Shading & Coloring Gumpaste Help!

Decorating By Dreme Updated 16 Oct 2006 , 7:49pm by sweetamber

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Dreme Posted 16 Oct 2006 , 7:14pm
post #1 of 5

What is the best way (besides mixing the color in), to shade gumpaste? Say I have a pink gumpaste flower and I want it more realistic; what is the best method to shade it? Do I use dust, lustre, chalks,etc?

4 replies
frankandcathy Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
frankandcathy Posted 16 Oct 2006 , 7:25pm
post #2 of 5

You could airbrush it if you own one.

If not, I would just use petal dust. Petal dust has no "shine" to it. It's just a color. Simply mix it with lemon extract or vodka (don't drink too much of the vodka now or you don't know WHAT you'll end up with. Don't drink the lemon extract either because...yuk!) and paint it on with a paintbrush. You can add pearl dusts or luster dusts mixed in with the other dust or on top of them I think.

I've never used chalk because I used to pound the erasers in elementary school and I just remember gagging.

JoAnnB Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
JoAnnB Posted 16 Oct 2006 , 7:26pm
post #3 of 5

Nicholas Lodge instructions use petal dust and a brush to add dimension to the petals. If you want the dust a lighter color than what you have, mix a bit of dust with cornstarch and you will get a softer version.

you can also use pearl if you want some shine on the petals.

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Dreme Posted 16 Oct 2006 , 7:43pm
post #4 of 5

has anyone used chalks? which ones do i buy and from where?

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sweetamber Posted 16 Oct 2006 , 7:49pm
post #5 of 5

I just did some callas that I colored with chalk- you can see the picture in my photos. I used artists pastel chalks that I got at Michaels. Make sure you don't get oil pastels, they won't work! Also make sure the package says non toxic and only use them on decorations that won't be eaten. While they're perfectly safe to put on a cake, I'm sure it's probably not very good to eat (and who eats gumpaste flowers anyway?)

Amber

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