Lovely Purple Dahlia - Made in gumpaste

How I made the purple Dahlia from this photo...

Photo of real Dahlia found on the internet...

My finished gumpaste Dahlia...

At the nursery I saw some beautiful Dahlia's I thought I would love to make. Silly me didn't buy one since I didn't have time to make it then. Later I searched for Dahlia's on the internet and this one just caught my eye. It was a very delicate with a bright deep purple center as the color fades towards the tips. It had an abundance of petals and was just lovely to look at. So, I decided to make this one...

What I do when I find a flower I want to make

• Don't have the real flower then print the best photo or photos you can find.

• Look through your cutters to find one which would work best. You don't always need to buy a cutter since many cutter sets have several components and with a little manipulation you can create the perfect petals shapes. 

• I then do the same with the veiner. Find one which looks like it is a somewhat close match if not perfect one. Not all flowers are veined but if they are it is nice to add that extra touch.

• Next, I gather all my supplies, the cutters and veiners, photos or real plant and just start making petals. I make a few different variations and match them to the photo or plant to see if they look right. Once I am happy with the petals I make them all.

First try making the flower... ended up redoing it...

Dropped above flower... it was meant to be redone!!!

Some things to remember if you don't have instructions and are making them the first time...

Supplies I am using to make the Dahlia

• Have the real flower or photo with you for reference

• Write instructions as you make the flower!! I am guilty of not always doing this thinking I won't make this flower again. You just never know. 

• Don't forget to write the petal dust colors and how you applied it in case you need to make more. 

Take photos... 

Sugarpaste Pink Dahlias

Pink Dahlias for the Wedding

I had a customer ask me if I could make Dahlias for her daughters wedding cake. She sent a picture of the Dahlias she wanted and I did a bit of research on the Internet about them. I came to find out there are several different types and colors. I then went to the local florists to find the one the customer sent a picture of. Finally, I found it and the same exact color she had requested which thrilled me since it is always nice to have a real flower as reference. 

How the Dahlias came to be

Gumpaste Dahlias for wedding cake

First I had to find a cutter that was the shape and sizes I needed and began trying a few different techniques to find the best way to make them. When it comes to making custom sugar flowers the best way isn't necessarily always the quickest way. How real and life like I can make them is the part I do enjoy the most. Dahlias are a pretty full flower and in sugar it isn't always easy to get them just like you want. After my several different approaches I did find that wiring all the petals individually would work the best.  They can be assembled and arranged much easier and the end result is a much more realistic looking flower. Dahlia petals are quite small and do graduate in size a bit the fuller they become but not much so I had a lot of petals to wire to complete just one flower. I figured out the necessary amount of layers needed and I made 3 different size petals to achieve the flower I wanted.  After the petals were complete I had to make the center of the flower which were very tiny petals not opened yet and very slightly opened. Making that many very tiny petals was too bulky so I ended up taking a small ball of sugarpaste and cutting it to look like closed petals that were opening then making a few tiny petals to attach around it before adding the individually wired ones.  I was very pleased at the one flower I made and how it all worked out especially after I added the pale pink dusting color to it... So, now it was time to make the 10 Dahlias and the other flowers the customer ordered..

Gumpaste Dahlia arrangement

My customer was very happy and pleased how beautiful they came out... I got a big hug and knew she really did love them..