If You Want Tails On Your Bow,

Gum paste bows are essential when making gift box cakes, but they look also pretty as a top or side decoration on other types of cakes. By using textured rolling pins, embossing tools, shimmer or lustre dusts. Can you make different looks for your gum paste bows. The bow can be made out of gum paste only, but I like to use equal parts (50/50) of rolled fondant icing and gum paste mixed together. This gives in my opinion a better paste to work with. To prevent the “fondant gum paste” from cracking when making the bow, you need to roll it out rather thinly. A pasta machine is great help if you have one. I dont have any specific measures on how large or small the bow loops should be, when I make my bows. But you can make a paper template for the bow loops if you like. Here is my way, on how to make a gum paste bow. Take the plastic bag and cut down one of the sides with the scissors. Take some of the polyester fiber and wrap it in a piece of kitchen paper.

Adjust the amount of polyester fiber to the size of your bow loops. Remember to make two of them. Color your paste with food gel color and roll out the paste thinly with a rolling pin (or a pasta machine). Take the knife and a ruler (or your paper template) and cut two (long) pieces for the bow loops. If you want to use a textured rolling pin, then use it when you have rolled out your paste thinly, but before cutting out the bow loop pieces. You could also use embossing tools or brush the two pieces with shimmer or lustre dust, before placing them in the plastic bag. Take one of the bow loop pieces and brush a little tylo glue at one of the ends. Place one of the polyester fiber rolls in the middle. Fold the bow loop around the polyester fiber roll. Take the end of the loop and start in the middle by going back and forth to make pleats.

Secure the pleats with a little tylo glue. Repeat steps 4-5-6-7 with the other bow loop. If you want the bow to stand up, instead of laying down. Then place the bow loops in a standing position before continuing. Trim the ends and brush ends with a little tylo glue. Place the two bow loops together and let them dry a bit before you continue with the next step. Roll out some paste thinly and cut a small piece for the middle of the bow and make some pleats. Brush a little tylo glue on the back of the piece and wrap it around the bow. Trim with the knife if necessary. Let the bow dry completely, if you are not planning to make tails for the bow. Note: Remove the polyester fiber rolls when the bow are dry. If you want tails on your bow, Then roll out some more paste. Cut the tails in the same width as the bow loops. Pleat the ends and attach the tails with a little glue to the bow. Note: I often wait with the bow tails, until the bow is to be placed on the cake. This makes it more easy to place the tails in the right position.

Glue the styrofoam circle in the middle of the silver base board. Then, attach the 3″ round cardboard with glue, centered in the middle. Next, use a knife to shave and angle the styrofoam, starting at the cardboard circle and ending at the bottom of the stryrofoam circle. This will be the base of the tea pot. On a 1/4 sheet tray covered with parchment, trace a 6″ circle in pencil. Divide the aqua gum paste into 4 equal parts. Use 1/4 of the paste to create the handle by rolling it into a thin worm and then use your finger to flatten both ends. Coat the edges of the traced circle with some powdered sugar and then place the handle on the tray. Create the handle shape that looks best to you and then line the edges up with the curve of the circle. This will ensure that the handle attaches fits the curved edge of the cake. Next, take two toothpicks and dip them in water to moisten them. Insert them halfway into each end of the handle.

It’s really important to make sure that both toothpicks are perfectly parallel, this way when you insert the handle it won’t break. To make the spout, knead 2 of the gum paste portions together and start by forming a cone. Taper the cone and flatten it on both ends. Curve the gum paste into the shape of a spout and then place it on the other side of the traced circle to dry. Once again, make sure that the end that will be attached to the cake is curved to match the curve of the circle, so that the spout fits well when it’s attached to the cake. Roll the remaining bit of aqua gum paste into a thin layer. Using a craft knife, cut a 3 1/2″ circle and place it on the same tray to dry. To make the basic roses: Roll some pink gum paste very thinly on a lightly powdered surface and use the 5 petal cutter to cut out a flat flower shape. Intertwine the 1st and 3rd petals to create a bud. Then wrap the 2nd petal around the bud. Repeat with the remaining petals until you have a simple rosette. Create multiple roses for the tea pot of different sizes using the various 5 petal cutters. Make one rose with some additional petals added for the top of the pot. Set these on the same tray to dry. Set the entire tray aside to dry for two days. Remove the half ball cakes from the fridge and slice off the top of each cake to create a 2 1/2″ diameter flat area. Spread some buttercream on the base, position one half ball, sandwich with more buttercream and then place the second half ball on top.