I was quite pleased with how my first attept at a gumpaste rose was turning out until I got to the part where the petals were larger and more open.
I tried forming them and drying them off the rose, but they didn't quite fit on right or very naturally when I tried attaching them.
Aside from holding them up as they dry with your hands which I also tried (tiresome!) is there any good way of helping support them and hold their open shape as they dry? Thanks!
I was quite pleased with how my first attept at a gumpaste rose was turning out until I got to the part where the petals were larger and more open.
I tried forming them and drying them off the rose, but they didn't quite fit on right or very naturally when I tried attaching them.
Aside from holding them up as they dry with your hands which I also tried (tiresome!) is there any good way of helping support them and hold their open shape as they dry? Thanks!
I use plastic spoons to dry the outer petals a little, not completely..I attach them with some gum glue and then hang them upside down to dry. I do one row at a time and let it dry before putting on another row. I make my roses on toothpics, so I can stick them into some styrofoam and hang them upside down that way. If you make yours on wires you could wrap the wires around something to hang them upside down.
Here's a picture of one of my roses... You can see the outer petals are open... I hope this helps.
Take a square of styrofoam and extend it out over the edge of a table..stick the wired rose into that so they can hang upside down to dry.
If your gumpaste is nice and thin it shouldn't take long for those outer petals to dry.
I've used egg cartons. They may not work as well for larger ones but they worked for med. size.
rolling thinly is key - you should be able to more or less see through the gumpaste.
for large roses where the outer layers would have this issue, I have a couple of things I would suggest:
1. make the first 4 layers of petals a day ahead and let dry completely
2. roll and cut all petals for each row (5 for the 5th row, 6 for the 6th row, etc.)simultaneously. Thin them, and let them set up for a few minutes.
3. Flip the over and attach as normal, but working holding the rose upside down
4. after attaching the entire row, let the rose hang upside down for a few minutes until the petals are set, then flip it right side up and place in styrofoam. They'll likely pull back a tiny bit - just enough to look more real as though the flower is opening.
rolling thinly is key - you should be able to more or less see through the gumpaste.
for large roses where the outer layers would have this issue, I have a couple of things I would suggest:
1. make the first 4 layers of petals on the rose as normal, but make it a day ahead and let dry completely
2. roll and cut all petals for each row (5 for the 5th row, 6 for the 6th row, etc.)simultaneously. Thin them, and let them set up for a few minutes.
3. Flip the over and attach as normal, but working holding the rose upside down
4. after attaching the entire row, let the rose hang upside down for a few minutes until the petals are set, then flip it right side up and place in styrofoam. They'll likely pull back a tiny bit - just enough to look more real as though the flower is opening.
YOu can do one of 2 things. bend the wire and tape it over the edge of your table, or 2, buy one of the fmm stands that you can hang them on to dry. that way they dont droop. I have one of the stands so i use that method. I cant remember the name of the stand.
You can use a pasta drying rack, I had my husband make one, but before that, I used a clothes hangar and put little beads of hot glue along the length so the flowers would remain spaced apart. Then I hung it from my light fixture right above the table where I was working.
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