Sugarcrafters.....

[Tinkerisdead]

I'm pretty nifty with a cake, but I've always decorated them within 48 hours.

Later in the year DD wants a gruffalo cake but I want to make the characters as cake toppers. These are going to prove tricky so I wanted to give myself ample time to make each one. How far in advance is reasonable? I dont plan on eating them as I'll prob just lift them off the cake so if I'm better to use modelling paste etc so be it. I also dont want to make them so early that they discolour/mottle etc.

Can anyone advise me?

[bacon]

No idea but you can buy the figures made up which could save the stress. I have seen people that make cake toppers on FB.

I would imagine the sugar paste ones would last a few months if kept air tight. You could try some of the cake makers forums on the web.

[Tinkerisdead]

I def want to do it myself cos I'm quite good at it. But don't want to rush it. Good thinking on air tight etc though. I've even thought about using fimo so dd could keep them.

[OhdearNigel]

I still have all my City and Guilds qualifying cakes that I made when I was 19. I am now 36 and the models and flowers are still in pretty good shape. You can easily make the models up well in advance, I am doing a big competition in February and will start work on my "cakes" (polystyrene dummy) as soon as I get the competition schedule. If you make sure you keep the figures out of direct sunlight they won't discolour and you don't need to keep them in an airtight container, in fact I would recommened against that, keep them in a cardboard cake box.

[OhdearNigel]

and use mexican modelling paste, this is the best for making models.

[Tinkerisdead]

Sorry the post had fallen off my posts list. Thankyou very much for the advice I'll get cracking then!