What is the best way to start making gumpaste flowers? I just want to start playing around with them. Should I buy the wilton starter set? What is the easiest flower to start with and where do you find the best tutorials? This is something I have been avoiding because I know it is really hard... but I'm ready to add this new skill and any advice at all is really appreciated!

I'm a newbie hobby baker also and I started with the Wilton kit. It has the color instruction book and a wide variety of cutters. I started with that and through trial and error am now able to turn out pretty decent flowers. It's like everything you have to practice, practice!

Books, books, books, and now DVDs and You Tube with great information. Many members of CC have free tutorials and some have videos that you can buy (me included ).

My favorite books come from Alan Dunn and Nicholas Lodge. Nick has DVDs as well.

If there are cake clubs near you, try to attend. Many times they will have demonstrators showing all kinds of techniques. ICES is a large cake club that has "Days of Sharing". This is another way to get some great help. Some local cake decorating supply stores will have classes.

Good luck. Gumpaste flowers are my favorite technique. If you check my gallery you'll see what I mean.

Michele

I am excited! I'm going to get a wilton kit soon. I hear there is a new one; which one is better the old or new one? Which one is more all inclusive of what you need? Can't wait to get started!
Sugarflowers , your flowers are amazing! Especially your profile pic! Thanks for the advice!

Thanks. I think ill get the new one then! reminds me of old outdated videos in health class back in high school! haha

I really enjoy learning from DVDs. You can watch it being made, hear the instructions and back it up as many times as you need to. I have DVDs by Nicholas Lodge and Jennifer Dontz and both are great teachers. They tell you many time saving tips and how to really make the flowers come to life with petal dust. The dusting really does make all the difference. I have made Dutch Irises and Roses with good success and hope to make a magnolia soon. I have the old Wilton set and the book but find that the DVDs just help me much more. It is fun and people are always amazed.

I really enjoy learning from DVDs. You can watch it being made, hear the instructions and back it up as many times as you need to. I have DVDs by Nicholas Lodge and Jennifer Dontz and both are great teachers. They tell you many time saving tips and how to really make the flowers come to life with petal dust. The dusting really does make all the difference. I have made Dutch Irises and Roses with good success and hope to make a magnolia soon. I have the old Wilton set and the book but find that the DVDs just help me much more. It is fun and people are always amazed.