Here is a sunflower cake I made today
for a 40th birthday. 

This is me in my new uniform with "Cakes of the Hamptons" above the pocket. I love the European cut of the jacket.

How to Make a Gumpaste Sunflower

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Step One:

Color the white gumpaste yellow.

Cut 22-gauge green wires into 1" lengths.

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Step Two:

Roll yellow gumpaste thin; cut into leaf shapes using a small cutter. Wet ends of wires with a little water and insert carefully into the end of the leaf. Thin the edges of the leaves with a ball tool. Place leaves so that they will have a shape with movement when they dry.

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Step Three:

Let petals dry at least two days. After drying, use dry paintbrush and dust leaves with petal dust. Petal dust can be purchased at Michael's, while a larger selection may be purchased on websites like www.GlobalSugarArt.com.

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Step Four:

To make a sunflower center: Color white gumpaste dark brown. You can shape with your hands or use a "mold" for making flower centers. I purchase my molds at GlobalSugarArt.com and FirstImpressionsMolds.com.

After I put the gumpaste into the mold, I pop it into the freezer for about two minutes to firm it up, yet it will be pliable.

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Step Five:

After popping it out of the mold, carefully insert the leaves around the edges of the brown flower center. (You may need to trim wires.) Make another row of petals. Place pieces of balled-up plastic wrap underneath leaves for support and let dry. (This will take a couple of days, at the minimum.)

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Step Six:

After flowers dry, they can be held VERY CAREFULLY overtop steam from a pan; this adds a slight sheen to the flower, making it more realistic. (Do not burn yourself. Do not hold too long or the gumpaste petals will melt.)

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Step Seven:

After the flower dries, wet the brown center with a LITTLE water. Using a dry paintbrush, dust cinnamon onto brown center.

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Step Eight:

Using a thin paintbrush, add a little water on the outside of the brown circle then sprinkle poppy seeds.

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You're done!

 

 

 

 

Here are my sunflowers added to a basic two-tier white cake.

 

The brown "ribbons" are made from brown fondant

that I've then trimmed with a tiny yellow shell border.

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Feel free to email with any questions!

CakesoftheHamptons@Yahoo.com.

Enjoy! --Diane