Any cake decorators around? Help!

[catski]

am making a ben10 cake for ds' party tomorrow. The cake looks so simple - am basically cutting out some large circles and rings in sugarpaste to make the Ben 10 watch. However, when I try to lift them onto the cake the fondant stretches out of shape. I've added some tylose powder so that I can roll the fondant thinner but am still get stretching when I lift it. Any tips on how to overcome it? Add more tylose powder? Wait for it to dry out (if so, how long)?

How can something which looks so simple be so bloody hard! Hats off to all you who do it professionally or talented amateurs.

Try lifting them using an icing spatula/fish slice/piece of card depending on size. Get into position and slide the whatever out from underneath leaving the fondant in place to reduce stretching.

If you're going to dry it, give it about 24 hours and then be really careful to avoid cracking

HTH

Thank you! The piece of card was a good idea. Tried letting one attempt dry out but it started cracking within about 1/2 an hour. Have almost finished. It's a bit cack handed but I've opened the beer now so I dont care.

Why do I find it so hard?! I see you tube vids with people saying 'this is my first fondant cake and I have no hands and I'm blind and it took me 20 minutes' and they twirl round perfect creations. I'm quite patient and careful but I can't even roll a piece of fondant out so it's even! It is the hardest thing IN THE WHOLE WORLD!

no hands and I'm blind ha ha ha ha!!!!

Glad it helped. You'll have to post a picture of the finished cake...

I've found I get better results if I roll with a rolling pin that has a separate handle - one where the pin spins around a central handle so the bit you're holding stays still while you roll - it seems easier to keep it level that way. I got mine from IKEA I think.

Fondant is a pain but it's the only thing that'll work sometimes. I seem to end up using it a lot.

Also remember that peopleare are always INCREDIBLY impressed that you've made your own cake at all - and children are wonderfully uncritical, and will see what you tell them to see. Gives you a huge head start