Can you please tell me how to make realistic FALL fondant/gumpaste leaves? i don't want to do just one solid color but what color do I start with? Do I paint the fondant or use gel colors and kneed it in? So many questions! I know one of you talented folks can help me Thanks so much

I made my own template with real leaves and cardstock. I then used fondant with a decent amount of tylose, rolled out to my desired thickness(about 1/8") then I traced it out using a smaller fondant cutter. I layed my leaves on scrunched wax paper for shaping, let them dry about 10-15 min to sort of set them, I then airbrushed using yellow first, followed by green and then finally a brownish/red mixture.The reason I placed the leaves over wax paper on a tray was to prevent having to move them after I painted them. I let them dry overnight. If you don't have an airbrush you could use the same color system , using vodka and luster dust and hand paint, the vodka dries off fast. Good luck!

I just did a fall leaf wedding cake. I used gumpaste. I started with some light brown & some golden yellow. I just rolled it out and laid my veiners on top of it, cut around them & pressed it down to imprint the "veins". Then I dried them on crumpled foil. After they were dry (the next day) I used dry luster dusts to color them. I just used some brushes and dusted on some chocolate brown, red, spiced pumpkin & cactus luster dusts on them. They turned out very realistic.

Some great tips on this thread!

I've only made leaves once and need to make them again for an upcoming cake, but I made the leaves and just painted them with oranges, browns, greens and yellows with vodka. I then put piping gel on them to make them shiny.

For this next cake I need much thinner leaves and I'm going to dust them with gold shimmer dust.

Good luck with your cake!

angie

Here's another thread which might help you: http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=605891&postdays=0&postorder=asc&&start=0