I know many of you enjoy using my stainless steel sugarcraft cutters, however if you are a little unsure on the best way to achieve perfect results each time then here are a few tips that you may find useful:
The pastes to use
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Only use modelling paste, pastillage or flower paste to cut out the flowers – you need a firm paste so straight sugarpaste/rolled fondant won’t work.
Make your own modelling paste by adding 5ml (1 teaspoon) of edible gum to 225g (8oz) of sugarpaste /fondant (you can use Gum tragacanth but you must wait overnight for the gum to take effect or a synthetic substitute such as CMC, Tylose, sugarcel etc which will work immediately.
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Add a little white vegetable fat to the paste to help it become pliable plus if your paste is dry a little water.
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Roll out the paste thinly – I always use 1.5mm spacers made from picture framing card.
Intricate cutters – for example my flat floral collections
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Place the paste over the top of the cutter
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Roll over the paste with a rolling pin
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Run a finger around the top of the cutter to get a nice clean cut
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Turn the cutter over and gentle push the paste out of each petal with a soft brush
For the best results place the paste over the top of the cutter
The secret is really using the right paste and for intricate cutters, cutting out with the paste on top of the cutter rather than trying to stamp it out.
I hope this helps you achieve perfect results every time!
Lindy
Hi Lindy,
Just wondered, can I freeze pastillage as I have made a batch up but it’s more than I would use in a month so rather than let it go to waste I wondered if I could freeze it.
Thanks
Jane
I don’t see why not, but I can’t speak from experience on this one – I tend to make a fresh batch each time I require pastillage.
I’ll give it a go, it’s worth a try. THanks Lindy
Hi Lindy if i was doing borders using a border cutter, for example, in your indian theme cake in your book, would i use the same method as you’ve used on your floral cutters? Many thanks D
Hi Deepika
If using the FMM strip cutter I press down onto my paste with the cutter, however if I’m using the FMM tapitts or letter cutters I use the same method as with my flower cutters.
hi lindy i want to make some hearts and stars on wires for a children’s cake, could you tell me what paste would be best suited and also what i should leave them to dry on and how long please??? thank you joanne
I always use Artista soft now for making these, its made from rice and potato flour plus a gum. It’s not edible but its non toxic and it stays on the wires – something that can be a problem with sugar! We sell artista via our online shop, click here for more details
Hope this helps
Lindy
Hi Lindy, I’ve just made a quite a lot of modelling paste for two projects I’m starting over the next couple of weeks. There will be some left over. I was just wondering what’s the best way to store it and how long will it keep? I’m pretty new to making modelling paste so any help or advice would be very welcome. Great recipe for modelling paste though it worked a treat. Thanks in advance.
Glynis
Hi Glynis
You can keep modelling paste up to the ‘Use by’ date on the packet by wrapping it well in a strong freezer bag (not clingfilm) and putting it in a plastic container.
Alternatively you can pop it in the freezer (again wrapped as above).
I hope that this helps
Kind regards
Andy
Lindy’s Cake Team
Thanks very much for the great advice.
Kindest regards
Glynis
Hi, I’ve purchased coloured sugarpaste (regal Ice) to decorate my daughter’s birthday cake. Have a made the correct choice of icing for rolling and cutting out a flat character of upsey daisy to put on the cake? Was’nt sure from reading website whether it will be soft enough to be able to cut the cake with the character on. How many day’s before should I decorate? How to store?
Hi Amanda
Coloured sugarpaste is a good starting point for you however you may find it little soft and difficult to create the character. I suggest you buy a pot of CMC and need a little into the sugarpaste this will stiffen the paste and allow you to cut out shapes more easily
Good luck
Lindy
Hi
Do you know how I could get a bright torqouise or teal icing colour. Cant see to find a paste in these shades. thanks K
Hi Kirsty
You would need to mix blue and green pre-coloured sugarpaste to achieve the colour you want.
