Repurposing a Slacks Hanger to Make Fondant Bows

While taking the Wilton Course 3, Fondant and Gum Paste, I saw a wonderful video on how to make fondant bows more easily. It's a real pain to take up counter space while the loops dry on their sides, especially if you make several bows.  Her way seemed much neater, and took up less space. The gal making the video sells cake supplies and has done many celebrity cakes.

She showed a bowmaker that they sell for $40 plus shipping.  It's made from PVC pipe.  She said it's easily made, but they sell so many that they get the PVC for less money.  So she said the cost would be less purchasing from her.

I was in my closet after seeing the video, and saw my slacks hangers.  Boom!  A light bulb went on!!!  I thought they would work for making bows.  After covering the rungs with plastic wrap and testing them out, I found they worked perfectly:

 

To make a large bow for a cake, you'll need to make at leasts 14 loops.  Each loop is 5" long and 1" wide.  I love my Wilton Decorate Smart Fondant Ribbon Cutter (link on the right side of this post).  You can make the strips with a ruler, but that takes a lot of time.  In cake decorating, time is money.

I used a slacks hanger that has wider rungs for my cake bows.  If the strips are too long, you can always flip aside some rungs.

For a cupcake, you'll need to make 7 strips that are 1/2" wide and 3 inches long.

Let the rungs dry overnight before you assemble them on your sweet treat!

When you are done using your "slacks bowmaker," it can go back into your closet.  It's not a one-use cake tool taking up space.

See, you just saved over $40 by repurposing!  What other ways have you saved money by repurposing?  The cost of cake tools is really high, and saving money is great!

Thanks for stopping by!

Judy