I am very new at decorating cakes and still learning about the different things to use. Is there a standard when using fondant vs. gum paste? Should gum paste be used only on the more delicate things...like flowers, etc. and Fondant on covering cakes. Sorry, I just really do not have a clue about this and am kind of teaching myself (using this wonderful website). I know that fondant does not really taste good. How does gum paste taste? Is there anyway to make them taste better?
Thank you for any help anyone can give me. 
Obviously you have only tried the Wilton fondant, it is nasty!! There are alot better brands out there. My favorites are Satin Ice or Chocopan. You can also make your own. I made a batch of Marshmallow fondant that I'm playing around with and it almosts taste like Satin Ice.
Gumpaste is mostly used for sugar flowers that won't be edible because you will use stamens in them, and it drys hard. You can also use it to combine with fondant for decorations that need more stablility such as bows. You don't use gumpaste for covering cakes.
Gumpaste can be used for many things other than flowers, plaques, grape clusters, stars or hearts on wires for popping out of a package cake, Bows and Ribbons. You can knead half gumpaste and half fondant together for making modeled figurines. Called 50/50 paste. I don't suggest eating it, it is dry and hard and only tastes sweet. Most flowers have floral wire used in the petals too, another reason for not eating them.
Fondant is best for covering a cake and I prefer buying rather than making it. Fondx is my personal favorite brand, other like Satin Ice or Pettinice. Some make their own with the marshmallow fondant recipes here on CC. I have not had good luck making it, it is either too dry or too soft, it tears when I try to put it on a cake.
You can also knead Tylose powder or Gumtex powder into fondant and use it for modeling figures, making bows, etc. But I don't care for it for making flowers because you can't roll it thin enough to make the flowers look natural and real. And it takes longer to dry than gumpaste.
Thank you very much for your help. I have thought about trying to make the fondant myself. Just haven't actually tried it yet. I will definately try different kinds of fondant...now that I realize there are different ones out there that taste better. Also, thank you for the advice on which type of things to use fondant vs. gum paste. I am just getting to where I am not so nervous just to try things.
THANK YOU. 
Sometimes you just have to jump in and try things, they may work perfectly the first time or you may have to try again and again. Don't give up, just keep practising and you can always come here and ask questions. I'm quite sure there isn't anything one would want to know about decorating that someone on this board wouldn't be able to answer for you.
I am a big fan of the "Alternative" MMF recipe on this site. It used 1/3 cup Crisco in it and that makes it very easy to work with, tastes great. I have used it to cover cakes and I have also made figures and flowers with it (dries slower than gumpaste, which is good for a NOOB like me). Gumpaste is just for modelling things (flowers, bows, figures). The British like to cover cakes in marzipan....I have never tried that.
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%