Lindy's Cakes Ltd

Bringing world-class sugarcraft into your kitchen

Tips for using Lindy’s sugarcraft cutters

by

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 when cutting out shapes

Only use modelling paste, pastillage or flower paste to cut out the flowers – you need a firm paste so straight sugarpaste or rolled fondant won’t work.

TIP: Make your own modelling paste by adding 5ml (1 teaspoon) of edible gum to 225g (8oz) of sugarpaste or 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 more or less immediately.

How to use these edible pastes

  • Add a little white vegetable fat to the paste to help it become pliable, plus if your paste is dry a little water.
  • Roll out the paste thinly – I often use 1mm spacers.
  • Stamp out the shapes.

 Intricate shapes – using stainless steel cutters

  • Place the thinly rolled out paste over the top of the cutter.
  • Roll over the paste with a rolling pin.
  • Run a finger around the top of the cutter to get a nice clean cut.
  • Turn the cutter over and gently push the paste out of each petal with a soft brush.
For the best results using stainless steel cutters, place the paste over the top of the cutter
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!

Sweet wishes
Lindy

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About Lindy Smith

Award winning, best-selling author and sugarcraft artist, who loves to design beautiful colourful cakes, inspire, teach and supply you with gorgeous products.

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Comments

  1. Jane Moseley says

    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

  4. Deepika says

    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

  5. Lindy Smith says

    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.

  6. joanne says

    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

  7. Lindy Smith says

    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

  8. Glynis says

    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

  9. Lindy's Cakes Team says

    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

  11. AMANDA says

    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?

  12. Lindy Smith says

    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

  13. kirsty says

    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

  15. Ruth Jenkinson says

    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

  16. Bryony says

    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

  17. Jane Dolder says

    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

  19. marion hutchinson says

    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

  21. marion says

    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.

  22. Lindy Smith says

    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!!!

  23. marion says

    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

  25. Lorraine says

    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!

  26. Lindys Team says

    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!

  27. Lorraine says

    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!

  28. Lindy Smith says

    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

  29. Lindy Smith says

    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

  30. Lorraine says

    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.

  31. Barbara says

    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

  32. Lindys Team says

    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?

  33. Sheila says

    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

  34. Rachael says

    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

  35. Jane says

    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

  36. Jane says

    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

  37. kath says

    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

  38. bernie says

    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.

  40. Trine says

    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

  43. pat jobes says

    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

  44. Naz Lalla says

    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

  46. Lindys Team says

    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

  47. Jan says

    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

  48. Lindy Smith says

    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?

  49. Anne B says

    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 ????

  50. Lindys Team says

    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

  51. Lesley says

    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

  52. Lindys Team says

    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

  53. Karina says

    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!

  54. Lindys Team says

    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

  55. Lisa says

    Hi Lindy et al,

    I find when I am making cupcakes that if I put sugarpaste decorations onto the buttercream they soften and loose their shape. I note from Lindy’s contemporary cakes book that their is a recipe to create modelling paste by adding gum tragacanth to sugarpaste to make it stronger, would this stop it from softening once it comes into contact with the buttercream? I am making wedding cupcakes soon and want to add a heart design and buttefly design which both need to hold their shape, does anyone have any tips that could help?

    Thank you
    Lisa

  56. Lindys Team says

    Hi Lisa

    Modelling paste dries harder than sugarpaste so this will be the best paste to use. Once you have made your decorations, leave them to dry hard and then they will be ready to put on your cupcakes.

    Good luck!

    Zoe

  57. Jeeves says

    Hi Lindsy,

    Good day’. I like artista soft very much but have not used a lot or often because I heard that it cannot be used with sugar paste. Artista soft flowers/models can’t sit or be placed against/on sugarpaste. Is this correct? Or I’ve incorrect knowledge. Something like they don’t work together!
    If so, what is it, what will happen to artista soft flowers placed on a wedding cake.
    Please can u clarify this point. I love this product because it is light & flexible, self gluing & dries quickly , unlike sugar paste or gum paste ; flowers are heavy & easily breakable.

    Many thanks

    Jeeves

  58. Lindys Team says

    Hi Lindsay
    We don’t combine artista soft with sugarpaste simply because it is non-edible. What we do is place the artista soft sculpture on top of an acrylic disc so that there is separation between the two. On the packet of artista soft it does say it is non toxic but CANNOT be eaten. Hope this helps. Susie

  59. Kelly Morgan says

    Hi,
    I’ve bought a pack of Squires flower paste and a plunger cutter to make flowers to decorate a cake covered in fondant icing. How far in advance can I stick the flowers on to the cake?

    The cake is needed for the Sunday and I’d ideally like to do all the decorating on the Saturday, but is this too soon? Although the flowers aren’t going directly on to buttercream I’m slightly concerned that they may still pick up moisture and might unstick.

    Many thanks,
    Kelly

  60. Jane says

    Hello Kelly,
    If you are placing the flowerpaste decorations onto sugarpaste, they will not pick up any moisture. You can put them on whenever you like! although ideally let the sugarpaste dry before decorating as it is easy to mark the cake when the sugarpaste is still soft. If you were going to put paste flowers onto buttercream, you would need to make them out of pastillage, which doesn’t absorb moisture.
    Jane