I'm making cupcakes with a fondant flower on top. How do I form the flower so it doesn't lie flat...use a ball tool, let it dry in some sort of former? How far in advance should I make them? Here is the pic I found for inspiration (by senel on CC) Any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Lisa

You really do need a form for the flowers to dry in anything but flat. You really do not need to invest in bought formers. I use tiny vases to set flower in. Use a small dixie cup to make flowers petals fall back. All flowers do not face up. Get creative..
good luck

Sorry, I meant the bottom of a small dixie cup...

egg containers work well too

Thanks for the suggestions. I saw a mini round ice cube tray that I thought might work for small flowers, but I'll have to experiment if they sticke! How long do the flowers need to stay in the formers to dry?

Tin foil works, just shape it the way you want.

Whatever you use for a former, dust it with cornstarch so the pieces don't stick.

Mine usually need to dry overnight to hold their shape. My favorite formers are a set of silicone mini-muffin pans that I got at Ross for $2. I would never want to bake in them, but they're ideal for flowers and because they're flexible it's easy to pop out a stuck flower.

What great ideas! Thank you! Will the flowers dry with using only fondant, or should I do a mix of fondant and gumpaste or add tylose? Sorry for the questions, I don't usually use fondant. Also, I was going to make my own MMF, is there any recipe that anyone can recommend? Thanks again!

I bought 10 white plastic craft/paint palettes for $.99 each a few years ago to form my quick cutter flowers. By the time I've filled a few trays/palettes with flowers, the first ones are dry enough to hold their shape and remove.

I also use them to separate very small colors of flowers when I'm placing them on cakes, and I mix luster and vodka in them, too! Lots of uses!! HTH!

Fondant will dry, even with humidity. The longest it's ever taken my fondant flowers to dry is overnight, even thicker flowers. Gumpaste will dry a lot faster, but unless you're in a hurry you can manage without it.

Thank you! I really appreciate the time being taken to help with my questions! Thanks for all the ideas and suggestions.

Thanks again,
Lisa

I use the very large bubble wrap and lay the flowers between and over the bubbles. Works as a very good former.

Love the bubble wrap idea!!! Someone else had suggested a devilled egg tray, which is inexpensive and works well, but bubble wrap seems even better. Is it food safe, or do you line it with saran wrap?

I cut paper towel rolls in half longways and use those to form my flowers, it always works for me

i like the plastic apple containers that costco packages their apples in. They are great for larger flowers.

Great ideas! Thanks very much for sharing.