Vanity Set in Sugar

Supplies
Firm Gumpaste- colored ivory, light pink, deep pink

Fondant roller and Board

Cornstarch

Gum Glue

Ateco Circle Cutters Sizes 2-1/2" and two graduated larger sizes.

( approx 2-7/8", 3-1/4")

3" Craft Mirror

Slim Bamboo Skewer

3" round Garrett Frill cutter

#12 Piping tube

Toothpicks
Styrofoam Board
Scissors

Pme Wheel Cutter or Pizza Cutter

Gold Lustre Dust

Lemon Extract

2 Artist Brushes

Confectioner's Glaze

***

Instructions

Mirror:

Liberally dust your board with cornstarch. Roll out ivory gumpaste about 1/4" thickness and cut with a 3-1/4" Circle Cutter.

Dampen the gumpaste with gumglue and press the mirror into the center of the gumpaste circle.

Set Aside.

Roll ivory gumpaste about 1/8" thickness and cut with garrett frill cutter.

Before removing the frill cutter, use as a guide to center punch holes in the scallops using the #12 piping tube as a cutter. Using a 2-1/2" circle cutter, cut the center out of the frill.

Moisten the edge of the gumpaste around the mirror and carefully lay the scallop around the mirror, stretching gently to cover the outer perimeter of the mirror. Place a 6" square of parchment paper over the mirror and flip upside down. Set on top of styrofoam to dry.
Make a 1" ball from ivory gumpaste. Roll into a 4" long sausage roll.

Using a toothpick, make indentations about 3/4" from each end. Cut the end of the bamboo skewer to make it 5" in length. Moisten with gum glue, and carefully insert around 3" of the skewer into the gumpaste roll, leaving the rest exposed. Flatten the roll by pressing with your fondant roller. Now you have the mirror's handle. Moisten the exposed skewer and the top end of the gumpaste handle with gum glue. Carefully insert into the back of the gumpaste mirror. Allow mirror to set around 8 - 10 hours to dry.

When completely dry, flip mirror over. Clean mirror completely.

Roll out pink gumpaste to 1/8" thickness. Cut a 2-7/8" circle. Using your 2-1/2 circle cutter, cut another circle just inside the other circle, as shown. This makes a thin border strip for the mirror. Dampen the inside of the scalloped edge with gum glue and gently set the pink border strip in place. Set aside.

Rose and Leaves decoration:

Roll out the pink gumpaste very thin. Using the large end of the #12 piping tube, cut 6 circles. Dampen one edge of the circle with gum glue; line up with overlapping sides, as shown. Place a toothpick at the end and roll the first circle around the toothpick, creating the center of the rose. Remove toothpick, and continue to roll the circles around the center. Gently roll back the edges of the "petals" and cut the excess from the bottom of the flower,

using sharp scissors, creating a flat bottom. Set on styrofoam to dry.

Repeat this process four more times to make 5 roses in total.

Roll out a small amount of ivory gumpaste. Using the large end of the #12 piping tube, cut two circles. Then place the tube 1/4" inside circle and cut again, as shown, creating a leaf shape. Make veins in leaves using a toothpick. Pinch ends of the leaves together and set on styrofoam to dry.

Repeat this three more times to make 8 leaves.

Lipstick:

Using a 7/8" ball of deep pink gumpaste,

roll out a sausage about 1/2 in diameter and 3 inches long. Cut horizontally on one end and using a sharp knife or scissors, cut a diagonal on the other end. Lipstick should be about 2-1/2" from tip to end. Insert a toothpick into the bottom center of lipstick and place into styrofoam to dry.

Once the lipstick is dry, clip the end of the toothpick off to extend from end 1/4 inch.
Roll out small amount of ivory gumpaste to a generous 1/4" thickness. Cut a circle using the
the large end of #12 piping tube. Moisten the top of circle with gum glue and set the lipstick in the center of the circle and set aside. Roll out ivory gumpaste to 1/16" thickness, and cut a 1"x 2" rectangle. Dampen top surface of the rectangle with gum glue and roll around the lipstick. Seal and smooth vertical seam. Set aside to dry.

Using gold hi-lighter luster dust mixed with Lemon extract, paint the edges of leaves, the scalloped border on the mirror, and the lipstick holder.
Brush the gumpaste mirror and lipstick with confectioners glaze and allow to dry.
Fasten the leaves and flowers with gum glue to the mirror and lipstick.

Now you have the perfect feminine cake topper for a "girl" of any age!!

NOTE--Remember that although most elements of this topper are made of sugar, this should be for decorative purposes only.

Photos and Tutorial by Jacque Benson- 2009. all rights reserved.
This material is not allowed for reproduction without written permission from the author.

