Blown Sugar Ornaments

Sugar Work By TickledPink Updated 13 Feb 2006 , 7:12pm by parismom

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TickledPink Posted 29 Nov 2005 , 2:07pm
post #1 of 38

On the last Holiday Cake challenge, Michelle 2nd place winner, made blown sugar ornaments for her christmas cake and I LOVED THEM.

Truly I thought they were the most gorgeous things I've ever seen.

Anyways, I've been thinking that I would love to try this. Basically a sugar bubble or ball recipe but with colored sugar, I think she made red and green ornaments.

My question is, can you pipe royal icing on top and paint on top of the sugar ornament? I'm going to have some free time near the end of this month and I'm thinking I am going to try my hand at this.

37 replies
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jekizer Posted 29 Nov 2005 , 2:11pm
post #2 of 38

I truly have no idea, but I would love to know how to make the ornaments themselves. Blown sugar has always intrigued me, but I have been two scared to try it.

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Cake_Geek Posted 29 Nov 2005 , 2:30pm
post #3 of 38

If I remember correctly I think she did paint on them. I can't remember if she did royal icing on them. I thought it was neat how she did the royal icing on the balloons then popped them. Just like paper maiche!!

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SugarCreations Posted 29 Nov 2005 , 10:02pm
post #4 of 38

You can paint the sugar.

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Lisa Posted 30 Nov 2005 , 1:04am
post #5 of 38

Thanks SugarCreations...she did pipe on the royal at the last minute and it looked like her bubbles were actually thicker then the other sugar bubbles I've seen. Maybe the royal would dry/harden before it would eat through them? Not really sure. I don't have experience in this medium but the ornaments she made were lovely. Did you get to see the show?

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SugarCreations Posted 30 Nov 2005 , 1:09am
post #6 of 38

NO! Done got irritated! Seems everyone is ignoring my posts! I am not an enemy here!

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Lisa Posted 30 Nov 2005 , 1:15am
post #7 of 38

I haven't noticed that. Maybe it's just that this topic is so new to many of us here and we may not have as much to contribute as someone like you who has experience? Don't get irritated icon_smile.gif

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SugarCreations Posted 30 Nov 2005 , 1:16am
post #8 of 38

Yeah.

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ThePastryDiva Posted 30 Nov 2005 , 1:26am
post #9 of 38
Quote:
Originally Posted by lisa

it looked like her bubbles were actually thicker then the other sugar bubbles I've seen.




I'm sure that we've all seen hard candy lollypops decorated with royal icing all the time with no adverse effects.

Piping them a little thicker and letting them cure (dry) well, MAY be the way to go.

If you like the look of royal icing, why don't you try to decorate the sugar bubble with white chocolate? It will give you the same effect without having to worry about the MINIMAL moisture in the royal icing.

You can also dilute the paint in denatured alcohol, which will evaporate in seconds to mix your paint in to decorate your sugar bubble.

Just make sure that you have your plan and pattern worked out so you don't have to redo or go over the same area ..so as not to damage the bubble.

SC: Sometimes we get so busy trying to get our point across that we forget to come up with a viable solution to the problem/question at hand...don't stress...it's just sugar!

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Jackie Posted 30 Nov 2005 , 1:38am
post #10 of 38

Not to get things off topic,
SugarCreations,
I just wanted to make a note, that in any online community you will find yourself answering the same questions over and over and over and over....

I can't tell you how many times someone I have answered questions about how to get red icing, or how to do a frozen buttercream transfer.
It's not that other members are ignoring me.

Its simply a fact of life, a lot of people are not very internet savvy, or do not know how to do a forum search yet, so they will ask a question that has probably already been asked and answered a hundred times over.

I find it much easier to simply go back to my original answer, or even find a thread that someone else answered, then copy and paste the URL to the old thread in to a reply to the repeat question. Its quick, easy, and it gets the people the information they wanted.

