Whimsicial Wire

Decorating By my2boys Updated 29 Jul 2007 , 8:09pm by jenny518

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my2boys Posted 29 Jul 2007 , 4:13pm
post #1 of 14

I see lots of people putting little stars, circles, butterflies etc on top of their cakes which are being held up by wire. What type of wire is it? Is it safe to put into the cake, or is it specific type of wire just for cakes? Just curious, because I love the look, but I'm afraid of a piece getting stuck into the cake.

13 replies
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leah_s Posted 29 Jul 2007 , 4:25pm
post #2 of 14

Floral wire. It comes in various thicknesses, depending on how much strangth you need to hold up whatever you're holding up, and how much curve you want. It comes wrapped and not. It also comes in green, white, brown and a few other colors if you can find them.

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Momma2three Posted 29 Jul 2007 , 4:42pm
post #3 of 14

I am glad that I found this thread. Okay, how do I attach the fondant to the wires? I am making my fondant curly cues and dots for the cake ahead of time, so that they will dry out. However, if I make accessories that I want on wire, they will be too dry to attach to the wire, so how do I do that? Please help me!! This is my first time working with fondant! Thanks in advance.

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i_heart_pastry Posted 29 Jul 2007 , 4:52pm
post #4 of 14
Quote:
Originally Posted by Momma2three

I am glad that I found this thread. Okay, how do I attach the fondant to the wires? I am making my fondant curly cues and dots for the cake ahead of time, so that they will dry out. However, if I make accessories that I want on wire, they will be too dry to attach to the wire, so how do I do that? Please help me!! This is my first time working with fondant! Thanks in advance.




Put the wire in when you make your decorations & let them dry with the wire in them.

I get my wire at a cake supply. It comes wrapped.

Bec

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SLK Posted 29 Jul 2007 , 4:53pm
post #5 of 14

I just stick my wire right through the gumpaste piece before it dries (through the bottom edge). If you do it this way, just make sure that the gumpaste is thick enough for the wire to fit into.

I've also seen others use royal icing to attach dried pieces - you would just want to make sure that the gumpaste pieces are light enough to be held.

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Momma2three Posted 29 Jul 2007 , 4:54pm
post #6 of 14

Thank you, thank you, thank you! You all are amazing. You always come through, and quickly, too!

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sugarMomma Posted 29 Jul 2007 , 5:05pm
post #7 of 14

Is there a tip or trick for getting the wire shaped in the curlicues that I've seen on Ace of Cakes? I've bought the rolled floral wire, but I have a hard time shaping it without kinks or unwanted bends. I had almost given up!

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Momma2three Posted 29 Jul 2007 , 5:09pm
post #8 of 14

Oooo, good! Another question that I was thinking of asking. I hope someone knows the answer to this one, too!

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lilie Posted 29 Jul 2007 , 5:27pm
post #9 of 14

Bend the wire before you attach the gumpaste on it. I use a small wire bender from a hardware store. It doesn't put any kinks in the wire at all. Large canisters work well, as do the sides of the cake pans. Stick the wire into a styro-foam block for stability.

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lilie Posted 29 Jul 2007 , 5:29pm
post #10 of 14

Sometimes the wire comes in a roll and all you have to do is cut once and you got a bend.

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shivs Posted 29 Jul 2007 , 5:29pm
post #11 of 14

Momma2three........I live in West Texas also. Denver City where are you from?

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Momma2three Posted 29 Jul 2007 , 5:38pm
post #12 of 14

shivs,
I live in a little town called Shallowater...near Lubbock!

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Momma2three Posted 29 Jul 2007 , 6:48pm
post #13 of 14

By the way, your cakes are beautiful!

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jenny518 Posted 29 Jul 2007 , 8:09pm
post #14 of 14

I just bought my wire from Lowe's. It's galvanized steel wire, which is lead free, of course. I wash it in hot soapy water. A word of warning! If your cake is a fluffy, soft cake, wires that are larger than about 20 gauge (lower # equals thicker wire) will want to slip sideways. I use a piece of fondant to stabilize it - once I just put a Wilton plastic dowel in the cake (cut same height as cake) and place the wires inside it to help support them. You may also need to do this if the decorations on the ends of the wires are heavy. If you're just making fondant balls, you don't even have to let them dry. I have made them and placed on the wires at the delivery site.
An idea- wouldn't it look cute to make a vase of flowers on the top tier of a cake by using a plastic dowel (like above, but taller) and form a gumpaste or fondant vase around it. Then place your wired flowers in it!

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