i've never used either one, but im so tempted in trying. i noticed Michael's has both 'already to use.' i would like to start off w/that before making my own. i guess my questions are....what kind of stuff do you make w/the gum paste vs. the candy clay? or does it matter? also, can you just add icing color to the gum paste?
One more thing can you use americolor gel paste to paint onto bc?
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You can make anything you want out of either and yes you can add colour to the gumpaste. Just make sure you wear gloves to knead it in or you will have pretty hands. 
Can't tell you about the americolour gel as we don't have it here. Gumpaste will dry harder than the candy clay though so depending on what you want to do will depend on which to use.
You use your color pastes (what you use for cakes) to color fondant. You just kneed it in. You can also use precolored fondant and kneed it into the gumpaste to color, though you will get pastels that away. I like the new gumpaste product from Wilton. It can be a bit sticky at first, but just kneed in a little crisco. It does not look white in the package but it lightens up as you need it and it does dry white.
As far as the candy clay. What you see in the store that is premade and flavored is actually Kandy Klay. It reminds me of softer starbursts (the candy). The packets of colors are not that big and I don't really think worth it. Now you can make Candy Clay with candy melts and corn syrup. You can find the recipe in any of the Wilton yearbooks and at Wilton.com. I believe it is one package to a 1/3 cup of corn syrup. You melt the melts, mix in the corn syrup and then spread it out on a cookie sheet. Let it sit over night then kneed it to make it soft to use.
You can always make several batches using the differnet color candy melts or make white and color it. Though I do not know if you have to use the candy colors to color it or not at that point.
Gumpaste is generally used to make flowers where you roll out the petals really thin. It can also be used to make other things including molded figures and bows.
Candy Clay could be good for molded figures, but I'm not sure it would have the same affect as gumpaste for flowers. This does not mean you couldn't make flowers with it, just don't think it would work the same as gumpaste.
Fondant can be used for many things too, and would probably be the best place to start for playing with things. You can add gum tex to it or mix in some gumpaste to make it dry faster/harder, but give you more working time than gumpaste. Gumpaste can dry out pretty fast so if you aren't use to working with it or need more working time you want to use fondant or fondant mixed with a little gumpaste.
What you use does sometimes depend on your project. Rather than picking one to use, why not start with an idea of what you want to do.
I would say the main difference is that the gumpaste will dry and harden. I don't believe that the candy clay will harden (please correct me if I'm wrong).
With gumpaste you will probably want to use some gumpaste tools and cutters. The moldable chocolate seems to mostly be formed with the hands.
Gumpaste, though edible is not usually eaten. The candy clay is meant to be eaten.
I know about gumpaste, but not much about candy clay, so feel free to correct me if I'm wrong about my impressions of candy clay.
thnx everyone. i've worked w/fondant a bit, but not a whole lot. was just tempted on trying gumpaste or Kandy Klay that is already ready to use. i wanted to try to make figurines. dont think there is templates for them, so i was just going to work w/it and see what i can come up with. not sure if i like the 'drying fast' part of it since im new at it. lol
thnx again, ohh, oen more thing, is the gumpaste put onto the cake just like fondant is? like w/bc, vanilla, water?
Depending on how heavy the object is and where you want to put it you can put it on with a little water, but it will get sticky or you can use vodka or other alcohol which will dry faster just don't use very much liquid or it will become very sticky and mushy.
You asked about using gel color to paint bc. I'm still in the early learning process, but I have not had good luck painting bc - even nicely crusted bc. It softens and gets goopy with the second or third brush stroke. Is there a way to paint bc without an airbrush or spray color? I have bought an airbrush but haven't tried to befriend it yet 
I also use the "play doh" tools you buy for kids, they work great with this stuff. You'll love it is the gumpaste put onto the cake just like fondant is? like w/bc, vanilla, water?[/quote]
just to clarify - you don't use gumpaste to cover a cake. nor would I use it to make decorations you'd expect people to eat. when totally dry it is as hard and fragile as porcelin. good for decorative uses, but not designed to be eaten (though techinically it is edible). I really only use it for flowers and for plaques that I write on, or for making molded figures.
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