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How to make a gum paste peony (part 2)

by Louise 46 Comments

Gum paste peony
Here is the second part of my tutorial on how to make a gum paste peony. In this tutorial you will end up with a finished gum paste peony dusted with powdered colors. I have decided to make a part 3, to show you how to make the last row of petals with wired petals instead. I will also show you, how you can make a peony bud.

I have edited the material list and added a tall drinking glass (alternative a flower vase/flowerpot can be used instead) Make sure that the top of the glass is wider than the bottom. As this will support the peony flower better. You would also be needing a square piece of thin foam to place on top of the glass.

The foam should be flexible, but it should still be able to hold and support the peony flower while the petals are drying. If you can’t find such foam just try with something else. As long as its lint free and you can push the flower wire through the material it would be fine. When you see the photos I am sure it makes more sense.

OK! Let’s continue with the peony.

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.
Adding petals to a gum paste peony

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.
Gum paste peony
Gum paste peony drying

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.
Gum paste 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.
Petals for a gum paste peony

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.
Gum paste petal
The petals should be covering the styrofoam ball completely by now.
Making a gum paste peony

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.
Pretty gum paste peony
Let the peony dry overnight before removing the supporting paper pieces.
Separating petals on a gum paste peony

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!
Coloring gum paste peony
Note: By a quick look in my box with color dusts. I can see, that I really need to get some of those really hot pink colors for my next peonies. Oh and some floral tape!

Not two peony flowers will turn out the same. The small difference in placing the paper pieces, using different size cutters, adding more or less petals. Makes each peony unique in it’s own way!

Go to How to make a gum paste peony (Part 1).

You can also visit my tutorial section if you want to learn how to make other gum paste flowers and decorations.

Part 3 is coming up soon.

Happy Caking!

Louise

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sarah

    May 25, 2020 at 10:40 AM

    Hi there

    Just wondering when you are making part 3?

    Reply
  2. Yvette Baptiste

    August 25, 2018 at 9:44 AM

    Dear Louise, That was such a beautiful flower the Peony you have made, I have been making lots of flowers since i have been to college, I haqve to college for seven years and i really enjoyed it, my tutor was a brilliant person when making flowers but I love your peony. I have a wedding cake coming up and she wanted Peony flowers so i went on the net to see how to make them and on the last petels they said to use 24g wires to attach them it make the flower a little wide but it looks ok, but with your flower you use glue which I think
    was good. I thank you for using your tutorial to see how you made your flower. Thanks again Yvette.
    Thank You for shareing your talent with us.

    Reply
  3. Hyacinth Rodrigues

    November 27, 2017 at 11:48 AM

    Your work is excellent. did you manage doing the part 3. Please advise.

    Thank you .
    Hyacinth

    Reply
  4. Delia

    May 2, 2017 at 1:51 PM

    Hi, I cant find a set of peony cutters, is there any other flower cutter I can use that would look similar?

    Reply
    • Sydney Winkler

      May 3, 2017 at 11:11 AM

      Yes there is a link to peony cutters in our part 1: https://cakejournal.com/tutorials/how-to-make-a-gum-paste-peony-part-1/
      Hope this helps, happy baking!

      Reply
  5. Ophelia

    August 17, 2015 at 8:49 AM

    Ok your gum paste peony is the first one I’ve seen that actually looks like a peony, versus some other random flower. I love how you made the middle look like a cluster of potentially unopened petals, kinda like a cabbage – the way a peony should look. No one else seems to get this, even with the same cutters you used, so I’m really glad I saw your tutorial. Thanks Louise!

    Reply
  6. Zoe

    January 31, 2015 at 4:00 AM

    This is incredible! I need to master a few more basics before I give it. Try.. Just a quick tip re petal dust. You can get child safe chalk pastels and grate them up for a huge range of awesome color. You can get 70 super pigmented colors for less than $10. I grate mine as I use it, but some crush up the whole stick and store it in bead containers. It’s not exactly food grade, but since no one eats the gum paste flowers, child safe is good enough for me.

