"More than just a Calyx"

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Rose calyx cutters soon become an essential collection for anyone making sugar or porcelain flowers, but so often we forget that they can be also used to make a wide selection of pretty shaped fantasy flowers. Fantasy flowers enable the cake decorator to have fun, to be creative, make the most of equipment and use imaginative colour schemes. In many cases family, friends and customers will still call the flowers by a name but as long as they like what they see then that is an added bonus.
 

Basic Techniques

Mexican Hat - (shown on Lesson 10) - Mould paste into a small ball and then a cone shape. Use the fingertips to pinch out the fat part of the cone and extend this paste further using a small pin or paint brush handle. Place the cutter over the cone and cut out firmly. Additional detail can be added by thinning the petals further, veining and adding stamens
 

Shaping

The Dog Bone or Ball Tool is ideal to soften the edges of the paste, this will take away the obvious cut edge and create interest. To curve the petals stroke the paste firmly fron the tips towards the centre.
 
 

Veining

The Multi-Flower Veiner is ideal for any flower up to 50mm and the Veining Mat Sets offer a variety of leaf and flower opportunities. For strong simple detail draw the back of the Flute or Vein Tool across the paste.
 

Fantasy Flowers

No.1- Jasmine Type - 20mm Calyx Cutter
These small flowers are made using the Mexican Hat technique and simply decorated with a single stamen and a painted calyx.

No.2 - Bell Flowers - 30mm Calyx Cutter
This time mould a very small cone shape to the Mexican Hat, or cut away any excess after making the flower. Curve the petals from the back of the paste and use a pair of scissors or tweezers to pinch out the seed head shape.

No.3 - Lily Type - 70mm Calyx Cutter
Create a large Mexican Hat. The strong veining is obtained by first using the flute end (Dresden) of the tool and then the vein end.

No.4 - Multi-Layered Mexican Hat - 35mm & 45mm Calyx Cutters
Use the larger cutter for the Mexican Hat base. For additional layers simply cut the smaller size from thinly rolled out paste. All of the layers have been veined using the Multi-Flower Veiner.

No.5 - Leaves with Flowers or Berries - Any combination of Calyx Cutter Sizes.
Cut out three calyx shapes from thinly rolled out paste. Use the veining tool to add the leaf detail and paint or dust the layers before assembling. Decorate the centre using small cut out blossoms or moulded berries.

No.6 - Lantern Flowers - 70mm Calyx Cutter.
These flowers are also made using the Mexican Hat technique and utilising one of the Veining Mats. The petals are curved over the cone hiding it inside the lantern.

No.7 - Daisy Type - Any size of Calyx Cutter.
From finely rolled out paste cut out two shapes. Create a strong centre vein by marking firstly with the Flute Tool and then with the Vein Tool. Pinch the petal tips before assembling and completing with a Daisy centre.

No.8 - Water Lily Flowers - 45mm, 55mm & 70mm Calyx Cutters.
Using finely rolled out paste cut out two of each size. Curve all the petals and brush with powder colour before assembling. Make a small centre from a ball of paste embossed with net or tulle.