SugarBabies ( Anne Geddes Style)

Sugar Babies (Anne Geddes Style) by Jacque Benson


Supplies and Tools needed:

Gumpaste
Gum Glue
Embroidery Scissors
Roller
Gumpaste Board
Small Baby Face Mold
Ball tools
Petal and leaf veiners (opt)
Hat Pin
Yellow, Kelly Green, Carnation Pink petal dusts
Fine brushes for petal dusting
6” Fondant Covered Cardboard Circle
Dendrobium OR Daffodil Cutters
4” leaf cutters


DENDROBIUM

DAFFODIL

INSTRUCTIONS:

Roll out a small marble sized ball of pale pink gumpaste in cornstarch and press ball into baby face mold. Cut away excess gumpaste from around the baby’s head. Insert half of a toothpick and set aside to dry.

Lightly brush the cheeks with a pink petal dust.

Color lips lightly with pink petal dust mixed with Everclear.

Roll out small amount of gumpaste into a moderately thin 4” by 3” rectangle. Cut out 2 leaves using a long narrow leaf cutter or simply cut into the following shape.

Vein with Corn Husk and dry brush with Kelly green luster dust. Crease along middle line forming life-like leave and set aside to dry.

For the orchid, cut out 2 of the rounded petals and frill the edges of petals using a round toothpick. Brush lightly with petal dust, coloring the edges and center of petals darker than the middle.

Curve the petals to a lifelike state, and place over rolled tissue to dry slightly.

Cut out one of the center petal (B).

Frill the wide edge of trumpet (scalloped edge of slipper for the orchid) using a round toothpick or gumpaste tool. Lightly wet the head with gum glue and wrap around the head of the baby like a bonnet.

Brush edges with pink or yellow petal dust according to flower.

Form a small rectangle out of gumpaste about 1” by 1-1/2” and about ¼ “ thick. Cut a ¾” slit in the bottom for legs and snip out of each side for arms (as shown)

Using your fingers roll the legs and pinch the ends to make a feet. Round the arms and with snips or embroidery scissors, clip ends to create tiny fingers.

Make an indention with hat pin just above fingers to create a wrist. Use hat pin to create creases under knees and elbows. Moisten the toothpick with gumglue and push upper body onto the head. Arrange body to look like sleeping baby. Brush the body with Kelly green petal dust and the hands with pink.

Roll out a small amount of gumpaste with roller. For the petals you will want to roll it very thin. Cut 2 of the tri-petal cutter for daffodil and 1 for the orchid. Using a flower veiner (can also use a dried corn husk to vein ) make impressions into the three petals. Frill the edges of the daffodil petals slightly.

Dry brush the petals lightly with petal dust, darker in color towards the center and edges.

Lay over tissue to dry slightly as you assemble the baby.

Take the fondant covered round disc and attach your leaves in a V shape to the center using royal icing or gum glue.

Orchid:

Attach the 2 ruffled petals to the sides of head in back with gum glue and then the three sepals with one of the petals vertical. (As shown)

Glue body over leaves and place tissue under petals until completely dry.

Daffodil:

Attach one set of three sepals onto back of head with gum glue. Attach second set of sepal under first allowing second row to fall between .

first row of sepals.

Glue body onto leaves, and place tissue under the sepals until completely dry.

Jacque Benson 2007- all rights reserved

Doweling a Cake with Poly Straws

When  you are making a tiered cake, supporting your tiers is a must to

prevent your cake from collapsing.

Recently, A & H Cake Design started offering Poly-Dowels.

They were quite easy to use and can be used for many purposes.

One use is to support your tiered cake.

First make sure your tiers are very level.
Now, begin by cutting a wax paper circle the size of your upper tier.
Center on Bottom tier and  outline the circle on your cake with a toothpick or skewer.

 Then, inside the circle mark where you want your dowels inserted
with a skewer. 

Insert the skewer and using a ruler, measure exactly the depth of your tier.

Using scissors, cut your Poly-Dowels to the length of the measured depth.

Insert into the cake.

Place your next tier on top inside your marked circle.

If you have a third tier, or in this cake a heavy topper, then repeat the process on the next tier..

Since I was using a topper, I only used 3 dowels. If you are placing another cake, I advise you use 5.**

Place the next tier or topper centered in place.

Another great use for the Poly-Dowel is to protect your cake when inserting wired sugarpaste stars or flowers.

Wrap your wires with floral tape.

Cut your dowel to the desired length, insert into the cake,

 then insert the wrapped wires into the Poly-Dowel.

So easy to use.

Now just place in the center of  the table.

Your cake is ready for your party!

**Please note when delivering a cake that, in addition to doweling the tiers, lateral support is important to keep a cake from shifting.
After stacking tiers, insert a large wooden dowel, sharpened at one end, through the center of the cake.


Photography and Tutorial by Jacque Benson 2010
All rights reserved.

Poly Dowels courtesy of  A & H Cake Design