I have a softball size clump of tan colored gumpaste left over from a project (a failed project at that!) I worked on a couple of months ago. I wrapped it in a zip loc bag and stored it in a small, sealed plastic tub. My question is....

It is a bit firm, too firm for rolling. I wish to roll it out and cut it into small rectangles for a brick wall on a cake I am making. It will lie flat on the cake. What is the best way to soften this to roll out.? Microwave? Kneading the crap out of it? Is this even possible?

I also need to recolor it....any shade of red to resemble bricks. I'm not really fussy on this. I have Americolor Red Red, Tulip Red, and Terra Cotta.

This is only my second time using gumpaste so I am at a loss here on the ability to even reuse it. Thanks so much for any guidance you may have for me.

Well it sounds like this gumpaste needs some humidity. So add the colour, that may be enough. If not, then add a 1/4 teaspoon smear of corn syrup and keep kneading.

Thanks so much, Irene! You were spot-on correct. I gave a little squirt of Tulip Red into the ziploc bag and kneaded until most of it was incorporated. I then greased up my hands with a little Crisco and kneaded it with my bare hands. Other than a few tan colored hard specks (which were easily picked out), it turned out perfect! Thank you again.

I just revived a piece of rock hard gum paste this weekend. It crumbled into "rocks" when I tried to knead it, so I put a couple of drops of glycerine on it, then smeared it over with Crisco and started kneading. To my surprise, it came out soft and supple and smooth!!