Hey everybody!
I'm making a cake for my grandpa's surprise party and I had a question about rolling fondant.
Whenever I roll out my fondant it's super thick on the cake because if I work with it any longer it just cracks. But I see all these cakes that people make online, in books, etc with nice thin rolled out fondant.
How do I roll it out? 
Thanks,
Lianna
Thanks I will try that!
& I am using store bought this time.
Be sure to knead your fondant long enough. This can also create problems.
When you're kneading it use crisco, not corn starch, and that will help some, too. Don't go crazy with it, just enough to keep it from sticking.
I also knead with shortning, and I roll it out on a vinyl mat that is lightly greased with shortning too. I do not use cornstarch or powdered sugar. As I am rolling it, I also lift it and move it to make sure it isn't sticking anywhere on the vinyl mat. I then lift the entire mat and flip the fondant onto the cake. Works perfectly! Doesn't dry out the fondant, and no "dusty" marks to deal with either.
I also use the vinyl mat lightly greased with crisco. Haven't had a mishap with my fondant since I started using this method. Thanks Loucinda 
I also use crisco instead of p.s. or c.s. because of the dry fondant issue. Like Loucinda said there's no mess to clean off your fonant either.
BTW you can buy vinyl by the yard at Wal-Mart. I bought a yard for $2.20.
I have the blue Ateco silicone mat and LOVE it! You can lightly grease it and nothing sticks.
Kita... yeah... you can't really use the smoother... so I then use my PS pouch... hit the cake (lol) a few times and then I can use the smoother... but if it's color that I don't want it to get powdery then I use the wad of fondant (I take 2 pieces) and use them to smooth the cake... works pretty good... I want to get the sponge thingy Julie uses.... u know where I can get it??
Not at all Kita - you just use enough to keep it from sticking, and that is absorbed into the fondant after it is on the cake. I lightly dust the smoother with cornstarch just to keep it from "catching" when I smooth - perfect results!
I use the vinyl mat, one of these days I may invest in the silicone one, but for now, the vinyl works fine.
Good morning all!
I just used Satin Ice last night for the first time and had one heck of a struggle with it!
It was almost 'wet' feeling to me (my 1st time with fondant was the Wilton product, this is my 2nd attempt with fondant).
It was sticking to everything! I had to use PS on my counter, rolling pin and my hands (multiple times). UGH!!
(hence my other post about the PS - I have it all over my black fondant 
)
After watching the video I'm wondering how I could have done this method with only crisco if it was so 'wet'.
I'm not thrilled with the outcome but hope I can fix it later tonight, it's my bottom tier. I have to do the top tier tonight so any input would be appreciated!!
When I use cornstarch on my mat.. the fondant becomes dry and cracks. I use a small amount of Crisco to keep it from sticking and it works like a charm. Mine is never shiny and is easy to smooth! BTW, Loucinda beautiful cake!
Loucinda: Save your money, keep the vinyl mat! I have had the silicone for a long time and don't like it, it is too big and heavy, and can't see through it- to line it up with the cake.
I tried the vinyl, and no turning back. Best 2 bucks I ever did spend! It NEVER sticks, and I never grease or powder the mat either.
No more silicone for me.
I use a silicone mat and Satin Ice and I have no problem with the fondant sticking and usually not cracking...last night however I was using the black precolored fondant and tried to use hardly any pwd sugar and when I got it on the cake it was shiny and hard to smooth (3D cake no less).
I was so happy that it was a 3D cat that needed a ball jersey...covered up all the TRASH that I ended up with, using the fondant. haha.
When I re-kneaded the black to re-roll to do another part of the cake, it was alot smoother and easier to smooth and work with.
I guess I better stick with how I'm doing things haha.
Also somehow I notice when I do use shortening (like when I'm working with gumpaste) it seems to attract any dust or fibers more. Ugh.
Thanks snowbuns! Good to know! 
Kita - I am of the old saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!" - If what you have always done works for you, I wouldn't try to change.
I just never had the silicone, and the vinyl works great for me! I got tickled to see some of the folks on UCO using it too. 
Don't you guys find that when you roll out with crisco that it becomes more shiny and more difficult to smooth?
Sometimes I do have this problem. I just lightly dust the cake with corn starch and smooth away. Problem solved.
Hey guys,
All these replies have been more than helpful! I can't wait to get started on the cake.
I just had one more question, I am not using Satin Ice I'm using Wilton. When you take Wilton fondant out of the package it is as hard as a rock, for lack of a better word.
Should I just use Crisco to make it playable?
Don't you guys find that when you roll out with crisco that it becomes more shiny and more difficult to smooth?
Sometimes I do have this problem. I just lightly dust the cake with corn starch and smooth away. Problem solved.
Will corn starch disappear on black?
I do find the precolored Satin Ice's to be too tacky sometimes to smooth unless I knead extra sugar into them.
In my experience to get cornstarch off of black or darker colors.. I rub a small amount of crisco on the area. Just enough to make it disappear!
I'm pretty new to the whole fondant thing but I covered this cake with MMF. (hopefully it will show up, I've never posted an image, if not it's the Green Day cake in my photos) Took almost a whole container of black coloring 
...but I think that also made it softer. That or the extra amount of time spent kneading to work the color in 
I also use shortening when kneading. And if it seems like it won't roll thin enough, I pop it in the microwave for a few seconds to soften it up. I'm learning as I go 
And learning TONS from this site! So a big thank you to everyone for all the great advice!
You can lightly spray the cornstarch stains with vodka and they'll disappear.
I also use the vinyl sheet, have done for years and for larger pieces it's so much easier than trying to move it around on the counter.
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