My Success With The Cricut Cake With Pic And Tips!
Decorating By kileyscakes Updated 7 Mar 2013 , 1:20am by Goreti
I think I finally did it! The key for me was to roll out with a pasta roller. I needed it to be a consistent thickness. I got it down to a #3 in three pieces because roller is only a 5" width. I used Fondarific with a little gum tex and after I rolled it out and layed it on the shortening spread mat I rolled it thinner with a pastry roller. Let it sit for 15 minutes. Sprinkled cornstarch on top of it as suggested by someone, and actually cut butterflies! They're too soft to take off the mat right now so hopefully after drying more they will come off in one piece. Maybe I need to use a little more gum tex. I hope this works!
Actually, I have "Make the cut" program on my computer and it has something called "shadow layer" you can basically give anything a shadow and it allows you to control the width of the shadow so if you want it to be like mine or you can increase and it will make a shadow that resembles the letters but is cut as one shape kind of like a cloud to put your letters on if that makes any sense. Great program well worth the 60.00 especially for a graphic artist gone cake maker!!
Suzi
I kind of get it. If you are cutting one shape how do you get the black behind the colored letters when cutting then?
You cut it twice. You cut the "shadow layer" in one color, and the top layer in another color. I've never used MTC or SCAL, but the same principal applies.
For me, I've had GREAT success with Wilton fondant and Wilton gum-tex. I bought it because I wanted to practice with something cheap, and Wilton fit the bill. I mix Wilton fondant with a good bit of gum tex and roll it straight on to the mat (so I can see the lines through the fondant) I cut right away and get perfect cuts every time. I tried using SI mixed with Tylose, and it was a DISASTER- I would have given up immediately if that would have been my first experience!! Now I stick with my cheapo Wilton!!!
If you want to watch some good basic Cricut videos, check out mypinkstamper.com!! It's geared towards scrapbooking, but she has an "about your Cricut" series that teaches you about all of the functions and basics of the Expression (which is just like the Cake!). I learned more from that than anything else!!
OK - by now you may have read the other post on the Cricut by Martha Stewart, or maybe not! Seems like MS and Cricut have teamed up to create her own brand of the machine and 3 cartridges which will be aired today (Monday) on HSN. The program is called Martha Stewart Crafts and I'm interested to see what she comes up with. I originally got an e-mail blast from MS which showed a cute cake with butterflies. Just thought all of you would like to know what else is going on in the world of the Cricut.
Oh yea - I still don't have the machine, I'm using my daughters old cricut and modifying it for gumpaste/fondant. I just can't justify $400 for a cookie cutter - sorry!!!!! 
Can you use the Cricut expression the same as the Cricut cake? I have a cricut (for several months now) and have only used it once or twice. I tried using fondant and gumpaste to no avail. Never used paper but I'm think i should start. Does anyone else use the expression for gumpaste or fondant and if so, how do you keep the wheels from making lines in the gumpaste/fondant?
I tried my Cake Cricut with succes last night! Yea me! I used Wilton Fondant (just playing around) Spread it on the mat about the thickness of a nickel. Froze and then immediately put into machine. Worked great!!!! I didn't try to take it off the mat because I was just playing, but I think it will be fine. Can't wait to try again.
Thanks Karen. I read that somewhere, I think. I'll have to check that out.
http://www.make-the-cut.com
Is this the one that you guys are talking about? It's on sale for $58.36.
Kiley, the original cake you posted looks amazing. I recently got a cricut cake based on your posts, but I've had nothing but trouble with it
I was literally in tears from frustration with the machine because it's so much money to me and they won't let me return it because I opened it. I really WANT it to work but it just wont.
It seems if I roll out the fondant thin enough, and get reeeeeeally lucky, it will work alright, but can you please tell me.. how on EARTH did you get your fondant to cut so perfectly and so THICK?
Kiley, the original cake you posted looks amazing. I recently got a cake based on your posts, but I've had nothing but trouble with it
I was literally in tears from frustration with the machine because it's so much money to me and they won't let me return it because I opened it. I really WANT it to work but it just wont.
It seems if I roll out the fondant thin enough, and get reeeeeeally lucky, it will work alright, but can you please tell me.. how on EARTH did you get your fondant to cut so perfectly and so THICK?
What fondant are you using? Are you adding tylose to it and letting it sit for 15 min. or so before cutting? The machine works fine, you just have to use the right product, handle the right way.
Ann,
I believe that Kiley says she uses Wilton products (fondant and gumpaste). What products are you using? What are you doing with it...rolling out to what thickness....freezer, no freezer, dry time, etc. I am hoping that you do not give up. With a little help from your cake friends here at CC we should be able to help you out! Give us some info and we'll start there.
Suzi 
Kiley, the original cake you posted looks amazing. I recently got a cake based on your posts, but I've had nothing but trouble with it
I was literally in tears from frustration with the machine because it's so much money to me and they won't let me return it because I opened it. I really WANT it to work but it just wont.
It seems if I roll out the fondant thin enough, and get reeeeeeally lucky, it will work alright, but can you please tell me.. how on EARTH did you get
your fondant to cut so perfectly and so THICK?
