I've tried searching this site & Google but either not saying this right or?? I've been trying to make 2 entwined hearts (using 50/50) to use as a cake topper for my niece and since this is something I haven't done...questions!

I've tried 2 practice ones but not pleased. The larger "open" hearts obviously have to be 1 in front of the other but can't get them to stick together-tried bracing the front one to level with back

1-Do I glue them together then airbrush (using pearl white)? Or vise-versa? Glue doesn't seem to hold if I do after.

2- How do I keep the smaller colored hearts from bleeding onto the white(painted) when they are glued on?

3-How thick would you suggest I make this? Mine have been pretty thick as I was using cocktail straws-should I use something else?

4-For the "scroll" detail-I was rolling pieces of fondant so it was dimensional-leaving the overlapping area blank....is there a better way?

Trying to upload my drawing-hope it works!

Thanks for any suggestions!

I would be inclined to make the 2 overlapping hearts from one piece of gumpaste, doing it so it's an optical illusion and just looks like 2. You can use heart cutters to mark the paste, overlapping the 2, then cut with an exacto knife. You could cut the middles out with a smaller heart cutter, no need to do those with a knife. I think it would be easier than trying to glue the 2 hearts together and you would possibly get a stronger finished product.

Leave it to dry solid with the cocktails straws resting on the bottoms of your hearts - try and make a little groove/channel for them to lay in. Glue the straws in place with royal icing. Airbrush/paint when dry.

Make other hearts. Leave to dry - the 2 middle size ones with a groove on the back so they rest on the straws. Paint. Leave to dry. Then stick the whole lot together with royal icing. If your paint is dry and the hearts are solid, they shouldn't bleed - maybe they were bleeding because you were using water as glue?

And I would do the scroll work with royal icing, not fondant. I think it would be easier. But it depends on your piping skills too I guess.

ANevermind, I don't think I understand the question.

Didn't even think of doing them as 1 piece-thanks Dayti! And yes, I was using water/paste mixture as glue so will try with the RI. Really appreciate your advice!