Art Nouveau Sugarpaste Topper

Last year, my friend, Denise Talbot, asked me to demonstrate

at an ICES Day of Sharing in Southeast Texas.

When I asked her what she wanted me to demo, she suggested,

"What about a Jeweled Flower Topper?- You know, like Jeweled flowers on an antique brooch-- in the art nouveau style."

So I set about researching antique jewelry. After perusing antique stores and “googling” Antique Jewelry,

I found that photos of floral brooches which most inspired me were called “pot metal” jewelry.

Now the trick was to take the 2 dimensional flowers and make them into a 3 dimensional for a cake topper. That includes the following:

Jeweled Flowers, Architectural Interest, and a Base.

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A. The Jeweled Flowers

Have plenty of embellishments on hand. Dragees, seed pearls, non pareils, and gemstones. If you are a purist or making the centerpiece for a cake show, use only sugar gems.

However, many brides opt to keep their topper as a memento and the sugar gems will slowly dull, so one may prefer to use a high quality crystal to withstand the test of time.

Note- these florals are not intended to be botanically correct. Exaggerated features will enhance the overall jewelry effect.

The three essential steps to creating a sugar paste “pot metal” flower is

1. Jeweled centers

Start with the center of the flower.

Make the stamen and embellish with dragees, jewels, pearls or non pariels

Use a #22 covered wire to support your flower adequately.

2. The petals can be cut using any available flower cutter.

The gum paste for the petals should NOT be rolled paper thin as for a normal gum paste flower. The thickness creates a nice edge to gild. Pearlize your flower, then gild the edges using gold or silver luster dust.

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Pearls, dragees or sugar crystals can be used to edge one side of the flower.

3. The calyx is an important part of the overall look and should be completely

painted in a metallic luster dust.

Using these three principals, you can use any cutters to create a beautiful floral arrangement. Incorporate several larger flowers along with medium sized and smaller filler flowers.

Orchids, lilies, dogwood, trumpet flowers and small blossoms combined can make a beautiful presentation. Leaves can also be wired then edged with gems.

The same principals apply to making butterflies or dragonflies.

The center will be jeweled, the wings pearlized and the edges gilded. Gems are placed on the topside of the butterfly’s body. Small gems may be added to wings as well.

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B. Architectural Interest

Creating an architectural spray adds height and interest to the topper.

For an art nouveau style, use an art deco style cutter.

You can also make a paper pattern and cut to size

1. Start by covering #18 heavy wires with white floral tape.

2. Roll out two pieces of gum paste about 1/16” thickness.

3. Make a slight indention on one using the largest cutter. Moisten this side completely with gum glue.

4. Lay wire over the moistened gum paste, then the other piece over all, sandwiching the wire inside.

5. Using large cutter, press to cut. If desired, cut a design in the center using the smaller cutter. Be careful to avoid exposing wire.

6. Set aside and allow to dry completely,

Use pattern (below) to make the tall arched element.

Follow steps 1-4, then

Place parchment paper pattern over and

cut along the egde of pattern using a pizza wheel or PME wheel cutter.

7. Brush with pearl dust and paint edges with gold or sliver luster dust.

8. Embellish with sugar crystals, dragees, seed pearls or gems.

Other interesting ways to create sparkle for the arrangement is to add curved fronds encrusted with sugar crystals or pearls;  or add a smallball of gum paste over hooked wire which has been moistened with gum glue.

Cover with nonpareils, and then paint with silver or gold luster dust.

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C. The Base

This will be the last step just before arranging flowers. It is important that the fondant on the base is soft so flowers will insert easily.

You will need a 2-3” base cut from the bottom of a Styrofoam cone, piping gel or gum glue, fondant, appropriate impression molds, gold or silver luster dust , and dragees.

1. Press gum paste into molds. Make two of each design.

2. Moisten Styrofoam base with piping gel or gum glue.

3. Overlay gum paste until base is entirely covered.

4. Pearlize entire piece, then gild edges with luster dust.

5. Add dragees and/or pearls in strategic spots for dramatic flair.

Have fun and be creative!!

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Photography and Tutorial by Jacque Benson

2010 All Rights Reserved

This material may not be reproduced with permission from the author.