How to Make Gumpaste Flowers

Gum paste flowers are beautiful and can last forever! You can create them in any color you want. Gum Paste is made mainly from powdered sugar.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pre-made package of gum paste
• roller
• plastic wrap
• powdered sugar mixed with corn starch
• vegetable shortening
• gum paste tools
• water mixed with gum paste
• new knee pad that is used for gardening
• Gum paste rose cutters

1. Rub a small amount of vegetable shortening on your hands, rolling pin and table where you plan to roll out gum paste.

2. If you are making a rose, you need to make a cone shape 24 hours in advance. The cone should be about 3/4 inch tall and about as big around as a nickel at the base. Place on a toothpick that was dipped in water first. Allow to dry over night. Place the toothpick in a piece of Styrofoam to hold it.

3. Roll out the gum paste where you rubbed the shortening. Roll it thinner than a dime. You should be able to read through it. Take the 5 petal cutter and cut out gum paste ( I use one made by FMM OR JEM Sugarcraft tools). Use the Ball tool from your gum paste tool kit to thin the edges of each petal. Place the cutout on the foam knee pad and place the ball tool, large side half on the petal and half off. Press going around the outer edge of each petal to thin.

4. Looking at the cutout, imagine it numbered 1-5. Place the cutout in your hand, place the toothpick in the center of the toothpick and push through. Take the paint brush and wet both sides and the bottom of petal #1, wrap around the cone to make the center of the rose.

5. Skip the next petal and go to petal #3. Wet the sides and base of the petal and wrap around the cone. Skip the next petal and go to petal #5, wet the sides and base and wrap around the cone curling the left edge back. Go to the first petal you skipped, petal #2. Wet the lower sides and base slightly and press against the cone curling the left side back. Go to petal #5 and wet on the lower sides and base and press against the cone curling the left side back.

6. Manipulate the petals until you are happy with how they look. Hang the flower upside down. I stack some books up then place the Styrofoam on top then stack more books on top of that. Make sure you leave some Styrofoam hanging over.
   You can leave it or you can add more petals wetting lower with each addition so they will be fuller looking.

7. These flowers can be made on wire also. They can be placed in an arrangement and kept for as long as you keep them dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep away from moisture
• use more shortening if the gum paste is sticking
• if the gum paste get too wet or sticky you can dust with corn starch mixed with powdered sugar
• Can be frustrating, keep working at it.

Resources

• Sugar Flowers
• Gum paste Flowers how to video

[akchrist]

on 7/9/2008 Wonderful tips!

[acole]

on 7/9/2008 Wow, sounds easy and the flowers are beautiful!