Cake Topper Polymer Clay Or Gumpaste?
Decorating By ccaluda Updated 15 Jun 2007 , 7:54pm by julesn20716
Hi Folks,
I want to put some 3D figures on my nephews birthday cake, but I dont know if I should use polymer clay or gumpaste.
What are the pros and cons of each?
I havent used either before, so which medium would be easier for a rank beginner (with very little talent)?
Thanks,
Carol
I applaud you for being brave and trying out modelling figures!!! Honestly, being a beginner with modelling, I'd be too chicken and prolly buy ready made figures 
I guess either one will do depends on which you are more comfortable with. With the humidity, I guess your best bet would be polymer. I'm no expert but that's just my opinion. Hope someone out there knows the answer. 
i have used both medium. polymer clay is easier to use because it doesn't collapse when you're modelling larger pieces as well it gives you better detail. but if it's just for a small fun figure, fondant with a little tylose or gumpaste mixed in will do.
n.b. if you use polymer clay remember to put it on a fondant or gumpaste base, in order to keep it off the icing. hth
You could also use Candy Clay for modeling 3D Figures . I made my first fondant cake last week and used Candy Clay to make my figures (it is in my photos). It is soooo easy to make, it handled nicely, and I was pleased with the result. The only tricky thing is that it gets overly soft while handling, so I put it back in the fridge a few times while I was making my figures to get it to stiffen back up again.
I suggest clay. I have tried gumpaste figures and they end up brittle, and the gum paste drys quickly and my figures are not as nice. The last gumpaste person I made committed sucide when it "jumped" off my cake its head and arms broke but with the clay once it is baked it is pretty stable and will handle more abuse. Just remember the clay is not edible, anything you use while making your figures (rolling pins, cookie sheets, etc can not be used for anything else but clay) and you need to put a barrier between your figures and the icing (a piece of flat piece of gum paste or a small square of wax paper)
Val
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