Just had to tell you about this. I love browsing the clay aisle at the craft store and found a new beading tool for clay made by Sculpey. It's three long needle-like tools in three different sizes (in the same package) but what's neat about it is that at the wider end of the needle tool you have a half bead shaped cup. Just poke it into your fondant to make a half bead or cut out individual half beads to put on the cake. Tops of the beads are rounded (which you can't accomplish by cutting them out the old fashioned way using an "O" icing tip - you'd still need to roll them into a ball shape. And the cutting surface of the metal is sharp - meaning you'll get a clean cut, AND the back of each half round is flat so that each bead sits flat on the surface or side of the cake and won't roll off and you don't have to press them into the fondant or icing to make sure it sticks. A real time saver. Trying it out this weekend on a wedding cake loaded with edible beads. Now I don't have to worry about guests breaking a tooth on dragees.

Sounds neat! Did you get this at Michaels?

Yes, it was around $10 but I gave them a JoAnn's 50% off certificate (which they take) so got it for half price.

Thank you for the info. Will be looking for it.

thanks for the info. I will have to look for this.

So exciting!!! I will have to take a look at it. I need something like this!

Sounds great! Let us know how it works!

thanks for info, it's so much fun finding new ways to explore cake decorating isn't it

I have those but haven't made beads with them. Wouldn't the beads be really small?

FYI: Don't use the pointed end to poke holes in Styrofoam. I bent the bejeebers out of one of mine last night doing that.

I would be interested in knowing what size beads it would make. If your going to use them for the border they can't be too small. I would think.