How to use Flower Paste ?

[PaulH]

How do I use Flower paste ?

[LChow]

FLOWER PASTE
Flower paste comes in a wide range of colours in small packets although white and cream are available in 1k packs. Before use, make sure it has been kept at room temperature so that it is easier to kneed (it does not need to be kept in a fridge).

http://www.cakecraftworld.co.uk/product ... 61&scc=438

To use, pull off a small piece of paste, just enough for 1 flower and re-seal the pack to stop the rest from drying out. Most flower pastes feel quite hard before use but with a little kneeding they soon soften into a moulding or rolling out paste that is smooth and pliable - the trick is to only use a small amount at a time and rub some white vegetable fat onto your fingertips or dust them with corn flour to stop the paste from sticking. At this stage food colouring can be kneeded into the paste until it is evenly blended but I would recommend using paste colours not liquid colours and add a little at a time using a cocktail stick. If you need a really dark or bright colour like black or red it's easier to buy it already coloured as it requires so much fool colouring it can change the consistency and become sticky. You can also use dusting colours brushed over the flowers once they are dry. Sometimes this is essential to get the correct colour like burgundy and also means you can give the flowers a life like quality and shading.

When the paste is ready to mould into a flower or roll out for cutting petals, you can either dust corn flour or lightly smear a little white vegetable fat onto the work surface and rolling pin to stop the flower paste from sticking. Once rolled out the paste should be so thin that if you held it over printed lettering you can see the lettering through it, only leaves and large lily type flowers that need a wire pushed a longer way into them need to be rolled out slightly thicker.

Once the petal is cut out, gently free the paste using a palette knife and if you are using a veiner, place the petal into the veiner and press down to emboss both sides. Now hold the petal in your hand or place on a foam pad to soften the edges using a ball tool. Leave to dry overnight.

Tips:
- If your flower paste is too sticky, kneed a little corn flour into it.
- If your flower paste is too dry, kneed a little vegetable fat into it.
- When not in use, flower paste must be kept completely airtight otherwise it will dry around the edges.
- When using dust colours, dip the brush into the dust then wipe the brush across a piece of kitchen paper to take off any excess. You can always add more colour to the flower but not take it off and if there is too much dust on the brush it will colour in streaks rather than a life-like blend of colour.
- Foam flower pads are brilliant to use if you have have hot hands and find the paste gets really sticky when in use.
- Use edible glue to stick petals together and wires and stamens into petals.
- Small non-stick rolling pins are essential if you are making a lot of flowers as they help to roll the paste out really thin, I think a 9" is perfect. Non-stick boards are also available and make flower making easier.