I see gumpaste flowers on this website and I'm so amazed...why can't I get it!?!?

I just can't get my gumpaste rolled thinly enough. Can anyone give me advice?? I can get it to a certain thickness, and then it just resists further rolling. Is there an ideal rolling pin for this job?? Does it work better to use shortening instead of cornstarch or powdered sugar?? All the directions say you should be able to "see through" the gumpaste and read a page beneath it.

I would really appreciate some expert advice! I have attempted several times to make the flowers work, and I have never had any worthy of an honored position on a cake!

I have trouble with gumpaste sticking unless I use shortening, it seems to let up easier but it might just be me.

I find shortening to be much better for rolling. What recipe are you using? What are you rolling it out on? You may try using a pasta roller first, and then finish rolling with a small wooden stick or a cel stick.

You know, at the suggestion to use a cel stick, I'm wondering -- maybe I'm just trying to roll out too much at once.
I have worked briefly with CK gumpaste mix, and most recently with tylose gumpaste. I roll on my kitchen counter (Corian-type surface), using cornstarch. (Sometimes vegetable shortening). I use a wooden rolling pin. I've tried nuking the gumpaste briefly, which seems to help a bit.

Is this all standard, or am I missing something??

Stop using the cornstarch to roll the paste out. Use a very thin veil of Crisco instead, on both your rolling surface and the pin you are using. This goes for when you roll out fondant, also.

The cornstarch is drying your paste out, causing it to stick to your surfaces, and making it harden up before you get it to the desired thickness.

You should be able to roll your paste out thin enough to slightly see a pattern through it. Perhaps get yourself a plastic placemat, something very smooth with a nice pattern that you can recognize easily through the paste.

Theresa

I put my gumpaste in the food processor to soften it up, really works great.

The placemat suggestion is right on the mark.

I have a large clear rolling pin that I use.

Smear a THIN coat of Crisco on the pad where you will roll. Lightly dust the other side, for cutting, with the cornstarch.

Roll your paste on the Crisco side, thinly. When done pick it up and then slide it across the cornstarch side. Place the paste down on the cornstarch side. Then use your cutter.

If your paste is rolled correctly you will be able to see the color of your pad through it.

When making flowers you will also be using a ball tool for the edges. That will thin your paste as well.

If my paste is a bit tacky I will dip my fingers in the cornstarch and knead that SMALL amount into my paste. That makes it easier to roll.

Practice and you will get a feel for what consistency you need.

half of my board has a light coat of crisco. the other half has a tiny bit of cornstarch. I roll on the crisco side, then pick up the piece and lay it on the conrnstarch side, and that is where i do the cutting.