Karen Davies: Cake Decorating Moulds

I have been asked many times if the figures on my cakes are made from moulds.

This started me thinking, if I could make moulds, from the figures I have made, how quick and easy it would be to reproduce sugar crafted figures – not pieces that look manufactured by machines. This would be a new concept in moulds for sugarcraft.

These new moulds will produce figures that look hand made, making it quick and easy for beginners. The experienced cake decorator will be able to alter and adapt the finished figures for their own designs.

About The Moulds
The moulds are made from high quality silicone and will not rip or tear under normal use. Before using, wash in warm, soapy water. To dry quickly for re-use, use kitchen paper. Every mould includes full instructions giving the size of the piece of paste to use in grams and which colours to use to finish.

Using the Moulds
Dust liberally with cornflour, shake, then turn over and tap out excess. Check the size piece of paste you will need on the instruction sheet with the mould. Roll into a smooth ball then flatten slightly into a shape similar to the mould making it easy to push into all areas. Press into the shape. The paste should be flat and level with the mould and should not be over the edge. If you have too much paste it can be trimmed with a sharp knife or the PME mould paste trimmer, (if paste moves when doing this you could have double imprints so remove paste and start again). Use a sawing action usually from the centre of the paste to try to avoid lifting it.
When ready to remove, twist mould slightly, turn over and flex. If you have any difficulty, see hints and tips.

Hints and Tips

I have found the best paste to use Ballina modelling paste or half flower paste half sugarpaste.
Marzipan can be used but if too soft tylo (CMC) powder can be added until the correct consistency is reached.
Choco-pan from Windsor Cakecraft (see links) is excellent if you require a chocolate paste.
Always dust the mould with cornflour then tap out excess.
If you are not getting enough detail, check that you are pressing in firmly and your paste is not too stiff. Deep and detailed areas e.g. bride’s headdress in wedding car mould can be corrected by placing a small piece of paste in first.
If the figure is not releasing easily, check no.1, 2 & 4 above. Beginners may find it easier to divide the moulds into sections i.e. the teddy bear can have the head and body moulded separately and then joined together on the cake.

Colouring
Icing can be coloured with paste colour before placing in the mould. I like to dust the figures then paint in any detail where needed. A selection of different size dusting and paintbrushes will be useful.

Always rub powder colour well into brushes on kitchen paper, making sure there is NO loose powder before applying to figure.
Some figures have very small eyes. The best way to colour is to dip the tip of a cocktail stick into black paste colour, then touch sparingly onto face. Practice this on some spare icing first. The black paste colour should be like a thick liquid and not set. Only mark the eyes when the face has been coloured.

Alternatively the figures can be painted. Again use dust colours (not paste) and mix with isopropyl alcohol (thinning solution) for best results. Good results will not be achieved with vodka or gin. Experiment with consistency of colours and brush size on spare paste before applying.

Bride & Groom
For best results, I have found that using natural marzipan coloured with a little pink and peach works well. For a darker skin colour, add brown.
Ballina modelling paste can also be coloured and used.
Our Bride & Groom mould has an optional veil and top hat. When figures are dry, they can be stood up on top of a cake.
Try putting a background behind such as church doors and flowers.
To give the bride a different hairstyle, Cut off the top section and the roses. Colour a little royal icing and place in a bag with a no.42 (rope) nozzle. Pipe hair long, curly, straight etc.
Use powder colours mixed with isopropyl alcohol to paint. Brides dress is painted in white lustre. The grey for the suit is obtained by mixing a little silver with black.
Use a no. 0 or 1 piping nozzle to pipe patterns or embroidery to the brides dress.
If the groom is to wear the top hat, cut off the top of his head at an angle from his right ear.
Bride and Groom Mould

Bride & Groom
13cm x 8cm
£17.00

Wedding Border
Ballina modelling paste is recommended or a modelling paste made with half flower paste and sugarpaste.
Many borders and designs can be made from this mould. Individual pieces can be moulded and used on wedding cup cake tops.
The bells can be used on Christmas cakes by decorating with small pieces of Holly.


