Hi CCers....
I have a request for a wedding cake that involves rows and rows of 'ropes' and although I have done it before (see floral blossom cake in my photos), I did those PAINSTAKINGLY by hand, one by one, twisting two together on a flat surface!!!! Took FOREVER!!!! There must be an easier way....someone suggested a clay gun - I don't have one, but have seen them, and wondered if you had to 'spin' the gun while extruding....does not seem possible to me, or is it that it just makes even thickness 'snakes' that I still have to twist by hand.....anyone with a tip or an alternative method to speed up the process? Cannot think of making ropes to go AROUND a 14" cake, 10" and 6".....Pls help ASAP....appreciate it...and love this website!!!! I have learnt sooooo much
Angie
I have learned that the best way is by getting a clay gun. Learned that from a fellow CC'er. Hope that helps.
There is a silicone mold for this:
http://www.kitchenkrafts.com/product.asp?pn=CD0902&bhcd2=1170127526
Push or pipe out two even length sausage shaped pieces from the clay gun. Lay them on a flat surface side by side so they are touching, place the fingers of both hands at each end of the sausages, now push your left hand up and at the same time bring your right hand down. Continue doing this and the two sausages will twist together into a braid or rope design, the more you twist by moving both hands the tighter the braid will be. Brush a tiny bit of gum glue to each end of the rope underneath where it won't show. Carefully lift the rope in both hands and attach tp the top edge of the cake, you can have a fairly straight line of rope or allow the center to droop down before attaching. Just hold the ends of the rope in your two hands above the counter and let gravity pull it down into a curve. and then attach to the cake. When you attach the next section you will want to butt the new end up against the end of the previous one. Then you can cover that join mark with a fondant leaf, a small flower or a tassel made in the clay gun.
There is a silicone mold for this:
http://www.kitchenkrafts.com/product.asp?pn=CD0902&bhcd2=1170127526
I've seen those have you used them. I was wondering if they were worth it.
There is a silicone mold for this:
http://www.kitchenkrafts.com/product.asp?pn=CD0902&bhcd2=1170127526
I've seen those have you used them. I was wondering if they were worth it.
I'd love to say yes, but it's too expensive for me right now. I bought this cheap push mold from Makins Clay at Michaels using a 50% off coupon.
http://makinsclay.com/US/eng/products/push_mold.htm
The bottom right has a rope border....but it's very short for your purpose. Shirley has a more economical method.
I was wondering if the clay gun was just more versital too?!
Here is a picture with a two toned rope done the way I described. You could make a tighter braid or rope design if you wish, just keep moving your fingers up on one end, down on the opposite end. If your braid is heavy or you want a straighter line you will need to add gum glue to more of the rope back to make it adhere to the cake. Not too much though or it will slide down the sides and the glue will leave a shiny mess on your lovely fondant. You can see a shiny spot on mine just about in the top center of the rope.
The clay gun is quite Versatile, you can use the discs that come with it and make the tassles that are on the sides of this cake. I have also piped or pushed out long sausages and cut them to length for bamboo sections on the sides of the cake. I just pinched the ridged marks on the bamboo with a pair of angled pweezers.
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=coppermine&file=displayimage&meta=allby&uname=ShirleyW&cat=0&pos=133
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=coppermine&file=displayimage&meta=allby&uname=ShirleyW&cat=0&pos=112
Thank you so much everyone - the molds look like an idea, however, I will try the left hand up and right hand down that you recommended ShirlyW.....seems easy enough!!!! Just wondering about the length that I would need seems pretty long - therefore my hands would have to be 'outstretched' quite a bit....hummmmm!!! But i SURE AM GOING TO GIVE IT A TRY......
Thanks again....
Rolling longer pieces into a rope wouldn't be hard, but picking them up and attaching then to the cake without them breaking or tearing in half might be. If they are going to be longer than say 6" to 8" I would roll them into a braid or rope and then spiral the rope into a roll like you would roll up a cloth tape measure. Hold it in both hands and attach one end, unroll a bit, attach, unroll etc. till you get to the other side.
the molds are really neat and easy to use. you push the fondant in and remove for a flat back rope, or you can fold the mold over the fondant once you have pushed it in for a more dimensional look, plus for the rope it is easy to splice strips together. and they come in varying sizes from thin rope to thick rope.
you can also get them from www.caljava.com
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