Grim Reaper

I have been asked by quite a few people on how I do my Grim Reaper. I have been asked three times now to make one. They are really fun to do and could be used for Halloween or an Over the Hill birthday.

I've never seen how others do theirs but this is what I came up with.

I first made a circle using 16 to 18 gauge wire. The size depends on how big you are going to make the body.

I then hook four wires to the circle, bring them up and twist them together. I wrap another wire around where the arms will be.

Stuff foil in and around the wire frame, making the it to the fullness desired. Bend the arms into whatever position you wish. I think next time I'll try using rice krispies on the wire.

Time to mold the skull. I took a piece of gumpaste/fondant mixture, sat in front of my computer that had a Grim Reaper or skull image and started sculpting.

When I had finished, I pushed the skull onto the neck of the body. Then make the arms and hands. I wish I would have taken pictures of that!! I just rolled out some gumpaste/fondant into a long sausage shape, flattened one end and cut fingers and a thumb out with a sharp knife. I then smoothed out the fingers with my own fingers, trying to make them look more like bones. Impress knuckles with a knife.

Let the head and arms dry for a day or two and then dust with some black dusting powder. I used black powdered food coloring mix with a tiny bit of corn starch.

Start draping black gumpaste/fondant mixture in strips over the body of the reaper. Do this until it is nice and full.

I then finish the body with two large pieces of gumpaste/fondant to cover each arm and to cover up some of the previous draping and to make it look more like a robe.

Then you can add the hood over the head. This one didn't drape like I wanted it too but you still get the idea.

You can add a skewer under your reaper to go down into a cake if you wish.

Have fun making your Reaper's!! We want to see them!!

Below are the three Reaper's that I have done.

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Tutorial and Photography by Rhonda Christensen 2009. All rights reserved.

This material may not be republished or reproduced in any manner without the expressed permission of the author.