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.

Making a Sugar Christmas tree

Supplies :

Waffle Cones for Ice cream

Small bowl with 1/2 inch water

scissors

Forest Green Royal Icing

Piping bag with #67
Piping tip

Yellow colored Gumpaste

3/4" Five petal or Star Cutter

Gumglue or piping gel

Wilton Pastel Candies
Dragees

Place two waffle cones together as shown.

Place in shallow water for 15- 20 seconds.

Remove from water and, using scissors, cut away soft edge of cone

until bottom edge is even and level.

Using royal icing, attach the cones to make "trees".

Starting at bottom of tree, begin piping leaves pulling out as you pipe.

Continue until you have filled the tree with "fir branches", leaving about 3/4" at top bare so you can move your tree into place. When the tree is placed where you want it on your cake or board, you can fill in the remainder of the top of the tree.

Roll out yellow gumpaste to about 1/4" thickness and cut out a star using your cutter. Place a yellow pastel candy on both sides of star, using gumglue or piping gel. Place on top of tree and secure with royal icing. Hold in place until firmly set.

Decorate your tree with colored pastels and dragees, securing with fresh royal icing if needed.

Photography and Tutorial by Jacque Benson
2009 copyright all rights reserved

How to make SugarPaste Butterflies

These little gumpaste butterflies make a lovely addition to a floral cake topper.
They are made on wire to easily insert into your topper.

Supplies

Gumpaste

Fondant Roller And Board

Cornstarch

Patchwork Cutters

#20 Covered Wire

Wire Cutters

Gum Glue

Edible Markers

Non Toxic Pastels

Instructions

Using wirecutters, cut wire into 6-8 inch lengths.

Roll out a small ball of firm gumpaste on a board, heavily dusted with cornstarch.

Roll thin, but not paper thin. Dust the Butterfly cutter with cornstarch. Press the patchwork cutter into the gumpaste, placing pressure on the edges of the cutter.

Pressing firmly on the cutter, move on board in a circular motion. Holding cutter in place, pull remaining gumpaste away.

Using a pin, loosen gumpaste from cutter. If butterfly should break in half at thorax, don’t worry, it will work just fine.

Roll a small amount of gumpaste into a 3/8” size ball. Moisten one end of wire with

gumglue, and insert into the ball. Press the gumpaste into wire, creating a ½” sausage on the end of the wire and brush with gum glue.

Place the gumpaste covered end of wire vertically over the center of the back side of gumpaste butterfly.

.

Fold the butterfly over the wire, gently folding the ends of wings to

create movement.

If thorax breaks off during process, make another by forming a thorax from a small sausage of gumpaste. Attach to the butterflies with gumglue

Place on a Styrofoam base to dry.

Once your butterfly has dried, use a colored marker

and paint a few sections of your butterfly.

With a black edible marker, outline the detail of the butterfly,

Repeat on back sides of wings.

Then finish by softening the shades, by coloring

the remainder butterfly using pastels. Gently rub

the pastel color in with a soft paper towel.

Insert wire into your cake topper. 

The butterfly can also be made without the wire

and attached to cake with gum glue.

Just have fun and use your creativity!

Photography and tutorial by Jacque Benson

All rights reserved 2009

Contents of this tutorial cannot be reproduced for

Commercial purposes without permission from author.