07 March 2010

Pig fancy dress baby


Pig fancy dress baby
Originally uploaded by a matter of taste

Clown fancy dress baby


Clown fancy dress baby
Originally uploaded by a matter of taste

Cat fancy dress baby


Cat fancy dress baby
Originally uploaded by a matter of taste

Clown fancy dress baby


Clown fancy dress baby
Originally uploaded by a matter of taste

Fairy fancy dress baby


Fairy fancy dress baby
Originally uploaded by a matter of taste

Pig fancy dress baby


Pig fancy dress baby
Originally uploaded by a matter of taste

Pumpkin Fancy dress baby


Pumpkin Fancy dress baby
Originally uploaded by a matter of taste

Frog fancy dress baby


Frog fancy dress baby
Originally uploaded by a matter of taste

Fancy dress baby as dalmation


Fancy dress baby as dalmation
Originally uploaded by a matter of taste

Fancy dress baby as a bear


Fancy dress baby as a bear
Originally uploaded by a matter of taste

04 March 2010

Making a full sugar rose.

Making a Sugar Rose
Cut a 20 gauge wire in 3. Make a hook at one end.
Roll a piece of white flower paste into a cone shape and insert the hooked end of the wire into the cone. The size of the cone should be two thirds high of the petal cutter you will be using. Leave to dry for a day.
Making a full sugar flower rose


Colour some flower paste peach using paste colour.
1st layer. Roll out a small amount of paste very thinly. Cut out 2 petals using the rose petal cutter.
Making a full sugar flower rose


Soften the edges of the petals using a ball tool on a celpad.
Making a full sugar flower rose


Put a small amount of glue all over each of the petals.
Making a full sugar flower rose


Wrap one of the petals all round the cone. The top of the cone should not show and the petal wrapped all the way round tightly.
Making a full sugar flower rose


Lay the cone with the first petal on top of the 2nd petal with the join of the first petal facing downward. The top of the first petal should line up with the top of the second petal exactly.
Making a full sugar flower rose


Wrap the second petal tightly around the first petal.
Making a full sugar flower rose

Second Layer
Roll out another 2 petals. Thin the edges and apply glue in the shape of a “V” at the bottom of the petals.
Making a full sugar flower rose


Lay the cone with the first layer petals, on the side of one of the petals making sure that the tops are level. This should enable you to pick up the glued petal.
Making a full sugar flower rose


Turn the cone over so that the petal that has been picked up is now on the top. Lay the cone on the next petal and pick up the petal. You should have 2 petals which have not been wrapped around the cone as yet.
Making a full sugar flower rose


Wrap petals tightly round each other to make a tight bud.
Making a full sugar flower rose


This is how the top of the rose should look like from the top.
Making a full sugar flower rose


Layer No. 3
Lighten the colour by adding white to the remaining paste. For this layer you will need 3 petals of the same size, cut, thinned round the edges and glue applied to the bottom v of each petal.
Making a full sugar flower rose


Lay the cone on the glued side of one of the petals again always making sure that the tops are level but only attach the left hand side of the petal at the moment.
Making a full sugar flower rose


Lay the cone on the glued left hand side of the second petal. The second petal should be tucked in under the first petal. Lift up and leave the right hand side unattached to the cone.
Making a full sugar flower rose


Pick up the third petal exactly as the first and second petal. The right hand side should still be unattached.
Making a full sugar flower rose


Wrap all three petals around each other making sure that the top is level.
Making a full sugar flower rose


Layer 4
Lighten the colour again by adding white flower paste to the remaining coloured flower paste.
Cut another 3 petals using the same size cutter. Thin the petals, Turn the left side of one of the petals using a blunt toothpick to give it a curl. Do the same to the right hand side of the next petal and turn both sides of the next petal. Ball the centre of each petal to hollow the centre. Leave to stand for a couple of minutes.
Making a full sugar flower rose