Jane
Hi
I’ve been trying to use some PME plastic plunger cutters and find that they don’t seem to cut cleanly, they end up with scruffy edges on the petols of the flowers. What is the best way to use these?
thanks
Ruth
Hi Lindy,
I am a complete novice and have just made a cake for my husband’s birthday, decorating it with circles. I used different sized circle cutters on sugarpaste I had tinted different colours. I found it very difficult to work with – the circles got misshapen as I picked them up off the board and put them on the cake. I am planning a similar cake for my sister’s birthday and want it to be more successful! Would adding CMC to the sugarpaste help? And if so, should I use it straight after mixing the CMC in? Or should I be using something else entirely e.g. flowerpaste?
Thanks in advance,
Bryony
Hello Ruth,
Plastic cutters don’t have the sharp edges you get with stainless steel ones. When you cut our the shape, wiggle the cutter slightly and then lift. If the paste has come out and still in the cutter, rub you finger around the outer edge of the cutter to smooth it and then push out with a soft paint brush.
Jane
Hello Bryony,
Can I refer to you our blog on sugarcraft cutters – this should be self explanatory! http://www.lindyscakes.co.uk/Blog/2009/04/19/tips-on-using-lindys-sugarcraft-cutters/
Jane
Hi,
I have just purchased an fmm ribbon cutter but I think it may be faulty.The screw nut in the small handle keeps falling out and I can’t get the handle to grip on to it.I explained this to the seller but they seem to think I just need to “get the hang of it.” Please could any one who has this tool please advise me if the bolt is meant to be firmly secured inside the handle without the spindle or am I just being a bit dim!!!
many thanks Marion
Hello Marion,
We’ve had this problem before. If you glue the nut into the small handle it should solve the problem.
Jane
Please can someone advise me how much ahead of time I can make my sugarcraft flower arrangements? ie weeks /days and the best method of storing them until needed?
I have a number of cakes to ice and I would like to get the decoration done to ease the pressure.All suggestions appreciated.
Hi Marion
You can make your flowers as soon as you want. I still have the sugar flowers from the top of my wedding cake and I got married 19 years ago. The flowers are a little faded but apart from that as good as new – they just look a little old fashioned!!!
Thanks Lindy , This is the bit I’m looking forward to (as opposed to the covering and stacking!)would they be okay stored in a cardboard box.
Thanks again
Yes and somewhere dry
I have already made 250 emerald green butterflies, 150 ivory flowers, 300 emerald green hearts and 300 ivory hearts, all using sugar paste and colouring. I am having trouble to get these to harden properly. These are for a wedding in 2 weeks time. I am making cupcakes with butter icing. I had a trial run yesterday and now the hearts, flowers and butterflies seem to have absorbed the moisture and softened and ultimately flopped. Can you suggest anything that I maybe able to paint on the back of these to prevent this from happening? Or do I need to start over again with something different? Please help. From a desperado!
Hello Lorraine,
Putting anything on to buttercream really should be done as late in the day as possible.
Painting some confectioners glaze on to the back of the items will protect them a little from absorbing moisture from the buttercream.
As you have lots of cakes to decorate, I appreciate that you cannot do them all last minute, so I would suggest trying one or two cakes and adding a glazed decoration and leaving it for a prescribed number of hours and seeing how resilient they are!
Do let us know how you get on – good luck!
Thank you for getting back to me. I have been to my local craft shop to purchase the glaze. However, their expert tells me that the glaze will not make any difference, as this will only be absorbed into the sugar paste. The only thing I can do is to make them using white sugar paste and then to paint them the desired colour. I am also trialling a holly green sugar paste with a powder colouring to see if this makes any difference. Its almost back to the drawing board, unfortunately!
Hi Lorraine
I often use confectioers glaze to seal sugarpaste, it does make a difference! It acts as a barrier. If however you decide to remake then I would use something a little firmer than sugarpaste either modelling paste or flowerpaste.
Hope all goes well
Lindy
Hi Lorraine
Another thought, it may be the way you are storing your decorated cupcakes that is the route of your problems. Once decorated cupcakes should not be stored in an airtight plastic box as this will cause them to ‘sweat’ – there has been a discussion on this subject on our facebook page which might interest you – here is a link
Lindy
Hi Lindy
Thank you for that. I have put the trial cakes in an airtight cake tin. Although, I was intending to put my final wedding cupcakes in cardboard boxes. However, I was intending to cover in multipurpose film to maintain freshness. Maybe I’ll give that a miss! I have made some other trial samples, without glycerine food colouring, just dusting powder mixed into a holly/ivy sugarflower paste, that I put onto buttercream last night. They were okay this morning, but I need to see how they are after 24 hours (later this evening). Unfortunately, it would seem that I am unable to achieve the emerald green colour that I wanted, the sugarflower paste doesn’t seem to react very well to it, even when I have put in gum tragacanth. I suppose it is just keep trialling until I come up with a satisfactory solution! In the meantime I think I should invest in some shares with Squires Kitchen! I am also going to try the confectioners glaze as well. It seems to be a “belt and braces”, cover all angles!
