Need Help With Gum Paste.

Decorating By keri0323 Updated 30 Jan 2007 , 5:23pm by ShirleyW

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keri0323 Posted 29 Jan 2007 , 6:17pm
post #1 of 8

Hey yall I new to the group and very excited about it. I'm trying to teach my self how to make flowers and doing ok except with the carnations and sweet peas. The book says ruffle the edges and I've tried just like it says but I can't get it. Is there any other way to do it or any tips. thanks

7 replies
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ShirleyW Posted 29 Jan 2007 , 6:31pm
post #2 of 8

Are you using a foam cel pad and ball tool for ruffling the petals Keri?
Are your petal cutters for the Carnation crimped edges? You get a more lifelike ruffle for the Carnations with a crimped cutter. The plastic ball tools are a waste of money, you need a good metal ball tool, preferably with a large ball on one end and a medium ball on the other. Lay the petal on the foam pad, have the ball tool half on the edge of the petal and half on the foam pad. Use a bit of pressure and just go around in a circle to thin the edge of the petal, then come back and do it again but with more pressure. The smaller the ball tool the tighter the ruffle will be, the faster you move the ball tool the more it will ruffle the petal. You want to use enough pressure to make the gumpaste ruffle, but not so much that it tears the paste. You can use a Dresden tool but it is a lot more work than a ball tool.

On the Sweetpea, the same thing with the ball tool half on the petal and half on the pad. The Sweetpea isn't ruffled quite as tightly as the Carnation.

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keri0323 Posted 29 Jan 2007 , 7:02pm
post #3 of 8

I just have the wilton gum paste flower kit. I have a pad, Where do I find a metal ball tools? Thank you for answering.

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ShirleyW Posted 29 Jan 2007 , 7:12pm
post #4 of 8

Keri here is a link, scroll down to Ball Tools. They have two sets, I like the one with 5 ball tools, it gives you every size you would need for any flower I can think of. You can use the mat you have from Wilton, I just found it to be a bit stiff.
http://www.sugarcraft.com/

Also some listings from eBAY. I have done business with Bluelakefox seller, good quality products, fast shipping and great customer service.
http://stores.ebay.ca/Bluelakefox-Cake-Decorating-Tools_Tools

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Metal-Cake-Decorating-Tools-Set-of-5-Sugarcraft-NEW_W0QQitemZ270008667007QQihZ017QQcategoryZ46281QQcmdZViewItem

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keri0323 Posted 29 Jan 2007 , 7:55pm
post #5 of 8

Thanks so much I just ordered a set maybe they will help. If you have any more tips for some one trying to learn I would love to hear them.

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ShirleyW Posted 29 Jan 2007 , 8:01pm
post #6 of 8

Keri I would highly recommend any of Nicholas Lodge's DVDs on flower making, his sugar Craft books and his little booklet called A Potpourri of flowers. I am a visual person, I need to see something done once and I can catch on how it's done, so DVDs along with a booklet like this is very helpful.
https://internationalsugarart.com/cgi-bin/store/shop.cgi?storeid=1&c=search.htm&categories=0003

https://internationalsugarart.com/cgi-bin/store/shop.cgi?storeid=1&c=search.htm&categories=0004

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acurt Posted 29 Jan 2007 , 8:08pm
post #7 of 8

I had a lot of trouble with this also. One piece of advice given to me was to use a small or medium Celstick like an eraser. Place the tool half on and half off the paste and move it across the edge of the paste without rotating the stick. This could be done on the soft side of a Celpad or on a small piece of foam for a more prominent ruffle. Dipping the end of the stick in a little powered sugar also helped prevent the stick from sticking to the paste.

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ShirleyW Posted 30 Jan 2007 , 5:23pm
post #8 of 8
Quote:
Originally Posted by acurt

I had a lot of trouble with this also. One piece of advice given to me was to use a small or medium Celstick like an eraser. Place the tool half on and half off the paste and move it across the edge of the paste without rotating the stick. This could be done on the soft side of a Celpad or on a small piece of foam for a more prominent ruffle. Dipping the end of the stick in a little powered sugar also helped prevent the stick from sticking to the paste.




That is what I was suggesting with the Dresden tool, but it is much more time consuming than ruffling with a ball tool. I do use the cel stick for ruffling delicate edges of some of the orchids.

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