My Marzipan Baby

Decorating By SweetTcakes Updated 29 Sep 2007 , 8:39pm by SweetTcakes

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SweetTcakes Posted 7 May 2007 , 3:43pm
post #1 of 76

So I found this artist named Camille Allen who makes miniture babies out of polymer clay and resin. When I first found her I was trying to find out if her sculpters were marzipan and how she did it. WellI found her site and de-bunked the myth. Then I began to think, I want to try and make something sort of realistic with marzipan. So, I tried and it didn't look too bad (couldn't believe it). Well then I tried to dust some color onto it and make it look more realistic, OMG all the cracks and nail marks show! Does anyon e have any tips on how to add color to marzipan? Take a look at the images, and let me know. Thanks ya'll
LL
LL

75 replies
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jl5949 Posted 7 May 2007 , 3:48pm
post #2 of 76

Try adding the color before molding the figure.

By the way, these look great!

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Tiffysma Posted 7 May 2007 , 3:53pm
post #3 of 76

chalk and a soft brush

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MahalKita Posted 7 May 2007 , 3:58pm
post #4 of 76

SO CUTE!!!

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SweetTcakes Posted 7 May 2007 , 4:03pm
post #5 of 76
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiffysma

chalk and a soft brush




How do you do that?

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ShirleyW Posted 7 May 2007 , 4:43pm
post #6 of 76

Pretty good Theresa. I do know that she uses Mohair yarn for the babies hair, it makes it look like real hair.

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SweetTcakes Posted 7 May 2007 , 4:48pm
post #7 of 76

Shirley, thanks! I was wondering about that. I was gonna paint the hair.
Do you think gumpaste would be better instead of the marzipan?

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Tiffysma Posted 7 May 2007 , 4:50pm
post #8 of 76

Here's a related link that tells how to use it. It's used with gumpaste flowers:

http://forum.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-242971-chalk.html

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sarahnichole975 Posted 7 May 2007 , 5:00pm
post #9 of 76

I've had those pictures sent to me always with the heading that they are marzipan. They're precious, but looked too flawless to be marzipan. Your baby is adorable. I think I wanna pick him up!

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ShirleyW Posted 7 May 2007 , 5:09pm
post #10 of 76
Quote:
Originally Posted by SweetTcakes

Shirley, thanks! I was wondering about that. I was gonna paint the hair.
Do you think gumpaste would be better instead of the marzipan?




I would use a half and half mixture of gumpaste and fondant colored a flesh color. You get the smoothness of the fondant so the skin doesn't wrinkle or crack, but you get a faster drying time because of the gumpaste. Once dry you can dry dust the cheeks and lips with a pale pink petal dust and then paint in the lashes and brows with a colored petal dust either brushed on dry or mixed with alcohol and painted with a very tiny artists paintbrush. I painted the hair as well because it was going to be covered with the bonnet.
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=68715

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Amberslilzoo Posted 7 May 2007 , 5:17pm
post #11 of 76

Oh my goodness, I don't think I will ever even attempt something like that! I would need step by step guidance and help. You did a wonderful job... looks like you got good advice from everyone else though icon_biggrin.gif

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JaneK Posted 7 May 2007 , 5:17pm
post #12 of 76

the baby is so awesome!!!
One of the things I learned was if you mix a little bit of powdered sugar in with the colour chalk you want to use on your figure (I do this when "pinking" their cheeks up)..then mix up with your paint brush and dust it on..it stops the chalk from being too strong or going blotchy..you just need a bit of powedered sugar but it really works well...any of my figures have this method used on them and I have quite a few in my gallery.
About the hair...I did a baby for a cake topper and painted on the hair with Royal Icing...it gave it just enough texture and it looked downy in real life...(the one on the blue brown striped cake in my pics)
HTH

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kden3980 Posted 7 May 2007 , 7:04pm
post #13 of 76

SweetTcakes I decide to be inspired by you and try my hand at a baby icon_biggrin.gif I just would like to tell you that your baby is sooo cute and flawless. I had some trouble with the face so I am going to need some more practice icon_cry.gif Yours came out wonderful and keep up the good work!!!!

Kara
LL

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SweetTcakes Posted 7 May 2007 , 7:20pm
post #14 of 76
Quote:
Originally Posted by kden3980

SweetTcakes I decide to be inspired by you and try my hand at a baby icon_biggrin.gif I just would like to tell you that your baby is sooo cute and flawless. I had some trouble with the face so I am going to need some more practice icon_cry.gif Yours came out wonderful and keep up the good work!!!!

Kara




Wow, great job and so quick. What did you use? Marzipan?

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Liis Posted 7 May 2007 , 7:25pm
post #15 of 76

i love both babies! thumbs_up.gif so cute!

