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Are you into cake decorating? Then you definitely need to know the fact that there are a huge number of amazing fondant mats and molds that will turn you into a top-notch pastry designer in no time. You can always find shapes to match the theme of your cake: from butterflies and leaves, waves and frames to pearls and the alphabet. Molds for mastic save a lot of time and are simply irreplaceable for those who decide to use devices for decorating cakes in their work. And yet you need to be able to correctly use tools for working with mastic.

If you have ever tried to remove fondant from silicone molds and were unable to do so without damaging its shape, then the techniques and tips given here will teach you how to use fondant molds without experiencing any difficulties.

When you're learning how to decorate sweets (even if you're a seasoned pro), it's important to find baking supplies to decorate with, and molds are no exception. Some molds are very easy to use. All you need to do is add a little mastic, then click the button or fold the mold. You need to get used to other molds and know the specifics of their use. The molds shown below are great for creating castle embrasures, and the second mold on the left will make a dainty little tiara for a princess figurine.

1. Coat the mold with a little cornstarch and trim off the excess.

2. Make a sausage out of the mastic and start pressing it into the mold. Make sure to always have a small amount of cornstarch on your fingers so that it stays in the mold and doesn't stick to your hands. I always prefer to use store-bought mastic as it is durable and holds its shape well when removed from the mold.

3. Smooth it with the fingers of your left hand, while continuing to press and smooth it with the fingers of your right.

4. When all the mastic is in the mold, go over the mold with a rolling pin sprinkled with cornstarch so that everything is well compacted in the mold. The use of starch ensures that the mastic will not stick to the surface of the rolling pin and will be easily removed from the mold.
5. Take a dry, clean, sharp knife and sprinkle some cornstarch on it. Place the blade on the surface of the mold and carefully cut off the excess with a light sawing motion.

When using large molds, such as this one, it is a good idea to stop mid-cut to clean, dry and starch the knife again.

6. Where the excess is cut, uneven edges may appear. To remove them, sprinkle cornstarch on your fingers and rub the edges of the pan.
7. Turn the mold over. The mastic should come out on its own, but sometimes it is necessary to pry it off with the tip of a knife. If the mastic does not come out, leave it in the mold for a few minutes and try again.

The same method is also suitable for working with more complex and small molds, such as those shown below.

You may prefer a mastic that has tylose added for strength. This will make it easier to give it the desired shape if you decide not to use starch at first. However, when you press the dough into the mold, make sure your fingers are starched. When cutting off excess, keep the knife dry and clean. If the knife blade becomes sticky, it may lift the mastic out of the mold when cutting.

The technique shown above is difficult to use for molds designed to create letters of the alphabet. But you only need to add one extra step and the mastic will be easily removed from the mold without distortion or destruction.

Step 1
Sprinkle the mold with cornstarch, press the mastic into the mold, trim off the excess using the instructions above. Tidy up the edges with your fingers the same way as before.

Sometimes you may encounter very difficult molds like this one. Small holes may appear in the mastic when smoothed, like at the top of the letter S in the photo above. They can be filled by adding small pieces and cutting off the excess again.

Step 2
Place the mold in the freezer for 10-15 minutes to allow the mastic to harden.

Step 3
Immediately bend the mold so that the letters spill out of it. Some will have to be tinkered with before they are removed from the mold. If some letters become misshapen when removed, place the mold in the freezer for another 5 minutes and try again.

Step 4
Frozen letters may become wet and sticky as they thaw, so do not touch them. After 10-30 minutes, depending on what kind of mastic you used and the air humidity, the letters should dry. Let them dry completely so they don't warp when you transfer them to the cake.
To make it easier to place the letters in the center of the cake, place them on your work surface and measure the resulting length of the word or phrase. This will help you determine how many centimeters you need to retreat along the edges.

How to make your own silicone mold

It's very easy and also fun! If you have beautiful brooches, buttons, pendants or earrings that would look beautiful on the cake, then doing this is as easy as pie. All you need is about 30 minutes of your time, a special silicone mixture, beautiful jewelry and you can start.
Make sure the silicone mold mixture you purchase is non-toxic and food grade. My mixture dries out very quickly, so I need to do everything quickly.

