Then roll out your gumpaste nice and thin.
As I stated no cutter so I improvised and used a Calla Lilly cutter that I had on hand and then modified the petal shape. Easy peasy. (Please ignore the lighter. I use that to adhere my centers of flowers to the wires. I heat the wire and then add the center so that the gumpaste melts a little on the hot wire and stays in place. No need to wait for a whole day for your centers to dry).
Next, I took gum paste and twiddled it down a piece of wire (Yes, that is a technical term).
Then place the wire in the center of the new petal and into a veiner. I used a generic veiner that I had on hand.
Press down, and viola! A perfectly veined petal with a wired inserted.
Next place petals over random objects to dry in the position that you would like. I used a paint brush but anything would really work.
Then comes the color. I like to work from the outside of the petal in. I always use more that one color to make the petals seem more life like.
Here is my completed petal.
Colors used.
OK, time to start putting the petal together. I start with on petal at a time but if you want to tape more together at once then go for it. I like to put as little tape on to hold the petal there so that way you do not have a bulky stem. Then after you have all your petals I wrap the tape around the whole stem to cover it, and hold it all together.
After the flower petals are taped you can arrange them however you would like.
And there you have it a beautiful hibiscus flower with no cutter or veiner. I have to improvise sometimes when it comes to cutters; maybe its because I am cheap, or just don't have enough room to keep a million different flower cutters, but I make it work.
