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How To Make A Gum Paste Peony (Part 1)

November 2, 2022 by Kristen Finley 34 Comments

Gum paste peony tutorial

I know that a lot of you have asked if I could make a tutorial on how to make my gum-paste peony flowers, so here’s a little treat for you. I hope you’ll appreciate it.

Materials Used

Set 1

  • Gum paste (white or colored pink in your chosen color. You would also need a little green gum paste if you decide to make peony buds)
  • Rolling pin
  • Peony petal cutters:
  • Colette Peters
  • Sunflower Sugar Art
  • Special petal veiner:
  • Peony flower veiner
  • Round Styrofoam balls 1 1/2″ or smaller for peony buds
  • #20 gauge wire
  • #24/26 gauge wire

Set 2

  • Green floral tape
  • Craft glue
  • Chocolate egg mold
  • Apple foam trays (you can get those at your local grocery store)
  • Powdered food colors (Matching the color of the gum paste. Remember green color for buds)
  • Cornstarch
  • Brushes (for coloring the peony and for the tylo glue)
  • Ball tool
  • Foam pad

Set 3

  • Small pieces of foam/paper
  • A square piece of thin flexible foam about 6″x6″
  • A large piece of styrofoam/cake dummy
  • Tall drinking glass
  • Plastic bag/zipper bag (stops the petals from drying, while you work)
  • Cel board
  • 5 petal flower cutter (1″ or a little bigger)
Gum paste peony cutters
  • Peony Cutters

I have used a set of peony cutters from Colette Peters, for this tutorial. There is a great selection of different peony cutters on the market. So use the ones you like the best. You can, however, depending on how big you want your peony flower to be, mix the peony petal cutters and in that way, get an even more personal peony flower. The choice is yours when you pick your favored preference.

Styrofoam ball center for gum paste peony

Steps in Making Gum Paste Peony (Part 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, upside down while drying. You can always trim the length when you are finished with the flower.
  • Wrap some green floral tape tightly 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.

Note: As you may have noticed. I do not have any floral tape on my wire. Somehow I was not able to find my floral tape, so that’s why I used a piece of gauge wire instead. I will replace the photo when I have found the lost floral wire.

Gum paste peony petals
Gum paste peony petals
  • 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.
veining peony petal
veining gum paste

Molding of Peony Petals

  • 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.
Ball tool on gum paste
  • 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.
petals
  • 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.
petals in a hand
petals

Steps in Making Gum Paste Peony (Part 2)

  • 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.
Shaping petals
Foil mold
  • 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, and backside up.
  • Let them slightly dry for 20-30 minutes.

Tip: If you only have a mold for 8 eggs and need more molds. Then, make your own mold by pressing 5-10 sheets of foil over the egg shells. Voila! a quick and easy homemade mold.

gum paste

Drying of Peony Petals

  • 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.
  • Note: In the photo, the petals have not been “cupped” with my hand.
cupped
  • Hang the peony upside down, in a safe place (away from cats and kids), and let it dry overnight.
flower bud
  • This is how it looks when it has dried overnight.

Are you searching for any more tips or tricks for creating gum-paste flowers? We have a great basic flower tutorial course you need to try out so you can become an expert in fondant flowers. The course is very thorough and informative and has helped many already! Don’t miss it!

Go to How to make a gum paste peony: Part 2.

You can also visit my tutorial section if you want to learn how to make other gum-paste flowers and decorations. Or you might wanna check out other related articles like Lots Of Gum Paste Flowers, My Gum Paste Helpers, Gum Paste Rose Tutorial, and more.

Previous Post: « How To Make Vodka Gummy Bears: Easy Tutorial
Next Post: Stabilized Whipped Cream Frosting (Easy Recipe) »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sossy

    August 19, 2014 at 2:09 AM

    Very pretty!! Where can I find those cookie cutters?? Thanks

    Reply
  2. Tanya

    June 4, 2014 at 2:35 AM

    How big are the egg mold cavities? The link you have up for them doesn’t work anymore so I have looked around and it looks like the most common measurement is a 2″ cavity. Would that work?

    Reply
  3. Lisa

    March 21, 2013 at 11:00 AM

    Hi I love the veiner you use, what brand is it?
    Thanks 🙂

    Reply
    • Louise

      March 21, 2013 at 9:24 PM

      There should be a link to the veiner in the tutorial? Please look under “this is what I use”

      Reply
  4. Sarah

    December 6, 2012 at 9:41 AM

    Halloween photos seem to be invading the tutorial!

    Reply
  5. AC

    November 25, 2012 at 2:44 PM

    Hiyah,

    Thanks for this lovely tutorial. Your peonies look fab! would you share what colour and brand you used to achieve the color? thanks!