1. First, prepare your decorations.

2. The box contains two jars. You need to take the same amount from each, I took 15 ml. Stir the mixture until the color becomes uniform. You have about 1 minute to do this.
3. Place it in any container and try to level the mass on top as best as possible.

4. Press your decorations into the mixture to a sufficient depth so that all the elements are imprinted, but not too deep, otherwise the mold will look ugly.
5. Leave the mold for a while to harden. My figure froze for about 15-20 minutes. You can check this with your fingernail: if the imprint remains in the mold, then it has not yet hardened. Once it has set, take a knife, cut it out of the container and bend it backwards to remove your decorations.

6. Wash the mold with hot water and dishwashing liquid. Then fill it with mastic. I used white chocolate instead, then waited for it to harden and brushed glitter food coloring on top to highlight some of the elements.

How to make molds for mastic with your own hands at home
Using mastic you can easily decorate any cake or cookies. I made my own mold using a special kit called Amazing Mold Putty to create the black and white figure shown below.

This set includes two jars of ingredients that need to be mixed to make mastic molds. The instructions on the box are easy to follow, and it's always fun to collect different buttons and trinkets to make molds.
If you don’t want to make your own molds, you can always find something ready-made.
When you have made the mold, take some white mastic.

Roll it into a sausage.

Press it into the mold.

Use a small knife to push it into the cracks.

Once all the mastic is carefully placed in the mold...

roll out a piece of black mastic the size of a small pebble.

Now press down with your fingers so that it fills the rest of the mold.

Pull it out of the mold by bending it in the opposite direction.

Leave the figurine to dry overnight.

To attach the decoration to the cookie, apply mastic to it, then place the figurine on top and press it down.

How to use mastic molds correctly

What you will need:

• Silicone molds
• mastic or sugar paste
• pastry brush
• rolling pin

Coat a silicone mold with cornstarch. Do not skimp on starch; the entire surface of the mold should be thoroughly covered with it.

Tap the pan to remove excess starch. There should only be a thin layer left that will not allow the mastic to stick.

Knead the mastic until it becomes flexible.

I usually flatten it a little with my hands before rolling it out. Roll out the mastic into a cake using a rolling pin.
You can use a small amount of cornstarch if it is sticky like mine was.
I made a cake 3 mm thick.
Now place the mastic on top of the mold, then press and massage in a circular motion so that the mold is clearly imprinted. Pay special attention to corners and edges.

Use your thumb to push it outward to remove excess.

Smooth the mastic around the entire perimeter, pressing it along the edges into the mold. This will make the figure look more neat.
Make sure all sides are graceful and neat. Turn the mold over to remove the mastic. It should come out of the mold easily.

An easy way to use detailed yet complex molds
You will need mastic or sugar paste, as well as confectionery fat.
Baby is one of my favorite molds. It contains a lot of parts, so it is very difficult to get the mastic out of it.
So let's get started. Dip the brush into confectionery fat and coat the entire inner surface with it to prevent the mastic from sticking.

Roll out the mastic into an oval. There should be no irregularities on it, otherwise they will appear on the finished figure.
Then just carefully push the mastic into the mold and tear off the excess.
Smooth the top with your finger to create an even surface. This can also be done with a knife.
Now place the mold in the freezer for 5 minutes.
Carefully bending the mold, release the figure from it.
When warmed to room temperature, condensation will appear on the figurine, so do not touch it for a while and let it dry.

How to use pearl shaped molds

I use pearl shaped silicone fondant molds almost every week to decorate the edges of cakes and get asked all the time about how to use them correctly. So a few weeks ago I took some photos while I was working on the cake and today I'll talk about it.

Here's what we need:

• mastic
• sharp knife
• sugar syrup
• Silicone molds

1. Wait for the mastic to warm up to room temperature and roll it into a long sausage. It is necessary that its diameter matches the size of the mold quite accurately. I'm using the largest mold in this tutorial, so my rope is about 1cm in diameter.

2. Place the mastic on the mold and press it down so that it fits into the mold. Use your fingers to press it tightly so that the beads are of the correct shape.

