Creating Gumpaste Leaves Quick and Easy

Just a few supplies needed and you are ready to begin... 

Board to work on

Softening pad

Cornstarch, wires, egg white or gum glue

Spatula and/or Veiner

Drying container

1. Roll a ball of gumpaste
Note- Depending on how large a leaf you want depends how big a ball of gumpaste is needed. 
2. Shape it into a cone shape, insert a wire and taper the bottom to a point too.

3. Using either a spatula or veiner flatten the ball of paste. If you are veining the leaf you can use the veiner
Note- use cornstarch to prevent sticking to the board and veiner when flattening

 3 After it is flattened roll it upwards to elongate and thin out further.

 4. Place on veiner and gently vein, soften the edges then pinch the central vein.

5. Shape leaf and place on tray to dry. Since these are so small they dry quickly and don't loose shape laying in a tray. If you make larger leaves you can lay on foam or put fewer in container.

 You are ready to add the petal dust and assemble...

Soften The Petals Edges

I love making gumpaste flowers and leaves look realistic  The way I create this affect is by both shaping the petal or leaves and adding the petal dust.

Here are a few extra steps to take while making your flower or leaf to add a more realistic look.

Start by cutting out your petal and softening the edge lightly, you shouldn't ruffle it. Just smoothing the sides of any harsh cuts really

Right petal is slightly softened

Take a Dresden tool or another tool with a similar tip. Now just along the very, very edge of the petal pull outward the edges with the tip of the Dresden tool. It is almost like shredding it a bit. You don't need to do it much or to heavily. You still want to keep it realistic looking

Rememer: only the very, very edge

Pulling the very tip out just slightly

After you vein your leaf take a small rounded tool such as a celstick or ball tool and run it along the very, very edge to soften. All you want to do is blend and shape it just a bit more.
  

Remember: stay along the edge or you will loose your veining.

Veined the leaf

Softening the edges of the veined leaf

Here is the leaf with the right side complete. 

See how it looks a bit more natural looking.

The petal when it is complete

Are those leaves "Really" made of sugar???

Finally..

I completed the gumpaste leaves I wrote about. 

I get Super excited and impatient wanting to see how they turn out.

Gumpaste foilage Palm Leaves, Eucalyptus, Croton

I created an assembly line sort of to make them

I colored all the paste needed for all the leaves

Next, made all of them and left to dry

    Getting closer to finishing!!!

Finally got to assemble all of them..

Whew!!!!!!!!!!! that was a lot of FUN work and I am pleased with how they turned out. I now know some new leaves I can use for arrangements. Yes, I think I want to find a few more to learn.

Gumpaste Palm Leaves

Gumpaste Eucalyptus

Gumpaste Croton