Signature favorites at Petalsweet, these little pulled blossoms and all-purpose buds go with just about everything! The flowers are most versatile made in white with pale yellow centers, but can easily be made in any color you need to coordinate with other flowers in a design.
1. Roll a small 1⁄4in (5mm) narrow cone of white paste, 1in (2.5cm) long.
2. Open the top with the cone tool, creating a 1⁄4in (5mm) deep hole.
3. Using scissors, cut into the rim of the opening five times to create the petals.
4. Using your fingers, gently press the square corners of the petals to round them.
5. Flatten the petals firmly between your thumb and finger.
6. Turn the flower upside down on a foam pad and cup the underside of each petal by gently pressing with a small ball tool. Continue to step 7.
7. Slide a hooked 26g wire down through the center of the flower, just until the hook disappears out of sight.
8. Gently roll the base of the flower between your fingers to attach it neatly to the wire. Set in styrofoam to let it dry completely.
9. Color a small amount of soft royal icing pale yellow and spoon into a piping cone. Snip a tiny tip off the point with scissors. Pipe the centers of the flowers, filling the tiny center hole with icing and hiding the tops of the wires. Allow to dry completely before using.
10. Roll a tiny 3⁄16in (4mm) ball of white paste until smooth, and attach neatly to a hooked 28g wire (see Getting Started).
11. Use a knife tool to make three indentations evenly around the top of the bud. Let it dry. Dust a tiny amount of kiwi green color on the base of the bud to finish, and steam to set the color (see Getting Started).
12. Roll a tiny 3⁄16in (4mm) ball of green paste into a cone and attach it to a hooked 30g wire, with the pointed end at the top. Flatten firmly between your thumb and finger.
13. Lay the leaf on a foam pad and press on both sides of the wire with your fingertips, creating a center vein and the sides of the leaf.
14. Smooth and stretch the two sides with a ball tool to create the leaf shape. Pinch the leaf tip to finish. Let it dry completely.
15. Dust with moss green dust and finish with a tiny dab of confectioner’s or leaf glaze for a bit of shine. Let the leaf dry before using.
16. Roll a 1⁄2in (1cm) ball of white paste into a chunky cone shape, and attach to a 22g hooked wire.
17. Use a knife tool to create three indentations from the base of the bud to the tip, evenly spaced around the bud. Let it dry completely.
18. Dust the base of the bud and up through the indentations with kiwi green dust. Steam for a few seconds to set color and let dry before using. Make the buds in both green and white, and in a variety of small sizes.