3. It is almost impossible to choose the exact amount of mastic so that it completely fits into the mold, so after it is completely in the mold, use a sharp knife to go along the protruding edges from one end to the other.

4. Usually by this time my mastic has time to harden. If yours is still soft, you'll want to pop it in the refrigerator for a few minutes so it hardens and doesn't stretch when you remove it from the mold.
If it is hard, turn the mold over and gradually bend it back from one edge to the other.
Continue folding until all the pearls are removed.

5. Leave the pearls to dry and harden for about 10 minutes. If you try to move them earlier, they will most likely stretch and lose their normal shape, so be careful.

I place the finished pearl ribbon around the cake with a little sugar syrup.

We use silicone molds for mastic

Mastic is a cream-like paste that is often used to decorate cakes and other pastries. It can be colored with food coloring and various flavors can be added to it. Using molds (molds) you can make figures from mastic that will look great on any cake. The vast majority of molds are made of silicone, so they are very easy to remove jewelry from. There are two types of molds: one is designed for creating patterns, while the other is for making 3D figures. Using any of these types in practice is quite easy.

To begin, rinse the molds thoroughly in warm water using a small amount of dishwashing liquid. Then leave them to dry for a while. If moisture remains on them, it will be difficult to remove mastic from them.
Add food coloring to the fondant, if necessary, before filling your mold. Because after removing it from the mold, you can only paint small parts, but not the entire figure.
Let the dough come to room temperature and make sure it is pliable.
Roll it out to a thickness of 0.6 cm if you are using a mold to create patterns. Carefully place the rolled out dough onto the top of the mold. Now press it firmly onto your form so that its design is clearly imprinted.
Read the instructions that came with your mold to determine how much fondant you need to make your mold. After you fill your mold with the required amount of mastic, tamp it on top. Carefully remove the figurine from the mold so as not to damage it.

Molds, which were originally used for ceramic floristry, have captivated foamiran masters, significantly expanding their capabilities. So, thanks to these simple, relief forms, you can quickly and easily obtain a clear, natural relief of flower petals and flowers. What molds are there and how to make these useful forms with your own hands - read below.

So, a mold is a cast, flat mold for making relief elements on the front surface of a foamiran workpiece. Weiner is a three-dimensional silicone mold that makes it possible to obtain not only convex veins, but also to make the edges of foamiran blanks curly. These forms are great for creating floral elements of plants with curly petals and leaves (rose, dahlia, lily, etc.).

There are a huge number of Moldavians and Weiners, and choosing the right one from such a variety can sometimes be incredibly difficult. Which molds are better? Experienced craftsmen say that the best forms that give clear impressions and do not tear the foils are Thai. But the price for such products is quite high.

If it is not possible to purchase a ready-made mold, then you can, for the first time, replace it with improvised means (for example, plates with a floral texture, a cutting board, ceiling tiles). Some craftsmen got used to working with needles and toothpicks, applying relief by hand. But, it’s better to make the element yourself: the cost of such a mold will be much lower than the cost of purchased ones, and the result is much better than using improvised means.

Mold for flowers made of foamiran

The simplest, most universal way to make molds with your own hands is using viscous and plastic polymer clay. For work we will need: fresh polymer clay of any color, a living leaf with well-protruding veins (it is better to choose blackberry, raspberry, begonia leaves), a stationery knife or a thin blade, ceramic tiles or unnecessary earthenware, a metal baking tray for baking clay, a needle.

Making molds:

1. Roll out the clay into a fairly thick layer.
2. We apply a sheet of paper to the clay and press it tightly with our fingers, so that the veins are better imprinted, we go over the top of the sheet with a rolling pin.
3. We pry the leaf with a needle and carefully remove it from the workpiece.
4. Using a utility knife or blade, cut off the excess clay, giving the workpiece the shape of a leaf.
5. We send the negative mold to the oven and bake it according to the instructions for the polymer clay used in the work.
6. Roll out another layer of clay.
7. We moisten the cooled negative with water (from the side of the veins) and place it on the rolled out layer.
8. Press it with your fingers and roll it out with a rolling pin.
9. We separate the negative and cut off the excess from the workpiece.
10. Place the relief mold in the oven for baking.

