Sugar flower classes 

I am happy to write about the sugar flowers classes I will be teaching at 

ABC Cake in Orange. 
There are currently 3 classes offered in August and more will be added soon.

August 12th I will teach a Plumeria and Bower of Beauty from 5pm to 9pm 

August 14th I will teach a Cymbidium Orchid and berries from 3pm to  6:30pm 

August 19th I will teach a Rose and berries from 5pm to 9pm

Please contact ABC Cake to sign up for any of the classes.

To learn more about the classes I teach you can click Classes or go to the Class tab above. 

Current class photos

Updating my blog

While learning how to change my blog layout plus add some new and different features so I can update and add photos and class information I thought I would post some photos from the past months.

These were the two entries in this years San Diego Cake Show 2013. It was the first time creating arrangements in these styles.

San Diego Cake Show entry Gumpaste Flowers

San Diego Cake Show entry Gumpaste Flowers

Gumpaste Daffodil Tutorial

Gumpaste Daffodil Tutorial

Sometimes I want to make a flower and I don't always have the exact cutters and/or veiners necessary. If am lucky I have something close enough to use. This I found what I used to make the daffodil...

Supplies I used
Round cutter
small leaf cutter
Rolling pins both to roll and hallow out
desden tool
Silk veining tool
28g wire
celboard
Celpad with 3 holes (if you don't have this roll a ball of paste into a cone and hallow out)

• Roll paste over the largest hole and cut shape with a small round cutter (size of the cutter depends on the size of the flower you want) 

Roll gumpaste in large hole

Cut out using small round cutter

• Now you will frill the edges and hallow out the center using the dresden took, silk veining tool and rolling pin. I first hallow it out a bit the celpin. Next I frill the edge with the dresden tool to pull out the tips some, then I use the silk veining tool to smooth. (Try different methods to achieve the look you like)

Hallow out center with celpin

 

Soften with silk veining tool

Frill with dresden tool

• Now you will attach it to center stamens. Add a bit of egg white inside at the base sliding in the stamens. Pinch gently around the base to attach and stand in styrofoam to dry. 

Stamens and bell shape

Center complete

Making the stamens isn't shown

The stamens are made using 30g or 33g wire and rolling a very tiny ball of paste on it. Make 6 of these. The center stamen is made with the same idea except use a heavier wire and leave a tiny ball at the top. Flatten it standing it on the top take a dresden tool or pointed end of smallest celstick and pull out the edges.

• Using a small basic leaf cutter cut out 6 petals and wire with 28g wire. I veined them using the Stargazer lily veiner which looks very similar. Soften the edges and let dry in cupped shape.

Veining petal

Soften petal after veining

Drying the petals

• After it is all dry add the color. I added touches of orange around the tips then blended it in with the yellow. Just to highlight. Add yellow over the whole petal if you want a brighter look or you can just leave it. 

Adding Orange Petal dust on edges

Adding Yellow over the Orange

• You can now wire the entire piece. Tape 3 petals around the base in a triangle arrangement and 3 more below those again in a triangle shape to fill in the gaps.

Gumpaste Daffodil

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