Baby Animals Cake

This adorable Baby Faces Cake, designed by Mame Recckio-Wolfe, was a finalist in the 2007 American Style Competition. It was featured, along with the tutorial, in the October/November Issue of American Cake Decorating Magazine.

Supplies Needed:

Patterns (Follows Tutorial)
Cookie Sheets or Cake Boards
Tape
Waxed Paper
Royal Icing (2 cups)
Paste/gel coloring: brown, red
Deep pink and yellow
Parchment or Pastry bags
Piping tips: #3, #5, & #12
Art Brush
Water
Gumpaste
Rolling Pin
Textured Pin (optional)
Ribbon Cutter (optional)
Ruler
Craft Knife
Unused hair roller
Corn Syrup (glucose)
Orchid Luster dust (optional)
Lemon Extract (optional)
Black food-coloring marker

1. Make several copies of each animal face pattern and the Onesie. Attach them to a firm, smooth surface that can be set aside. Cover the patterns with waxed paper and tape the in place. Prepare a batch of royal icing, reserving 1/5 of the icing as white. Then divide the remainder into 4 portions, tinting beige, brown, deep pink and yellow. Load a small handful of icing into a small piping bag fit with tip #3, and then pipe the outline of each figure, beginning with the detail colors first. Do not leave any gaps in the outlines. Use a damp brush to help correct mistakes and join lines together. Leave off the noses on the lion, cat, and giraffe for now, as well as the pink in the rabbit’s ears.

2. Add a drop of water, one at a time, to the remaining colored icing until a ribbon of icing melts into the icing below it within 10 seconds. Use top #2 to flood each outline, building it up until the icing has a puffy, raised appearance. Allow the decorations to dry at least 24 hours. If you choose to flood the backside of each face, do that now. Otherwise, add the remaining facial detail with undiluted royal icing


Handy tip- remove the dried floodwork from the waxed paper with a thin, flexible spatula. Alternatively, pull the paper to the edge of a table or countertop. Pull the paper slowly down over the edge, catching the piece as it comes free with your other hand.


3. Dilute a small wad of gumpaste with water until it becomes thin enough to apply with a brush. Pour the “gum glue” into a small container and cover until needed. Roll out a thin layer of gumpaste. If a texturing pin is available, you may apply a pattern to the gumpaste at this point. Cut two rectangular strips 7 by 2 inches in dimension. Flip the strips over and brush the ends with gum glue.


4. Place a hair roller (dedicated for food use) at the center of the strip. Pinch each end to taper the strip, then bring the ends together and press to attach. Allow the bow loops to dry for 24 hours.





5. Fill and stack the cake layers on the cakedrum, using a dab of buttercream to secure. Ice the cake smoothly with buttercream icing. Allow the icing to crust, then mark a diamond pattern into the icing using a diamond impression mat or a straightedge to create the lattices of parallel diagonal lines.





6. Prepare a bag with light red royal icing, adding a small amount of corn syrup ( glucose) to keep it from setting hard (about 1 tsp per cup of icing). Fit the bag with tip #12 and pipe a bead border around the base of the cake. Next, using tip #5 and white royal icing (with the corn syrup added), pipe a small dot at each of the places where the lines cross in the side design. While the icing sets, make a pair of light red gumpaste ribbon tails measuring 2 by 9 inches. Trim one end of the first strip at an angle. Trim the second strip’s end in the opposite direction. The white dots should now be set enough to flatten with fingers 


7. Arrange the bow pieces on top of the cake, with the tails tucked under the loops, flowing toward the front. Prepare another strip of gumpaste to match the bow, measuring 3 by 4 inches. Invert the piece, brush the 4 inch edges with gum glue, then fold the edges up about 1/8 inch width and adhere them. Gather each the unhemmed edges and brush with a dab of gum glue to hold them. Tuck one end under the front of the loop ends and tuck the end underneath the ends on the backside.




Handy tip- At this point, you may choose to color the bow and border with a mixture of pearl dust and clear alcohol. Use royal icing for the border only if you plan to brush it with coloring. Otherwise, use buttercream. For this cake, orchid luster dust was mixed with lemon extract.

8. Use a black food-coloring marker to add any remaining detail to the animal faces. Position the Onesie and animal face on the cake with a dab of buttercream for each. Finish the cake by adding a complementary ribbon the edge of the cake drum, using a glue stick to adhere it.

Patterns

Enlarge baby faces by 200%
Enlarge Onesie Pattern by 120%
Cake Design and Tutorial by Mame Recckio-Wolfe.
all rights reserved 2008
This material may not be republished or reproduced in any manner without the expressed permission of the author.

Photography by Katie Hilbert. 2008

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.

O Holy Night--a Sugarpaste Christmas Angel Trio tutorial

This is a tutorial for creating a Christmas Angel trio. They are fairly simple to make, but by adding artistic touches and your own creativity, you can make them as elaborate or as simple as you like.

This is a project that needs time to dry before finishing the last step, so be sure to allow plenty of time.

Either start in the morning and finish at the end of the day, or allow two days for the whole project.

You will need:

3 Waffle cones

1 bowl water

scissors

Fondant roller and board

white gumpaste

gum glue*

PME wheel cutter

ball tools of various sizes

Woman Full Torso and/or Girl face mold ( use med. size)

pastel pink and yellow non toxic pastel chalk

AmeriColor White Gel Paste

cotton swab

pink, blue, and brown edible marker

Celcake LargeWing molds 

ultra white sparkle luster dust

Glimmer of Gold luster dust

rainbow disco dust

several artist brushes

Sugarpaste extruder

toothpicks

#32 wire

* Gum Glue- add 1/4 tsp Tylose powder to 2 T hot water.

