Can I Teach Myself Gumpaste Flowers In A Jiffy?
Decorating By Ishi Updated 9 Nov 2006 , 4:38pm by ShirleyW
I told a friend that I would make her a cake for her birthday as a gift. "Anything you want!," I said. So, she emails me and says that she would like chocolate hazelnut cake covered in chocolate ganache and with some sort of asian floral theme, ie. cherry blossoms or orchids. So, my question is- can I teach myself to make either of these flowers like really quickly. You also might need to know that I've never worked with gumpaste before and I really don't even know what it is. Maybe I should try fondant? I don't know. Any suggestions? I would like to do them in gumpaste but just not sure what is all entailed.
*alicia*
I've been making flowers for a while, and altho I wasnt happy with my first attemps, everyone else said it looked great. The orchid might be a bit ambitious for a novice, but cherry blossoms should be quite easy.
I would suggest getting a book with some nice clear instructions, and if u use fondant remember to add some gumtex, otherwise our flowers will never work!
Good luck, and KUP!
Yep, the Wilton kit is awful, it would discourage any new beginner. There is a booklet by Nicholas Lodge that I recommend to all of my students, it is called "A Potpourri of flowers" has 16 color plates of flowers, patterns and instructions. If you have the right tools, cutters etc. I think you could follow along with it or with any of his DVD's or VHS tapes. Having said that, I would start out simple and Apple Blossoms might be a good way to go. You could twist lengths of floral wire together and tape them with brown floral tape, then arrange into shape for the branches. Order just a small metal apple blossom cutter and a metal ball tool to thin the petals. The blossom would be prettier if dusted with petal dust, but if you don't have any you could still do a pretty one in white and maybe crush up a piece of pink chalk and brush on the edges of the petals. You could add flower stamens but they might be hard to find, not sure if Michaels carries them. The flower is cut out, laid on a foam cel paid, or if you don't have one you can buy a foam kneeling pad for gardening and cut it into small squares and use that. But the metal ball tool is what you really need to rub over the edges of the petals to thin them and make them look more natural. Here is a link to a very simple Asian design with apple blossoms that I think you could do.
http://www.france-ok.com/artisan/food/cakes/appleblossomcake.htm
Sure you can.,..
I never took a class on it. Mine is all trial and error and a lot of reading from cake decorating books. Although I took baking classes. 
Any book suggestions?
I agree with ShirleyW, Nicolas Logde's books are great. I have the one of his called "Sugarflowers" and also love one by Mary Ford - Sugarflowers for cakes.
Good luck and KUP on ur progress
Could you possibly resort to the simpler flowers? Also, when creating a spread, create some smaller filler flowers and leaves. I seemed to have done well with my first attempt using Wilton's kit. I'd also taken a gumpaste class which was one night for 2 hours - look into a gumpaste class at your local cake decorating supplier. I really enjoyed using the kit. Yes, much to learn, adding gumtex, eggs whites or vanilla as adhesive, chalking w/ lemon extract, pearlizing w/ vodka, etc.
It's nice to know I'm not the only one who had a hard time w/ the Wilton gp kit. I made lilies for DH's confirmation/Easter cake and I had a heck of a time! And when I was done, I was very disappointed - I didnt' think they looked too realistic. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as I was going to throw them away, but my cousin took them home! 
I was so discouraged I haven't tried gp flowers again. 
It's nice to know I'm not the only one who had a hard time w/ the Wilton gp kit. I made lilies for DH's confirmation/Easter cake and I had a heck of a time! And when I was done, I was very disappointed - I didnt' think they looked too realistic. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as I was going to throw them away, but my cousin took them home!
I was so discouraged I haven't tried gp flowers again.
Aaw, don't give up, they are so much fun to do and so rewarding when they turn out well. Invest in some good quality gumpaste tools, take a class from Nic Lodge if you are ever able to, buy some of his DVDs and I think you will be amazed at what you can create.
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