I understand that sometimes these things can be taken personally, but try not to take it to heart, its much easier on the mind to just do a quick copy and paste, with the full knowledge that the same question will likely be asked again, and that no one is deliberately ignoring your earlier posts. icon_biggrin.gif

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TickledPink Posted 1 Dec 2005 , 1:33pm
post #11 of 38

I hadn't ignored any other posts, in fact I had read all the other threads but thought the whole idea and topic of Christmas ornaments was worthy of it's own thread.

Anyways..... I am going to purchase some supplies this weekend and actually attempt some sugar work sometime in the near future and I plan on making some sugar ornaments. I think I am start small and instead of trying to blow bubbles, I think I will just make circular solid ornaments in red and green and very sparingly decorate with some royal on top and then probably hit them with a bit of gold.

I have this amazing Christmas cake idea in my head and I want to pull it off, just finding the time to devote to all the details is the problem. But it's Dec 1st so time to get busy on it!

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ThePastryDiva Posted 1 Dec 2005 , 1:47pm
post #12 of 38

Hey Tickled,

Here is a simple solution for you. Now this technique depends on what kind of back finish you want on your "ornament".

For the ones that you want to decorate with royal icing I recomend a clear back...here is the way to do it.

if you have a sil pat, you can lightly grease it and place metal cookie cutters that you grease well around the inside and have placed on the lightly greased silpat.

If you do not have a silpat, you can do what I do for my Gingerbread house glass. I lightly grease some Aluminum Foil and lay it onto a large cookie sheet. THEN you can lay your greased metal cookie cutter onto the greased aluminum foil.

Now, to make the ornament hole you can gease a mall metal tube and place this where you want the hole to be, and pour the hot sugar into the metal cookie cutter.

This part may have to be done by 2 people. One holding the metal hollow rod and one to pour the hot sugar. (please wear some gloves)

An alternative to this, if you have no help, is to attach the ribbon with the royal icing after you make a dot with hot glue, place the ribbon and decorate over it with the royal icing.

This method will give you a "CLEAR" ornament.

Now, for one with a mirrored back....do not grease the alumimun foil. Lay out the aluminum foil as flat and creaseless as possible. make sure that everything else is greased. When you remove the ornament, DO NOT pull it off with your hands. Go around the outside with a small exacto knife ( don't cut on the sil pat)

your background will be sort of "mirrored"


Now, if you want a "crackled mirror" effect...you can crumble up the aluminum foil, lay it out...don't flatten it out so much that you loose the wrinkles and proceed as before.

I think this will be BEAUTIFUL decorations for your Christmas tree! and now you have the option of making the same design 3 different ways for variety!!!

Good luck in your project, and don't forget if you have any questions, I will be more than glad to try and help you.

Make sure that you grease your metal cookie cutters so that you can remove them from the sugar as soon as the sugar cools!

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kmcguire Posted 1 Dec 2005 , 10:01pm
post #13 of 38

PastryDiva, I think she was talking about blowing the hot sugar mixture like a glassblower. I saw that show too and it is something I am definately wanting to try. Those transparent globular ornaments were stunning.

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ThePastryDiva Posted 1 Dec 2005 , 10:23pm
post #14 of 38

[quote="TickledPink"] I think I am start small and instead of trying to blow bubbles, I think I will just make circular solid ornaments in red and green and very sparingly decorate with some royal on top and then probably hit them with a bit of gold.

[quote]

Um, nooo...I think I read the post correctly. I think she decided to scale down her project to something more managable, from the blown sugar bubbles to the circular ornaments and I gave her a few options on THAT idea.

I try to read the posts very carefully before I answer them sometimes going back to the original post to make sure that I answer the question at hand correctly, but no matter, Tickled Pink will have no fear of correcting me if I'm wrong...

Which is..OMG!!!...been known to happen ..lol..me being wrong I mean! icon_lol.gif

I'm sure that they WERE as stunning as you say, the blown sugar apples that we did at school were pretty jazzy too even if I do say so myself!!!

