I consider myself a good cook, and have made a few cakes. Anyway, I was looking for a particular theme cake to make for my daughter's 2nd birthday, and found one using fondant cake with gumpaste figures. I love the cake and want to make it, but...
I have never worked with fondant or gumpaste. If I practice over the next month or so, do you think I can do it? I am a little intimidated, but am so in love with the idea, I really want to make it happen.
Honesty would be appreciated!
I think it depends alot on the cake you are going to try to do. Not to mention, you are going to want to use MMF (marshmallow fondant) and not store bought Wilton fondant - it taste terrible.
If you want to practice, by all means, buy some Wilton fondant and give it a go - you might surprise yourself with how easy some of this stuff actually is if you are just willing to try. But trust me, practice making MMF as well cause once you taste that Wilton stuff..... yuck!
the cake I found is a square base with one round on top; I was considering using two round cakes since I am reading that it is easier to use fondant on round cakes.
I was planning on trying to use the MMF throughout my practices, since it is inexpensive.
There are three small figures that sit on the cake. The characters are from Jacks Big Music Show (if you are familiar).
I really don't have that much experience using fondant, but I have covered a couple of round cakes and didn't have much trouble. I do have the cake pan with the rounded top edges and I think that made it much easier for me. You can always practice by covering the cake pan you will be using!
Jack and his friends shouldn't be too difficult to make with fondant either, especially since they are kinda stubby little characters!
If you haven't ever made or worked with the MMF, I would definitely suggest getting the Wilton stuff to practice with, just to get the feel of how fondant is supposed to feel. And when you make your MMF you will know to just keep working it until it gets to the texture that you have become familiar with - it will get there, just keep kneading!
I think you can do this! And post the pics so we can all praise your first cake!!
I am a newbie decorator, baked cakes all my life...just frosted them. When I stumbled across this site I found a new way to express art. If you ever played with clay or play dough when you were a child, working with fondant or chocolate clay for modeling is no different! The only advice I can give to you, is just have some fun with it....your creativity is only limited by your imagination or inspiration that you will find all over the web, in books and especially here at CC. I recommend the alternative MMF.....it is so elastic and easy to work with.
Yes, you can! Anything is possible. The first time I used MMF, I had no experience at all with it. I was curious so I read... a lot! and made sure I understood how it was done. It took me two weeks to learn everything that I could to make my stepdaughter's cake (see Alexa's birthday cake in my photos). All it takes is guts and determination. It may not be perfect but the only way to learn is to JUST DO IT! 
i agree, you can do it, especially with a month to practice. my first mmf cake i had no experience with it. i had about 2 weeks to practice, and it came out perfectly. so 4 weeks, no sweat! just set aside the time, and don't let other stuff get in the way of practicing. (i love working with mmf, it was so easy to make!)
I also want to make a Jack themed cake for my daughter's second birthday (because her other love - Little Einsteins, would be to hard).
I have found one picture of a cake someone made, and I don't know if I can replicate it. But it looks like exactly what you are looking to make.
http://www.crazyamyscakes.com/cake-pictures/commission-3-baby-girls-1st-birthday-final-product/
Where can I find more info about this MMF?
I love watching Challange on Food Network, which is where I got the idea to do something with gum paste or fondant.
The characters should be easy to do. If you work hard at it, anything is possible! I think you can totally do it!
Just wanted to add, my son loves Jack! We listen to the CD nonstop in the car....I think it's making me nuts. 
Just a note, I wouldnt be intimidated by a square cake, I personally think they are easier to cover!!! Have fun, MMF is great!
Just a side note, I hardly ever cover an entire cake in fondant (MMF or otherwise).......I just ice it smooth with buttercream and use the fondant for accents....just another idea if you dont want it to be too difficult.
http://www.atecousa.net/learn/satin_ice_3.shtml
good tutorial on how to use fondant
You can do it, and it will be fun.
I love working with fondant. Of course, the first fondant cake I made was the Wilton III cake, the present, and I don't think it's hard at all to cover a square cake.
Every time I work with fondant, my kids want to join in. It's play to them, and they have successfully decorated several cakes with fondant!
Aaaaaannnndddd.......... we all happen to like the taste of Wilton fondant, too. We attach it with flavored extracts, like vanilla, and lemon, and I think we've done it with orange extract, too. I actually have to fight with the kids not to eat it all up. It is expensive, though, and I keep meaning to try the MMF recipe from here, to save some $$$$$.
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%