I still have gumpaste figures from my sons bday from Febuary 2009 that are still in the same condition...so you can make them whenever. But I wouldn't do them in straight fondant; either mix 50/50 with gumpaste, straight gumpaste, or add tylose powder to the fondant.
I've always used straight fondant and didn't have any trouble. But never before hand ( in advance). So I'm going to try 50/50 w/the gum paste. I haven't used gum paste much.
@ Coral3 - how do you wrap yours?
@ Bskinne - wow, from '09? That's pretty awesome. I'm wondering if that's b/c it was straight gumpaste?
Thx for the info!
Once the figures are dry, they are hard as a rock, and it's just sugar...so as long as you store them well, they will last. 
Gumpaste (or any of the mixes listed above) are just like molding with fondant, as in if you can mold that, the gp has the same "feel". And, not sure what you are making, but you can even make separate pieces and "glue" them together with gp dissolved in water as your glue. Just store your gp (or whatever mix you use) of these in a ziploc bag that you squeeze the air out of. You can put the bag in a plastic container, but I usually don't bother since I'm using it as fast as I make it. I've done lots of different figures, so if toy see something in my gallery that might help, I'll be happy to do so..... HTH!!! 
I do agree that it is best to work with 50/50 gumpaste and fondant. With gumpaste alone it dries soo quick that you have little to no time to work with it. I find that if I am putting characters together, I will sometimes have to make corrections to limbs or the head because I may not like it... and by that time if it is gumpaste it is usually somewhat dry. Like others have said fondant doesn't get real hard so it is easy to dent your work, it just is usually to soft.
Thanks for every comment. I'm trying to make a pregnant lady to go on top of a 6" cake. 50/50 would you make the head and body out of gumpaste and then the limbs fondant? Is this what you mean by 50/50. Since this will be my first and I need this by end of febraury -- is it to early to start next week working on this?
Definitely use 50/50 gumpaste and fondant, when i made my first set of cow figures i started with gumpaste and a little fondant, probably 70/20...they dried way to quick to to make any great details, and after they dried i found cracks. so i tried again with the 50/50 mix....PERFECT! i got all the details i wanted and had PLENTY of time to work with them. i used royal icing and gumpaste glue to attach the head, legs..etc, worked great. start playing now to get a feel for it, there are lots of pics in the gallery to find inspiration. i think if you have something to look at as you work it goes much smoother in the beginning, then once you have a feel for it the sky is the limit! have fun and good luck!
yep, thats it! buy both knead equal parts until pliable and smooth (use shortening to roll, knead etc. it works much better) and start creating!!! let us know how it goes!!!
I just read thru this thread quickly so if anyone has already suggested this I'm sorry. Rather than a 50/50 gumpaste/fondand mix. I use fondant and knead in a little tylose powder. It works really well.
If I am making small figures like small penquins or dogs I some times use straight fondant. My Grandson's love to eat the figures and I would rather use the straight fondant when I can. One of the main reasons for using gumpaste or a 50/50 mixture is to keep the figures from squishing down on themselves from the weight.
Yes you can keep figures for a long time. I always try to make things ahead when I can. I am in the process of making Toy Story figures for my Grandson's Birthday Cake. The one's that are completed I am storing in a small plastic container. When everything is complete I will be shipping them to my Daughter to place on the cake in mid. Feburary. It's important to keep your figures out of direct sunlight because they will fade.
barb419, Your figures look great. Cute cake. I am currently in the process of making Toy Story figures too! I have already made Mr & Mr Potato Head and an Alien. I have started on Woody. Looks like I'm going to be snowed in tomorrow so I hope maybe I'll have a chance to get Woody finished. I will be shipping them to Florida for my Grandson's Birthday cake.
I am making figures for a jungle theme cake for this weekend. I am using a mix of fondant and gumtex powder, and occasionally fondant/gumpaste. The fondant/gumTEX tiger I made on Wednesday is dry and looks great. Yesterday, I made an elephant and a zebra STANDING using fondant with gumtex and they are holding up really well! I also made a palm tree, but still have to add the palm fronds - not sure how I'm going to do that, yet. I have already made the trunk and it is dry, so I didn't plan that very well...oops!
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