Directions:

Since the trio of angel will be staggered heights, you will want to shorten one cone by 1/2 inch and one by 1 inch. The easiest way to cut a cone is to place the end of the cone in a bowl of water 1/2 inch deep.

Allow to set for 10-15 seconds, then remove.

Using scissors, carefully cut softened cone over a paper towel .

For one inch cut, you will have to repeat this process twice.

Set upright on paper towel to dry.

Be sure your cut is level.

Now you have the foundation for your angel trio.

Form a one inch square of gumpaste.

Dampen lightly the end of cone with gum glue.

Place the square of gumpaste one the pointed end of cone

and shape around cone as shown below, creating a waistline for angel.

Cut 4 triangles of gumpaste to the pattern shown.

Cover with plastic wrap to protect while working.

I started with the smallest angel, cutting four 3 inch triangles.

For, remaining angels, add 1/2 " to length.

Dampen waistline of angel with gum glue..

Add two triangles to sides of cone, as shown below

On the two remaining triangle, carefully roll back the sides about 1/4"

and brush with gumglue

Attach the folded triangles to the previously attached triangles to create skirt.
Press top of skirt into waistline to secure.

Roll out and cut a 1/2" strip to cover the waistline as a sash.

Secure to waistline with gumglue

Roll out and cut another strip about

5-6" in length and about 1/2" wide.

Cut wider at ends, as shown in photo.

Fold in half and attach to back side of waistline using gumglue.

To create movement, attach part of the sash to skirt

at various points using gumglue.

Roll out and cut a 1"x 3/4" rectangle square and a 1/4"x 3/4"

strip. 

Fold the 1" at the center to create bow, and wrap

the 1/4" strip around the center, cutting excess and securing with gumglue.

Attach to the back of angel at waistline, using gumglue.

For sleeves, roll out a 1/2" roll of gumpaste about 2-1/2" long.

Narrow the center of the roll, by pressing and rolling in the center, narrowing and

elongating the roll.

When the roll is narrowed as shown below, press the ball tool

into the end of the roll to hollow slightly.

Shape ends of roll into a bell, by thinning and ruffling the

edges using the ball tool.

 

When finished, press the end of a smaller ball tool (1/4")

into the hollow of the sleeve to create an indention

for attaching the arm of angel.

Dampen the top of bust of angel with gumglue and

press the center of the sleeves over bust to secure, as shown below.

Roll out 1/4" x 1" lengths of gumpaste.

Press on end to flatten for hand.

Cut 4 slits for fingers and gently roll, using hands,

into round fingers and thumb.

Roll and cut a 3/4" circle. This does not need to be precise. Thin and ruffle edges of circle with a ball tool, as shown below. This is the ruffled collar.

Attach the collar to top of bust and insert the

arms into the sleeves using gumglue.

The arms can be a bit tricky sometimes, so be patient and

hold to sleeve until they are secure.

Roll out a ball of gumpaste. Dust with cornstarch, them press firmly

into face mold. I used a young girl face mold for my two shortest angels, and

a woman's face mold for the tallest angel.

The face below is the woman's face mold.

Paint the faces carefully immediately after removing from mold.

I find it is easier to apply color to the face while the gumpaste is still supple.

Paint lips using the pink edible marker. ( This is the girl's face)

Rub the cotton swab over pink pastel chalk

and brush gently over cheeks.

Using the blue and brown edible markers, create the eyes and eyelashes.

Dip a toothpick into white Americolor gel and place highlights in the eyes.

Dampen the bottom of the neck with gumglue and smooth

into the body using the ball tool.

Make a 1/2" ball for each wing.

Press into the mold , then place the two sides of mold

together and press firmly and evenly.

Open mold and remove wing. Cut off any excess from the edges.

Place on a foam pad to firm.

When firm enough to handle, dampen the back of angel with gumglue

and press the wing, securing the center by pressing and smoothing with the ball tool.

Set a styrofoam cone on end to secure the wings

or lay angel over a bowl until wings are secure.

Repeat the process with the remaining two angels.

Set aside to fully dry.

***

After the angels are fully dried, then you can apply the hair.

Using a little  of the yellow pastel chalk, color a small amount of gumpaste (about a 2-3 " ball ) for the angels' hair.

The yellow is quite pale, almost white.

Press through a clay gun using the disc with the multiple small holes.

Cut off desired length, then roll the edges to curl using the toothpick.

Moisten the entire head with gumglue and attach the hair, beginning at the back of the head and moving forward.

When finished, sprinkle hair with rainbow disco dust to create

"heavenly" glow.

Cut the #32 wire about 3" long and shape into a circle,

Twisting to secure and leaving a 1/2" extension.

Brush the circle generously with gumglue and dip into

rainbow disco dust to create the halo.

Insert the extension of wire into hair.

I finished angel by dry dusting using luster dusts. When dry dusting, touch the end of the brush into the dry luster dust and tap off excess dust before applying to your gumpaste.

Dry brush the angel's gown using the ultra white sparkle luster dust using a 1/2 flat brush,

the dry brush the wings with gold shimmer dust.

Place the final touches on the angel by dry dusting the edges of the wings and sleeves

with gold highlighter luster dust.

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To all our Friends who visit us weekly, we wish you

a wonderful and blessed holiday season.

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

 

'Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

Luke 2:9-14

Tutorial by Jacque Benson

All Rights Reserved 2010

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