I bought the funky letter tappits, but am having trouble using them to make fondant letters. I can't get the fondant out after I've cut them....help please!!!
I roll my gumpaste out fairly thin on a surface with crisco on it so it sticks. I let that dry a bit and then cut out the letters which stick to the surface. I remove the excess gumpaste and let the letters dry for a while before trying to move them. Hope this helps I was having problems also and this method works for me.
Try rolling it out thin and then lightly dust the Tappits with cornstarch before cutting out the letter.
I do the same thing "debpal" does. A little crisco on the worksurface so when I punch the letter out it sticks to the table, not in the tappit. Let it sit and dry before moving. I only use gumpaste or MMF with CMC when I do my tappits. Now that I have it down it's my favorite lettering to use! Good luck.
A little bit of crisco works like magic! It used to take me hours to get decent looking letter, now since I've starting using the crisco I can get out happy birthday in minutes! Best tip ever!
I roll my g/p/fondant out on a cake board covered with white freezer paper. Shiny side up. I don,t have to use crisco or powder sugar or anything. I roll thin , let it set for several minutes. and it works like a charm. Never fails me. I learned this at one of ouir cake club meetings.I do this way for any fondant or fondant/g/p or g/p decos that i am making.
I roll my g/p/fondant out on a cake board covered with white freezer paper. Shiny side up. I don,t have to use crisco or powder sugar or anything. I roll thin , let it set for several minutes. and it works like a charm. Never fails me. I learned this at one of ouir cake club meetings.I do this way for any fondant or fondant/g/p or g/p decos that i am making.
I will have to try this way. Thanks
wow great tips on here! I roll my fondant out very thin onto a plastic cutting board, dusted with cornstarch under and on top, place in freezer for 2 minutes, then cut them out, works perfectly, and if some get stuck use the tip of a paint brush to poke out, it wont mess up the letters that way
I watched a demo of these, and they said let the gumpast dry for a few minutes, then cut you letter and then TAP IT on something and it will fall out. I guess thats why they call them tappits.....LOL
Two different tutorials here:
Crisco
I prefer the cornstarch way. I found that when I used the crisco method, the letters didn't dry as quick so they were harder to move. They became distorted when I tried to move them, and I'd run out of board space quickly.
I roll out my gumpaste very thin, making sure that nothing is sticking to my counter. Then I dust a bit of corn starch on the tappit before cutting out the letter...press and move it around the countertop to make sure the letter is completely cut out. I don't even have to tap it hard, it comes out fast and easy and the letters are dry and ready to use. Good luck
I roll mine out fairly thin, fondant or GP, doesn't matter. I tap the tappit on a corn starch poof, and WHACK the holy hell out of it on the side of my table. Nothing gentle about it. They come flying right out, and are perfectly shaped.
There is a tutorial on You Tube. Search for Tonedna1. Don't use the cornstarch method. Use a thin layer of Crisco on your work surface. Roll your fondant and/or gumpaste out..approx. 1/16" thick. Then press the Tappitt into the fondant. The letter will stick to the work surface and not inside the tappitt....therefore, no need to tap it or bang the hell out of it to get it out!!! They tend to be slightly difficult letters anyway because of the thin lines and curly Q's...no matter what you do, you do need to be careful moving them!! I have never had a problem using this method. You might have to play with getting the fondant and/or gumpaste the right thickness. Too thin and the details of the letters won't come out. Too thick and you get lines from the support plastic around and behind the letters.
Don't use the cornstarch method.
And why may I ask, when several people have already chimed in that that is exactly how they do it with great success, do you tell someone notto do it?
Tappit? Whack it? Yeah, I'll stick with my method. When they come cleanly out this way, there's no need to make them stick to a mat, and mess with peeling and prying them up.
OK, maybe "Do not use the cornstarch method" wording is a little too strong and I should not have dismissed the cornstarch suggestions!!!. Lesson learned!!! The reason I would suggest it is because I watched the tutorial I mentioned by a women who is an incredible cake decorater and have used this method myself numerous times and it works wonderfully. I guess we all have our own way of doing things. Soooo sorry for offending you!!!
Don't use the cornstarch method.
And why may I ask, when several people have already chimed in that that is exactly how they do it with great success, do you tell someone notto do it?
Cornstarch method seems to work well for me...
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2034440
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1976587
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1916238
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1883933
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1864839/1864845
Awesome advice! I tried the crisco method first and it worked great, but the letters do get a little distorted if you don't let them dry for a while. I don't like to use cornstarch because I always feel like it "sticks" to the fondant/gp and leaves a white film on it....but I'm going to try that method next and as far as "tapping"-I really had to hit mine hard! LOL!
Thanks everyone!!!
I make lettering in advance, because they stay in shape when you place them dry. I roll the fondant/gumpaste very thinly, let it sit for a few minutes, dust well with powdered sugar, cut out, whack the tappit cutter on my workbench to release letter, let dry for a day. Next day I steam them lightly which dissolves any slightly rough edges and powdered sugar & brightens colours nicely, and leave them to dry out thoroughly before using.
I was lucky enough to arrive early at the cake show in the necc Birmingham (UK) last year and was shown how to use these by the fmm team I told her there had been tears late into the night when I had tried so she let me get in behind her stall and try as she had just shown me.
It worked a dream and I've had no issues since let me try and explain....
She had some cornflour ( icing sugar works too) in what I thought was a little bag until she showed me it was a a part of a pair of tights that she had tied into a little pouch so the cornflour just came out through the Holes in little puffs she dusted the cutter with this rolled her paste thin ( fondant or gum paste) and pressed and twisted until there was a clean cut letter in the cutter then she rested her hand on the board knuckles facing down and pulled back the cutter at the top and bang out came a perfect letter....
Imagine holding a ruler with something on the end that you want to "ping" across the room and that exactly how it works for me every time I can knockout happy birthday in less than 2 minutes
I hope you can understand my "explanation" and hope it helps
Bengals, I tried the "ruler method" today and it works better than anything else! Thanks so much for sharing. I'm surprised that the instructions don't come with this tip. Previously I was only using gumpaste, but today I tried it with fondant that wasn't even very dry and had absolutely no problems.
then she rested her hand on the board knuckles facing down and pulled back the cutter at the top and bang out came a perfect letter....
This is what I"m not understanding...
Luckyblueeye I'm thrilled this worked for you, carmijock I always rest my hand on the board if you "ping" without doing this it won't work.
Have the cutter in your hand rest your hand and wrist on the board thumb facing you grab the top of the cutter with fingers pull back toward you and let go.
It's hard to explain I hope this helps a little more
Carmijok, I basically pressed one end of the tappit onto my countertop with my left hand while lifting and bending back the other end with my right hand (like in elementary school when I used to flick paper balls at other kids with my ruler). Then just release your right hand grip and let the end of the tappit SLAP back onto your counter. This will release the letter immediately. HTH
I have never had luck with fondant and tappits. I use a bit of Crisco under the gumpaste then just a little over the top surface of the gumpaste before cutting out. Thin gumpaste for best results then let the letter air dry for a few minutes before attempting to move it (air drying prevents distortion).
Carmijok, I basically pressed one end of the tappit onto my countertop with my left hand while lifting and bending back the other end with my right hand (like in elementary school when I used to flick paper balls at other kids with my ruler). Then just release your right hand grip and let the end of the tappit SLAP back onto your counter. This will release the letter immediately. HTH
Think I got it now...thanks! I will try it!
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