Where do you get the best and cheapest pearl molds?

My pearl molds aren't the cheapest, but I do think the best. First Impressions; you can find them on line.

You can also do it the old way. Roll out your fondant evenly and use the ends of your tips.

Takes forever, but if you need different sizes, it's been my best shot at getting it done without alot of money involved.

Here's the directions http://www.earlenescakes.com/prlinstruct.htm

excellent thanks, these are great instructions!

thanks for posting that link. I have been making them by hand and it was really hard trying to get them the exact same size. I guess the obvious is most easliy overlooked

HowCool - Can you use Isomalt in your molds?

Supposedly, yes.

The idea I have for making stringed pearls came from food network challenge for Miley Cyrus' 16th birthday.

I'm almost sure the decorator was using the First Impression mold for faceted beads.

I can't remember how high the temp is for their molds but I'm almost sure it's over 400 f., probably around 200 C. I think Global Sugar states it on their website.

Sorry if I didn't get the centigrade temp right.

If I can find some pure cotton thread, I'll let you know. I plan on experimenting this weekend.

I finally tried it.

Yes, the First Impression Molds can handle it.

I found pure cotton thread at Hobby Lobby and the thread can handle it.

It can be reheated in the microwave if like me; you don't own a ton of molds.

Be careful with how much color you add. I used Americolor, white cap in soft pink, my pearls are orange/pink. Granted I definitely squeezed to much color in the mix.

If you do it according to the directions I found on S u g a r c r a f t dot com, your gems will come out crystal clear. I only did pearls and they sparkle.

Bad news is this stuff is still subject to humidity. Crank the AC to freezing and work as fast as you can.

All I did for my pearls was lay the thread across the middle of the pearl mold and put the stuff in with my metal turkey baster. These came out best. Did wait until perfectly cold to pop out. Second batch tried with a glass eye dropper, didn't work well and now I have to figure out how to get the stuff out of said eye dropper.

Hope this helps someone out there.

Wow - serious pearl stuff goin' on here!!!

I have just been making pearls from RBC & MMF 50/50 mix. I too have First Impression pearl molds. My big brother bought me a big box of neat goodies from there and some fabulous Lindy Smith cutters for Christmas. (I almost kissed him!!! Needless to say, he probably won't be getting me anything as fun next year!!! ha ha ha)

I think thier molds work nicely. I just fill, pop in freezer, then plop out the pearls. The tag that comes with all their molds say you can use them for a ton of stuff. Not just "food" either. Interesting.

Thanks for the info.

I broke down and bought myself a first impressions mold...yes it was a bit pricey but soooo worth the results.It was so easy to make and the pearls were beautiful.

HowCool - thanks so much for the details; you answered all my questions before I even asked them

The first impressions pearl molds I saw were flat on one side...do they have ones that are whole pearls? (If so...link pretty please??)

I do love the rope border molds by first impressions...got one and LOVE it...used it for several cakes. Bought a second border mold but it was alot smaller than I expected (should have read more closely) but I'm sure it will come in handy someday.

Just got my very first First Impression mold in the mail today!! So excited to try them out!!

Yes. they are always flat!

HowCool - I know this may sound dumb, but with fondant or gumpaste, how do you use the molds? Do you roll out a strip of fondant/gumpaste and then press it into the mold and then pull it out?

I roll a rope the length and slightly smaller than the cavities and press it in, I always lightly dust the cavities with cornstarch. I scrape off the excess with a palette knife. HTH