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SweetTcakes Posted 7 May 2007 , 7:29pm
post #16 of 76
Quote:
Originally Posted by ShirleyW

Quote:
Originally Posted by SweetTcakes

Shirley, thanks! I was wondering about that. I was gonna paint the hair.
Do you think gumpaste would be better instead of the marzipan?



I would use a half and half mixture of gumpaste and fondant colored a flesh color. You get the smoothness of the fondant so the skin doesn't wrinkle or crack, but you get a faster drying time because of the gumpaste. Once dry you can dry dust the cheeks and lips with a pale pink petal dust and then paint in the lashes and brows with a colored petal dust either brushed on dry or mixed with alcohol and painted with a very tiny artists paintbrush. I painted the hair as well because it was going to be covered with the bonnet.
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=68715




I'm gonna try this Shirley, you are truely awesome.

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itsloops Posted 7 May 2007 , 7:49pm
post #17 of 76

Both babies look amazing!!!

I wish I could do that.

Congrats. thumbs_up.gif

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superstar Posted 7 May 2007 , 9:58pm
post #18 of 76

I think both babies are lovely. I'm with Shirley, Marzipan is a very rough textured paste. I would not use it.

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paolacaracas Posted 7 May 2007 , 10:26pm
post #19 of 76

Adding a little bit of fondant to the marzipan makes it smooth.
But I agree with Shirley that the fondant+gum-paste is the best way to go. Marzipan has the best taste, but I don't think very realistic babies are a good idea for eating.
Your figure shows great talent, I can wait to see the finished one with a smooth surface and the colors. I don't think it need hair. A little bit of light brown dust on top of the head is just enough

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Blue0877 Posted 7 May 2007 , 10:36pm
post #20 of 76

both the babies are adorable. I want to attempt those one day!! Great job!!

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kden3980 Posted 7 May 2007 , 11:29pm
post #21 of 76

I used MMF, but it got kinda soft and I had cracks in the head, so I think that the mix of fondant and gumpaste would work wonders!!!!

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DuckyChickenLady Posted 7 May 2007 , 11:44pm
post #22 of 76

Beautiful babies!! I hope to try that one day soon! icon_smile.gif I can't wait to see the finished product!

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chocolateandpeanutbutter Posted 7 May 2007 , 11:46pm
post #23 of 76

Just had to add my opinion...those babies are so adorable! I'm not usually a fan of babies on cakes, but these are really sweet! Excellent job, ladies!

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SweetTcakes Posted 8 May 2007 , 12:04am
post #24 of 76
Quote:
Originally Posted by chocolateandpeanutbutter

Just had to add my opinion...those babies are so adorable! I'm not usually a fan of babies on cakes, but these are really sweet! Excellent job, ladies!




Glad to hear it.

I will try to do the gum paste and fondant tonight, when I have my "me time" I will definatlly show the finished product.. Do ya'll think if I did it tonight would it hold up til the 19th?

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superstar Posted 8 May 2007 , 5:01pm
post #25 of 76

If you are doing it with fondant/gumpaste & it is not humid, it can last for years. My daughters flowers from her wedding cake (heart cake in my gallery) are still fine after 17years. They are gumpaste.

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SweetTcakes Posted 21 May 2007 , 8:39pm
post #26 of 76

Ok ya'll, here is the final product. I ended up just using marzipan and smoothing is with a veining tool, so that the cracks and such wouldn't show. I colored the marzipan as suggested and lightly dusted the cheeks, lips, bottom of the feet and of course the little tooshie with a light pink dust color and a touch of brown at the eyelashes (it is suppose to be a boy so, I didn't give him lashy lashes) . As ShirleyW suggested, I used mohair yarn for the hair. Thank you all for your help, The hostesses of the party loved the baby (and the cake). I couldn't of done it without the help of you all here at CC.
LL
LL

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superstar Posted 21 May 2007 , 9:39pm
post #27 of 76

Absolutely wonderful. Where did you buy the mold?

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ShirleyW Posted 21 May 2007 , 10:20pm
post #28 of 76

Theresa that came out just adorable. What a difference coloring and the mohair made. Really an excellent job, now you need to do a tutorial on this!

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JaneK Posted 21 May 2007 , 10:50pm
post #29 of 76

Truly outstanding work...I love that baby and your wagon!!! I bet they could hardly believe it at the party!!!!

Gorgeous and WOW!!!!!!

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SweetTcakes Posted 21 May 2007 , 10:52pm
post #30 of 76
Quote:
Originally Posted by superstar

Absolutely wonderful. Where did you buy the mold?




Thanks June, but I didn't use a mold. I did alot of trial and error. After I posted the first time I tried the baby in fondant and a mixture of fondant and gumpaste and straight gumpaste and didn't have any luck. I think all that trying helped me practice. icon_lol.gif

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