Sunflower 2

A more life-like Sunflower requires several size petal cutter.  The large six star cutter is manufactured, the three copper cutters I made.  The silicone veiner was purchased on line.

You will need a lot of these petals as the break easily when attaching to the center.   I cut and vein each petal and dry it on foam to give each a slight curve.

Let the petals dry overnight.

In this picture, the flower was dried several hours so that I could show you, I took a small ball of yellow paste and placed it in the center of the Cel-shape cup and stuck the petal points into the soft paste.

This is the top view of the first row of petals.

The center of this sunflower was done freehand.  Allow the rows of petals (as many as you would like for a fully open bloom) to completely dry.  Make a good size ball of brown gumpaste (very soft) and GENTLY push it in the center of the petals.  To create the texture I used my very first gumpaste tool, it called a Kemper Tool, and you basically stipple the brown paste just as you would when stenciling with paint.  This technique allows the center to be as large as you would like. 

These sunflowers are stored at this point for a May 2014 wedding cake.  I will add the final dusting of color at that time.

Sunflowers 1

 

This sunflower version is more of an artistic flower.  Rolled out yellow paste and cut it with a small leaf cutter.  I thinned the edges with a large ball tool.

 Using the large Cel-stick, I rolled one petal at a time around the pointed end.

I made approximately 15 petals for the first layer.  Then 12 petals for the inner layer.  The center was made by using a mold which can be purchased from Scott Clark Wolley.  The center is made in advance and dried on a wire.

At this stage the flower was dried overnight.  

This is a great close up of the detail of the center. I dust the insides of each petal with a darker yellow to give definition.  

 Use a large daisy cutter to make the calyx.