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ThePastryDiva Posted 1 Dec 2005 , 10:31pm
post #15 of 38
Quote:
Originally Posted by kmcguire

I saw that show too and it is something I am definately wanting to try. Those transparent globular ornaments were stunning.




I need to watch more TV and stop ordering cake decorating books! tee hee icon_lol.gif

Why can't someone invent a tv with an alarm clock or automatic turn it on button when your favorite show is on?

Oh, C'mon...I'm sure that there is someone out there rubbing their chin right now..thinking about it...lol

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MontiBellesBakery Posted 1 Dec 2005 , 10:58pm
post #16 of 38
Quote:
Quote:

Why can't someone invent a tv with an alarm clock or automatic turn it on button when your favorite show is on?




They have, it's called TiVo and it's the best thing EVER invented. icon_biggrin.gif Your local cable or satalite company probably has the same thing, they just call it a DVR. Both let you pick shows you want to watch and it will record them for later use. You can also set it to record an entire series. For example, I record Sugar Rush every time it comes on and then I watch it when I have time.

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ThePastryDiva Posted 1 Dec 2005 , 11:07pm
post #17 of 38
Quote:
Originally Posted by MontiBellesBakery

Quote:
Quote:

Why can't someone invent a tv with an alarm clock or automatic turn it on button when your favorite show is on?



They have, it's called TiVo and it's the best thing EVER invented. icon_biggrin.gif Your local cable or satalite company probably has the same thing, they just call it a DVR. Both let you pick shows you want to watch and it will record them for later use. You can also set it to record an entire series. For example, I record Sugar Rush every time it comes on and then I watch it when I have time.



hahaha I GOT that stupid DVR man thing..it's in the living room recording every sport known to man..ugh!

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MontiBellesBakery Posted 1 Dec 2005 , 11:10pm
post #18 of 38

you poor thing...i sincerely feel for you. my living room one records every cop show that comes on. icon_rolleyes.gif

i have one on the tv in my bedroom and that's where i get to record "my shows"

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SquirrellyCakes Posted 1 Dec 2005 , 11:18pm
post #19 of 38
Quote:
Originally Posted by kmcguire

PastryDiva, I think she was talking about blowing the hot sugar mixture like a glassblower. I saw that show too and it is something I am definately wanting to try. Those transparent globular ornaments were stunning.



You can purchase Venuance pearls that is a simpler form but more expensive and you can make sugar bubbles from these using the pump etc. I have a contact person for these if you are interested and more information.
Hugs Squirrelly
Edited to state this was directed to kmcguire.

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SugarCreations Posted 1 Dec 2005 , 11:36pm
post #20 of 38

SC you have the web address like to add it to my website for information purposes only of course. Boy these bubbles are getting a work out aren't they. Lawrence Welk would be so proud, huh SC.....

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SquirrellyCakes Posted 2 Dec 2005 , 12:09am
post #21 of 38
Quote:
Originally Posted by SugarCreations

SC you have the web address like to add it to my website for information purposes only of course. Boy these bubbles are getting a work out aren't they. Lawrence Welk would be so proud, huh SC.....



I have their personal email address and some information they had sent me when I inquired about their products and methods about a year and a half ago.
I will Pm it to you and you can contact them about it. Just don't want to post their address on any sites, perhaps by now they have a site.
Hugs Squirrelly

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SugarCreations Posted 2 Dec 2005 , 12:15am
post #22 of 38

I completely understand that SC.

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ThePastryDiva Posted 2 Dec 2005 , 12:19am
post #23 of 38

Albert Uster Imports has the coolests things, the pearls even come in color!

The wooden blowing tube is less than $12.00...

Go for it my lovelies, let's do some SUGAH!!

giggles

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SquirrellyCakes Posted 2 Dec 2005 , 12:44am
post #24 of 38
Quote:
Originally Posted by SugarCreations

I completely understand that SC.



