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Step 6Making the Fondant Pumpkins
The witch was done and while I waited for her to dry, I worked on the pumpkins. They were actually quite easy to make, it was handling them afterwards that was tricky. I had to make them thick enough to be durable, but thin enough that they would light up the way I intended.
I started by taking styrofoam balls and cutting the bases flat, so that the pumpkins would sit upright and still. Then I used my thumb to make an impression on the top that would serve as a nitch for the stems to sit later. I wrapped the balls tightly in plastic wrap and put a small piece of tape on the bottom.
I tinted some fondant with a touch of copper colored gel food coloring to get a really light yellow orange color. I also kneaded in some Gum Tex powder which makes the fondant a bit stronger, more like a gum paste. You can find Gum Tex at most cake supply stores that sell Wilton brand products. I rolled this fondant out to just a little over 1/4 inch thick.
Working on one pumpkin at a time, I dusted the ball with cornstarch first. (this will make for easy removal later. Then I covered the ball with the fondant and trimmed around the bottom. I picked the ball up and tucked in the fondant underneath, this helped give the pumpkin an open, but more durable bottom.
Next, I used a fondant tool to make the depressions for the lines of the pumpkin. You want to go deep enough to give it dimension, but at the same time, don't go too thin. Once I had the lines in, it was time to carve my pumpkins! I used an exacto knife and carved in the faces. For the stems, I just used scraps and rolled them into little logs, then twisted them slightly for that realistic stem look.
Ok, so then I let them dry overnight on the styrofoam balls in front of a fan. The next day, I brushed on some deeper orange powdered food coloring. (I think I used "sunflower") I also used a cocoa color to deepen the lines, and then some moss green and cocoa to color the stems.
The next day after they had dried enough to handle, I carefully cut them in half using the exacto knife with as much of a clean cut as possible. Very gently pull the halves apart and pull it off of the styrofoam ball and the plastic. Once off of the form, it's time to put them back together. I just use an artist flat brush and dampen it with water and go along each edge. Wait just a few seconds for the fondant to soften, then put the pieces back together. You can wait for a few minutes and then use a dampened brush again to smooth out any crumbs if necessary. I sat them back in front of the fan so that the insides could dry and harden.
For the stems, I actually waited until it was time to assemble the cake. I just barely moistened the bottom of the stem and then the top of the pumpkin and sat the stem gently on top without pressing down.
They were a great addition to the cake display and I just love the little guy's expression....I might just keep him because I feel so sorry for him LOL
I started by taking styrofoam balls and cutting the bases flat, so that the pumpkins would sit upright and still. Then I used my thumb to make an impression on the top that would serve as a nitch for the stems to sit later. I wrapped the balls tightly in plastic wrap and put a small piece of tape on the bottom.
I tinted some fondant with a touch of copper colored gel food coloring to get a really light yellow orange color. I also kneaded in some Gum Tex powder which makes the fondant a bit stronger, more like a gum paste. You can find Gum Tex at most cake supply stores that sell Wilton brand products. I rolled this fondant out to just a little over 1/4 inch thick.
Working on one pumpkin at a time, I dusted the ball with cornstarch first. (this will make for easy removal later. Then I covered the ball with the fondant and trimmed around the bottom. I picked the ball up and tucked in the fondant underneath, this helped give the pumpkin an open, but more durable bottom.
Next, I used a fondant tool to make the depressions for the lines of the pumpkin. You want to go deep enough to give it dimension, but at the same time, don't go too thin. Once I had the lines in, it was time to carve my pumpkins! I used an exacto knife and carved in the faces. For the stems, I just used scraps and rolled them into little logs, then twisted them slightly for that realistic stem look.
Ok, so then I let them dry overnight on the styrofoam balls in front of a fan. The next day, I brushed on some deeper orange powdered food coloring. (I think I used "sunflower") I also used a cocoa color to deepen the lines, and then some moss green and cocoa to color the stems.
The next day after they had dried enough to handle, I carefully cut them in half using the exacto knife with as much of a clean cut as possible. Very gently pull the halves apart and pull it off of the styrofoam ball and the plastic. Once off of the form, it's time to put them back together. I just use an artist flat brush and dampen it with water and go along each edge. Wait just a few seconds for the fondant to soften, then put the pieces back together. You can wait for a few minutes and then use a dampened brush again to smooth out any crumbs if necessary. I sat them back in front of the fan so that the insides could dry and harden.
For the stems, I actually waited until it was time to assemble the cake. I just barely moistened the bottom of the stem and then the top of the pumpkin and sat the stem gently on top without pressing down.
They were a great addition to the cake display and I just love the little guy's expression....I might just keep him because I feel so sorry for him LOL
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Nov 2, 2009. 8:40 PMimstuffed
says:
i love these guys...such character!!
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Nov 2, 2009. 3:01 PMpattit
says:
That little guy is clearly afraid of the big meanie pumpkin.
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