Wedding Border 17cm x 4cm	£12.50

Ballerina
Either use Ballina modelling paste or natural marzipan coloured with pink and peach. Dust and paint using powder colours mixed with isopropyl alcohol.
When figure is dry it can be stood up on top of the cake. Small blossoms can be used in the hair instead of the rose headdress.
Trim off the top section of hair and use a no.42 piping nozzle with royal icing to pipe a different style.
The ballet shoes and bows can be used to decorate the cake.


Ballerina 11.5cm x 6cm	£13.50

Graduation
Either use Ballina modelling paste or natural marzipan coloured with pink and peach. Dust and paint using powder colours mixed with isopropyl alcohol.
Mix a little silver in with the black to give a better result when painting.
When figure is dry it can be stood up on top of the cake. An open book novelty cake would work well with this figure.
This figure can be male or female. Use a no.42 piping nozzle with royal icing to pipe a different hairstyle.


Graduation 12cm x 5.5cm	£13.50

Face moulds
Our three face moulds (7 sizes) are all suitable for young, old, boys, girls, men or women. The face can be flat at the back or the whole head can be moulded. The small mould has five sizes between 10mm and 40mm, the medium is 50mm and the large 62mm. The large size I only use to go on a cake with the head flat at the back i.e. two faces within a picture frame – see wedding cake in the book ‘A Cake For Models or Moulds’.

Medium Face/ Head
Size: small 50mm
£8.50

Large Face/ Head
Size: large 62mm £8.99

Face/ Head
Size: small 1 cm, Large 4cm
£10.99

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Baby & Teddy
The baby’s eyes can be painted awake or asleep. You can also cut the baby’s arm so you can rest the moulded teddy against the baby’s body then lay arm over teddy. Baby can be placed on a blanket, under a blanket or in a cot – see cake in the book ‘A Cake For Models or Moulds’.

Baby & Teddy

Baby & Teddy
78mm Baby, 40mm

£12.50

Teddy
Ideal for many occasions. Can be made fluffy with sugarpaste softened with water and applied with a damp paintbrush. Add a Christmas hat, Easter bonnet etc. Can use head and arms to place in a cot, or coming out of the top of our mitten or bootie for a Christening cake (see mitten and bootie mould descriptions). When dry can be stood up and secured to the top of a cake with royal icing. The teddy mould is featured in the book ‘A Cake For Models or Moulds’.


Teddy Size: 7cm	£9.99

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Duck
Great for Christening or Easter cakes. Can be made fluffy with sugarpaste softened with water and applied with a damp paintbrush. Use with chocolate eggs for Easter gifts – see picture in our gallery. When dry can be stood up and secured to the top of a cake with royal icing. The duck mould is featured in the book ‘A Cake For Models or Moulds’.


Duck Size: 7cm	£9.99

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Rabbit
Can be made fluffy with sugarpaste softened with water and applied with a damp paintbrush. Great for Christening or Easter cakes. Can be made fluffy with sugarpaste softened with water and applied with a damp paintbrush. Use with chocolate eggs for Easter gifts – see picture in our gallery. When dry can be stood up and secured to the top of a cake with royal icing. The rabbitmould is featured in the book ‘A Cake For Models or Moulds’.


Rabbit Size: 7cm	£9.99

Mitten & Bootie moulds
These two moulds are not just for christening cakes. Colour paste red, add a white trim around top, cut out a small green Christmas tree and attach for Christmas mittens and booties. For a modern design, colour paste pale turquoise, attach a white trim and snowflakes. You can mould the teddy’s head and arms to com out over the top of either, or use our face mould to make a baby’s face and shape small hands. The same can be done for Christmas using the reindeer. The mitten and bootie moulds are featured in the book ‘A Cake For Models or Moulds’.


