I have never worked with gum paste or sugar paste and really don't know what they are. can anyone tell me how they differ from fondant and why would you choose one over the other. Thanks.
baileymom

Fondant and sugarpaste are the same thing. You cover cakes with it, make flat decos, etc.

Gum paste is basically fondant with some gums added for quicker, harder drying so that things don't sag. You make flowers, figures, bows, etc. out of it.

Rae

sugarpaste is fondant and is used to cover the cakes, it gives it a real smooth and flawless finish. You can purchase it or make your own. It has to be kneaded and has the consistency of play dough. gumpaste is used for creating flowers figures or anything that you need to dry hard

thanks for the help cakeandpartygirl & blakescakes! I have found thru experimenting that MMF will dry hard as well if you leave it out long enough!