Hi there everyone. Is there anywhere online where you can go to get instructions on how to make icing flowers. I have sweet pea cutters for making flowers using gumpaste, but need instructions how to use them. I realise I can buy a book, which I will do. But wanted to give it a go before book could get here.

Do you know how to do a Mexican hat in gumpaste? Start with a ball of gumpaste smaller than a marble, pinch the edges all the way around the ball into a little skirt, thin and ruffle the skirt on a foam mat with a ball tool.
Cut through the middle section in half vertically, that gives you two center bud petals. Dip a piece of floral wire into gum glue and thread up through the thickest part of the ball section, pinch at the bottom where it meets the wire to secure it. That makes two centers, stick into a piece of styrofoam while you make the two outer petals. Look at your cutters, one has a rounded point in the center at the top, one has an indentation at the bottom. Roll out your gumpaste fairly thin, cut the two petals,if you have a veiner you would press the petals in it now one at a time. You really don't have to vein Sweetpeas, it doesn't show up that much in the finished flower. Thin the edges and ruffle with a ball tool on a foam mat. Brush a bit of gum glue on the back of the center you made first, lay the center in the middle of the indentation petal and pinch at the back to secure it to the center, brush a bit of gum glue on the back and attach the last petal with the pointed end up, again pinch at the back to secure it. Then you can finesse the petals to the shape you want, either closed slightly or opened up. Stick into styrofoam to dry and when they are completely dry tape the wire stem with green floral tape. You can make some of the flowers just the bud center alone, without the two outer petals. You can also buy green floral wire and spiral it tightly around a small artists paintbrush handle. Slide the coil off the handle, pull gently on both ends to expand the length, cut in about three sections and tape one of them to the wire stem just under the flower. This makes the curly tendrils on the flower, you can shape and bend them as you like. Don't do more than one tendril per flower because you are going to cluster the finished flowers into a bouquet or posy and then tape all of the wire stems together. When all of the flowers are made and dried, brush them with petal dust in whatever color you choose. Gather all the flowers together , about 12 flowers to a bunch, and tape the wire stems together with green floral tape. Next you will hold them upside down over a pan of steaming water, twist the stem back and forth in your fingers so all of the flowers get steamed. Only for a few seconds or until the flowers begin to get a bit shiny. Stick the wired stem back into styrofoam to dry. Steaming sets the petal dust and keeps it from flaking off on your iced cake.

shirl's instructions great! But if u need more help, I have some instructions with pics, just pm me