Just made my first wafer/rice paper butterflies. They turned out nice, but they are still very sticky from the piping gel I put on them. I cut them out and assembled them with royal icing yesterday, and the piping gel is still pretty sticky. I had trouble putting on a light layer, so it's probably thicker than it should be (the gel).
Should I wait another day for the piping gel to dry more until I store it in tupperware? Are they supposed to still be sticky?
how long did you wait. after you spread a thin layer of piping gel on you can sprinkle them with crushed wilton sparkles, that willhelp it dry quicker, but it still takes at least a day or over night.
I spread one side with gel 3 days ago, then the next day, spread the other side with gel. Then, yesterday, I cut them out. So, they have been drying for 2-3 days, but they're pretty sticky. I didn't sprinkle with crushed sparkles because my trial one with sparkles didn't look as clean as without.
Is it ok to just leave them out for another day or two? In the end are they supposed to still be a little sticky? Or will they dry completely?
they will eventually dry, just giveit more time.
Not sure where you live but a lot of the US is getting rain and is humid. That is not a good environment to dry butterflies. I only put gel on the top side of my butterflies as thin as possible and hang them on my metal racks to dry. I just about always sprinkle a little edible glitter on them to make them dry faster and make them easier to cut out. If they do not dry as fast as I would like I have placed them on cooling racks (wire) and set them on top of a lamp shade with the light on. The heat tends to make them dry faster too. If you don't like the glitter look at least put it on the underside of them and that should help. Just remember next time to spread the gel as thin as you possible can. Good luck and let us know!
Thanks for the replies. I put the gel on with a spatula, but I was so worried about the ink smearing, I guess I didn't do a great job with the gel. Oh well. We're going on day 4 and they're still sticky. Party isn't until Sunday, so hopefully they'll be dry by Saturday! So, is the gel just for the shiny look? Can I leave the gel off next time?
Not only is the gel for the shiny look but it gives the butterfly stability. Without it the wings will droop. I, too, was afraid at first of smearing the ink but just give it time to dry (the ink) and you can be very firm with the off-set spatula. In fact I put a thin layer on and then go back and scrape some of it off. Sometimes a tiny about of ink may come with it but seldom does this happen. When I know I am going to need butterflies I sometimes print them days in advance.
I'll have to try going back and taking the excess off next time. One more question. The cake is frosted in buttercream. If I put the butterflies on the cake on Saturday, will the royal icing on the butterflies be affected by touching the buttercream? Party is on Sunday. I think I read somewhere that buttercream softens royal icing, or something like that.
Thanks for the replies. I put the gel on with a spatula, but I was so worried about the ink smearing, I guess I didn't do a great job with the gel. Oh well. We're going on day 4 and they're still sticky. Party isn't until Sunday, so hopefully they'll be dry by Saturday! So, is the gel just for the shiny look? Can I leave the gel off next time?
When the gel drys it gives the wings stability. It is not just for the shiny look. The wings tend to curl if you leave it off.
To be safe why not place the butterflies on just before you deliver it? I have put mine on the night before without a problem but I would hate to recommend it and something happen. However, I pipe my royal icing directly onto the BC and then place the wings in so that is why I do it ahead of time to give the royal time to harden. People have different techniques. Did you place the sticky wings into fresh royal icing? That could be the problem. I let my wings totally dry before I cut them out, pipe the black bodies onto the cake and stick the wings into it. The royal could be the reason why the gel isn't drying. Not sure though.
I recently took a class from Marsha Winbeckler on making things with wafer paper and some of the things we did we put the piping gel on, but the butterflies we did not. They looked so light and real...and you don't have to wait for the piping gel to dry.
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