I'm doing a cake for this weekend with tulips for decorations. I have already made the heads of the tulips from gumpaste. Now I'm faced with the task of making the stems. I do not like the tutorials I've seen using only the wire wrapped with the floral tape. It doesn't have a real look in my opinion. Any suggestions on what I can do for the stems to make it look more authentic? I've tried wrapping gumpaste around the wire but it just seems thin and awkward. Need help on this one....

Nadine

The last time I made tulips I made long leaves and wrapped them around the wires. I put the first one against the flower, the next one lower so it's tip was about in the center of the first, and the 3rd one lowest and wrapped tighter with all three arranged off center from each other. I really liked how it looked. I hope this makes sense since I don't have a picture . I've seen calla lillies with the leaves like that, if that helps you visualize it.

Really, the best solution is hollowing, flexible green plastic tubing. Nick Lodge sells it (no photo):

http://order.nicholaslodge.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=0&products_id=300

It looks very realisitic for the thicker stemmed flowers like tulips, gerbera daisies, etc.

You may be able to find something at the craft store, or dollar store, that will do, perhaps by wrapping it with some floral tape.

Rae

Hi there, when I learned to make tulips we used those fuzzy wires (pipe cleaners) you can get from craft shops. Just wrap it along with the flower wire with your tape.

HTH!

When I need thicker stems like for long stemmed gum paste roses, magnolias and the like I take 18 gauge fabric coated wire and begin to wrap it. I then add another wire and wrap those together. Then I add a third and then wrap all three together. I have a purse cake with a single red rose in my pictures if you want to see what it looks like with this method.

Thanks everyone for the great ideas. The cake order just got pushed back to next weekend so I have a few more days to work on it. One other question, my gumpaste tulips have already dried, any suggestions for attaching them to the stems? I was thinking that I would just place the pistol on the end of the wire and then thread it through the hole in the bottom of the flower. Then I'm not exactly sure how to keep it secure. You guys are awesome taking time to help me out like this. I've never taken any decorating classes so this is a big help.

Nadine

I know that when I am doing an large open petal flower like this that needs an intricate pistil that attach it to heavy gauge wire and run it through the hole. I then reinforce it inside the flower with some color matching royal icing. Let that dry fully before continuing on with the calyx and stem.