Thank you very much for the information.
Lorraine.
Hi Lindy,
I have a celshape scroll set which is suppose to make fine lace pieces by putting petal paste into the shallow mould scraping the excess off the back and you are suppose to be left with a fine open lace scroll.
I have followed the instructions but no way can I seem to get a clean outline have you got any tips as to how I can achive this .
thanks Barbara
Hello barbn8,
These scroll sets can be a real fiddle to use!
We do not have a huge amount of experience with them.
If Lindy is trying to create lace pieces, she simply pipes them on to acetate using royal icing.
This method also gives a more delicate end result.
Anyone else have any top tips for using scroll sets?
Why does my FL127 mould not release the flowers and they stick to the mould. They all worked briliantly for the first two days, then even using the same paste, it would not work properly ?? I did wash the mould, is this were the problem lies I wonder. Thanks. Sheila
Hi Lindy
I bought some of your snowflake cutters to use on a cake I am making for Christmas. I am making the snowflakes out of pastillage and wondered how I fix them on? I was thinking of putting a dot of royal icing on to secure them and have ready that using a pin to hold them out helps whilst they are drying. Do you know whether this is the best way to ensure they stick and how long does it take for them to be secure so I can take pins out?
thanks
Rachael
Hello Sheila,
Washing the moulds should not cause a problem. Your paste may be too soft, try firming it up with a little more gum.
Jane
Hello Rachael,
This is exactly how we put the snowflakes on the cakes. It’s best to leave the pins/ cocktail sticks in for a while, although the royal icing will set after a few minutes it’s best to be on the safe side and leave the pins a little longer.
Jane
hi! Lindy I am so glad I looked on your forum ,you have answered 2 of my questions .I bought a tub of sugarcel by mistake ther are no instructions for the novice to follow ,you have answered me thank you so much
Hi. I have to fix a large sugarpaste bow to a fondant wedding cake. can u give me any ideas as to the best way to do this? Many Thanks.
hi lindy
i want to make some butterflys is it ok to use florist paste to make them i want to put them on cupcakes
regards jo
Hi Lindy and team. I was wondering, is it possible to use another natural gum than gum tragacanth for flowerpaste? Such as gum arabic, which is easier to find… Thanks in advance
Hi Bernie,
We recommend using Royal icing and cocktail sticks to secure the bow until it has set on the fondant wedding cake.
Thanks,
Marina
Hi Trine,
Gum Arabic is not suitable as it acts as a glaze.
Gum Tragacanth is available to buy on Lindy’s website if you can’t find it elsewhere.
Please see the link below for more information about Gum.
http://www.lindyscakes.co.uk/Blog/2009/09/07/what-is-gum-tragacanth/
and this is a direct link to the product on Lindy’s website:
http://www.lindyscakes.co.uk/OnlineShop-Edibles.htm#14gGumTrag
Hope this helps,
Marina
hi lindy
can you tell me how i can wire 1 inch big hearts onto florist wire for a cake topper do i need glue or what
Hi Lindy,
Can you advise on how to get perfectly smooth butter frosting? I have tried and tried (using the hot knife method, the paper towel method with crusting butter frosting, freezing the butter frosting and then smoothing) to no avail. Please can you or anyone else help!!
Naz Lalla
Hi Naz,
to smooth buttercream – spread a thin coat of soft buttercream over the cakes to fill in any holes and to act as glue for the sugarpaste. Then cover the cakes with sugarpaste using a smoother to smooth out any lumps and bumps – for mini cakes we find 2 smoothers work best.
The Smoother Lindy always uses – http://www.lindyscakes.co.uk/OnlineShop-Tools.htm#Smoother
I hope this helps you.
