Has anyone used these (icing pen things)

[lucysmam]

If you have, how easy are they to use?

I'm considering them for my Rainbows rather than buying tubes of writing icing that never get finished & sit about for ages :)

I've got this one and love it, so easy to use. The one you've pictured, do they have to hold the end down to dispense icing?

Wow just realised your one is 58p. Bargain. I'm sure mine was about £5 so for rainbows you probably can't go wrong.

The description says you can squeeze. I might order just the one to try out with my 8yo.

Where's yours from arewethereyet? I've not seen those before.

Just off Amazon. They vary in price from about £5-£12 depending where you buy from.
If they squeeze I'd definitely buy one and try it with your dd. Think I might try them too, I'm a brownie leader and find the writing icing from Tesco etc can really add up but these you'd just need to outlay once then use regular icing.

I have that icing pen and I find it really hard to squeeze with enough force to make the icing come out. And then it clogs up and is a pain to clean. When I was a Rainbow leader, I would just get the writing icing tubes - they last for ages and don't need cleaning afterwards. Just make sure they put the lids back on!

Cisca, we don't really use them very often so they tend to sit in the cupboard 'til they either separate (removed a purple one that was oozing round the lid last week as it had separated) or until I decide they've been there long enough and I share them out between our grown ups to use with their own dc.

I used to have one, but didn’t get on with it, and got rid of it. I can’t remember why I didn’t get on with it though, so not too helpful! Sorry!

Hmm, I'll order one to try it still but wonder if just a roll of piping bags would be better.

I always have icing sugar, butter and gel colours in anway so minimal outlay, just on the bags. & we can consider any dietary requirements separately, as we run into them.

busy it was helpful! If a grown up didn't get on with one then, realistically, is a 5/6yo going to? :)

What about the ones that are like felt pens? Obviously only work on fondant type icing, or other smooth surfaces (I’ve decorated marshmallows with them) but they’re very cheap,easy to use and last for ages.

I hadn't considered those @Thistles24. We don't usually use fondant type icing so that might add another layer of prep for whichever adult is available to sort that week's activities.

Writing icing/assorted sweets usually does the job.

I remember icing biscuits as a guide and I'm sure we just used circles of greaseproof paper folded up with the tip snipped off.

@TimeIHadANameChange I'm not very good at using greaseproof piping bags myself so not sure I'd expect Rainbows to manage them. We could give them a go though