Okay, well I made my Wilton Gum Paste mix. Making it was fine!!!

I tried making a rose! FOR-GET IT!!!! The gum paste dries out so darn fast! I am keeping my reserve under a heavy glass bowl until I need it....even my other petals that I need to shape.

They are just drying out by the time I get the petals to shape. I'm using the tools necessary and that really takes a long time. Is it best to shape them with the tools or your fingers? It's so much easier to shape with my fingers. I can get a real natural petal doing it that way. I'm getting so frustrated. I NEED to learn this because I need to use gum paste flowers on my cake show entry.

Fondant and candy clay are so much easier!! Please someone tell me how to make a rose out of gum paste easier than what the books say!!!



Amy

I am sorry it is not working for you. I love gum paste and I have not had a problem with it drying out to fast at all. I guess I do not have an answer for you really. I always use the tools & my hands.
Sorry I can not give you an answer.

RoseAnn

It is possible, the gum paste is already too dry? As long as it isn't too sticky, the moisture will dry out of the gum paste.

Try kneading a small amount in wet/moist hands, and then cover it well to rest about 20 minutes. They try again.

there is no RULE that flowers must be shaped with cutters. You can style some flowers using your hands, but the tools can add finesse that you fingers cannot.

Once you cut a couple of petals, those do have to be covered while you work with the others.

Also. if you store gumpaste, I find plastic wrap is not enough to really keep in the moisture. I use plastic, foil AND a zip-lock bag to be sure.

good luck.

I posted this in the past when someone else had a problem with the Wilton Gumpaste Mix. I'm not sure if it is the problem this time, but here goes....

This is from the WMI board posted by an Instructor that had problems with the Wilton Gumpaste Mix and called their customer service. She was told the directions were wrong, and here are the new ones.

Gum Paste Mix in The Can Instructions As of Sept 2005
>
>In large bowl, add mix and make a well in center
>Add 1 Tbsp of Gum Tex and 3 Cups of 10X Sugar
>
>In Glass measuring cup add
>4 Tbsps of Warm water
>1 Heaping Tbsp of Glucose
>Heat on high in microwave for 30 seconds until clear.
>Add mix to center of well in bowl. Knead mixture
>together till it comes together. If still
>semi-stickly or dry then coat with shortening. Keep
>mix covered at all times.

------
Also before you give up on gumpaste I would suggest trying other recipes. Maybe a homemade recipe will work better for you than from a mix.

I have always covered what what I was not working on with a damp paper towel - not just plastic wrap or a bowl.

A damp paper towel sounds like a good idea as well! I'll definately give that one a try. I really really want to learn gum paste. I just have to stick with it!


Amy

in my wilton class our teacher gave us the tip, after you cut out your petals put them in the slot of your practice board, hen after you are done with cutting out your petals put your left overs in a plastic sandwich bag. then when your working with petals only use one at a time and leave the rest in your practice board. i hope i explained this okay i am really bad with giving directions.

I wrap the gumpaste and any cut items, in plastic wrap, then double bag in freezer type bags to make sure it doesn't dry out. I do this with fondant too.
The practice boards are a good place to keep your petals before using them, but I would wrap the board in plastic and place it in a couple of freezer bags still. Get all the air out of the bags you use too.
Whatever way you go, whether with the tools or by hand, you will be able to get good flowers, it all depends on the method you prefer, that is it.
Good luck!
Thanks Texas Sugar for the information about the Gumpaste cans and the recipe. I had a lot of trouble with this the first time I did it too and switched to using fondant and Gum-tex because of it.
Hugs Squirrelly