I'm looking into getting a fondant pearl mold and maybe another fondant border type mold for just good all occasion borders......any suggestions? There are about a thousand on the market....I'm sooo confused. What do you like?

No answer for you, but what a coincidence...I am looking to get one soon too, so I'll keep an eye on this for reference!

I have three sizes of Pearl Bead Molds by CK. They are the ones that make full pearls. Just whipped out a bunch of links for a cake an hour ago. Beautiful!

I'm going to try the First Impressions mold that is 14mm I think. it makes flat backed pearls. At that size I would probably use them for borders and not need the whole pearl.

And by full pearls...do you mean where they come out individually, like loose beads, or an actual string of them? Sorry for the possibly silly question...but I want to get it right!

Bump!
I have also been looking at them and wondered the same thing!

They come out in a full string and you can cut them off to get singles.

Sweet! Now to figure out which size I want...oh I know, all of them! Hahahahaha!

thanks! I didn't know that there were the two- full and half pearl!

A few weeks ago I borrowed the CK 8mm one to make individual pearls and it is wonderful to use. Its only 6 inches long, and I needed a lot of pearls, so I loaded that thing up a lot. They come out semi-attached--I did have a tiny bit of residue along the mold's "seam" to push back onto the pearl. But overall, since I mostly use large pearls individually, it was awesome. (Our own tonedna has a great youtube tutorial using this tool, which is how I learned). I loved working with it and will be ordering my own in 6 and 8mm!

The First Impressions one is very different. I ordered the one that's 12 in long with 3 sizes (3, 4 and 5mm). It is made of pretty squishy silicone and the holes are so small they get a little irregular at places. I haven't used it yet, but I'll post as soon as I do. I would only use this size lined-up anyway (like to trim ribbon, borders, etc), so its nice that they're attached to eachother well...I think. It seems perfect for what I'll do with it. Disappointed with the irregularity, though.

Actually I LUV my First impressions mold. Edna has a video using the exact one I have, I don't remember the exact size though. Your gumpaste has to be a good consistancy for it to turn out exactly even pearls though. I really like it.

http://www.firstimpressionsmolds.com/bordersandropes.aspx

Can someone tell me why there are two seemingly identical item numbers for each product? What is the difference?

I have the 10 8 6, I think the reason the numbers are the same if I am looking at it right. It looks like they are the same product...just 2 to each page....thats weird.

Why not send FI a quick email - they are very helpful and I LOVE all their products!! - and then at least you KNOW you have the right answer. You could get 12 pages of different answers on here and you are not going to be any wiser

Just a tip - try buying one that has more than one size included.

I probably will do that, lol....and yes, I want the 10, 8, and 6" mold!

i LOVE the blue CK ones. I have all sizes!

I have all three CK ones Sharon and I wish they made a bigger one. That's why I'm going to have to try the FI one with the two bigger mm's in it. I do know their molds are "squishy" but the other ones that I have for flowers are wonderful.

Is it the little 4mm one that you use to edge the ribbon in your DVD? I convinced a bride that her ribbon should have it when I tried the itty bitty one today it worked like a charm. It's just going to take loads of them!

The CK blue ones anyday!!! I've had mine for about 5yrs and just love to use the different sizes especially the ck rose beads.I have other brands like the FMM beadmakers but my CK gives the best results,

lorrieg, yes i use the 4 on the bow in the dvd. ck does make a 12 mm but that is a real huge bead.

I've been looking serioiusly at the rose beads but wasn't sure I'd use them that much. How often do you really use it Tee-Y?

Sharon, really? I haven't seen them. Do they make a 10 and 12 as well?

according to their catalog:

3mm
4mm
6mm
8mm
12mm
9mm rose
17mm rose
10mm oval
6mm faceted

Thanks! The ovals sound nice as well. Some of us mere mortals don't have access to the whole catalogue.

I have the first impression silicone mold. Love it. I never dust it or stick it in the freezer after I load with gumpaste and my pearls come out perfect and easily.

Good to know bakingatthebeach, Mine just came and I'm going to try it this weekend.

Lorrieg, very often! Anytime I don't want to pipe to cover my borders I use my beadmaker especially bcos its a medium sized one and not the very large beads.

I got the largest sized one because I thought that because they are half beads they would cover booboos and not be so large they look out of place.

Thank for the tips! I'm pretty sure I won't want to wait for the freezer either.

I posted something a while back about these molds and I still haven't bought them. I need them for about 3 cakes for the summer too! There are so many mixed opinions. I've heard people say the CK ones don't form good pearls. (maybe they are using them wrong?) Other people say that they love them. I was leaning towards them since they are the ones that Sharon sells on her website. I figured if they were good enough for her they were good enough for me. But when I did my original post everyone knocked the CK ones and said first impression all the way. The other problem is which size to buy. The first impression ones are cheaper and you get 3 sizes. I don't want pay all that money for the CK ones and find out that they are too small/big. I guess I need to make up my mind soon since I need to order them within the next week or so. (Sorry that was so long. I'm just still confused on which ones to get.)

Ok, I lied in my last post (bought so many molds cant keep them straight so went back and compared pics) I have the CK mold, the one thats silicone and you open it wide to place over the gumpaste. When I first got it my pearls were coming out uneven, then I realized you open it wide, place it over the log of gumpaste, flip it, and push it in to the mold with your finger, cut off the excess, then push it in with your finger again and then push it together from the sides. Very easy and the pearls come out perfect every time now. I have an 8mm size. Had read somewhere where that was a good size for borders no matter what size cake so thats the one I got and I am pleased with the size, not too big, not too small. If I feel I want wider, I just double up on the pearls and make a double pearl border.