What is the best thing to use for figures that people are wanting to keep as long as possible? gumpaste? marazipan? and how long will they last for keepsake purposes approximately?

thanks

Maybe oversimplifying but if they plan on keeping it why does it have to be eatable?

Some people use polymer clay and then make a fondant barrier (like a circle/etc) to place it on, so that it can go safely on the cake. I like using gumpaste, there is a certain mystique about it being crafted of edible materials, even if nobody is ever going to eat it.

So of edibles, gumpaste will last the longest, however you said figures so actually I would use 50/50 gp/fondant unless you work REALLY fast. The Remy in my avatar is 50/50 and I've kept him for over a year now. Mind you he is missing basically every appendage (including nose and a tooth) but that's because my DD played with him, not because the gp disintegrated. Even in his deformed state I can't bear to part with him .

They will want to keep the figure away from light however, or some of the colors will invariably fade. The ultimate irony of saving a gp figure, you want to display it but to leave it out on display may ruin the colors do to fading from the light . Now there's a problem you probably don't get with clay?

Hi, I have lots of figures that I have made with 50/50 gumpaste and fondant. I have kept them over 2 years. I have stored them in Gataux containers which they have clear plastic lids. You can see your work and like ceshell mentioned, don't keep them on direct sunshine.

The other solution is that you can make your figures with Cold Porcelaine, and make a plaque to keep it on.

HTH.