Butterflies

Material needed:
Gum paste
Wing cutter
Rolling pin
Ball tool
Wires: 28g for wings; 18-20 g for body
2 half stamens
Gum paste
Wing cutter
Rolling pin
Ball tool
Wires: 28g for wings; 18-20 g for body
2 half stamens
Paste colors
Dust colors
000 brush
Foam pad
Styrofoam V shaped former

Roll out gum paste, increasing pressure while rolling. The wing must be thinner at the edge. .

Cut first wing with metal cutter, positioning the inner edge of the cutter in the thicker area.

Turn rolled gum paste and cut another wing the same way

Now you have two opposite wings

Place on foam

Insert 28g wire in the thicker inner point of the wing.

With ball tool thin the edges without changing the shape

Let dry for about 2 hours.

With a very tiny brush, paint lines using paste color thinned with water.

It’s easier if you have a real butterfly picture to copy…

Turn the wing and repeat on the outside

Let dry

Repeat for the other wing.

Dust with a soft brush

Colors make the difference

With a 000 brush and paste color thinned with water, scrape the edges of the wings….

Here you can see the difference between the dusted only wing and the finished one

Let dry overnight

Cut wires leaving 5 mm

Bend 18-20 g wire for body support as shown

With pliers bend edge as shown

Insert in styrofoam

To form the body roll dough in a long shape (mine need a little more practice..)

Mark lines with needle tool, with icing tip nr.3 mark eyes, then insert two half flower stamens matching the color of the body

Insert in a V shaped Styrofoam former

Brush with egg white or edible glue the inner edge of the wing and insert into body pressing to insert.

Repeat for the other wing and let dry for at least 24 hours

Same cutter, a thousand of different butterflies

By Carla Gennusa the author of the above work