Peony
Part 1
This is what you need:
Instructions:
Step 1:
Cut three pieces of #20 gauge wire. It should be long enough so that you can bend the end, when you need to hang the peony, up side down while drying. You can always trim the length when you are finished with the flower. Wrap some green floral tape tight around the wires. Starting about 1/2″ down. Next dip the end of the wires, in some craft glue and insert the wire into the 1 1/2″ styrofoam ball. Make sure, that you don’t push it all the way through the styro ball. You should be stopping where the floral tape starts.
Step 2:
Knead the gum paste pliable and roll it out to about 1-2mm thickness. Take the smallest peony cutter (1) and cut out 8 petals. Place them in the plastic bag as you cut them.
Step 3:
Take the “peony flower veiner”. Lightly dust with a little cornstarch and place a petal at the bottom of the veiner. Remember to place the “front” of the petal down towards the veiner. Now rub your finger with a little cornstarch and gently push the petal into the veiner. Be careful not to push too hard or you may ruin the petal. Gently lift off the petal and turn it over. Your petal should now look, just like the petal on the photo. Place it back in the plastic bag and continue with the rest of the small petals.
Step 4:
Take your foam pad and the ball tool. Place a petal, backside up and gently start to frill/thin the edge of the petal. Frill only the top half of the petal. Again place them in the plastic bag as you go.
Note: Decide for yourself how frilly you want the petals to be. Just be careful, not to tear the edge of the petal when you use the ball tool
Step 5:
Take the styro ball and 2 petals. Brush a little glue on the back of the petals and place the petals, so that they overlap the top of the ball.
Step 6:
Brush tylo glue on the rest of the petals and arrange the remaining 6 petals around the styro ball. Make sure that you do not cover the top of the peony. You should be able to see the first 2 petals. Set aside the styro ball in a large piece of styrofoam and move on to step 7.
Step 7:
Take the chocolate egg mold and lightly dust it with a little cornstarch. Then roll out more gum paste and take the next size peony cutter (2) and cut out 8-10 petals. Repeat steps 3 to 4, but instead of placing the petals in the plastic bag, place the petals in the chocolate egg mold, backside up. Let them slightly dry for 20-30 minutes.
Step 8:
When the petals have slightly dried. Brush a little glue on the back and arrange all the petals so they overlap around the styro ball. Take the peony and gently press it into your cupped hand, to shape the petals. They should slightly bend towards the center.
Step 9:
Hang the peony upside down, on a safe place (away from cats and kids) and let it dry overnight.
This is how it looks when it have dried overnight.
Part 2
Step 1:
Roll out the gum paste and cut out 8 petals using the next peony petal cutter (3). Repeat the steps 3-4 from the peony tutorial part 1 for the petals and then place the petals in the chocolate egg mold, backside up. Let them dry for 20 mins.
Next brush a little tylo glue on the petal but only at the bottom of the petal. Arrange all the petals, so they overlap around the second layer of petals. Hang it upside down while you prepare for the next step.
Step 2:
Take a tall drinking glass and push the wire through the foam and let the peony rest in the glass. Then take small pieces of kitchen paper and carefully place them in between the petals, to give them a little shape. Allow to dry for at least 6 hours or more. I let my peony dry overnight.
Step 3:
When the petals are dry, remove the pieces of paper (save for later). Place the peony in styrofoam/cake dummy while you are preparing the last row of petals for the peony.
Step 4:
Use the last cutter (4) and cut out 10 petals. Again repeat the steps 3-4 from the part 1 but this time, place the petals in the foam apple tray instead. Let the petals dry for about 30 minutes.
Step 5:
Brush a little glue at the bottom of the petals and repeat how you added the previous row of petals on the peony for the last row of petals.
The petals should be covering the styrofoam ball completely by now.
Step 6:
Now is the time to shape the last row of petals. The petals on the photo are still soft, but if you like this look for your peony? Simply place it in the glass and if needed only place pieces of paper underneath the peony (between foam and peony) and not in between the petals like on the next photo.
Let the peony dry overnight before removing the supporting paper pieces.
Step 7:
The peony flower is now ready for some color. Use different shades of mat pink dust colors and apply with light strokes and a soft brush. If you like, you can steam the flower to fix the colors. If you don’t know how to steam it, simply hold the flower over boiling water for a few seconds and let the flower dry before start touching it. Be careful with the hot steam!