    Reply
  7. Nikki

    March 20, 2014 at 1:05 PM

    Dear Louise – I love your peonies, but please help! Mine won’t stick – even after a few days, the petals are falling off 🙁 have I used the wrong kind of glue? (Squires Kitchen, SK essentials, edible glue) Have I used too much, not enough? Are my petals too thick? What did I do wrong?!!! Do you have any advice on what I could try? Thanks so much!!

    Reply
  8. Marita Hdez

    November 7, 2013 at 8:59 AM

    ¡Son preciosas! Pero…. Si se realiza tanto trabajo en azucar…. Es una pena que se quede dentro la bolita de polispan (corcho blanco) ¿no? Al final… No es totalmente comestible….pero igualmente ¡es un trabajo maravilloso!

    Reply
  9. Tina

    January 17, 2013 at 2:22 AM

    This is a great tutorial. I love the pictures and easy to follow directions. I can’t wait to give this peony a try.

    Reply
  10. Mauzie Mulherin

    January 7, 2013 at 10:42 PM

    Hey Louise, Great Peony tutorial…very easy to follow. I look forward to checking out your other tutorials. Mauzie from Kisses On Cakes

    Reply
  11. Cynda

    November 12, 2012 at 7:04 PM

    I had been looking for a good tutorial on how to make peonies. This was great! I can’t wait to get started.

    Reply
  12. pam

    October 1, 2012 at 1:51 AM

    Hi! I love you two part tutorial for Peonies!! Are you going to upload part 3 soon?

    Reply
    • Louise

      October 6, 2012 at 12:56 PM

      I was planning to do the next part but the weather have been impossible to work with gum paste + I had to focus on the family dyring the last month. It will come as I have planned it for so long. So please be a little more patience 🙂

      Reply
  13. Sarah-Jane

    September 23, 2012 at 5:00 AM

    I can’t wait for part 3!

    Reply
    • Louise

      October 17, 2012 at 8:06 PM

      I know, I know…..

      Reply
      • Skylar

        April 30, 2015 at 2:14 PM

        Just wondering, are you still doing a Pt. 3? I looked but didn’t see it. Thanks.

  14. aani

    June 10, 2012 at 4:47 PM

    you are amazing..thank you for the tutorial

    Reply
  15. Jeanne

    June 4, 2012 at 1:59 PM

    Oh Louise, how can I ever thank you for this wonderful tutorial!! I’ve been trying to make flowers for years, and I could just never make it work.
    Then I tried this tutorial–it worked so easy–looked fab–something just clicked!! You atr my hero!1 Thank you, Thank you!!

    Reply
    • Louise

      June 5, 2012 at 11:01 AM

      Thanks Jeanne 🙂

      Reply
  16. Monica

    May 3, 2012 at 2:23 AM

    Thank you very much for share this amazing tutorial with us.
    It is stunningly amazing! hugs

    Reply
  17. cassie

    April 15, 2012 at 8:12 PM

    hej Louise, hvor er de flotte! Hvor kan man købe peony udstikker i DK? Jeg kan hverken finde dem i dansk onine butikker eller i UK/Holland og jeg vil rigtig gerne bruge dem næste uge!

    Reply
    • Louise

      April 15, 2012 at 8:19 PM

      Tak:-) Jeg har købt mine udstikker fra USA, da jeg ikke har fundet dem i DK/EU :-/

      Reply
  18. Arte

    March 15, 2012 at 4:59 PM

    Hola!! por que no puedo ver las fotos!! mmmm.

    Reply
  19. Ashley

    February 29, 2012 at 1:49 AM

    Gorgeous! Definitely will try this one out!

    Reply
  20. Gloria

    February 25, 2012 at 4:49 AM

    Great tutorial. Waiting for part 3 – I`m so anxious!

