Why Don't I See 3D Figurines Cakes More
Decorating By notjustcake Updated 7 Sep 2006 , 3:02am by Price
I am new to cake decorating just finished all Wilton 3 courses and still practicing all the techniques I learned, but after being on this site 24/7 I have come across thousands of cakes and cannot wait to get my hands on a cake with 3d figurines on top there is quite a lot of talented ladies that make them but they don't seem to be as popular why? I would like mine to be with marzipan mostly because I don't see adults eating MMF like candy or fondant only when people plan to save these as momentos. Just wondering
I would guess that it's because a good 3D figure takes a while to do, and for cakes that are being sold, the price would have to be bumped up beyond what a lot of people are prepared to pay(especially for celebration cakes). I know the cat & little birds that I did on my last 2 cakes (which were gifts, so the time factor in doing them was moot), would have bumped the prices for those cakes up by a good $15-$20 had I been selling them!
It seems like they are easier and inexpensive I guess the shaping part is not as easy as it seems I coul not see your kitty and birds cakes.
I kinda wondered the same thing. All I can think about is how to make a cool 3D cake.
Now I havent had any Wilton courses... I just jumped into this with both feet. and learned only from the internet. So they cant be THAT hard.
My 3rd cake was the Jack Skellington in my gallery. (I dont want to attach it cause I dont want people getting mad that I am overly attaching it haha!).
I dont know... I LOVE 3D cakes! Lets see more of them. And if you dont want to make them but have a cool idea for one, send it here and I'll give it a whirl!
Shannon
Oh what the heck here it is:
Well I have to tell you I just bought a wallpaper from Cingular for my cell phone guess who it is!!!!!! Sally and Jack!!!! My 7 year old daughter is totally in love with Sally, and we have seen your cake before she loves it. I would not worry about anyone thinking you're posting it too much, I would be proud of my cake too if it looked like that!!! I think I'm going to put yours in my favorites amd make it for my cousin she is crazy for these guys as much my DD is!!!!!!! you are very talented
It does take a long time to mold the figures. There are molds out there, like the one I have that makes a man, woman, and 2 different size children, but you still have to mold them, and fix all their parts and clothes, so it takes a good bit of time. Too costly for most people. 
I love making cakes with 3D figures, it's fun to do and brings joy to everyone. I also learned it from internet and didn't attend any courses, I do not think it's hard, just time taking. I would like to see more 3d figures, too.
Check out the cakes in the Fairytale Cake Decorating Contest here at CC. Wow! Amazing talent. I can't wait til all the cakes are in.
It does take a long time to mold the figures. There are molds out there, like the one I have that makes a man, woman, and 2 different size children, but you still have to mold them, and fix all their parts and clothes, so it takes a good bit of time. Too costly for most people.
I actually had the mould to make a woman, and i used it once to make an angel for a communion cake and then sold it. I found that it would take so long to get rid of the seams, that i just wasn't saving me any time, and all the figures would end up looking pretty much the same. I now make them all free hand, it's much more fun, less frustrating and believe it or not less time consuming. : )
Nati
I like the molds because they make it go pretty quickly, and my kids (6 & 9) are able to use them. Little fingers and the like are pretty easy that way. We've done some freehand, but haven't played with it too much yet. Mostly I've done animals that way. What tools do you use to get the facial features?
I like the molds because they make it go pretty quickly, and my kids (6 & 9) are able to use them. Little fingers and the like are pretty easy that way. We've done some freehand, but haven't played with it too much yet. Mostly I've done animals that way. What tools do you use to get the facial features?
sugarnut
I use a few different tools. Fingers mainly, then a balling tool, a dogbone tool, and a hook type tool which is great for making the eyebrows and the nose. This hook tool was a gift from my talented friend Fran (franjmc), it's probably the most useful tool for making faces.
Nati
Oh my gosh... how embarrassing for me 
I kinda thought we were talking about 3D figure CAKES.. not hand made figurines.
I am soooo sorry for posting my comments.... I'm still learning. Hence the "newbie" next to my name.
Heck I think I just figured out what a BUMP is yesterday.
Be patient with me, as I said earlier I jumped in with both feet. No classes or nothing, just saw cake competitions on Food Network and wanted to do it. I still have TONS of learning to go.
If anyone has advice I am here with a pencil and paper waiting to learn!
And yes.... I AM addicted to this site. My wife has even noticed that I am constantly on here reading in the fourms rather than on CNN.com haha!
I personally love seeing all of the modeled figures that are starting to appear. I don't remember seeing many when I first joined, but over time it seems to be becoming more popular. I had never seen modeled fondant, chocolate or gumpaste figures until I first saw the sleeping babies on the shower cakes on this forum. I started playing around with modeling just this past Christmas and now that is what I enjoy doing the most. I'm not sure how much of a market there would be in my area for cakes decorated with the fondant figures. They would definitely add to the cost of the cake, and I'm not sure the people in my area would be willing to pay the higher cost. I currently decorate as a hobby. Sometimes I do dream that someday it could develop into something more.
I agree, I love the 3D figures, and have done a few myself but it does take some time and planning. I've used molds for shells and borders, that work rather well. It is fun if you can find the time for it, and the looks on peoples faces when they see the end result makes it all worth it.
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