Do you use any kind of cutter or do you just make the petals freehand?

I'm not doing too well with the bc roses, so I thought I would try fondant or gumpaste. I don't have any tools so I was just going to try freehand but wondered if I am wasting my time doing it that way.

Do you use cutters and tools? Or just wing it?

I use cutters...

I have started freehanding the petals of my gumpaste flowers. Made a rose and magnolia last night freehand. I think you have better control that way. I don't know if freehand is good with fondant because it doesn't get as thin as gumpaste. Hope this helps.

I don't have any petal cutters therefore I have to do them freehand. The only problem I had was to calculate the size. My first rose was really too big

Luggi

I use cutters for every flower that I attempt. It's hard enough to get them looking realistic without trying to freehand as well. However, I have heard that you can just use a circle cutter for the petals.

If you want realistic roses though, you need to use a flower paste, because you will never get straight fondant to roll thinly enough to make realistic petals.

Good luck,


Cheers,
Fran

What is flower paste made of? Can I make it from scratch?

I have only ever worked with gumpaste once, this past weekend and I used cutters and also did some freehand. One way of freehand is also to take a small (very) ball and press it between your thumb and finger. It takes the cupping shape of your thumb. Then I still had to really thin out the edges etc. Just think back to when you were a kid and made clay flowers, it is basically the same. I really enjoyed working with the gumpaste and I got the recipe on here

Flower paste and petal paste are the British (and I presume Australian) names for Gumpaste

Thank you!

I free hand mine for now too since I am waiting on cutters. I like the control I have with it. I also really like to use Starburst Fruit Chews to make roses. Lots of stability and they firm up nicely. Just heat 1 fruit chew in the microwave for 5-7 seconds, cut it into 1/4's and flatten first portion, roll into swirl while slightly bending out the top to open it just a bit, flatten next "petal" and wrap around swirl while again bending out slightly. Continue with the other two portions then microwave another fruit chew if you want it bigger. I find I only wnat to micro one chew at a time so that they stay soft enough to work with. Good luck!!!

Me too.. I use freehand. it is so much easier to me but I don't use fondant. Kind of soft and take a long time to harden. I use only gelatin and confectioners sugar. It turns hard like a rock ia a few minutes. Just airdry. Thats all.

what is the ratio that you use for the gelatin/confectioners sugar? Could you send me the recipe? I am always looking for alternatives to gumpaste. Thanks!!!!!

Actually I got the recipe from here, under "recipe".

1 tablespoon powdered gelatin
1/3 cup of cold water
4 cups of confectioners sugar
Colouring (optional)

Sprinkle the gelatin over the cold water in a small bowl. Let it stand for 2 mins to soften. Place it over a pan of simmering water until the gelatin dissolves. Then add colouring.

Sift confectioners sugar and make a well in the center and pour the liquid mixture. stir with a wooden spoon. Add more sugar if needed. Knead until it become soft & pliable.

If not in use wrap the gumpaste with plastic wrap and store it in a box in a coll dry place.Do not store in the a humid place such as the kitchen and do not refrigerate as this recipe dried up very fast.

When moulding roses, use a bit of warm water to make the petal sticks to each other..