Baby Mitten Size: 7 x 5.5cm	£8.99


Baby Bootie size: 6.2 x 6.7cm	£8.99

Cat
The cat mould has a little mouse and a ball of wool. Pipe a line of icing from the wool to the cat and tangle him up. The cat can be given a fluffy coat by using sugarpaste softened with water and brushed of with a damp paintbrush. The basket mould can be used with the cat. The cat mould is featured in the book ‘A Cake For Models or Moulds’


Cat 6.5cm	£10.99

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Dog
The dog mould has a little bone with it. The dog can be given a fluffy coat by using sugarpaste softened with water and brushed on with a damp paintbrush. The basket mould can be used with the dog. The dog mould is featured in the book ‘A Cake For Models or Moulds’.


Dog 6.5cm	£10.99

Basket
This mould has many uses. Sit the cat or dog in it, use as a flower or toy basket – toys from the nursery border mould fit well. Can be left white, coloured or painted.


Basket 8cm x 3cm	£8.99

Nursery Border
Use this as a border for around your cake or mould individual pieces for cup cakes etc. Toys can also be placed in a basket made with our basket mould. Mould is featured in the book ‘A Cake For Models or Moulds’.


Nursery border 16cm x 3cm	£12.50

Horse
A rider can be modeled by hand and added to the horse. Can be used for a birthday gymkhana cake or add a jockey for a comical horse racing cake. Use with our face mould for riders head. Could also be used for a carousel cake.

Horse
11 x 5cm
£12.50

Clown
This clown is suitable for a birthday cake. Patchwork Cutters have a balloon cutter which works well with this mould.


Clown 80mm	£9.99

Wedding Car
Before the moulded car dries, you can insert cocktail sticks into the wheels so car can be stood up on top of the cake.


Wedding Car size: 8.3 x 102.cm	£14.50

Lucky Leprechaun
Our Irish leprechaun has a pot of gold, a pint of guiness, a three leaf and four leaf clover.
Idea: Paint a rainbow into the pot of gold on your cake.


Leprechaun 7.2cm	£9.99

Snowman Border
This cute border of snowmen faces can be placed around the bottom of a cake. The faces can also be separated and used as a cup cake top decoration. When separated, bodies can be modeled. This border also compliments our larger snowmen heads.


Snowman Border 17 x 4cm	£12.50

Snowman head moulds No. 1, 2 & 3
Our three snowman head moulds are conveniently the right size fro cup cake tops! See our co-ordinating snowman border mould. Bodies can be modeled simply. The snowman head moulds where inspired by the cake design in the book ‘A Cake For Christmas Part 2’.


Snowman Head 1 Size: 6-7cm	£9.99


Snowman Head 2 Size: 6-7cm	£9.99


Snowman Head 3 Size: 6-7cm	£9.99

Reindeer
Brilliant for cup cake tops. Simple bodies can be shaped to attach heads to. The mould also as a hoof for each reindeer and an antler size guide. Make small short sticks from flower paste for legs and attach hooves. You can put the reindeer heads and legs into objects such as snowballs or Christmas trees – see the book ‘A Cake For Models or Moulds’.


Reindeer 22mm, 29mm, 35mm	£10.99

Santa & Rudolph
Santa and Rudolph can be stood up if you put an edible support made from flower or Mexican paste into the figure while still soft.


Santa & Rudolph 7 x 5.6cm	£9.99

Snowman / Penguin Family
This mould has a double use. Depending on how you colour the figures, they can either be snowmen or penguins. Black sugarpaste can be softened with water and applied with a damp paintbrush to give a ‘fluffy’ effect.


Snowman / Penguin Family	£9.99

Away in a Manger
All our moulds are very easy to use but this one is exceptionally simple. The stars in the background are edible from Rainbow Dusts.


Away in a Manger 6.5 x 6.5cm	£9.99

Angel
This mould could be used to make a simpler version of the cake on the front of the book ‘A Cake For Christmas Part 1’.


Angel size: 8cm	£9.99