AI make cakes but the only decorations that i do are simple borders, rosettes, or sprinkles things like that. But i want to take it up a notch and decorate cakes(or cupcakes) using fondant. What kind of basic tools do i need like cutters or stencils patterns smoothers. I don't do tiered cakes yet, just a simple 3 layer 9-inch cakes. Please help so i can practice on dummy cakes. I also made my own fondant. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!

The tools you need depend on the type of design you want to accomplish.  You can use kitchen utensils as tools, also.  You don't need to go out and buy a bunch of tools you may not use. I should know!  I went out and bought a Wilton kit that had about 6 or so small fondant tools.  It was $30 and I rarely use anything in it.

 You can use a paring knife or small sharp knife that can work for cutting as opposed to buying a cutter specifically for fondant.  You can use toothpicks, pizza cutter, etc. I find I use my exacto knife quite a bit.  Like I said, it depends on what specific design you are going for as to what tool you would need.

 I also use a pasta roller quite a bit, too. Rolling pin and smoothers are a necessity for rolling out fondant and smoothing it.  I went out and bought so much stuff I thought I would need and found that I never needed most of it! It was just fun to have! You know, just in case someone may want a particular pattern or stencil. Gosh I hope I was somewhat helpful!!  lol

The only tools I find absolutely necessary for fondant are my big silicone rolling pin and my silicone rolling mat.  The other tools are nice, but I find I can make do with other stuff.  For the first while, I would buy one thing every few cakes I made, but now I've got a good stash of basic tools.  What I'd say I use most are:

1.  Big silicone rolling pin

2.  Rolling mat

3.  Pizza cutter

4.  Paring knife

5.  Assorted paint brushes for water, luster dust, etc

6.  "Cookie cutters" - letters, numbers and basic shapes

7.  My air brush gun.  That was a Christmas gift and only after almost a year of working with fondant.

AAn exacto knife. You can print off anything and use that as a template and use the exacto to cut it out. That will save you a ton of money when it comes to buying cutters and stuff.

Also if you don't already have one a turntable. I'm not sure if you mean only fondant or tools in general

AThanks guys!!!

Things I couldn't do without would be, metal cutouts (alphabet, numbers, shapes (especially circles)), mini rolling pin with the ring guides (I use that more often than a large rolling pin), large rolling pin (I like wooden with handles as opposed to the silicone), straws, toothpicks, a couple of paring knives, icing tips (for cutting circles), cake lifter (which is thin metal and helps me cut perfectly straight lines), some plunger cutters (flowers, hearts, stars, I love these) and paintbrushes. Very random order.  I typed as things popped in my head!

Hi jaseyer,

which part in the philippines are you located at? I'm Filipino as well, from Davao City, but migrated in Winnipeg, Canada :) I just started cake decorating and i love it! welcome to the cake decorating world :) 

I agree with most posters, some tools you can really live without. they're just costly. but for fondant work, i make my own marshmallow fondant and having a Stand Kitchen Aid Mixer is a life saver! saves me half the time in making my fondant.  

also you'll need a silicone rolling pin and silicone mat, fondant smoother, a few cutters (alphabets, flowers, basic shapes),  gel colors (i use wilton brand - never use liquid food coloring), cake boards, exacto knife to cut templates and pizza/pastry cutter. 

good luck and have fun! :) 

sugar

AHi. Thank you for your answer!! I'm from Quezon province