Gumpaste Tool Kit For Flower-Making

Decorating By ShirleyW Updated 16 Apr 2008 , 12:02pm by bellatrixothersis

ShirleyW Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
ShirleyW Posted 3 Dec 2006 , 4:44pm
post #1 of 109

So many people have asked what they need in the way of good basic equipment to do gumpaste, and especially gumpaste flowers. I thought I would post what I have as a basic gumpaste kit. There are many things you can add as extra's but this is enough to be able to complete gumpaste flowers. Each of these items can be purchased on line, through many places. Nicholas Lodge, Sugarcraft, Country Kitchen, Scott Woolley, etc.

1. Non stick Cel Board with ridges, 11 1/2" long By 9 1/2" wide. It has a smooth side for rolling gumpaste and a ridged side for making petals and leaves that require wiring.

2. Non stick rolling pins made for gumpaste work large size 9", small size 6"

3. Yellow foam Cel pad for softening petals or ruffling gumpaste.

4. Metal Ball Tools for thinning and ruffling edges of petals.

5. Cloth or paper covered wire in white and in green, I use #30 gauge for most flowers

6. Floral tape in white and in green for taping flower wires

7. Gum glue, I buy empty nail polish bottles at beauty supply stores, the brush applicator works great for glueing petals.

8. Small artists paint brushes in assorted sizes for dusting flowers with petal dust

9. Petal dust, and luster dusts for coloring and highlighting flowers, plaques etc.

10. Metal flower cutters and silicone veiners. I prefer the double sided veiners but if using a single sided the little square of soft packing foam works well to press the flower into the veiner.

11. Tylose Powder for making the gumpaste

http://www.nicholaslodge.com/gumpaste.htm

Moderator edited to add Nicholas' recipe.
LL

108 replies
qwww Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
qwww Posted 3 Dec 2006 , 4:56pm
post #2 of 109

Wow - Thanks so much for sharing. I bought the Wilton Gumpaste kit during the Thanksgiving sale but seems like to buy some additional items as per your list.
Thanks again
Anu

ShirleyW Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
ShirleyW Posted 3 Dec 2006 , 5:02pm
post #3 of 109

Your welcome. The Wilton gumpaste kit may work to try your hand at making flowers, but the tools are not really the best quality. If you should decide you want to go on with learning flowers you really need good tools. The plastic ball tools in the Wilton kit cause the gumpste to split and leave ragged edges if you apply pressure. A metal ball tool won't do that. metal flower cutters give a much cleaner cut, the plastic flowers cutters are really too thick to give a clean sharp edge to the petals.

Price Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Price Posted 3 Dec 2006 , 5:11pm
post #4 of 109

Thanks for the good information. I haven't tried gumpaste flowers yet, but I would like to. I just have to find the time and energy!

qwww Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
qwww Posted 3 Dec 2006 , 5:12pm
post #5 of 109

oh ok I see your point. Thanks for explaining the difference Shirley.
Your flowers are breath taking - me thinks you have great talent and a big heart for sharing your knowledge so willingly icon_smile.gif
Happy Holidays

ShirleyW Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
ShirleyW Posted 3 Dec 2006 , 5:39pm
post #6 of 109

Your quite welcome. I try and share what I have learned over the years because other's have been generous enough to share with me.

nglez09 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
nglez09 Posted 9 Feb 2007 , 5:45am
post #7 of 109

Thanks a lot Ms. Shirley!

TexasSugar Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
TexasSugar Posted 9 Feb 2007 , 6:26am
post #8 of 109

Thanks Shirlely. I'm definetly going to have to add the cel board ot my list for convention shopping.

Two questions for you. Last year I bought the a foam for flowers at the convention. I'm not sure what brand it is, but it is white on one side and blue on the other. One side stiffer than the other, would that work the same as the cel pad you are suggestion?

And do you prefer the metal ball tools over all of them (plastic) or just the Wilton?

