Jessica MV of Floral Cakes by Jessica MV shares her incredible step-by-step tutorial for creating her signature fabric look flowers. World-renowned for her eclectic style and unusual textures. Jessica demonstrates how to create a realistic fabric flower- we can all agree the results are stunning.

Components

• Gum paste tinted with 2 parts Royal blue & 1 part super black,
• 20 gauge wire with 1 end bent to create a big hook
• a styrofoam ball
• shortening
• Edible blue petal dust and gold highlighter
• lemon extract
• paint brush for application
• small rolling pin
• pair of scissors

Prepare your bud by inserting a hooked 20 gauge wire through a small 1 inch foam ball.

Roll out a piece of gum paste with a rolling pin, then let it run through a pasta roller or attachment of the Kitchen Aid on a Number 2 setting to achieve the desired thickness. Using the rolling pin, gentle fray the edges and then brush lightly with some gold highlighter to create an aged look.

Using a pair of clean kitchen scissors, snip the fondant to create a fringe. Then brush on a small amount of edible glue or pasteurized egg white and lowly adhere to the styrofoam ball, working from the top down.

Once the ball is full covered, mix a little gold and toffee colored highlighter with some lemon extract and brush over the frayed edges of the fondant.

Roll out a second piece of fondant, fraying the edge and aging with the gold dust and then wrap this around the perimeter of your flower center – make sure to scrunch your fondant a little as you go to create a natural ruffled effect.

Add a second and then a third layer by repeating the above steps – again, take care to add movement to your fondant by folding and scrunching.

Make sure you allow your layers to firm up a little before adding too many- this will prevent the fondant from drooping. This finished flower has 4 layers.

When the flower is firm to the touch- dust the petals with a deep blue petal dust. I have used Wisteria petal dust by Squires Kitchen.

The finished flower- I hope you enjoyed this easy technique!

Jessica MV with her finished design

About the Author

Jessica MV is owner of Floral Cakes by Jessica MV. A world renowned sugar-art teacher, Jessica is in demand for her unusual, textural techniques. For more information about Jessica and her tutorials and her upcoming classes visit her facebook page.