Pretty in Pink

Pretty in Pink

True to its name, ‘Pretty in pink’ is a typical spring day with fresh pretty pink flowers. Embracing an abstract style, Priya’s creation depicts clear skies and fresh green pastures with an intelligent blending of warm colors. The multi-colored honeycomb grids and raised blocks are associated with bees and pollen from spring blooms. It provides a geometric touch to an otherwise freestyle background. The eye catching floral spray includes stunning cosmos, poppy and bunches of beautiful bougainvillea. This creation from Priya is a true ode to spring.

Meet the Artist

Tools Required

• Tear drop shape cutter
• 26 gauge wire
• Green floral tape
• Dresden
• Exacto blade
• Ball tool
• Brush
• Rolling pin
• Foam pad
• Grooved board
• Crushed cardboard egg carton
• Poppy seeds
• Edible glue
• Edible dust – hot pink, peony, yellow

Tutorial

Making the center

Bend the tip of a 26 gauge wire into a small hook. Take 1/2 cm ball of black gumpaste and insert it into the hook. Pull the bottom of the gumpasteball downwards to elongate it. Roll the elongated section between your fingers to seal it cleanly.

Step 2

Place the center upside down on the surface of your working board and gently press to flatten the top. Reshape the outer edge to a perfect circle using your fingertips. Let it dry overnight.

Step 3

Take some poppy seeds in a small bowl and add a pinch of yellow dust. Mix it in with your hands to colour it yellow to create the pollen.

Step 4

Brush the top of the center with some edible glue and roll it into the bowl of yellow poppy seeds. Let it dry.

Making the petals

Step 1

Make a sausage of pink gumpaste and roll it out on the grooved board. Make sure the grooves lines are visible before cutting out the petals with a teardrop shaped cutter. Line the tip of the teardrop cutter with the groove line so that the wires can be attached at the center of each petal.

Step 2

Cut off the excess gumpaste inside the grooves with an exacto knife. Dip a 26 gauge wire in edible glue and insert it into the raised center of each petal.

Step 3

Use a dresden tool to mark multiple lines on the front and back of the petals to vein it. Use a ball tool to thin out the outer edge of the petal to give it a natural curl or ruffle. Keep the ball tool one half on the petal and other half on the foam board while rolling.

Step 4

To create one flower, make a total of 5 petals using the same steps. Dry the petals on an uneven surface to give it a natural effect. A crushed cardboard egg carton has been used to dry them.

Step 5

Dust the petals with hot pink and peony pink dust. Dust the bottom of the petals with the darker shade of pink.Brushwith the light pink dust as you go up to give it a faded out effect

Assembling the Flower

Step 1

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Take a petal and bend the wire to 90 degrees at the tip of the petal. Position the petal alongside the black center and ensure that it looks natural with the petal slightly above the center. Pull the green floral tape to activate its glue and wrap it tightly around the center wire and petal wire.

Step 2

Take the next petal, bend the wire to 90 degrees and position it next to the first petal. Ensure this petal slightly overlaps the first petal. Tape everything together.

Step 3

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Tape the remaining petals in the same way with each petal slightly overlapping another. Pull the tape down at an angle and wrap all the wires together.

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Magazine Link

Detailed step-by-step instructions to make this cake is present in June 2019 Volume 1 Issue 2

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