ROSES ON TOOTHPICKS

for slide show click on thumbnail below

(Demo given at Missouri ICES Days of Sharing May 1-2, 2005)

Rose base:

          Make a cone of gumpaste and taper at top end into a point.

          Dip end of toothpick in glue and insert into base of cone.  Let

          dry for 24 hours.  (See photo A)

The rose:

          Roll out gumpaste (thin), cut out with blossom cutter.  Then soften

          edges and cup center with the ball tool.  (See photo B)  Put on small,

          thin foam, dampen center and all of petal 1 and petal 2 with water, sides half

         of the way with other petals.  Push cone on toothpick thru blossom on foam,

         proceed as follows:  (See photo C – missing the gumpaste blossom)

          Petal 1:  stick left side to cone, leave other side free

          Petal 2:  (opposite petal 1) insert right side inside open side of petal

          1, keep left side free.  Tip on cone should be totally covered.

          Petal 3:  bring up petal so the center rests over edge of petal 2.

          Petal 4:  overlap petal 3

          Petal 5:  overlap petal 4, tucking other side in to produce spiral effect

At this stage this can be used as a bud by adding calyx.  (See photo D)

For a fuller rose, cut a 2^nd blossom, thin edges, cup center, moisten center and put on foam while you are working petals.  Begin to bring up petals covering where the previous petals join.  Open up a bit but do not bend back petals.  (See photo E)

Attach a 3^rd set of petals for a fuller look in the same way as the 2^nd set.  This time, curl edges with your veining tool to look more like a natural rose.  (See photo F)

Add a green calyx, then add a small ball of green paste.

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