I have seen people use alphabet cutters for their lettering. I really like the look! Especially the script like, small letters. Can anyone recommend a good brand and place to buy them?
Like this cake by aine2 is an example. I think she says they are fmm cutters?
http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=coppermine&file=displayimage&meta=favpics&cat=0&pos=-51825
Thanks!
I can't open the picture for some reason, but if they are the same as what I used on this cake they are called Tappit cutters. They come in small and larger letters. I got mine through Nicholas Lodge, but imagine you can find them on many sites by typing in Tappit Cutters in a search engine.
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=coppermine&file=displayimage&meta=allby&uname=ShirleyW&cat=0&pos=189
Yes, similar to that. I will look those up! Thank you. ARe they pretty easy to use?
They do make nice lettering but they can be a pain in the neck to use. Your paste has to be just dry enough, not too soft. The letters want to stick inside the cutter, I find it easiest to work one edge loose with a straight or T pin, and then the rest of the letter will generally follow it. I think they are called Tappit because they are meant to be tapped on a hard surface to loosen the letters. They would have been better named "tap it, slap it, hit it, swear at it cutter" 
I use the letter tappits from FMM and they work ok as soon as you get the feeling for it.
Be sure to roll the fondant thin enough and to let it sit for about 5 or ten minutes tne the letters will come out fine.
(I stil have to pull the letters from the wall sometimes hee hee)
good luck and if you have to tap to hard your fondant was probably to thick or to fresh!
Beware: the things can breakand the neighbors will aks what you are building if you roll to thick!
you can find some examples on my website under :mijn taarten(my cakes) if you click under the pict you will see alle the cakes in that category)
Saskia
Thank you.
Edit:
okay I will remove my comment just in case!
oops I think it was supposed to stay anonimous until after the voting stops sorry but I'm glad you like it!
I've admired the lettering on several cakes and recently purchase a JEM cutter set of upper & lower case letters and 12 other punctuation marks. It was $26 for the set:
http://www.countrykitchensa.com/catalog/Searchresults.aspx?Description=jem+alphabet&search.x=36&search.y=10
I haven't tried them yet, and they look a bit tricky, but then I guess that any thin, small cut out lettering would be. 
Rae
I use the Jem cutters regularly. All the lettering on my cakes are done with them. You do have to roll your paste quite thin. I keep them lightly greased with crisco and I've never had a problem with the paste sticking in the cutter
I have the FMM cutters and found that I basically had to use them like and embosser and then trim with an exacto knife, however, the instructions while stating that you have to roll your paste thin, don't mention the trick about leaving your paste for 5-10mins first, I will be trying that trick for sure!
Thanks!
Yep, JEM cutters, I have those and love them! I ordered them from www.globalsugarart.com (I believe they are cheaper than what www.countrykitchensa.com wants for them) I also ordered the JEM numbers. And global sugar art has a sale going on right now.... good luck!
Hi, I know it is TOO MUCH to ask but can anybody who owns the FMM cutters post a picture of what they look like? I know what the shape of the letter, font, looks like but would love to see the cutter itself. Thanks so much, I would really appreciate it!
I think these might be the cutters
http://www.cakecraftshoppe.com/proddetail.asp?id=123&mcatshow=0&ncur=1
That is them! Or at least the ones I have!
Thanks soo much!!! So they are not individual cutters? You have to do the whole set of letters to get the one or ones you need?? Just curious... as I said before, I have the JEM, they are individual cutters and I love them but was looking to get a different set, something not cursive. Thanks so much! I do appreciate it!
Sorry Merissa, didn't mean to hijack your thread... 
no you don't have to do them all,you just cut a strip of fondannt and lay the cutter across with the letter you want over the fondant.
quite easy.
Saskia
Just noticed this so I'll tell you how I use them. 
I add CMC powder to my paste to strengthen it and roll it out thinly. CMC is the same as Tylopur or Tylose. I dip the cutters into some icing sugar and shake it off before I press out the letters I need. This stops the paste sticking into the cutters. A quick sharp tap at an angle off the edge of the work surface should be enough to make the letter pop out. At this point I don't touch the letters. I allow them to settle for a few minutes before moving them onto a sponge surface to dry for a few hours. I pick them up with a paintbrush dipped in glue and then squeeze the glue from the brush so that it is just damp. The longer the letters are allowed to dry the easier it is to place them onto the finished cake....so cut your letters before you decorate the cake and forget about them until the cake's finished! Just my tip. 
Thanks for the tips! I am going to give my alphabet cutters one more chance before I trash them.
Thank you Aine2 for your response! I am a big fan of your cakes! Anyway, when people say "glue," do you make this with fondant and water or is there some type of commercial edible glue?
Hi Aine2, which ones do you use or would recommend as BEST? FMM or JEM?
I personally prefer the FMM cutters as you'll see in my pics, I use them rather a lot! That's not to say that JEM aren't a good product it's just my personal preference. The reason is that I like the letters to fall out of the cutters clean without me having to stick a pin in to tease them out. Once you get the hang of the FMM cutters they really are good. It all depends on the paste you use for them. If the paste sticks in them at all then it's the wrong kind of paste and can cause all sorts of frustration....been there, done that!
I've never made MMF so I'm not qualified to talk about it although I would imagine that this type of home made fondant is very sticky. I'm also unsure if adding CMC to this would make much difference. The closest product to the type of paste I use here in Scotland would be Satin Ice...I think. If you add 50-50 sugarpaste and petal paste together too, this gives a stronger and more pliable paste to model with and cut out letters.
I do have some JEM cutters but they're still in the packet!! I'll get around to using them one day!
For glue - mix approx. a quarter teaspoon of CMC (Tylopur or Tylose) powder with 2 tablespoons of warm water. If at this point it looks lumpy, just leave it as the powder will absorb in it's own time. Put it in the fridge overnight and in the morning the glue is clear as crystal and ready to use. The glue should be a dropping consistency, if it's too thick just add a little more water and stir it with a cocktail stick. Keep it in the fridge when out of use and change the glue weekly.
When using the glue, brush the area you're going to be working on and then leave for a few moments to allow the glue to start drying and become tacky. Your pieces will hold together quicker and easier if the area you have glued is not too wet.
Thank you for your comments. I'm glad to assist!
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