Marina
Hi Pat,
The glue that Lindys uses to secure items onto wire is here with other tools that may help you too: http://www.lindyscakes.co.uk/OnlineShop-JewellerySundries.htm#jewelglue
Jewel Glue
A permanent, acrylic, water based, clear drying non toxic glue that doesn’t string. It comes in a handy little bottle. Lindy uses this excellent glue to stick beads to wires when making her cake jewellery fountains.
Also great for other crafts: washable up to 40 degrees, good for almost any surface except sheer plastic. Used to decorate cards and fabric, attach sequins & beadwork, appliqué, patchwork. Use on: wood, acetate, papier-mâché and polystyrene … or use with foils!
Posy Picks:
Insert into the top of your cakes and use to hold the wires/feathers/sugar flowers of the cake toppers securely in place.
(10 per pack)
Oasis Fix:
Used to help secure wires inside a posy pick, simply roll a sausage of the oasis fix and pop it into the posy pick.
Oasis Fix2g Crimps
Used to hold beads in place on wire or tiger tail.
Thread the crimps onto the wire/tiger tail either side of a group of beads then use your flat nosed pliers to squash the crimps in place thus securing the beads and preventing them moving.
Enjoy creating and experimenting.
Marina
Hi There – I am new to this site – although been dabbling in cake decoration for many years!Excellent advice and ideas! I am making my daughters wedding cake and want to use a ‘patchwork cutter’ – Celtic Knot design on the cake. These advise using mexican paste. However as I am covering the cakes in a white chocolate sugarpaste – I want the colour to match, Can I add gum tragacanth to the choc paste? Will it be firm enough and any suggestions on the amount to use? Thanks
Jan, I’m afraid I don’t work in chocolate so the only advise I can give is to give it a try! Can any one else give Jan some advise?
Hi. Just a question,
I’m Planning to do some stenciling on the side of a wedding cake ,[ having just purchased a stencil from lindy's shop].
I plan to do it in black.
Is it easy??????
Or is there a technique to it ????
Hi Anne B,
Stencilling on the side of a cake is much trickier than stencilling the top of a cake or board!!!
We however recommend using aside stencil fixing kit to help keep the stencil in place on the side of the cake.
Black looks great on white, it is very effective, however we recommend practising with the stencil before attempting it on the side of a real cake.
For more stencilling information please take a look at Lindy’s book – ‘bake me i’m yours Cupcake Celebration’ as this has tips on how to use stencils or if you can wait until October Lindy’s new bible book has a complete chapter on using stencils including how to use side designs – you can pre-order this through our website by clicking here
Happy stencilling,
Marina
Hi
I have a problem with modelling paste in that some of the models I have made have sweated and gone soft – including the white paste which has not been coloured (I use solid colouring pastes). I make the “model/character” and leave it in a cardboard box or open air to dry out but sometimes the paste sweats and go soft – why is this? It has also happened with Squires kitchen modelling paste recently.
Thanks
Lesley
Hi Lesley,
Where are you air drying your models? It could be that the air is too moist.
Lindy airs hers in her Airing Cupboard, and some people do it on top of their wardrobes! Anywhere where it is dry. The kitchen and bathroom are a no no.
If you still have the problem, you could place a silica gel pack in the box and this will help soak up excess moisture.
Are you using Gum Tragacanth in your models? Here is some information explaining its use: http://www.lindyscakes.co.uk/Blog/2009/09/07/what-is-gum-tragacanth/
Another solution is Artista Soft. This versatile medium although non edible is lightweight and virtually unbreakable, so keeps forever. It cannot be mixed with sugarpaste.
May the cake be with you!
Marina
Hi ladys! I was just wondering why in all the recipes on the UK books the sugarpaste one does not include any Trex on them? I always use Lindy’s recipe and ad 3Tbs of veg shortening, one day after this I use the gum of t and it works like a charm every single time no matter if I’m doing delicate flowers or modelling figures.
Cheers
Karina
PS I’m enjoying so much your new book!
Hi Karina,
Lindy adds a little white fat to modelling paste if necessary. We are please to hear you use Lindy’s recipe and it works like a charm.
Wishing you the best,
Marina