If I make elmo ahead of time....can I put a dowel thru him and into the cake later, or do I need to insert dowel ahead of time and allow for part going into cake, I hope this makes sense
It definitely makes sense. 
I'd put the dowel into him before hand so that you don't mess him up trying to get one in after the fact.
I usually use a large block of styro foam covered in plastic to stick the figure into while I'm working on it.
Now I hope THAT makes sense. 
ITA with Deb, stick Elmo sooner so you don't break him later. And just like Deb I stick my figurine into a block too so I can work on it from any direction and not messing up the opposite side.
now thats a good tip that makes sense and I can use 
thanks both of you
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