How To Make a Gumpaste Bow

Posted by franjmc

I find the best way to do these bows is to make them directly onto the cake or shoe or whatever it is Im making, but for the purpose of the tutorial, Ive made this one on a work board.

Tools: Here are the tools I like to have on hand. Rolling Pin Ruler Confectionary Toolset Luster Dust Cutter/Embosser Saran wrap

Use a ball of modelling paste the size of a marble.





Roll the paste into a long sausage 



Roll the paste as thinly as you like. I like to roll my paste very thinly so that the bow looks like its made of fabric. I roll it about the thickness I would roll paste to make a rose leaf. But this is personal a personal preference, you can make it as thick or as thin as you wish. 

Cut two lengths of the rolled paste the same length and width. These will form the loops. I generally cut mine around 7.5 cm/3 inches wide and about 15 cm/6 inches long. The length of these loops will determine the size of you bow, so If you want a bow about 10cms/4 inches long the loops will need to be a little more than double that length when you cut them. Its a little bit of trial and error, but the length can be adjusted after theyve been cut quite easily.



I like to use a stitching wheel ( or fondant embosser) to mark the edges of all the bow pieces; it really looks effective, and gives it a wonderful fabric look. Use a ruler when you do this, because wonky stitching marks look terrible!



Dust the pieces with luster dust if you wish at this stage.



Turn one loop piece over and pinch the ends together as shown, then do the same with the other end, and pinch the two ends together. You may want to adjust the lengths at this stage to make the bow look fuller, if the loops are too long it will look droopy.



Repeat this process with the other loop piece, put a little scrunched up plastic wrap inside them to keep the puffy shape and set aside.



Roll out the tails of the bow in the same manner as the loops but make them a little thinner, maybe ¾ of the width of the loop pieces. Cut the ends at a 45 degree angle, mark the edges with an embosser and dust. Pinch them as you did the loop pieces.



Make the centre knot with another piece of paste rolled and marked in the same manner as the other pieces, but only make it about ½ the length of the tail pieces. Mark the edges, dust with luster and then pinch both ends and give it some folds so it will appear to have creases like the centre of a real ribbon bow.

, using some sugar glue or just a dab of water. Put the bow together in this order (1) tail piece (2) Loop (3) The other loop(4) The knot The knot is just wrapped around all the other scrunched up ends so that there arent any rough edges showing. It doesnt need to go all the way around the back of the bow, just tuck the edges under so they dont show.

(1) tail piece.	(2) Loop
(3) The other loop	(4) The knot

You may need to adjust the loops and tails to get them sitting just right, and this can be done for a few minutes after the whole thing has been put together. Once youre happy with the results, leave it to dry at least over night