I've just (in the last 2 days!) started getting into cake decorating, and so far I love it. I have only worked with fondant, and I am wondering what the difference between it and gum paste is, as far as making small decorations goes. I have made a number of fondant flowers and leaves, and it seems to be working fine. Is it worth it to buy some gum paste at this point?

Hello,
From what I understand, gumpaste is a bit more pliable and buys you some time (doesn't dry out as fast.) I usually just use fondant, because personally I'm too lazy to mix that can with water that's under my cupboard (I'm serious... I have an unopened can of gumpaste powder waiting for me to revive it).

Mixing equal parts fondant and gumpaste seems to work for lots of people too.

I hope that helps, and I also hope you are enjoying decorating! I was instantly HOOKED ~

Ummmm...actually, its fondant that doesn't dry out as fast!!

However, if you mix gumpaste and fondant 50/50, you get the best of both worlds!! You get more time to mold, and you also end up with a nice hard figure once it dries.

Straight fondant doesnt dry hard, and can "wilt". Gumpaste will completely hold its shape! Good Good stuff!!

Yup Yup Yup!!! Yuppity Yup!!!! Ooooookay....I think it just might be bedtime for me!! LOL

Great tip about mixing the fondant and the gum paste ~ thanks!

Yeah!! I love doing that!! However, if you need to make something very thin...say...some flower petals...straight gumpaste works the best as you can roll it out thinner than the fondant!!

Thanks, everybody!! I think it is just the "lazy" thing for me, so far. The idea of mixing up yet another thing, just to see how it works, is not worth it.
And yes, I am fully, totally hooked. Already. I sense a long term issue here.

HAHAHAHAHA!!!! One more cake decorator hooked!!! BWAAAAHAHAHA!!! You're doomed!! Doomed!!

LOL...wow, I really really really need to go to sleep!! My hubby's been asleep for almost 2 hours....and here I am...creeping everyone out on CC!!! Shame on me!! Sorry ya'll for having to deal with me!!

Sarsi ~ I have to admit ~ you're pretty darn funny at 2 am!

LOL!!! Either funny or creapy....I don't know!! I do tend to get very slap happy late at night...hence the hubby goes to sleep probably!!! LOL!!! HAHAHAHAA

I think if you are comfortable with fondant, then stick with it. You may eventually find yourself needing to use gumpaste if you want to make pieces that are really thin or otherwise need to be not so fragile (my fondant pieces tend to break into bits when dry) as mentioned above. Flowers, larger characters (see Remy in my avatar? There is no WAY that would have worked in fondant, he would have never dried properly), etc.

If you are hesitant to mix up something else, just buy the premade gumpaste (if you decide to use it at some point) and knead it in 50/50 with your fondant. Or else, you could buy tylose powder to sprinkle into your fondant (that's what Aine2 uses...I know you are a newbie but you will understand who I mean shortly! )...if that is not easy to find, you can get gum-tex wherever your buy Wilton products. Sprinkling that stuff in helps your figures harden better.

ceshell- oh really? I didn't know you could use gum-tex for that reason...LOL...I've looked at it on the shelves wondering if that would work, but just never knew before, so thanks so much for saying that here!! I don't think you're ever done learning when you're a CC member!!!

Thanks for this info about the gum-tex. What else can it be used for? is there a difference I'm assuming between it and the gum paste mix?

I only use gum-tex to help my fondant dry hard...you'd have to read the can to see its true purpose LOL. You're welcome for the tip. Hmm...I wonder where I myself learned about that a few years ago...

As for other uses, I think you mix it with one of their other products to get more pliable gumpaste. I could be wrong about that but no, it is not the same as straight gumpaste mix.

Ok, let me see if I have this straight.

You can use gum-tex powder sprinkled into fondant to make it harden like you would use tylose powder?

Yes, you sure can! There are lots of threads about that, you can search the forums for Gum-Tex or gumtex...although you will get results for every thread that contains the word "gum". (Hm, how many threads really mention "gum" anyway .) I don't know for sure but I'm betting it's not it's quite as great as tylose, but it definitely does the job. I even got a "gift box cake" lid to harden properly, using MMF and gumtex, and it helps a lot for figures too.

Thanks, good to know!!