Okay, I'm taking Wilton course 3 and it's tuesdays and thursdays for two weeks. I didn't get around to making my rose centers last night like I wanted to, which means I'll be doing them tonight for tomorrow's class. So, my questions is...it says to add 1 teaspoon of gum-tex to 12 ounces of fondant. How much more can I safely add to help speed along drying? Will I ruin it if I add too much? Is 1.5 teaspoons or 2 teaspoons okay? Does it even matter? Does the center have to be dry to add petals to it?
I'll be making plenty of centers tonight and most will have plenty of time to dry for next weeks final cake, but I wasn't sure about tomorrow's class.
I add about 1.5 teaspoons of gum-tex to my fondant. I remember I did them the day before and they were fine.
To make sure they don't pop off, make a hook on the end of the wire that you are inserting. We used toothpicks in class and they just kept flying off while shaping the rose with the other petals!
HTH!
Mirjana
I am taking course 3 right now, tuesday nights.
I have two more nights to go. Ive not startd making my rose centers yet so I am not sure about the gum-tex, but my teacher did say that she wanted us to make them at least 48 hours before class or they would not be dry enough to work with.
Dont really know yet about this just only what we were told. HTH
You should just be practicing a rose or two anyway, as long as you have a day to let them kind of set up you should be fine. Just make sure the ones you plan on doing for your actualy cake are done enought in advance that they'll be able to harden.
If you're worried though, it shouldn't be a problem to add more gumtex. My teacher didn't even give us an exact measurement. She just said "some". Good luck!!!
Thanks for the replies. The 1 teaspoon per 12 ounces is what it says in the course 3 book. Thanks for the info about wire. I had gone out today to buy round toothpicks because I only had flat ones. I'll get some wire while I'm there tomorrow for the rest of my roses.
What is a good gauge wire to use?
Okay, I made over 40 centers tonight and I thought I'd try a rose just to practice since I had enough left to cut out. I see what you mean about it falling off the toothpick.
But then I'm trying to imagine what kind of hook do I put on a wire? Just a little bend like a question mark? Or a full bend like a paper clip? I did manage to do it with the toothpick, but I can see it would be easier if something were holding it better.
Also, once you've completed the rose how do you keep the petals from drooping? I though maybe setting it in an egg carton? It was fun, but boy is it time consuming.
Okay, I made over 40 centers tonight and I thought I'd try a rose just to practice since I had enough left to cut out. I see what you mean about it falling off the toothpick.
But then I'm trying to imagine what kind of hook do I put on a wire? Just a little bend like a question mark? Or a full bend like a paper clip? I did manage to do it with the toothpick, but I can see it would be easier if something were holding it better.
Also, once you've completed the rose how do you keep the petals from drooping? I though maybe setting it in an egg carton? It was fun, but boy is it time consuming.
Hi koolaidstains! I tried to reply last night but had some trouble. Sorry 
Here's an example of the kind of hook for the wire.
http://www.cakecentral.com/article24-Step-By-Step-Gumpaste-CallaLilies.html
I don't remember how the petals dried so that they wouldn't droop, but I don't recall using anything to hold them up either. I shaped them in my hand, using the water/gum glue to adhere them slightly, and then by the time I finished fiddling with them, they would be dry enough to just stick into my floral foam block to dry. (I have pictures of my roses in my photos).
HTH!
Mirjana
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