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How to model a camellia using flower paste

Learn how to make a stunning camellia flower out of flower paste in this tutorial by Jacqueline Butler from her book, Modern Sugar Flowers...

Image credit: Modern Sugar Flowers by Jacqueline Butler

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Learn the secrets of sugar floristry in this simple step-by-step guide with Petalsweet Cakes founder, Jacqueline Butler. In her book, Modern Sugar Flowers, Jacqueline shows you how to create lifelike modern and sophisticated, stylised sugar flowers, and how to use them to create beautiful arrangements on wedding and celebration cakes. If you love this tutorial you can get the book from our online shop WITH an automatic 20% off just for being you, PLUS free UK P+P!

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A refreshing change from roses, camellias give you the look of a flower with many petals but without the fuss of creating perfect spirals. The colours range from white, to beautiful soft pinks, dark pink and reds, and they are an iconic design symbol in the fashion house of Chanel. The instructions here make a beautiful open bloom, perfect to use as a stunning statement flower on top of small or individual cakes. If you wish to use them in an arrangement, simply hang them to dry so the finished camellias are shaped to fit well next to other flowers.

Tips!

Look at photos of real camellias for inspiration on petal placement and flower fullness. Some camellias are very symmetrical while others are more loosely shaped.

The entire camellia flower can be created using the notched petals if desired.

You will need

Edibles

Cosmos pink petal dust
Kiwi green petal dust
Pale pink paste (Wilton Pink)
Green paste (Wilton Moss Green and Americolor Lemon Yellow)

Equipment

Celbud2 (20mm) for each bud and flower
Rose petal cutters in five sizes: 1⁄2 x 5⁄8in (1 x 1.5cm), 3⁄4 x 7⁄8in (2 x 2.3cm), 7⁄8 x 1in (2.3 x 2.5cm), 1 1⁄8 x 13⁄8in (3 x 3.5cm) and 13⁄8 x 15⁄8in (3.5 x 4.3cm) (Cakes by Design)
Petal veiner (SK Great Impressions)
Small scissors
20g green wire
22g green wire

Instructions

Make the flower

Glue a Celbud2 (20mm) to a 20g wire and let it dry.

Roll pale pink paste thinly, cut three 3⁄4 x 7⁄8in (2 x 2.3cm) petals, thin the edges with a ball tool on a foam pad and press them in the petal veiner.

Apply sugar glue to the entire surface of all of the petals.

Attach the petals to the Celbud in a tight spiral, making sure to hide the tip of the Styrofoam.

Smooth the petals down completely to form a tight bud.

Cut three 7⁄8 x 1in (2.3 x 2.5cm) petals. Thin the edges with a ball tool on a foam pad, and press them in the veiner. Then cup the insides of the petals with a ball tool on the foam pad. Gently pinch the centre tip on the outer edge of each petal.

Apply sugar glue to the bottom half of the inside of the petals, and attach them so the petals are centred between the petals of the previous layer, and so they are slightly open from the centre.

Prepare three more of the same size petals in the same way (as described in step 6), and attach them in between the petals of the previous layer and a bit more open.

Prepare six 11⁄8 x 13⁄8in (3 x 3.5cm) petals in the same way, and attach them around the centre, spacing some evenly and some farther apart. These petals will overlap more. Repeat with a second set of six more petals in the same size.

Prepare six 13⁄8 x 15⁄8in (3.5 x 4.3cm) petals in the same way and attach them around the base of the flower.

To create notched petals, cut a small, rounded v-shape out of the centre of the petal with scissors before pressing it in the veiner and cupping with a ball tool.

Prepare six 13⁄8 x 15⁄8in (3 x 4.3cm) notched petals as described in step 11, and attach them around the base of the flower.

To dry the camellia, place small pieces of tissue or foam between the layers of petals, to maintain the spacing as desired. The flower can be dried face up, resting gently on a flat piece of foam, or it can be hung to dry to create more of a closed shaped flower. Allow to dry completely.

To finish the camellia, remove all the tissue or foam. Dust the edges of all of the petals with pale pink dust and gently steam for a few seconds to set the colour. Let the flower dry before using.

Make the bud

Glue a Celbud2 (same size as for the flower centre) to a 22g wire and let dry. Create the first three petals in the same way as the camellia flower, and attach in a tight spiral to cover the Styrofoam.

Create three more 7⁄8 x 1in (2.3 x 2.5cm) petals lengthening each one a bit in the centre with the ball tool before pressing it in the veiner. Apply sugar glue to the entire petal surface, and attach overlapping the first three petals, only slightly lower. Smooth with your fingers to attach cleanly to the bud.

To make the calyx, roll green paste thinly and cut six 1⁄2 x 5⁄8in (1 x 1.5cm) petals. Thin them with a ball tool and apply sugar glue to the surface of all of the petals. Attach in two layers of three petals each, placing the second layer so the petals are positioned in between those in the first layer, and lower down on the bud.

Dust the camellia bud with pale pink to match the flower, and kiwi green on the calyx. Gently steam for a few seconds to set the colour. Allow to dry before using.