Hi I am new to sugarcraft. I have bought all the cutters, mats, embossing mats etc. I made some gorgeous flowers last night using the mats and layering technique.

I am trying to make butterflies on wires to come out of a cupcake tower cake that I am going to make and want to make these now. The problem being is the wire doesn't stay in. The buterfly itself is gorgeous but it slides dow the wire.

Also can anyone tell me what gumpaste is... keeping in mind I am in Australia and we don't use the same terms. I have looked everywhere but only find ingredients that I have never heard of.

I hope someone out there can help! Cheers Brocky

What did you make your butterflies out of? I understand your frustration with the recipes and ingredients you haven't heard of...I have a cake book from Australia and most of the recipes have ingredients that I haven't heard of and use different terms than I am used to. The recipe from the book I have calls for:
2 teaspoons gelatine
2 teaspoons liquid glucose
3 teaspoons white vegetable fat (shortening)
500g icing sugar
3 teaspoons gum tragacanth
1 egg white
Mix gelatine and 5 tsp. water and leave for 1 hour. Stand over a pan of hot water and stir until dissolved. Add glucose and white fat, continue to stir until melted and combined.
Sift sugar and gum tragacanth into mixer bowl. Add gelatine mixture and egg white and beat on low until combined. Beat on high for 5 minutes until white and stringy. Put in a plastic bag and seal in an airtight container. Put in the fridge for 24 hours. Knead well with your hands lightly greased with vegetable fat.
The recipe is out of the book The Essential Cake Decorating Guide
Hope this helps!