    Reply
    • Louise

      February 26, 2012 at 9:28 PM

      Don’t worry it will come…. I managed to find my green floral tape the other day!! Yah!

      Reply
  21. eleanor

    February 23, 2012 at 9:50 PM

    thanks for tellin me about the storage louise my mum will love the flowers and all hav to thank is you. surprisinly the day after i checked out these flowers and the purse cake she suggested we started baking together. I dnt no if she found out what i was planning for mothers day but im lookin forward to the baking

    Reply
    • Louise

      February 26, 2012 at 9:40 PM

      Love what you have planed for mothers day 🙂 Have fun with the baking! Louise x

      Reply
  22. eleanor

    February 23, 2012 at 12:28 AM

    hi louise i was wonderin how i should store the flowers because im making a bouquet for mothers ay but my mum cant see it, will the be ok in a cupboard or do they need to go in a fridge?
    xx eleanor

    Reply
    • Louise

      February 23, 2012 at 2:36 PM

      In the cupboard out of direct sunlight will be perfect.

      Reply
  23. htc Desire reparation

    February 20, 2012 at 3:46 PM

    This looks very cool, and I will try it out 🙂

    Cheers

    Erik
    https://htcreparation.dk/

    Reply
  24. Annapet

    February 17, 2012 at 7:09 PM

    Thank you for this, Louise! I am following your tutorial and have been tweeting about it! I just have to share! 😉

    Reply
  25. arah

    February 3, 2012 at 6:55 AM

    i love your tutorials! thank you so much for posting!

    Reply
  26. wawa

    January 17, 2012 at 1:16 PM

    Hai..can u tell me what the kind of brand u use the gum paste?can u show the pic?

    Reply
    • Louise

      January 18, 2012 at 10:21 PM

      I make the gum paste myself. Using store bought fondant 500 g, vegetable fat 1 tsp. Tylo powder 1 1/2 tsp and egg white 1 tbsp. Mix it in, in the steps I wrote here. I let my gum paste rest for 1 day before using it.

      Reply
  27. gaetana

    January 17, 2012 at 2:58 AM

    Thank you so much. I can’t wait to practice making my favorite flower. Beautiful work.

    Reply
  28. Cara

    November 21, 2011 at 12:41 PM

    Too much!!  Why don’t you have your own reality show yet??  😉

    Reply
    • Anonymous

      November 21, 2011 at 9:06 PM

      🙂

      Fra: Disqus [mailto:]
      Sendt: 21. november 2011 12:41
      Til: louise@cakejournal.com
      Emne: [cakejournal] Re: How to make a gum paste peony (part 2)

      NOTE: This comment is waiting for your approval. It is not yet published on your site. ======

      Reply
  29. Nann

    November 19, 2011 at 5:35 PM

    Gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous. It is a work of art….literally. Thanks for the wonderful tutorial.

    Reply
  30. SharyB

    November 19, 2011 at 3:41 PM

    Love your tutorials and mad about the peony. where can I get the cutters.
    many thanks
    SharyB

    Reply
    • Anonymous

      November 19, 2011 at 11:46 PM

      There are links in the part 1 for the cutters. Look under “This is what I use”
      Fra: Disqus [mailto:]
      Sendt: 19. november 2011 15:42
      Til: louise@cakejournal.com
      Emne: [cakejournal] Re: How to make a gum paste peony (part 2)

      NOTE: This comment is waiting for your approval. It is not yet published on your site. ======

      Reply
  31. sue

    November 19, 2011 at 1:09 AM

    that looks amazing.

    Reply
  32. Sandy

    November 18, 2011 at 5:09 PM

    Thank you for sharing your talent. Looking forward on your next tutorial. Have a great day!!  Sandy from Alhambra, California

    Reply
  33. Dora

    November 18, 2011 at 4:04 PM

    Louise these look like real!
    Your work is excellent!

    Reply

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