I really want to try my hand at a gumpaste flower this week for my friends birthday. All I have on hand is "Guar Gum" though, and all the gumpaste recipes I've come across use Tragacanth (sp?). Can I use Guar Gum instead??? Please help!!! Thanks in advance.

Nope, don't think so. The gums used in gum paste are for creating stretch and faster drying. Guar gum is just a thickener, like cornstarch.

You can use Wilton Gum Tex or simply buy some pre-made Wilton gum paste or Wilton gum paste mix.

Actually, gum tex, cmc, or tylose added to fondant makes a nice gum paste. It's much quicker than using gum trag--that requires sitting for 12+hrs.

HTH
Rae