The 4 and 5 petel cutter

I made Dendrobium orchids and filler flowers all in white. I can get a bit carried away with making filler flowers making them as detailed and exciting as the main flower. This time I decided to go with the basic 4 and 5 petal cut out flower. But, I didn't want them all the same round shape, so after I sofented the edges I pinched the tips of a few, curved some and ended up with a few different styles using just the one cutter.

This would be a good flower to make for those who never worked with gumpaste but would like to learn or give it a try. It is cut, softened, shaped and dried.. which is the basis for most if not all the flowers I make.



gumpaste cutters and tools



I roll out the gumpaste  on the pad which leaves a length of paste on the back to add the wire in and then cut it out.





 

rolled out gumpaste



cutting out the flower

You can see the extra paste through the cutter formed in the hole in the pad. You can do this by hand as well.

Softening the edges gives them a more realistic look. It also smooths any messy edges



Softening the gumpaste petals

After the wire is added to the gumpaste flower and the edges are softened and shaped slightly it is laid in the former till it dries to keep its shape.





gumpaste filler flower drying

Using the same round 4 petal cutter I was able to get different shapes and looks.





Filler flowers using same cutter