SUNFLOWERS TUTORIAL

Skill level: BEGINNERS

You will need:

Saracino Pasta Bouquet
Gel colour (yellow, black, white, green)
Powder colour (yellow, red, brown)
Petal cutter and veiner
Sunflower center mould
Grooved work board
26 gauge flower wire
Wire cutter
Small rolling pin
Foam board
Edible glue
Spoons or petal former
Soft brushes for dusting
Pointed tool

Step 1

Colour your Pasta Bouquet using yellow and black gel colour.

Step 2

Take a small amount of the yellow Pasta Bouquet and roll it over a groove on your board until the paste is thin.

Step 3

Once the paste is rolled thinly turn the petal over to show the vein for the flower wire.

Step 4

Place the petal cutter in line with the center vein and cut the petal.

Step 5

Place the petal on a foam mat and using the end of a rolling pin or ball tool gently press around the outside of the petal to thin the edge.

Step 6

Do not thin around the bottom of the petal. If you press too firmly at the bottom you will lose the paste needed for wiring.

Step 7

Use a small wire cutter to cut the 26 gauge wire into shorter lengths. Two inches (5cm) should be long enough. Moisten the tip of the wire with edible glue or a small amount of water. This will provide a secure attachment once dried.

Step 8

Gently insert the wire into the grooved, thicker area of the petal. Twist when inserting to make it easier.

Step 9

Make sure the wire is not visible through the petal.

Step 10

Place the wired petal into the petal veiner.

Step 11

Carefully remove the petal and slightly press at the base.

Step 12

Bend the tip of the petal as well.

Step 13

Use your fingers to delicately give form and movement to the petal.

Step 14

You can use spoons to aid with petal forming and allow to dry until the next day or at least a couple of hours.

Step 15

Once the petals are dry they are ready for dusting. Use a combination of yellow and red powder colour and mix to create the desired shade of orange. Starting applying the orange tone at the base of the petal and use lighter colours towards the tip of the petal to give a nice blend and transition of colour.

Step 16

Don’t forget to colour the back and tip of the petal.

Step 17

The petal should look darker at the bottom, lighter at the center and with just a slight shade of orange at the tip.

Step 18

Prepare brown powder colour and a smaller soft brush.

Step 19

Dust the brown colour at the base of the petal next to the wire.

Step 20

This picture shows the transition in the dusting process. Repeat the steps to make at least 38-40 petals for this size centre. It is always a good idea to make spares.

Step 21

Using approximately 30g black coloured Pasta Bouquet, press into the sunflower center mould. Make sure to press evenly so the impression is uniform around the center.

Step 22

You will need a modelling tool with a pointed tip or a tooth pick to add paint to the center of the flower.

Step 23

You can use a spoon as a small paint palette to prepare green, white and yellow gel colours.

Step 24

Starting with the yellow make small dots with the end of the pointed tool.

Step 25

Move around the outer part of the center and inwards to the center making smaller spots as you move towards the inner center.

Step 26

Then follow a similar procedure with the green colour to the inner center of the flower. Allow for drying time.

Step 27

Trim the wire excess from each petal if needed.

Step 28

Dip the tip of the wire into edible glue and insert the petals into the flower center.

Step 29

Continue around the side making sure you leave the same amount of space between each petal.

Step 30

Once you have finished the bottom layer, start inserting a second layer of petals starting in the space between the petals of the first layer below.

Step 31

Continue around the centre leaving the same gap between each petal until you finish the upper layer. Your sunflower is now ready to add sunshine to your cake!

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