ShirleyW Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
ShirleyW Posted 9 Feb 2007 , 8:19am
post #9 of 109

Your welcome guys.
The blue/white foam sounds the same as the yellow, you can roll the gumpaste on the smooth side, and thin and ruffle on the foam side. I prefer metal ball tools over any other kind. NIc Lodge uses the cel pin (small gumpaste roller/tool) and I have tried it but I seem to have better control with the metal.

TexasSugar Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
TexasSugar Posted 9 Feb 2007 , 11:55pm
post #10 of 109

Thank you Shirely! I will look into the metal ones. I bought a couple of plastic ones when I bought the rose cutters. I can't remember which brand they are though.

ShirleyW Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
ShirleyW Posted 10 Feb 2007 , 12:33am
post #11 of 109

Your welcome. You are going to love working with gumpaste flowers.

nglez09 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
nglez09 Posted 10 Feb 2007 , 12:37am
post #12 of 109

I was trying to make a new thread about the kit I found; it has all of the things Ms. Shirley mentioned:

http://cakesbydesign.cc/DVDKit.html

ShirleyW Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
ShirleyW Posted 10 Feb 2007 , 12:46am
post #13 of 109

Zounds that is expensive Nick. Granted you get flower cutters and veiners with it, but I don't see the cel board. Am I missing it? The cel board in my photo is lucite, smooth on one side, ridged on the other. To me it is the most important piece of equipment.

kms2402 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
kms2402 Posted 10 Feb 2007 , 1:05am
post #14 of 109

Thanks for the info Shirley. I am starting a Gumpaste class on Thursday. I feel like I have a head start!

kms2402 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
kms2402 Posted 10 Feb 2007 , 1:14am
post #15 of 109

BTW...what exactly is petal dust?

ShirleyW Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
ShirleyW Posted 10 Feb 2007 , 1:17am
post #16 of 109
Quote:
Originally Posted by kms2402

BTW...what exactly is petal dust?



Here you go.
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-54059-difference.html+petal+dust+luster+dust

kms2402 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
kms2402 Posted 10 Feb 2007 , 1:21am
post #17 of 109

Thanks shirley...that helps alot!

nglez09 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
nglez09 Posted 10 Feb 2007 , 4:34am
post #18 of 109
Quote:
Originally Posted by ShirleyW

Zounds that is expensive Nick. Granted you get flower cutters and veiners with it, but I don't see the cel board. Am I missing it? The cel board in my photo is lucite, smooth on one side, ridged on the other. To me it is the most important piece of equipment.




Would it be the "placemat board". Oh yea, it is. I just checked it. It says:

"Placemat Board- 9" x 11"- ideal work surface with non-slip rubber back, lucite center, vynl top"

WHOA! If you buy it alone it's $35?!!!! Are those really that expensive Ms. Shirley? I'm going to check N. Lodge's site.

ShirleyW Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
ShirleyW Posted 10 Feb 2007 , 6:07am
post #19 of 109

Yes Nick, they really are that expensive, But I have had mine for 7 years, not a stain or chip on it. Having the ridges on one side is really vital for doing wired flowers or leaves, at least it is to me. You can make a ridge just by rolling your gumpaste flat and then rolling from the center out to the left, go back and leave a little space and roll again from the center out to the right, it leaves a ridge or line in the middle of the paste. Then lay your flower petal cutter over the ridge so it goes right up the center of the petal, cut out the petal and thread the floral wire up the ridge. But it is so much faster and easier to just roll a long sausage of gumpaste, lay it over the ridge lines on the cel board, roll the paste from the center up and from the center down. Pick the paste up, turn it over and the ridge is right there in the paste, ready to cut out 6 or so flower petals at one time.

luvbakin Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
luvbakin Posted 10 Feb 2007 , 4:15pm
post #20 of 109

Hi Shirley, where do I find the glue for attaching the petals?