Glue the bottom V of each petal.
Making a full sugar flower rose


Pick up the petal with the left curl and attach it to the cone again making sure that it is level with the top.
Making a full sugar flower rose


Pick up the second petal with both sides curled and attach it next to the first petal overlapping it slightly.
Making a full sugar flower rose


Take the third petal with the curl on the right hand side and attach to the cone overlapping the middle petal and meeting or overlapping the first petal on the other side. Attach the petals together this time not too tightly.
Making a full sugar flower rose


Layer Five
Lighten the flower paste again using white flower paste mixed with left over peach. Cut 5 petals using the same cutter. Thin the edges and curl each petal this time you can curl any side or curl both sides. Ball tool the centre to make the centre hollow. Glue the bottom V of each petal .
Making a full sugar flower rose


Attach each petal to the cone, leaving each petal as open as possible. Overlap each petal and tuck the last petal underneath the first one. Leave to dry by hanging it upside down.
Making a full sugar flower rose



If you prefer you can make another layer of 6 petals for a full blown rose but you only need one of these flowers for a focal rose.
Making a full sugar flower rose


Caylx
Use flowerpaste coloured with spring green and ruscus powder. Use a calyx cutter to cut one calyx. Use some paste to make a small cone of flowerpaste. Thin the edges of the calyx and cut slits on the side of each sepal.
Making a full sugar flower rose


Turn the calyx over and dust with silver or lustre powder.
Making a full sugar flower rose


Tape the full rose using Nile coloured tape and going all the way down the wire.
Making a full sugar flower rose


Turn the calyx over and hollow the centre of each sepal. Turn over and glue the centre of the calyx.
Making a full sugar flower rose


Attach to the bottom of the rose with the lustre side against the rose. Leave the sepals slightly bent away from the rose.
Making a full sugar flower rose


Put some glue at the top of the small cone. Attach to the top of the rose and below the calyx.

Making a full sugar flower rose


I have not taken pictures of the finished rose, but the tips of the petals need to be dusted with a darker peach dusting powder to make it look more natural. Finally steam the rose to fix the powder. I shall try and upload the pictures if I can take the pictures.

For a rose bud I usually make petals up to layer 3.
For a half rose I usaully make petals up to layer 4.
For a full rose I usually make petals up to layer 5.
For a full focal rose I usually add another layer (6) of 6 petals.

03 March 2010

Christmas Rose

Stamens
Wrap a length of white cotton thread round 3 fingers about 30 times.
Christmas Rose Step 1


Twist cotton to make into a shape of an 8 and fold into 2 loops.
Christmas Rose Step 2


Push 28 gauge wire cut into 3 through the loop and twist tightly to fasten the loop.
Christmas Rose Step 3

Tape using half width white tape starting from just above the twist. This will help keeping the stamens together.
Christmas Rose Step 4
Cut through the top loop and trim to about 1cm.
Christmas Rose Step 5

Dust with light green dusting powder.
Christmas Rose Step 6

Brush the tip of the stamens with edible glue and dip in sugartex (or other edible pollen).
Christmas Rose Step 7
Petals

Roll out a small piece of white flower paste on a ridged board. Turn over and cut out the petal with the “node” end at the thin edge of the ridge.
Christmas Rose Step 8

Insert 28gauge wire cut in 3, half way up the petal through the thick end of the ridge. Thin the edges using a ball tool on a cel pad.
Christmas Rose Step 9

Vein the petal using a rose veiner. Make sure that the middle ridge is flattened.
Christmas Rose Step 10

Make 5 petals. Place all the petals in an egg tray or something similar to cup the petals and give them shape. Leave till the petals are almost dry.
Christmas Rose Step 11

Brush the bottom back and front of each petal with light green (Orchid white) dusting powder. Steam to fix the colour.
Christmas Rose Step 12

Assemble the petals. Tape a petal at a rime round the stamens and tape to the bottom of the wire when all five petals are in place.
Christmas Rose Step 13

Place in a former and leave to dry completely.
Christmas Rose Step 14