You will be amazed how wide a variety of facial features and other details you can create by just using a few simple cutters to add character and individuality to your decorations.
The wings of the Busy Blackbirds featured in the barnyard fun chapter are created using an ordinary heart cutter.
1 Cut down once into the paste with a 3.5cm (13⁄8in) heart cutter and lift the excess paste away.
2 Rotate the cutter slightly and cut down a second time so that you cut away some of the existing paste to create a three-pointed wing shape.
You can buy sugar or edible glue for attaching features or decorations, but I love to make my own glue, as I can manage the consistency, creating a firm or looser glue depending on what I need to use it for. The synthetic gum CMC is used for this purpose too.
To make a batch of sugar glue, you need to make a blend of 1 part CMC to 20 parts warm, previously boiled water. Pick up the CMC on the end of a mini palette knife and place in a small screw-top jar. Add the water and stir. Leave with the lid off for 40 minutes to allow the glue to thicken. If you wish to make it the evening before, screw the lid on and leave in the fridge overnight to activate.