So, I wanted to try the purse cake from The Confetti Cakes book. I finished but had a hard time getting the cornstarch off of the fondant. Frusterated, I decided to go take a shower and get ready for my SIL's party, the one who the cake is for. I come out and my MIL decides to take a wet rag and "wash" my cake to get the cornstarch out!!!

I know she was trying to help and has no clue about cake decorating but GEEZ! It would not dry and the cake looked like total crap! Everyone at the party loved it but it didn't look as bad in person as it did in the picture but it still looked horrible.

Here's a pic so you all can see. Now don't laugh too hard! I hope to try this one again and hopefully not have cornstarch all over it.

Sorry about all the junk in the pic but I was in a hurry!

OMG, I suppose the damage could have been much worse.

If you roll fondant on plastic sheeting, sometimes with a dab of shortening, you don't have to be concerned about cornstarch.

very nicely done cake -- even w/ the wash job!

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I may be in the minority here -- ok I am, considering I'm a guy!! --

I do NOT use cornstarch -- ICK -- can't stand the taste it leaves.

I use powdered sugar -- which IS what fondant is made out of.

and to get rid of the excess ---

can polish it in w/ a brush or rubbing really well w/ fondant smoother

or

for more stubborn sections -- can wash it off w/ damp (not wet or dripping -- as in wet brush and get rid of excess on paper towel) brush that has been dipped in

either water or vodka or everclear

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looking forward to your next purse (made when MIL is NOT present!)

I agree with Doug I have never used corn starch (is it the same as cornflour?) I always use icing sugar. If you use a non stick silicon rolling pin and put plenty of icing sugar on your worktop you should get no marks on the side that will show.

Thanks guys, I always used to use shortening but I hated getting grease all over everything including myself so I thought I'd try the cornstarch since Elisa Strauss uses that in her book. But next I will try the powdered sugar!!

I know it could've been worse but I worked hard on that cake and I can't even use the pic for the future let alone post in the CC gallery.

I use a light film of shortening. It works well for me and you don't have any powder residue on the fondant. Actually the cake doesn't look that bad in the picture. I am sure she thought she was helping but I would never touch another persons work and try to change or correct anything. Pretty nervy.

i agree it looks fine.

doug why vodka for that? i've seen it mentioned a few times but the reasons for its use i've not learned yet I'm still new to fondant as wilton t urned me away from it years ago and i was too intimidated to make the standard version of fondant.. (side note i have made two practice versions of mmf and going to try a 3rd soon) since i found mmf i'm one of the converted

Ok, the cake is gorgeous, even with the... umm... shall we call it 'interesting texture'? I am SURE she had the best intentions... but you know what they say the road to he** is paved with! Good job not ending up on the evening news... I probably would've! "Local woman beats mother in law with french style rolling pin...film at 11."

To get cornstarch off of fondant I use a LARGE fluffy cosmetic brush one that you might use for blush or face powder. It doesn't leave marks in the fondant at all.

the cake is lovely.. despite the cheap wash job!

You could attempt to take the photo to Paint program and blend the colors some more.... it may work to hide the smudge from the wiping.

It is a beautiful cake, good you couldn't see it so bad in person, bad it messed up the pic .

Is that your MIL standing in the back ground like she's done no wrong? lmfao

I TOTALLY agree with Shirley W and Melvira (toooo funny!!). Your cake looks greatttttt!! Did I marry into the family too? Sounds like someone I know Gotta love 'em

gengen you can use vodka because it dries really quickly without leaving a sheen on the cake most of the time. some people even use it in their airbrush to mist the entire cake to get rid of the sugar. it seems that i remember one of duff's girls mentioning that on ace of cakes. i wouldn't use it on a kid's cake tho.

i might be wrong about all of this but i'm sure doug will set me straight if i'm not...lol

Sweet merciful Mother of God......I would have throttled her! You are a saint.

[quote="ShirleyW. Actually the cake doesn't look that bad in the picture. I am sure she thought she was helping but I would never touch another persons work and try to change or correct anything. Pretty nervy.[/quote]


Gotta say I agree with Shirley on this one............................

Oh but it still looks awesome! You can totally tell that without the "sheen" it was darn near perfect.

LMAO over everyone's comments. I had to go back and see her in the background, too!

Do we have the same mother in law? I swear, that is something mine would do...
Other than the "clean-up", your cake is awesome.
Erin

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions."

I'd find a nice way to tell her to keep her hands off my cake.

You could have taken a paper towel with a little canola oil on it and made the whole cake shiny, it would have made it look like patent leather. You know patent leather is all the rage right now I know, I know sometimes I get caught between being a cakenista and a fashionista.

BTW your cake looks great. Tell your MIL keep her hands off your cakes. Some people just don't understand that our cakes are pieces of art. I'm wondering what if Monet's MIL went around touching on his paintings? Ask her that LOL

I agree with "canoewoman"

"To get cornstarch off of fondant I use a LARGE fluffy cosmetic brush one that you might use for blush or face powder. It doesn't leave marks in the fondant at all."

Works for me as well.

hehe my mother inlaw knows next to nothing bout the cake world (trust me i've confused her several times just by using the terms icing and frosting interchangeablly.) she knows better then to mess with one of my cakes save for saving it from being eaten by pets or falling on floor lol.. actualy i should put it as she doesn't want to mess with it; she'd be afraid she'd ruin it even by simply moving it lol

When rolling chocolate, you can use a little cocoa powder. It doesn't show up as much as conrstarch. Your cake looks great anyway!

Thank you all soooo much for being so sweet and sooooo funny!!!! My stomach hurts from laughing!!

The cake looks great. I hope you didn't yell at your MIL, did you?

Your purse is beautiful - even in patent leather!

Debbie