest) start at $150. I think the $14 foam core was much better!

can you show me a picture of the foam core whats a foam core?

I've been trying to figure out how to make one of these! Can't wait to try it!

What a fantastic idea!

I haven't done much work with fondant, but I can see that this would be a huge help, based on my experience so far, LOL!

Where in the store do you find the heated craft knife?

THanks!
Laura.

How creative! Can't wait to give it a try. Thanks for sharing.

Is there a link to Bakery Craft??? I would like to look at it. That's a great idea!! you're so smart.

You are such a smart cookie! Thanks for sharing....I always thought cake decorators are geniuses in their own right.

koda911 ~ foam core is basically two posterboards with foam in between them. It makes a very sturdy base for cakes. They are similar to the cake drums only they are not pre-covered.

Craft stores carry them.

http://bakerycrafts.com/Items.aspx?SrchStr=fondant%20lifter

hmmmmm....interesting!!!!! Great idea!!!!!

Wow that is awesome!! I have been using a large rolling pin with my fondant, but I always manage to get a fingernail mark somewhere...this would be great on those bigger cakes! Thanks!!

ummm, I don't understand at all. I even went and looked at the pic. You roll the fondant out over all the rings, and then you reach under the foam board and lift up the size circle you want, with the fondant on top of it. But then, how would you get the circle out from under it to place it on your cake? and am I even on the right track? help me understand! thanks!

http://www.sugarcraft.com/catalog/misc/fond-lifter.htm

I haven't used one yet, but I think I understand how to do it:

You roll out your fondant, then slide the ring under it that you want to use and lift using the ring.

To choose the size of the ring to use, you want the opening in the ring to be larger than the cake you're covering, so that when you put the fondant on the cake, you just lower the ring to the table, and the fondant will hang over the sides of the cake.

Is that close, LOL!?

Wow, this is great

Thanks for posting. Great idea.

This is how a fondant lifter works: You leave the rings all together and roll out your fondant on top of it. When you're ready to put the fondant on the cake, you lift the outter ring up and gently pull the inner rings down away from the fondant...leaving them lying on the counter.

You then have a big hole in the middle of the outer ring with fondant kind of drooping down in the middle. You lift it up and onto the center of the cake and gently bring it down. Does that make sense?

I haven't tried this, but had an idea, would it work to cut a big cardboard circle with a hole in it, wrap in contact, and use that as a fondant lifter?
Roll out fondant on counter, put onto the cardboard and lift over cake?

Oh my gosh! That is such a great idea!! Thanks frankandcathy I'm going to have to give this a try. I have my very first wedding cake coming up.

Lazy_Susan

This is great! Thank you for posting such good instructions. I've been a little afraid to try fondant because I just knew I'd never be able to lift it onto the cake neatly. I'll definitely try it now!

NOW you tell me after I go and spend $200.00
Thanks for the tip!!

I'm not into the fondant stuff yet, so I'm glad to be reading up on this. BUT....does that mean you leave the cake ON that bottom 'foam core' or metal base? Or after you put the fondant on the cake, you move it to whatever you are placing the cake on? I understand how the lifter works, but it looks like in the pictures that the cake stays on the base. Please explain. Thanks.

Frankandcathy, I'm sorry, now back to how great this idea is.

I would have never thought to try and make one myself, it sure is going to make life easier and save me a lot of money.

Fondant is challenging enough, and getting it on the cake is even worse, especially if you have fingernails like I do.

Thanks again.

OK, I'm still not sure how the fondant just doesn't fall into the big hole when you lift it up - but a great alternative idea to those outrageously expensive commercial ones!

***Moderator Edited***

FrankandCathy THANKS so much for the extremely cost saving idea!!!!

It's a knock off of the origianl, but who cares, it works ....but so are many of the wanna be Coach purses and watches and what nots...I'm sure some of us are toting them around somewhere...but who cares....so we save some bucks on a lifter....WOOHOO...love the idea. I can find other important stuff to spend a few extra bucks on....

Any new knock off ideas are welcome by me!!!!! Yeah baby!! Bring them on!!!!

Keep on baking!!!!!!!

Cindy

P.s. nikinimal, not very nice....totally uncalled for...

Great idea, but no one's answered the question about it leaving rings or marks. Maybe that means it doesn't? I'm just afraid I'm gonna make this thing, roll fondant over it and get big circles on it from rolling it out. Am I the only one not getting it? (sorry)

As for nikinimal, I read some of her/his other posts and this seemed really uncharacteristic....hopefully just a bad day? Everyone gets from this board what they need I think, but there is NEVER any need to slight someone or insult someone's attempt to help others save money doing what they love.

Hugs to all - especially nikinimal.

that's a great idea, thanks! I looked at the originals this summer at convention, but they were INCREDIBLY expensive and I was alreay way over budget by then with all the fun vendors...

Glad someone took the time to come up with an affordable alternative!

FrankandKathy,

I'm a VISUAL learner - is there any way you can post pics utilizing your instructions? I can read something a zillion times and just not get it - but let me SEE it and i can get it! Just a thought.

This sounds a great idea. Do you roll the fondant over the rings or slide the ring underneath the fondant?

If you roll it over the rings wouldn't it leave marks of the rings?

cheers
Jan