Instructions

1. Choose a design. It can be something you have come up with yourself, a pattern from a book or the Internet, or a picture you can copy from. If you need help coming up with an idea, try visiting websites where users display their creations.

2. Measure out the amount of fondant required for your chosen pattern. (Sixteen ounces of fondant makes a 5-inch diameter ball, approximately.) Divide pieces to be colored.

3. Tint gum paste with paste food color. Use less than you think you'll need to get the right color then add more a little bit at a time, if you need to, until you reach the desired shade. Make sure you have enough of each color to complete all the details of the animal as well.

4. Dust the fondant you will use as the base of the animal with powdered sugar, corn starch or a light coat of vegetable oil. This will make it easier to mold. Begin sculpting the base by rolling the colored gum paste into a ball, whatever diameter you would like. Or, if you are using a gum paste cutter, lie wax paper over the gum paste after dusting and roll out with a rolling pin until it is the desired thickness.

5. Sculpt the details of the figure. Add the bigger pieces to the base first, then the smaller ones. For small details, it can be easier to use a piping bag with a small tip. Decorating Dust can be used to add some sparkling final touches once the animal has dried.

6. Allow the piece to dry for several days. Exact drying time depends on the thickness of the gum paste. Wrap it in cling wrap and store in a moisture-free container.