    Reply
  6. Patricia

    July 24, 2012 at 6:44 PM

    I love all your proyects

    Reply
  7. Caroline G.

    February 21, 2012 at 11:07 PM

    Thank you for sharing this great tutorial. I am planning to make this for my brother’s wedding cake. I have a question. Can I use a 2 inch styro ball? I cannot find the one that you used. Thanks again!

    Reply
    • Louise

      February 23, 2012 at 2:40 PM

      Yes, it will only make a bigger peony 🙂

      Reply
  8. Annapet

    February 3, 2012 at 6:43 PM

    I love your tutorial! I’m getting molds and cutters today! Thank you so much!

    Reply
  9. Noreen @ Spend Well Daily Blod

    February 3, 2012 at 5:31 AM

    Wow! so cute.. I can’t wait to try this! Thank you so much for sharing this tutorial. I’ll try to visit your other tutorial section Happy caking!

    Reply
  10. Missy

    January 28, 2012 at 2:26 AM

    Love this! I am doing a peony/woodland theme for my wedding (well wedding renewal – ten years, yay!) and this is just what I’ve been looking for!!! I’m so happy – this has made my year! 🙂

    Reply
  11. Eepeng

    November 19, 2011 at 3:47 PM

    Indeed a treat!!! Thank you SO much! Your peonies are gorgeous 🙂

    Reply
  12. Shona

    November 19, 2011 at 12:27 PM

    Oh my!! Thank you thank you thank you! Like everyone else, I’ve been praying you would do a tutorial. Your peony is to die for. You are one talented lady!!

    Reply
  13. DCRose

    November 17, 2011 at 12:54 AM

    Thanks so much. I am just beginning my experience with gum paste flowers. This was very helpful. DCRose

    Reply
  14. Besweetli

    November 16, 2011 at 2:26 PM

    Thank you for sharing..they are really AWSOME! xx Ligia

    Reply
  15. Regina Kolaja

    November 14, 2011 at 4:06 PM

    Thank you so much. Already finished step 1 and can’t wait for step 2. Finally, a beautiful peony, Gina

    Reply
  16. Angela

    November 13, 2011 at 3:37 AM

    Muchas Gracias!!!!!!! I have been waiting for this!!!!! 

    Reply
  17. Nemrac1958

    November 11, 2011 at 4:06 PM

    Thank you so much!!!!! I love it!!!!

    Reply
  18. Cbpex2000

    November 11, 2011 at 2:50 PM

    I LOVE your page, it is SO beautiful. Thank you for sharing your talent. You are AWESOME!

    Reply
  19. Laura

    November 10, 2011 at 4:13 AM

    Thank you so much for posting this! I ordered cutters for these ages ago now I know how to make them 🙂

    Reply
  20. Mebrink07

    November 10, 2011 at 4:01 AM

    I’ve been waiting to try making a peony, so I appreciate you making this  tutorial.  Thanks.

    Reply
  21. siti_63

    November 10, 2011 at 1:28 AM

    These is really great. Thanks for sharing with us.
    I will definitely try out. Thanks again

    Reply
  22. Cindy

    November 9, 2011 at 10:57 PM

    Thank you so much I love it.  Going to try it tonight
    Cindy

    Reply
  23. Marianmil

    November 9, 2011 at 10:40 PM

    thanks so much, your instructions are great!!!!!!!

    Reply
  24. Greer

    November 9, 2011 at 9:40 PM

    Thanks! Such a helpful tutorial! Cant wait for part 2

    Reply
  25. Claircondell

    November 9, 2011 at 8:51 PM

    I have been waiting anxiously for this. I will treat myself to the necessary cutters and veneers once Part 2 is up. Thank you so much!

    Reply
  26. my honest answer

    November 9, 2011 at 8:34 PM

    Great tutorial! Thanks.

    Reply
  27. Anna

    November 9, 2011 at 8:21 PM

    awsome, AWSOME! & thanks.

    Reply
  28. Scorcdero

    November 9, 2011 at 7:21 PM

    Thank you very much like always for sharing your knowledge with us!!

    Reply
  29. Paige Reese Designer Bakeshop

    November 9, 2011 at 7:08 PM

    WOW!  you make it look so easy, but i know….. perfection is NOT easy!  Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  30. Trudy

    November 9, 2011 at 7:01 PM

    Ooh can’t wait to have a go now!!  Thanks so much for posting.

    Reply
  31. Dora

    November 9, 2011 at 5:25 PM

    Thank you so much!!!
    I have been praying for you to give us instructions on these maervellous peonies!!!!!

    Reply

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