ShirleyW Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
ShirleyW Posted 10 Feb 2007 , 5:39pm
post #21 of 109

I make my own gum glue.
1 cup boiling water
1/2 heaping teaspoon Tylose powder
Sprinkle the Tylose over the water stir to combine but don't worry about the lumps.
Let set at room temperature overnight. The lumps should have disappeared, if not, give it a stir. Pour glue into clean glass jar with a tight fitting lid. Refrigerate, keeps about 6 months.
I buy new empty nail polish bottles at the beauty supply shop and divide the glue among the bottles. They are handy because the screw on cap has the brush applicator and it allows you to brush on small amounts of glue to the flower petals.

luvbakin Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
luvbakin Posted 11 Feb 2007 , 4:49pm
post #22 of 109

Thanks Shirley, I'll give that a try.

Cake4ever Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Cake4ever Posted 16 Feb 2007 , 9:25am
post #23 of 109

Thank you Shirley for sharing your knowledge! thumbs_up.gif

Need to run and look for these tools now. icon_wink.gif

ShirleyW Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
ShirleyW Posted 16 Feb 2007 , 10:05am
post #24 of 109

Your welcome. You will probably have to go to several different sites to find everything.

springlakecake Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
springlakecake Posted 16 Feb 2007 , 8:09pm
post #25 of 109

Does anyone else know of any other "kits" like the one mentioned....but...uh...cheaper?? I would like to get started with sugar flowers but I feel a bit overwhelmed! Anyone recommend any books?

ShirleyW Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
ShirleyW Posted 16 Feb 2007 , 9:45pm
post #26 of 109

I can understand that Merissa and of course everyone wants to save money where they can. But this is one area where I would say you should spend the money for the best equipment you can afford, even if it means only buying these things one or two at a time. It is an expensive investment to start with, but then so is any hobby, golf, tennis, etc. These tools will last you a lifetime if you take care of them, I have had mine for 7 years and they are still in great shape. If you buy less expensive (cheap) tools you will notice the difference in how your flowers turn out. Plastic ball tools will make a ragged edge when you try to thin your flower petals or ruffle and edge. You will get frustrated when they tear your gumpaste. Cheap foam cel pads for thinning and softening flowers will begin to break down after awhile. The ridged cel boards that reverse to the smooth side are invaluable for making wired flowers and leaves. And the metal cutters are so much better than plastic, because they are thinner and give you a cleaner cut. At one time you were able to buy all of these items as a kit in one place from Sugar Bouquets, but they have since gone out of business and I haven't found any other website that lists each of these things. You have to shop around to find them.

springlakecake Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
springlakecake Posted 16 Feb 2007 , 10:16pm
post #27 of 109

Just want to be sure I clarify, I was speaking of the one that Nick mentioned. I think it was around $365?? Do you think that is a smart investment? I did see another kit listed for 110 somewhere but it didnt really show what was in it. I guess you could do as you mentioned to just buy a few things at a time. I agree, I hate getting cheap stuff, never using it and then I just end up buying the quality stuff afterward!

ShirleyW Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
ShirleyW Posted 16 Feb 2007 , 10:30pm
post #28 of 109

I wasn't aware Nic was selling a kit, I'll have to go check that out. I think the one Nglez mentioned was from Scott Clark Woolley, but I didn't see a ridged cel board with it. I'll have to look at Nic's kit to see what it contains, but I imagine those items would probably cost that much or maybe a bit more if you bought them singly.

springlakecake Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
springlakecake Posted 16 Feb 2007 , 10:43pm
post #29 of 109

Sorry, that was the one that he mentioned (from scott clark wooley I think it was) I should have said Nglez (I think his name is Nick icon_redface.gif )

FaithsPlace Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
FaithsPlace Posted 22 Feb 2007 , 7:55pm
post #30 of 109

Thank you so much for this information! I have been trying my hand at making flowers with the Wilton tools and just it they do just what was posted...they tear the edges and just do not make the prettiest flowers...also in the Gum paste kit, the plastic flower cutters do not cut the gum paste clean.

Quote by @%username% on %date%

%body%