Sent you a Pm, when we were looking into this topic about two years ago, it was difficult to get information and a group of us had heard about the pearls and started doing internet searches until we heard about a couple who were selling the pearls and were able to contact them. We had heard about them from a cake decorator that had heard about them at an ICES convention. Things may well have changed by now as I haven't researched it since that time frame. But this couple was the only distributor at the time and very helpful. I never did place an order but they are very helpful and informative about the subject. Anyway, always nice to have any information out there, isn't it Sugar?
Hugs Squirrelly

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SugarCreations Posted 2 Dec 2005 , 12:49am
post #25 of 38

I will look into it. If they are still in business I will e-mail them to see if I can add a link to my site. Thanks SC. thumbs_up.gif

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SquirrellyCakes Posted 2 Dec 2005 , 12:56am
post #26 of 38
Quote:
Originally Posted by SugarCreations

I will look into it. If they are still in business I will e-mail them to see if I can add a link to my site. Thanks SC. thumbs_up.gif



Don't be surprised if you don't hear back right away, send them another email. They had a new grandchild last year and the grandmother spends a lot of time travelling to see the little one. Really nice people!
Hugs Squirrelly

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SugarCreations Posted 2 Dec 2005 , 1:00am
post #27 of 38

Alright, thanks SC.

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TickledPink Posted 5 Dec 2005 , 2:41pm
post #28 of 38

UPDATE:

I am now the proud owner of a SILPAT!!! And I also got a silicone rolling pin that is balanced and weighted, it is the bomb! I love it, although I only got it Sat and haven't done anything but play with it (no dough) on the counter.

So I have to study for a calculus final this week but after next Mon I am home free and I am going to attempt my sugar ornaments.

I did decide against blown bubble ornaments but on the TV show Michelle B. basically made a tiny ornament I think about less than 1 inch big, what she did sorta looked like a teardrop, kind of like if you had a spoon full of honey and let it drop, it would build up a huge heavy round drop before falling off. Anyways, I loved the ideas everyone gave me, especially the tin foil, that would look very magical!

So when I get to work I will definitely post pictures.

ONE MORE QUESTION:
Has anyone ever tried the plastic oven mitts so that you don't burn your hand? You know those new ones that look kinda like silicone or jelly and are in colors? You use them in place of a pot-holder. I was wondering if they would work handling sugar.

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ThePastryDiva Posted 5 Dec 2005 , 3:40pm
post #29 of 38

no honey, you cannot wear those...you need to be very flexible to work your sugar.

What we did in school was work with 2 pairs of the latex gloves. But be careful. I burned through several when I was working with my heat source..the sterno cups..lol

The sugar won't be as hot as you think because ifyou've fliped it a couple of times with your silpat, till it moves like honey...it should be cool enough to quickly touch it.

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gotcake Posted 18 Dec 2005 , 2:21pm
post #30 of 38

After seeing the Holiday cake challenge ... I saw this little ladle in the food store that was for poaching eggs and it had a very short handle and it could stand on the counter soooo... I bought it and made my daughter "pastrypuffgirl" try to make an ornament! She did it! Even her sister and I got into blowing through a straw to make small ones rounding them in a melon baller to make little snowmen, (she used her pump, which by the way was from and old blood pressure cuff). This stuff is so cool. My mind is full of blown sugar ideas. She got a recipe she liked off of Food Networks site from Jacques Torres ... she said it had great flexibility for blowing and pulling and even though it used vinegar we did not taste it. We are going to do more today. Maybe I can get her to post some. I also thought the gold lacey ornaments that were shown on the show were piped onto balloons and the balloon was then popped after the royal dried and she carefully removed the balloon and then painted them gold. I wanna try that too! "Please Puff?" I don't wanna do cookies today!
Tickled Pink it was alot of fun give it a try! Just remember the sugar is cooled down from liquid but it is still very hot.

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