My first GP flowers :)

I've done some fondant roses in the past, but these are GP and my first carnations and daisies. I say "first," even thought these are the final version of several attempts

Also of note, I had to make 100 carnations and bring them on the plane with me Ask if you want to know packaging and suitcase/cargo hold results.

http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a293/leighrobin/Gum%20paste%20flowers/

Try the link again--I changed the setting to public

As for the flowers, I used 100% gumpaste on most and fondant with tylose powder for some. The ones that were made with the fondant/tylose were a little more flexible and not so brittle, and made out better after packing/shipping. Only a few petals shattered off of the flowers, but all are still usable

Basically, I used those large 30 egg plastic trays that snap together. I placed a layer of tissue (like Kleenex, not gift tissue) over the bottom tray, set each carnation in an egg cell, then another layer of tissue on top. Then I snapped the top tray on. The snaps should be snapped through the tissues, because they will then hold or suspend the flowers and prevent movement.

Then, I placed those trays inside scrapbook containers (the ones that are on sale right now at Michael's )--because I also had a few trys of 12-egg containers too, one of those fit perfectly snug right next to the 30-egg containers inside of the scrapbook container and prevented either from moving around.

On top of that, I tucked my supplies into any space along with paper towels if anything still moved. Those scrapbook containers closed perfectly over the egg trays so that they did not move, and this non-movement is key, I think.

Anyway. . . I had three of those scrapbook containers in the end. I packed them in a hardcase suitcase (cheapo one from TJMaxx) with clothes and other things around them.

I **checked** the suitcase through the airline, so I'm certain it got tossed around I also placed large stickers with "FRAGILE" across each plastic container, in case they saw strange shapes in the xray and needed to open the case.

I am so happy I figured this out and that they all made it safely!!

Oh, one more note: the daises you see in the pictures were done AFTER I arrived and were not shipped along with the carnations. I doubt those would have done well because the petals on those are SOOOOOO fragile (I'm not expert, so I think they should be a little thicker to prevent the breakage I'm seeing even just handling them).

I am also updating the photo album with pictures of the egg trays inside of the containers.

Thank you The egg containers are from store-bought eggs. The picture should show in my link; I added the pictures of the two egg cartons (12 and 30) I used.

Apti: Sorry I forgot to say, the wedding is Saturday. I am doing my first large batch cupcakes (100+). The flowers are going on as toppers, with the bride and groom cupcakes having a few more than all the rest.

The eggs are sold like this at our local grocer, but I've seen them at places like Sam's, Costco, etc. They're not organic, so I don't really buy them this way for our own personal use For that, I have a friend who gives me her chickens' farm fresh eggs!

Okay, the photographer just posted the wedding photos--she only published 3, and you cannot really see the details too well. Here they are, along with the display that I put together with whatever my mom had (plus a little help from Michael's, of course ). . .