I want to try a couple of gum paste flowers and a few of them say to use non toxic "chalk" to paint them. Are they just talkinga bout regular crayola chalk (since I notice my nieces sidewalk chalk says non toxic) - or is there some particular kind of chalk used for cake decorating and if so where do you get it?? Thanks for any help and sorry to be so dumb about it

no non-toxic chalk its no a regular crayola chalk you need buy in cake supplies store. ask in www.creativecutters.com or www.cakedeco.com or www.cuquisdesigns.com or another web site store

Thank you so much!!!

I too have been experimenting with gum paste flowers. I bought and used non toxic chalk pastels from Jo-Anne's. I just grinded it up with my box shredder (the smallest one to make a powder) then I mixed it with lemon extract.


Here is what I bought http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp?CATID=cat293844&PRODID=xprd233241

HTH

i just asked this same question in another thread...thanks for the info!

If you scroll down this page:

http://www.earlenescakes.com/store/colors.html

you will see some decorator's chalk that I had purchased for scrapbooking years ago. I'm sure you can find it at a variety of craft places. I was so excited when I saw this on a cake supply b/c I already had it and never thought about using it for flowers.

I bought scrapbooking chalks from Ebay.There are several kinds that are matte or shimmer in all colors.I use these all the time.They specifically say Non Toxic on the package.They were about $14.00 a palette.Very reasonably priced!!

For use on gumpaste, Michael's and AC Moore will have non-toxic chalk in their "fine art" department - I bought a set of 48 colors for about $5 - and you can use a coupon to save even more. Be sure to look for non-toxic, because they also have others that are not advertised as such. I use a small strainer from a kitchen gadget store - little strainer with very fine stainless steel mesh that is about a one-half cup size. Grate the chalk into the "bowl" of the strainer, allowing the powder to fall onto wax paper or parchment below. Works as well as the mucho more expensive petal dusts in the little pots that I can't open to save my life....

Thank you everybody! I looked at some of those chalks oday and wondered about them - now I know I can go back and buy it. I really appreciate everyones help.

So, I can use any of the chalk stuff found in the scrapbooking area of Hobby Lobby as long as it says "non-toxic"??

Also, how would you make the "dots" that are found on a lot of lilies. Most of them are brownish. Would you just paint them on with Americolor gel??

Thanks for starting this thread, I am going to start making some fall flowers out of gumpaste for a wedding at the end of the month.

sugarlaced - keeping in mind that while I have bought the chalks I haven't actually had a chance to start doing the flowers - I would assume you put it on with the chalk - there are some brownish ones in my set. I would think you just apply a little darker and/or heavier to get the color.

Yes, you can use any chalk, as long as it's non-toxic ( no need to spend a fortune on "special " chalk !! )
You can "paint " with chalk using a wet brush - water is fine, or as mentioned, toothpicks....

while you may use water, you're results will not be nearly as reliable as if you were to use alcohol or extracts. the latter will evaporate much quicker while using water, you run the risk of it melting your sugar paste.

Sorry Melysa - I was talking about doing the dots for the lilies & the brush is damp, not dripping with water

You can use crayola chalk, or generic chalk, as well. As long as it says non-toxic, it's fine. You don't have to get special chalk from craft stores. The 25 cent box of chalk is fine, or even the giant 4 dollar boxes of sidewalk chalk will do, and those are a lot easier to grind into powder, I've found.

I used a tea strainer, but I found it wasn't fine enough for me, so after that I used my mortar and pestle.

Also, if you don't have a way of making it into a powder, you can just rub it back and forth on a piece of paper over and over again, and it will turn into a fine powder. (I've found it works better on printer paper, than notebook paper)


Hope this helps,


Holly

jules....

Thanks so much for all the great information!!!

Melysa,

I totally love your cakes btw !!