Hey everybody!
I heard so many rave reviews about using the vinyl purchased at Wal Mart for rolling fondant. Im about to try it for the first time Im doing a wedding cake this weekend. My main concern is the 14 inch tier I had such a hard time rolling it out the last time I did a wedding cake and it took forever and several attempts to make it large enough to cover the tier. So Im going to try the technique of rolling it between two sheets of vinyl. Is it true that you dont need any Crisco or powdered sugar to roll it out? Someone mentioned that this method makes the fondant shiny, and Id rather have a matte finish for a wedding cake does anyone know how to reduce the shine? Maybe a fondant smoother? And is it really as easy as it sounds? Is it quicker than rolling it out the traditional way, on a counter top? Somehow it all seems too good to be true! Any advice from anyone whos tried this method would be SO much appreciated!
Melissa
Many people do use the vinyl method, however, it has not worked for me. I use heavy cotton cloth tautly taped to the counter top and heavily dusted with powdered sugar. I rub the sugar into the cloth, roll out my fondant and then gently roll it onto a large rolling pin to transfer. This gives a matte finish and I don't have any problems with sticking. Too much powdered sugar will certainly make a mess though. 
When rolling out fondant for large pieces, remember that it's going to stretch, so you don't necessarily have to roll out the perfect size. You don't want to roll it so small that you have to stretch it a lot, but a little stretch won't be a problem. You can look at the pictures that I have posted and see how my fondant covering looks. This is the method I have been using for many years.
Good luck with your cake.
Michele
Yeah I use this method with the vinyl, works great for me though. I don't roll it between two layers of vinyl, just on one but I have a rolling pin that doesn't stick at all. I roll it out without using sugar or anything, don't turn it, just roll and at the end you can just flip the vinyl with the fondant on it over the cake (that why I like it so much for large cakes, your fondant won't stretch or crack), and gently peel of the vinyl. The only thing with this is that the vinyl has to be completely smooth (no folds or anything, otherwise you will see this in the fondant but that is only if you put it on the cake still attached to the vinyl, if the use the method of just rolling and then lifting it up with your rolling pin it doesn't matter). About the shine, with me most of the time this goes away when the fondant is starting to dry up a bit. At least I haven't had a shiny cake 
Good luck! 
Lara
I also dont roll between two sheets, I roll it out on one until is more or less the right size, then take a 2nd piece, put it on top and flip over, then peel the original piece off, then only do I put it on my cake, so the original top side stays the top, hope you know what I mean 
This ensures that you have an absolutely smooth finish, no need to worry about little dents on the bottom sheet.
interesting - i hadn't heard of this vinyl trick yet (must have missed that topic).....is this special vinyl or a certain brand?
I roll fondant on a piece of heavy duty vinyl. I rub a minor amount of crisco onto the surface and then wipe it with a paper towel to remove excess---too much crisco added to fondant can make it too stretchy.
For small cakes (<14"), I generally pick up the piece and apply it to the cake. For larger tiers, I keep the fondant on the vinyl, line it up over the cake, sit it on, and then peel off the vinyl.
Rae
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