I have to make about 4 cupcakes for a Cheerleading event that my daughter is coaching. She would like mini-cheerleaders on each if poosible. I have never made figures. Do I use straight Gumpaste? can I colour it? how long should it set? I drastically need ideas.

What a great chance to experiment, since the quantity is so low you will have time to focus on each of the cupcakes.

I'd make the top of the cupcake be the "skirt" of a cheerleader. Then you can have the torso sticking out, and maybe legs sticking out the sides, as though she is doing the splits in the air.

I usually use a mixture of half fondant and half gumpaste to do my figures.