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desperately want to improve on my gumpaste flowers

post #1 of 18
7/29/12 at 8:19pm
Thread Starter 
So, I'm getting better at making gum paste figures and even some embellishments, but flowers, at least flowers that look halfway decent, have eluded me! I've watched every video I can find, study everyone's cake pictures, try to practice, etc. but my flowers always look awful! I have a very limited collection of cutters, embossers, etc. Can anyone suggest some good cutters, shapers, embossers, anything that will help me to create better looking flowers? Are there dvd's you recommend? I made some atrocious looking roses tonight and I'm feeling frustrated. Please help!
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post #2 of 18
7/29/12 at 8:26pm
Highly recommend getting Jacqueline Butler's Sugar Flower class on Craftsy. You'll learn the basics like what sugarpaste to use, what consistency it should be, how thin to roll your petals, how to wire them properly, how to dust and how to assemble. From there you can probably make any flower you can find a free tutorial online for and they will turn out awesome.

Good Luck!
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post #3 of 18
7/30/12 at 6:14am
I did the Wilton Course 4 ADVANCED GUMPASTE FLOWERS class recently and I really enjoyed it. What is interesting though, is now that I have learned the techniques in that class, I have been able to adapt what was learned to making other flowers by using templates I have found online.
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post #4 of 18
7/30/12 at 6:25am
I also started by taking the Wilton course 4 just to get the basics. Although I had lots of fun, I wasn't too thrilled with the flowers. I have since gotten library books, viewed videos & tutorials on line and learned a lot as a result. I have very few cutters myself but use templates that I have found online or makes templates from flowers in my own garden. It takes practice. For myself, I find that I can do a better job if I mix fondant & gumpaste since it gives me more time to work with it. Don't get discouraged.
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post #5 of 18
7/30/12 at 10:46am
Thread Starter 
Thank you all for the advice and encouragement! I'll keep practicing. Also, I'd still like to know whether any of you have cutters, veiners that you really find indispensable; maybe good to use for several different flowers?
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post #6 of 18
7/30/12 at 11:39am
Stuff I can't live without:

Simple round cutters in all sizes that I use to make a ton of different flowers. I have a set of biscuit cutters that are straight on one side, frilled on the other. I use them all the time.

I use 5 petal rose cutters a lot for a lot of different flowers.

My celboard.

KA pasta roller. Worth every penny and I use it every day - can't believe I ever rolled stuff by hand before. Madness!

Viva paper towels and corn husks (like for tamales) will save you hundreds in veiners.

Small, sharp pointy scissors.

Small wire cutters.

Small needle nose plyers.

Paper covered wire in 18, 24 and 26 gauge.

"Sugar glue" made with a pebble of gumpaste dissolved in water.

Floral tape in white, light and dark green, brown.

And then dusts. I prefer Crystal Colors and petal dust - luster dusts are unnatural.

You can spend so much money on veiners, cutters, molds etc!
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post #7 of 18
7/30/12 at 11:53am
I was going to start a thread with a thank you but of course.. this helpful person had also had some great advice in an ongoing thread (this one)...anyway.... what I would like to say is


THANK YOU FromScratchSF!!!!!!!!!


You are always so helpful, willing to share and I made my first SMBC last night following your tutorial and am about halfway through a thread to figure out how to pipe with it..

Sorry to hijack the thread but figured it kind of fit right in... I would never have thought of the corn husks to vein with and was lamenting that I do not have a veiner.. well.. now I do

Thanks so much for all you share and do!!!!

Colleen icon_biggrin.gif
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post #8 of 18
7/30/12 at 12:08pm
Thanks FromScratch. That was a great list. I took it down icon_smile.gif
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post #9 of 18
7/30/12 at 12:36pm
Also, buy metal cutters when you can. I find that the plastic cutters don't always make a clean cut which goes a long way to the quality of your end product.
deborahanne

http://grandmasugarskitchen.blogspot.com/
http://lamaisondesgateaux.blogspot.com/
http://theenchantedline.blogspot.com/

Life begins at 325° F, and, yes, that IS powdered sugar in my hair.
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deborahanne

http://grandmasugarskitchen.blogspot.com/
http://lamaisondesgateaux.blogspot.com/
http://theenchantedline.blogspot.com/

Life begins at 325° F, and, yes, that IS powdered sugar in my hair.
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post #10 of 18
7/30/12 at 12:54pm
There are some great tutorials on www.sugarteachers.blogspot.com. I have found many of their tutorials to be helpful. Edna with Design Me a Cake has several great tutorials on youtube. Then....practice...practice...practice. I am still learning.
Cakes are my canvas and icing is my medium.
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Cakes are my canvas and icing is my medium.
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post #11 of 18
7/30/12 at 4:00pm
Thread Starter 
Wow! Thank you all so much! From ScratchSF, thanks for taking the time to make a list! I'm loving the corn husk idea. I often look round my house for items to use other than their intended purpose!! Great tips, everyone. I may even start posting some of my cake pics once I feel they're good enough to share!
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post #12 of 18
7/30/12 at 4:18pm
You are welcome everyone!

Psst - yeah, the corn husk thing is AWESOME. I have very expensive silicone veiners that I have put aside in favor of corn husks.
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post #13 of 18
7/30/12 at 7:03pm
Cornhusks???....CORNHUSKS!! Genius!! Going out to my backyard now! thumbs_up.gif
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post #14 of 18
8/13/12 at 6:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by FromScratchSF

Stuff I can't live without:

corn husks (like for tamales) will save you hundreds in veiners.




wow! why have I never thought of this before? you are a genius! thanks for the tip!
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post #15 of 18
8/13/12 at 6:56am
Good Lord....

CORN HUSKS! That is nutso brilliant!

Do they remain usable for long periods of time? Do you store them a particular way?

I was so dreading the purchase of 5 million tools for my cousins wedding cake in October. It's a Fall leaf theme. Corn husks will definitely save some money.

Thank you!
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