I have a large order (200) cupcakes with circus theme, my idea was to use toppers that could be made in advance and the evening before (pick up early morning) just place the topper on the iced cupcake. However, I read a post here or somewhere, if they are made out of fondant and lay on the B/C too long, the next day or hours later, the fondant droops. So, I thought make the part that touches the B/C out of gumpaste, and build up on that with fondant. Obviously, gumpaste costs more, so if I could get away with all fondant, it would be great. But, on the other side, don't want to take chances. Any suggestions?

If they are dry and are not put in an air tight container with the cupcakes/icing, they shouldn't droop.

I made some from fondant a few days ahead and just left them on a pan with parchment paper under and over them. They were dry and worked fine...no drooping.

I made stars for cupcakes out of fondant once, let them dry, them upright in the BC and boxed em up, the next day they had drooped over. I use gumpaste now just to be safe. May have been a number of factors that particular day but I havent had that issue using gumpaste.

I made these farm animal cupcake toppers out of fondant and placed them on bc.

http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2098795

It took me a week to make all the animals so I just kept them covered, but they hardened up enough. The day before the baby shower I iced the cupcakes and put the toppers on immediately. They were fine and nothing drooped.

Standing them up, however, would probably be different.

BurnsyJ, that's what I have to make in the circus theme, so they will be going in individual clear plastic boxes, so there may be a problem. I would love to save some $$ but for 200 I better not take any chances. Thank you all for your replies and advice. Your farm animals are so cute, how many did you make, they take so much time to do.

I made some gumpaste flower (lots of them) for my mother-in-laws anniversary cake. The cake was covered in fondant. Cake done, looked beautiful, and as I walked past the cake, I noticed that my flowers were drooping and coming off the cake. (it was extremely hot and humid here that day, and we don't have air conditioning). I also made some Florida State University logos out of gumpaste on SMBC, standing up really nice, by morning, they were flopped over. The customer wasn't upset, but it could have caused problems. I am now leary about putting any decoration on too early. I have learned my lesson about doing it just before delivery.