How To:Candy Making 101/Yummy Artwork!

by Creativeman

11K2825

Intro: How To:Candy Making 101/Yummy Artwork!


I picked this title as we will be making candy...starting from scratch...the  thing is that the only ingredients you need are:some foam such as EPS, XPS, etc.  Otherwise known as styrofoam, it can be from packing containers, old coolers, insulation boards, etc.  Also, a hot melt glue gun is used for "frosting" and then the "candies" are painted with acrylic hobby paint, followed by a coat or two of acrylic varnish, gloss in this case. Let's get started.

STEP 1: Tools and Materials (Ingredients)

I used my hotwire instrument for all of the cutting of my candy pieces. If you don't have one, it will be difficult to follow this instructable.  I published how to make one some time ago. See:https://www.instructables.com/id/Making-The-Mighty-Goliath- I didn't measure anything, just cut the styrofoam to the shape and sizes I wanted, used a little sandpaper but not a lot.  It's easier and cleaner just to use the hotwire to round off edges as you go. The glue gun adds the realism of "poured" chocolate.  Some acrylic paint and varnish and that's about it.

STEP 2: Cut Foam to Size


The pictures tell the story. Read the picture notes to see the explanations.  Several shapes/forms were made, from single pieces of chocolates, square and round, candy bars, pinwheel mints, candy corn, etc.

STEP 3: Shape Foam Pieces With Hotwire And/or Sandpaper


All pieces were rounded on the edges with the hotwire machine, with just a little touch with the sandpaper.  The foam pieces don't sand well, so is not advised if you have a choice.

STEP 4: Use Hot Melt Glue Gun for "Frosting"


To mimic the chocolate forms on candy, melt glue on the tops of the pieces.  It is easy to imitate the way chocolate is poured on to form ridges on the pieces.

STEP 5: Paint Pieces of Candy to Your Liking


I had a color called, of all things: chocolate bar.  I did try to lighten it for some pieces, but decided that wasn't necessary.  Other colors of brown, some off-white, and some pink are used to resemble real candy colors.  The hard candy pinwheels used red and green, and the candy corn is painted as shown.

STEP 6: When Dry, Add Clear Varnish to All Pieces


Using acrylic varnish, the pieces are coated once or twice to give a high sheen.  Let dry and the project is complete!  Very easy to do, kids will have fun, and you have a nice pile of "candy" to tempt everyone's sweet tooth!

STEP 7: Make a Piece of Art With Your Candy


I wanted to be able to display my "candy" so decided on a piece that could be hung on the wall. I needed a plate, and had some handy (garage sale finds). To drill a hole in the plate, I used the glass cutting bit in a regular drill. It is slow going, but in time, the hole is completed.

STEP 8: Glue Candy to Plate

Arrange the candy on the plate and glue using gorilla glue...this stuff is amazing, not so much for it's strength, but for it's ability to join two dis-similar materials.  Allow to dry, then your project is complete, ready to hang!

STEP 9: Hang Artwork


Pick a spot and hang new artwork.

25 Comments

bajablue 11 years ago

lol... clever you!!!

EnvyVirus 13 years ago

This has been wracking my brain and I just have to ask, how do you get the "icing" to look so smooth with hot glue? I'm stumped!

Creativeman 13 years ago

Step 4, pictures two and three: I guess some of the text is misleading as hot glue is used ONLY to make the ridges that you would find on regular candy...Not to cover the whole piece...when painted as shown, everything blends together to appear as though it is "icing"....hope this helps.

kcls 13 years ago

Wow, until I read the intro paragraph, I really thought that you were making real candy. Great job!

punkhead58 13 years ago

As did I. Damn. I suppose that you can take that as a compliment. Your artwork is very realistic. Well done.

punkhead58 13 years ago

ph59? If you are going to use an abbreviation in reference to my user name, then at least use the correct numerals. It's ph58!
Have a nice day.

kcls 13 years ago

You're welcome!

Lettucehead 13 years ago

I was disappointed this wasn't real candy, but this candy is just as great!!

canida 13 years ago

Those look excellent! I was totally disappointed to discover they weren't real. ;)

chabias 13 years ago

C-man, you are such a tease!! Here I was hoping to learn about REAL candy making! These do look pretty authentic though.

AureliaLiele 13 years ago

Oh my...These "candy" looks too real for me. Just I feel tempted to eat them~~ Oh... just think is that possible to make some "fruits" coated with chocolate, like the fruit fondue? That will be amazing too!! Anyway, Creativeman you're amazing! Thanks for sharing~

Creativeman 13 years ago

Thank you....anything is possible. While making this instructable, I thought of the artists that make the "food" advertising props. Truly amazing, and, in fact they are so realistic that at times, the props are used instead of the real food. Cman

MrAngryPants 13 years ago

Wait a second... I just finished buying the foam when it struck me, THIS ISN'T EDIBLE! How dare you call this Candy Making 101?

ChrysN 13 years ago

Good thing you glued it to the plate because I would try to eat them, they look great. Nicely done!
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