Hi!

I'm brand new to this forum, I don't know why I haven't found it and posted here. We opened a small cupcake shop here in San Diego about a year ago. We've been doing all of our custom designs by hand with marshmallow fondant, and are finally ready to move up to a Cricut cake machine!

I've never used one of these before and wondered if anyone had any suggestions on which machine to get and if anyone has used marshmallow fondant with it. I would love any advice or tips you guys have!

welcome to the board!

another idea for you is to do a search for existing/previous cricut discussions in the meantime

i don't have one--just wanted to say hey

I dont recommend Cricut at all... you are very limited with designs, and must purchase their specific cartridges. I DO however, recommend the silhouette cameo. The design possibilities are endless, and icingimages.com sells packages, which include the directions to make it work for cake decorating, sugar sheets, the cameo, software, etc.
 

Thanks! I'll definitely do so! I'm excited to share what I've learned here as well!

another option for electronic cutter would be the Silhouette with techniques from Linda McClure:

http://www.*******************/catalog_1.html

ALove my silhoutte. I far prefer its versatility.

Silhouette all the way.  Marshmallow fondant is way to soft to cut with either machine.  Gumpaste works best but I have also had luck adding tylose to fondant. The easiest thing to cut is frosting sheets and I find the ones from icingimages to be the best. I also recommend Linda McClure's techniques and DVDs.

Another vote WAY DOWN for the Cricut, and a HUGE UPVOTE for the Silhouette Cameo. I would hate to be limited by the Provo Craft (makers of the Cricut) imagination, (like being in the Borg) and they have shady business practices. The Cameo, with help from Linda McClure is the only way to go. You aren't even limited by your own imagination, since you can use JPEG, GIF, and SVG and other files, directly from your computer. Pair it with Make the Cut software and you can cut anything you want, no cartridges needed. 

AThanks for all your help guys!! Looks like we'll be getting the silhouette!!

I apologize for the unsupported link in my previous response.  I was not aware that the site I was referencing was banned from CakeCentral.

I just googled the silhouette machine and Im wondering how you use it with fondant or gumpaste? It says it for paper and things like that.. I bought a cricut cake machine and tried to cut fondant and it did not work. I havent tried it since. I feel like I wasted $200 on it. Thanks 

ALinda McClure has information on her website on how to do this, with the sillhouette. The cricut cake is totally sub par to the sillhouette. I have read in several tutorials that cutting fondant with a cricut/silhouette isnt recommended, but if you do decide to do it, you need to roll out the fondant thinly on a Crisco covered mat. Then, let the fondant sit out for about 20 minutes to harden up. This technique won't work with MMF. The machine works best with gumpaste and sugar sheets, sold at icing images.com. Good luck!

Well I am going to throw a spanner in the works on this topic and say the I LOVE MY CRICUT CAKE.. in fact I have been lucky to have never had any dramas using it, however I am not limited to just cartridges either as I can still use MTC. My latest cake was designed using my Cricut http://cakecentral.com/g/i/2905505/a/3293741/2-tier-sculpted-eiffel-tower-chocolate-mud-cake-featuring-edible-letters-notes-and-postcards-top-is-constructed-using-flat-pieces-of-stencilled-gumpaste-to-form-the-tip-of-the-tower-props-suitcase-and-trinket-box-are-not-edible/  

I use RTR fondant mixed with tylose rolled super thin to obtain the best results. PM me if you have any questions xx

I love my Cricut Cake too!  I bought mine a few weeks ago at Big Lots and then purchased Sure Cuts A Lot from etsy and I couldn't be happier!  I actually went back and bought another machine, just in case something happens to the first one!  

It has already paid for itself in the last two weeks with all of the things I have used it for.  I whipped out 6 dozen cupcake toppers in no time, made some very cute characters for some big cakes, and did some really awesome lettering with fonts from the internet.  Check your local Big Lots...they are marked down to 99.99!

Cutiepiecupcake, I was wondering what you mean by using MTC? and also what is RTR fondant? Thanks :) 

MTC is short for Make The Cut, a 3rd party software for cutter machines.  Sure Cuts a Lot, which Elbow642 mentioned, is a similar software and sometimes referred to as SCAL.  I believe the most recent editions of MTC and SCAL are no longer compatible with the Cricut machines.  If you were hoping to not rely on cartridges, this would be another disadvantage for purchasing a Cricut.  The Silhouette, I think, includes software that is similar to MTC and SCAL.  Silhouette owners, is that right?  I don't have the Silhouette, but I use my Cricut with an older version of SCAL.

Correct, the new versions are not compatible with the cricut cake.  If you search, though, you can still find some copies of the version that does work online.  Etsy is where I purchased mine and it works like a charm!  I can cut anything I want, and the software is super easy to use. 

I also am happy with my cricut.  Having had the paper cutting cricut for years I already had plenty of cartridges (you don't have to use just the cake ones, any cricut cartridge will work) and I also have an older version of SCAL and also an older version of Fairy Cuts.  If you go onto cricut craftroom, each week they also have free cuts for you to try.

I went to Etzy and found the Sure cuts a lot and scal2 ...Its $50 and I dont want to spend that kind of money and then it wont work on my cricut. Do you know if these will work or not? Thanks 

ASo good to know!!! I'll try it soon. I make my own MMF, so it's definitely worth a shot.