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How to model a fondant boy standing up

Learn how to model a boy using fondant (sugarpaste) in this figures tutorial by Vicky Teather, perfect atop a single tier cake for a birthday or family celebration.

Image credit: Vicky Teather

Brought to you by Vicky Teather from Yellow Bee Sugar Art

Celebrate the sporting heroes in your family with the gift of cake!

Please note: As the model is constructed using wooden skewers it's not edible and is for decoration only.

Skill level: beginner

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Tips!

This character can be personalised with their hair colour and sports kits to make him even more special!

Try adding names to the t-shirts using the white paint.

This tutorial originally featured in the July 2020 issue of Cake Decoration & Sugarcraft magazine – get your copy to make some friends for your happy character or subscribe for year-round cake decorating inspiration straight to your door or digital device!

You will need

Edibles

Black, white & skin tone modelling paste (Saracino)
Edible glue
Orangino & neon pink gel colours (Magic Colours)
White dust colour (Magic Colours)
Clear alcohol

Equipment

Rolling pin
Small, medium and metal modelling tools (Squires Kitchen)
Ball tools
Dresden tool
Wooden skewers
Craft knife
Pliers
White 20 gauge florist wire

Instructions

Make the feet

Shape 4g of black modelling paste into a sausage. Place the sausage on the widest side and gently press down to flatten the base. Push the small end of the metal ball tool into one end of the sausage. Trim away the other end of the sausage and replace with the same size and shape piece of white modelling paste. Repeat to make a second shoe.

Cut out six small strips of white modelling paste and glue three each to the top of the shoes. Use the Dresden tool to mark lines coming from the toe of the shoe up towards the laces. Push the smallest ball tool into the end of each strip to create a small hole.

Make the legs and shorts

Roll 7.5g of skin tone modelling paste into a 6cm long sausage, one end narrower than the other. Trim 1cm off the narrow end and replace with a piece of white modelling paste. Repeat to make the second leg. Roll a sausage of white modelling paste and attach around the join between the skin tone and white paste. Flatten gently with your fingers.

For the shorts, roll 45g of black modelling paste into a 12cm long cylinder. Push the large end of the metal ball tool into each end of the cylinder to form a 1cm deep well. Bend the paste in half and use your fingers to reshape the middle.

Thread a wooden skewer through the centre of one of the shoes, legs and one side of the shorts. Glue the three pieces together as you thread. Push a shorter skewer through the second shoe and leg, with the skewer ending inside the shorts. Push the long skewer down into the cake and glue the feet in position.

Make the body

Colour 85g of white modelling paste with the orangino gel colour. Shape 75g of the orangino paste into an egg shape. Use your fingers to pinch the base of the end to flatten and stretch. Create a shallow well in the centre.

Trim the wooden skewer so that it is shorter than the body, then attach the body to the model. Push the leftover skewer into the top of the body. Wrap a small piece of skin tone modelling paste around the skewer. Roll a thin sausage from the orangino modelling paste and glue in place around the base of the neck.

Make the head

Roll 45g of skin tone modelling paste into a ball. Place your finger just below the half way mark on the ball and rock from side to side to create a shallow groove. Use your fingers to remove the top edge of the groove.

Attach a small capsule shape of skin tone modelling paste to the centre of the face, sitting on the highest point of the groove. Push the small end of the metal ball tool into the face on either side of the nose and inside the groove.

Push the Dresden tool into the face, half way between the base of the nose and the chin. Move the tool side ways to create a straight line. Then work down towards the chin to open the mouth.

Fill the eyes with two balls of white modelling paste. Use the small end of the medium ball tool to create two shallow wells on the inner corner of each eye. Fill the shallow wells with two small balls of black modelling paste.

Take an extremely small piece of black modelling paste and roll in the palm of your hand to create a taper ended sausage. Create two of these and glue in place around the top and outer edge of each eye.

Fill the mouth with a piece of black modelling paste shaped to fit the shape of the mouth. Use the Dresden tool to push the paste into position. Roll a rice grain shaped piece of white modelling paste and glue in place under the top lip. Add a small piece of neon pink modelling paste to the bottom edge of the mouth and use the Dresden tool to mark a crease in the centre.

Push the small end of the medium ball tool in the sides of the head, in line with the nose. Roll two small cones from skin tone modelling paste and glue in place with the cone inserted into the holes. Press the small end of the medium ball tool into the centre of the ear and then move it towards the head.

Mix the white dust colour with some clear alcohol to form a paint. Paint two small dots onto each eye. Roll two small cones from the black modelling paste and glue above the eyes. The eyebrows should be towards the outer edge of the forehead. Attach the head to the model, trimming the neck if necessary.

Make the hair

Shape 10g of black modelling paste to fit the back of the model’s head. Use the Dresden tool to mark vertical grooves along the surface.

Split 12g of black modelling paste into six balls; two large and four medium. Roll each ball into a long cone shape. Flatten gently using your fingers. Use the Dresden tool to mark in grooves down the length of each piece. Attach three of the pieces to each side of the head.

Add a small cone of black modelling paste to the parting line.

Make the arms

Roll 10.5g of skin tone modelling paste into a spoon shape. Flatten the spoon end with your fingers. Cut away a ‘v’ shaped section from one side.

Smooth the cut edge from the previous step and slightly lengthen the finger area of the hand. Cut the finger area in half and then each into half again to reveal the fingers. Use your fingers to smooth and round the fingers by rolling each gently between your thumb and finger. Repeat to create the second arm.

Roll the rest of the arm, so that the hand and arm are 9.5cm in length. Roll out the remaining orangino modelling paste and cut out a rectangle big enough to wrap around the top of the arm. Glue in place. Trim away the top of the arm at an angle to fit the body. Repeat for both arms.

Trim the florist wire to the length of the arm, plus 4cm. Push the wire through the arm and then use a spare piece to bore a hole into the body. Leave the arm to set for around 30 minutes. Push the wired arm into the hole created in the body and glue in place. Repeat with the second arm.