I am having trouble cutting out letters. I used both the tappit and fmm brand of cutter. I used gum paste and it kind of kept getting stuck in the cutters. I don't know if fondant would work better, or if I need to prepare whatever medium I use in a different way? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!! I need to have some decent looking letters for a wedding cake that I am doing in a couple of weeks!
I have the same problems with those cutters. I was told to rub shortening on the mat prior to rolling out the gumpaste so that the gumpaste would stick slightly to the mat allowing you to pull the cutter away. Then use a pallet knife to lift the gumpaste from the mat. It is easier with gumpaste than with fondant but there is no easy solution that i've been able to find. I have a box of the cutters sitting on the shelf because they are so hard to use. If anyone has another solution i'd love to hear it! using the shortening did help but it wasn't easy by any means. Good Luck!
Debbie
Hi, I am also using the tappits a lot and on our Dutch forum this has also been a topic (of difficulty 
). I found out that it works best if you put some tylose (CMC of gum tragant will also work) in the fondant, leave it rest for at least an hour or 2, than roll it out very, very thinly, leave it a bit to dry (about 10 minutes orso) en then use the tappits. I have to admit that one day it's going better than the other day so...
Goodluck with it!!
Same problem here, I found that dusting them in cornstartch helped "some" I also cornstarched the board rather than criso, it let go better. Now is that gum t stuff like the gumtex in America? Let us know if someone finds a solution. I agree though 50/50 gumpaste and fondant or 100% gumpaste works the best. I would NOT do fondant by it'self. HTH Also a straight pin poked at the edges helps it let go some.
I found the easiest is to use gumpaste. Roll it out VERY thin and leave for a few minutes. I then flip the rolled out paste over and then cut the letters on the "wet" side. I again leave it to dry before attaching it to the cake otherwise it distorts. Use a pin if the letter is stuck in the cutter
HTH
Same problem here, I found that dusting them in cornstartch helped "some" I also cornstarched the board rather than criso, it let go better. Now is that gum t stuff like the in America? Let us know if someone finds a solution. I agree though 50/50 gumpaste and fondant or 100% gumpaste works the best. I would NOT do fondant by it'self. HTH Also a straight pin poked at the edges helps it let go some.
I don't know the Gumtex but I do know that tylose is an ingredient of gumpaste. I find the gumpaste (we are having here in Holland) quite sticky that´s why i use the fondant (pettinice) with tylose in it, and it also becomes more pliable.
I found the easiest is to use gumpaste. Roll it out VERY thin and leave for a few minutes. I then flip the rolled out paste over and then cut the letters on the "wet" side. I again leave it to dry before attaching it to the cake otherwise it distorts. Use a pin if the letter is stuck in the cutter
HTH
This is the trick. You've got to leave your rolled out fondant/gumpaste/whatever sit for a few minutes to form a bit of a skin. Colored and chocolate fondant sometimes needs 10 minutes or more because it's naturally stickier. Don't forget to flip it over a few times so both sides set up.
I use pastillage (because it dries quicker) and roll/dust with cornstarch. I firmly tap the cutter strip on my other hand (or my work table lined with a plastic padded placemat) and the letters go flying. If some are still stuck to the cutter, I use a pin to prick the back and pry the letter off.
I love these cutters! They make the neatest looking letters imho.
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