Fondant Cake Toppers

• 1). Design the kind of cake topper you'd like to use with the fondant. Keep in mind the special occasion for which you are making the cake. Using your pre-made fondant, use your food coloring to dye the fondant into the colors you'll be using. Its a good idea to experiment with small pieces of fondant first, especially if you aren't used to its texture and the way it absorbs dyes. Fondant isn't just an alternative to icing, its clay-like texture can be molded into just about any shape you want to use for a cake topper. Three dimensional shapes can be created by hand, with cookie cutters, or even with clean clay or soap molds.
  
  
• 2). Shape the fondant into the shape of the cake topper you designed, using your preferred shaping method. Remember that fondant is like an edible canvas that you can mold and change like clay. If you make a mistake in shaping or dyeing your fondant, you can start over by rolling out the fondant and trying again.
  
  
• 3). Dry the fondant in a clean dry place at room temperature, once you are satisfied with the shape of your cake toppers. Direct sunlight will fade the coloring and destroy the fondant's integrity. Place the fondant in an area that won't be disturbed or snacked on by household animals or children.
  
  

Figurine Cake Toppers

• 1). Design a cake for your special occasion with the kind of figurine cake toppers you have in mind. Figurine cake toppers are often used as keepsakes for weddings, birthdays and anniversaries. Sketch your ideas on paper, and gather ideas from cake cookbooks and online sites for ideas and inspiration.
  
  
• 2). Collect your craft supplies. Craft stores and cake design websites offer blank figurines that you can paint yourself in the colors and designs you want to use for your cake. Blank figures can range from bride and groom figures for a wedding cake topper to animals or hobby-related figurines that represent the person or event you are creating the topper for. You can decorate these blank figurines with paint, beads, ribbons, etc.
  
  
• 3). Paint or construct your figurines using the colors and styles you've decided on. Painting your own toppers not only adds a personal touch to the cake topper, but lets you create a keepsake for the event the cake is being made for. You can also buy or make additional toppers like flowers, grass, trees, clouds, stars, etc., that create a unique scene for the top of your cake.
  
  
• 4). Let your painted figurines dry in a safe dry place out of direct sunlight where the paint won't be disturbed or faded by sunlight. Once dry, the figurines should be ready to use by placing them directly on top of the finished cake, or held securely by toothpicks or straws.
  
  

Candy Cake Toppers

• 1). Plan the kind of cake you would like to use for your candy cake toppers. Candy cake toppers are used often for children's birthday cakes, but are versatile enough to be used for any occasion. Button candy, jelly beans, life savers, chocolate pieces, Gummi bears, and other small candy pieces are easy to piece together.
  
  
• 2). Gather your candy building supplies to construct the style or design for your cake topper. Colored edible gels as well as icing can be used as a kind of "glue" to hold your design together, especially if you plan on making your design edible. Toothpicks are excellent ways to keep the shape of your design and secure your candy cake topper to the cake. If you are not planning to make the topper edible, you can use regular craft glue to keep your candy cake topper together.
  
  
• 3). Keep your finished candy cake topper in the fridge until you are ready to use it. This will both solidify and "set" any glue or gel parts you might be using, It's also a good idea to make the candy cake topper about a day or so ahead of the event you are planning for. Candy cake toppers are perishable, and if you make your candy topper too far in advance, your candy could go stale. If you are using chocolate pieces, the topper may melt if it is left in sunlight or near heat.