I had the best luck with Wilton fondant with Tylose added. Roll it to 1/16", then roll it again on the cricut mat. Let sit for an hour to air dry and then cut. Roll the excess up and do again. The back side stays moist so you can reuse it. I found I could reuse it 3-4 times before it wasn't workable anymore. I tried the freezer method and it was a big gooey mess. Just experiment when you have the time and nothing that it acutally needs to be done for.
Thanks so much for your responses guys.
Suzisweet:
- I tried Wilton fondant (which I'd rather not use cause it smells and tastes horrible), I tried MMF, and I tried gum paste (which worked best, but still not nearly good enough to actually use).
- I rolled it out various different thicknesses, ranging from paper thin to just under a nickel.
- I did not use Tylose because I don't have any and don't know where to get any. Is the only way to order it?
- I tried corn starch.
- I tried letting it sit in the freezer for 15 minutes before cutting.
- I tried rolling it out and letting it dry overnight (tried this with fondant, gum paste, and a 50/50 mix).
tiggy2:
If tylose is the only way to have this work, then I will definitely order it. I just really need to know its going to work because I've already sunk so much money into this thing.
What happens is one of two things. It either bunches up, or I get extremely jagged edges.
I know some say it works fine, but honestly... no. It doesn't work fine. We shouldn't have to go through all these extra steps and rituals (that they don't even tell you in the instructions) to have it work. We shouldn't have to freeze it then rush to the machine and pray that it cuts the way you want. We shouldn't have to wait 12 hours every time we want to use the machine. Handling the right way should be handling it the way the manual says. Or even somewhat close to it. For hundreds of dollars, I feel like it should work a bit more easily, and it's nothing but a pain in the ass so far.
I feel your frustrations. I was having the same. I thought I had rolled it out thin enough and it still wasn't working for me the way I wanted. When I got my pasta roller out and got it to an exact thickness then it worked for me. You can get those at Michael's or HL and use your coupon then they are only around $13.00. I mixed Wilton fondant with gum tex and only let it sit 15 minutes and it worked fine. I've heard that the Cricut gum paste works better also.
I try to get in the same mind set as making letters with my tappit cutters. It's kind of the same as far as using shortening on the mat and cornstarch on the top. Letting it dry some makes it easier to cut without sticking.
I know some say it works fine, but honestly... no. It doesn't work fine. We shouldn't have to go through all these extra steps and rituals (that they don't even tell you in the instructions) to have it work. We shouldn't have to freeze it then rush to the machine and pray that it cuts the way you want. We shouldn't have to wait 12 hours every time we want to use the machine. Handling the right way should be handling it the way the manual says. Or even somewhat close to it. For hundreds of dollars, I feel like it should work a bit more easily, and it's nothing but a pain in the ass so far.
Totally agree with you! They made it look so simple but it really isn't. Theres a huge learning curve with nothing to teach you. I've already reached the point where I'm finding its less time consuming to cut out what I need by hand. I just don't have the time to fool with it and hope it works everytime. I hope you have better luck, theres lots of people who have so pick their brains.
I started with wilton and gumpaste to get the "feel" of it and rolled it to 1/16". Once you figure out the firmness needed to cut, you will be able to go a little thicker and use different mediums. I agree with the others, please don't give up! I love my cricut, it has become one of my favorite cake tools! 
If you have read the whole thread, you will see that you can even do cookie dough! (pg 10)
Ann,
I will agree with you on the fact that the ads were very misleading for the machine. As well as the directions...they do advertise the machine as if anyone can do it easy as 1,2,3 but it has taken practice and as I had said before there are times where it still gets hung up or jagged but after getting use to what settings work and rolling it with the pasta machine ect. the out come can be quite good.
I also agree that Wiltons stuff is icky but if you are only using that as decor and not actually covering your cake with it...maybe give it a try.
Tylose is a great additive and helps alot! I think it works very well in SI and fondex. You should be able to get it at most cake supply stores or order it online...it is worth it and goes a long way...you do not need much. Have not tried the cornstarch just yet but I do think that would help IF you use the tylose/fondant mixture.
Oh I also wanted to add if your whole piece of fondant/gumpaste is pulling you may have too much shortening on the mat...I found that out when I was in a rush. Use very little but seal your fondant to the mat by rolling it very well and make sure you do not have air bubbles or pockets. Keep at it...you will get it.
The Wilton doesn't taste all that bad any more but I did have better luck with the Fondarific and gum tex. It's more pliable and easier to work with. I'm anxious to try the Cricut gum paste next to see how well that works. I'm just too lazy to color it so it's been faster to use the already colored fondant. 
How do you guys get your gumpaste to stick to the mat after letting it dry overnight. I rolled it out directly on a mat smeared with shortening. Let it dry overnight, but when morning came it was hard (as I expected it to be) and just slid around the mat. I added more Crisco, removed the Crisco nothing work. It ended up being to hard to work with and I tossed the gumpaste and cut it out by hand.
Gumpaste is one of those mediums you don't have to let dry overnight, only about 20mins. You want it workable, but not hard. Wilton/gumpaste; gumpaste; fondx/gumpaste; fondx/tylose or Wilton/tylose - only require 15minutes to 2 hrs. Fondarfic with anything must be dried overnight. (I am in a very hot and humid climate - so drying times may be a little different for me)
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