After the double forms have cooled, you can safely use them in your work. In this way you can make leaves of different shapes and sizes.

If the clay is not viscous enough, you can knead it with your hands using Vaseline or a rich cosmetic cream.

How to make molds for foamiran with your own hands from silicone sealant

Another way to create molds for making flowers from foamiran is using silicone sealant, which allows you to transfer the relief from any voluminous leaf. Making a silicone mold is quite simple: for this we need a sealant, a small spatula, a transparent sheet from a stationery folder, a sheet for taking impressions, scissors, a sheet of A4 paper.

Let's get started:

1. We attach the sheet of paper for taking the imprint to the A4 sheet and trace it.
2. Remove the leaf and place a transparent sheet on the pattern.
3. Squeeze the silicone into a container and, using a spatula, transfer it to a transparent sheet so that its size corresponds to the size of the sheet for taking the impression.
4. Lubricate the leaf with oil and apply it to the silicone.
5. We leave the silicone to dry for several days (from two to four depending on the sealant).
6. After drying, use a needle to remove the leaf from the silicone.
7. Use scissors to give the silicone molds a leaf shape.

The work is ready: as a result, we have convenient, high-quality, double-sided forms for quickly creating attractive, natural leaves from foamiran.

What else can you use to make molds for foamiran?

You can quickly and easily make molds from corn or potato starch and ordinary silicone sealant (available at any hardware store). In order to directly begin creating stencils, we will need to prepare a mixture for taking impressions: in an unnecessary container, mix the materials in a one-to-one ratio, first with a wooden stick, and then knead the mass manually until completely homogeneous (we wear disposable gloves to protect our hands).

Let's get started:

1. Separate a small part from the total mass and form it into two balls of different sizes (one larger than the other).
2. Roll out one ball with a rolling pin so that you get a flat surface 5 mm thick.
3. Place a dried leaf of the desired plant on top or an artificial specimen purchased at a craft store with good texture.
4. Roll out the second ball on top of the sheet.
5. Set the workpiece aside: let the mass set well.
6. After some time, separate the top layer from the workpiece and remove the sheet.
7. Leave the molds to dry. If necessary, you can adjust the edges of the molds to the size and shape of the sheets using scissors.

Even a novice master can easily repeat this master class, and the resulting molds will not only be inexpensive, but will also give high-quality impressions due to their elasticity and flexibility. These forms can be used repeatedly.

Making molds for foamiran with your own hands: master class (video)

Molds and weiners are incredibly useful stencils for working with foamiran, allowing you to easily and quickly transfer the relief onto the workpiece. Such forms can be purchased in stores, or you can make them yourself, saving a little money. Make molds and weiners with your own hands, and get original, attractive, expressive textures to create high-quality works!

The invention of silicone was a real godsend for housewives. After all, this material is used to make excellent kitchen tools, potholders, brushes and a host of other useful devices such as oven mats, which perfectly replace parchment paper for baking. However, what modern needlewomen appreciate most are silicone molds, with which you can easily create figurines for decorating cakes, fancy-shaped soaps, and candles. What is the peculiarity of Moldova? What types are there? Is it possible to make them yourself?

Silicone molds: what are they?

Silicone molds are special forms for obtaining the necessary impressions from various materials. Outwardly, they resemble molds from children's sets. Thanks to the strength and plasticity of silicone, they can be used to create not only flat bas-reliefs, but also three-dimensional three-dimensional figures.

In cooking, silicone molds are most often used for mastic, marzipan, jelly, caramel and chocolate. In addition, molds are used to make candles, figured soap, products made from epoxy resin and polymer clay.

Types of silicone molds

Due to their versatility of use and ease of production, silicone molds of almost any shape are available for purchase today. However, they differ in only a few parameters.

First of all, molds differ in the material from which they are made. Both non-food and non-food products are used in their production. Forms made from food grade material are always more expensive. The scope of their application is almost unlimited: they can be used not only for making chocolate figurines, but also shaped soap. But cheaper molds (made of industrial silicone) are intended only for working with non-food materials.

Molds are used in the production of both one-sided figures and three-dimensional products.

