I would like to practice making baby booties, but I've never used gum tex or gum paste before. I know some people have suggested adding gum text to fondant. Is that easier to work with than using the gum paste recipe on the Wilton can of gum tex??? Which do you recommend for a newbie?!?

thanks!

It works well even with plain Marshmallow Fondant..as long as you let it dry completely.

I love working with wilton's gumpaste. If this is the first time for you, I'll suggest to buy the ready to use one. Gumpaste will dry hard faster than fondant. While working with gumpaste, cut your pieces and cover them with some plastic wrap until ready to use or they will dry.
Store your leftover gumpaste in plastic wrap and then in a plastic bag (take the air out).
If you are using fondant (wilton's, homemade, mmf, etc) put a little bit of gumtex to accelerate the drying process. Put 1 teaspoon for each 12 oz of fondant (thats like about a big grapefruit).
Here is a tutorial for baby boots:

http://community.webshots.com/album/283308759UqOctN

actually I have the cutters for this..it comes in three parts.
It's good quality plastic. If your not in a rush, Fondant would also do well.

I have a batch of fondant already made, but I figured I can't add the gum tex to that now. Can I really make them with just fondant? They will just take longer to dry? I just don't have any plans for this fondant and would hate to waste it.

Go ahead and add the Gum Tex to the fondant--you just knead the powder in the same way you would PS. It works great. Add about 1tsp. gum tex to 12 oz. of fondant.

If you don't add the gum tex, the stand up parts of the booties may wilt in the heat or humidity. Without the gum-tex, the fondant may feel dry on the outside, but on the thicker parts it will stay damp for a long time.

Rae

okay, will do! we'll see how it goes...!!

okay, I attempted it, using that webshots tutorial I just needed a little gumtex into my fondant.

We'll see how it dries.

How do you all cut shapes out of fondant? With what tool? I was thinking a pizza cutter would work great, but the curves are too small. I guess I need a really tiny pizza cutter...is there something like that available?

Kate-get yourself and exacto knife from the craft or hobby dept at Walmart. It's extremely sharp and very precise.

ahhh yes! duh. that's what I was thinking...just couldn't place it.
thanks!

PME makes a plastic wheel cutter that has two different sized wheels on it--that's my preferred tool for small curves. You may be able to find it on the web.

Here's a link to a photo, but the site is in the UK. I got mine last year and I don't remember where I ordered them--sorry.

http://almondart.com/acatalog/info_CW426.html

Rae

that is what I need! thanks.

Wilton also makes a little mini pizza cutter tool just for fondant. It also comes with two other wheels. One is zig zag and the other one is.....well, I forget. I have it but, an exacto knife does seem like it would work just as well. You would have to be careful not to cut up your work station or mats though.

good point. maybe I could put my sewing mat thingie that I use when I'm cutting with a rotary cutter under it. thanks.

Sorry if this is a bit off of the original topic, but is Gum Tex or Gum Paste edible?

yes, as far as I know.

Gum paste is edible--doesn't taste very good, though. Gum Tex is an edible ingredient that can be added to fondant or gum paste to help it dry faster and harder.

RAe

I just started working with gumpaste today -- trying to practice a bit before I use it on a cake in two weeks.

Question -- I ended up with a little "practice" figurine that I'm pretty happy with, I know I can use this in two weeks but how do I store it until then to keep it looking it's best?

Since it will take a bit of time to dry thoroughly, I would just sit it out in a relatively cool (under 80 degrees), clean, dry place that doesn't have direct sunlight--I tend to store mine in old cardboard cake boxes on a piece of foam or parchment. Until it is bone dryall the way through, it shouldn't be stored covered or sealed.

Once dry, delicate items can be wrapped in toilet paper to prevent damage.

Rae

I let my little practice figurines air dry -- they are drying with a dull, cracking finish...what am I doing wrong? Was my gumpaste too dry? I didn't add gumtex, will that help?