Silicone molds are also divided into solid and collapsible (consisting of several interconnected elements).

There is also a special type of moldov - weiner. These molds are made of a harder rubber-like silicone. Their purpose is to create textures. As a rule, weiners consist of two parts, between which a sheet of mastic or foamiran is clamped to give it the desired texture.

Advantages of silicone molds over other molds

In addition to silicone molds, there are a lot of other interesting devices on the market for confectionery products. Namely: plastic plungers, metal molds for cookies or dough, pastry syringes with specialized nozzles, plastic or wooden rolling pins for adding texture to mastic, etc.

Despite the convenience of all these tools, silicone molds for mastic are superior to them in most respects.

The fact is that, unlike other tools, silicone is not afraid of cold, heat, does not break, does not rust, is easy to clean, easily transported and takes up little space in the kitchen. Thanks to its softness, it is easy to remove finished products from it.

How to use silicone molds

Despite the variety of forms for silicone impressions, the method of using them remains unchanged:

1. Before use, you need to make sure that the mold is clean and dry, because if there is moisture in it, voids may form in its place and then the resulting print will be defective.
2. Before use, the inner surface of the mold must be lubricated to make it easier to remove the finished print. If the mold is used to make food products, edible fat is suitable as a lubricant. For inedible materials, Vaseline is used. If the weiner is used when working with foamiran, there is no need to lubricate it.
3. The residence time of a substance in the form depends on its type. If it is mastic, then the mold with it should be placed in the freezer for 5-15 minutes to allow the print to harden. After time has passed, carefully remove the finished product and continue working with it. If molds are used to make chocolate figurines, candles, products made of epoxy resin or plaster, the impression needs several hours to harden. The hardening time of each material is indicated separately on the accompanying instructions.

Do-it-yourself silicone molds: what can they be made from?

Since creative people, as a rule, do needlework in their free time, at some point they will definitely want not just to use ready-made molds, but to create an original form for the impression.

For such cases, there is a special silicone paste on sale that can be used to make molds. Dental molds are also used to make food molds for impressions. Unfortunately, all these materials are quite expensive, so many needlewomen try to make molds from improvised materials.

The main component from which craftsmen make molds is technical silicone sealant, sold in construction stores. In some cases, one of the types of polymer clay is taken instead.

Molds made from such materials are, of course, worse than factory ones, but they are excellent for making molds. At the same time, everyone should remember that you cannot make silicone molds for mastic with your own hands from technical silicone or polymer clay: these materials are toxic.

The only non-specialized material that you can try to use for culinary molds is gelatin. It is mixed in equal parts with glycerin and this mass is boiled in a water bath, after which it is poured over the desired item. The resulting gelatin mold is very plastic and can be used for food products. However, unlike silicone and clay molds, gelatin molds are afraid of rising temperatures and begin to melt.

Do-it-yourself silicone molds: a master class using improvised materials

Once it has become clear what materials are most often used to create molds with your own hands, it’s worth looking at how it’s done.

In order to make a mold at home, you will need a package of technical silicone, starch (potato or corn) and items that will serve as a template for the future mold.

1. The first step is to prepare the place of work. It must be a clean, level, dry surface. For example, a table covered with film or parchment paper.
2. The required amount of starch is poured onto the table. Next, the same amount of silicone is added to it.
3. From these two components you need to knead a silicone “dough”. This will take 10-15 minutes. The kneading process should not be delayed, as silicone quickly hardens when it comes into contact with air, especially warm air.
4. The finished “dough” needs to be rolled out, but not very thin. Objects for impressions are pressed into the rolled circles and left in this form for several hours. Or better yet, for the whole night.
5. After this period, the necessary items are carefully removed from the blanks and the mold is ready. A blank is molded from silicone right in the same water. It is taken out of the water and the silicone is pressed into the object for the impression. Then they leave it for several hours - and then continue according to the above scenario. American manufacturers, when producing silicone molds, process the material in a different way. Instead of kneading the “dough” with starch, the silicone is squeezed into water with a glycerin-containing detergent liberally dissolved in it.

Having considered the various ways of creating molds, you can now use the acquired knowledge in practice, choosing a method for yourself at your discretion.