1. Making the Figurines Head
In this lesson Valentina shows us how to start the head, bringing out all the key shapes and features with one piece of sugarpaste (approx. 35g). First of all she adds a little CMC to it and then kneads it until it strengthens. Getting the head shape right at the beginning is key, so try and make a slightly oval egg shape and get the eyes in the centre. From here Valentina uses a mixture of modelling tools such as the dresden tool, veining tool, cell stick, small ball tool and her hands to bring it all to life. You’ll be amazed at how much detail can be formed with the smallest of movements.
For the full tutorial see 50 Shades of cake
2. Making the Eyes
You can see already how amazing this model is going to end up looking after just one lesson. Now we are onto the eyes. Always remember to hold the head loosely as you work on it, and try to be as delicate and subtle as possible with your modelling tools. Watch how little Valentina does in terms of movement with them but gets incredible results.
3. Making the Figurine’s Ears
Valentina shows us how to position the ears on the head by measuring out by eye and with the tools you have to hand, marking the head lightly to keep yourself right. Once you have your position simply roll out very small tear drop shapes of sugarpaste and attach them. To attach them to the head she cleverly pushes them in with a leaf veining tool. This adds a very realistic ear canal and attaches them even more securely. For fine detail, she uses her silicone brush and draws a question mark shape on the edge of the ear. To finish, she adds more detail by adding in a tiny sausage of white sugarpaste into the mouth, which she then closes up more as though revealing the teeth inside.
4. Making Your Own Template
Here Valentine shows us how we can make our very own template and explains how she has come up with ways of making sure the body is always in proportion. It’s all so simple and is very handy to know for future projects.
5. Making the body
Valentina starts off with a 80g ball of sugarpaste mixed with CMC and rolls it into a sausage. Again you can use your template to guide you to how long you should roll it out. In this lesson you will only need your hands, a leaf veining tool and a cell stuck. You’ll be amazed by the results you can get using just your fingers.
6. Making the legs
Valentina starts off with a 80g ball of sugarpaste mixed with CMC and rolls it into a sausage. Again you can use your template to guide you to how long you should roll it out. In this lesson you will only need your hands, a leaf veining tool and a cell stuck. You’ll be amazed by the results you can get using just your fingers.
7. Making the underwear
In this lesson Valentina shows us how to make underwear using small quantities of thinly rolled out black sugarpaste. She then shapes it using circle cutters and a scalpel knife. To create a lovely decorative set of underwear she uses black sugar lace which really finishes it off.
8. Making the arms
Valentina starts off with 20g of flesh coloured sugarpaste which she then divides into two to give her the correct amount of sugarpaste per arm. It’s always worth weighing as you go, to make sure you have the correct amount to work with. Valentina advises that it’s always best to make the body arms and legs all in the same day, as it’s easier to join everything up while it’s still soft.
9. Painting the face
Here Valentina demonstrates how to paint the face. You will need an incredibly small paint brush, a little white and green sugarpaste and a very steady hand! Valentina also shows us clever ways of using small ball tools help paint the smaller details without smudging. A small cotton bud and clear alcohol will be your friend at this stage.
10. Painting the face continued
Valentina goes on to finish the face by painting the lips and adding a lovely soft blusher to the figurine’s cheeks.
11. Finishing the body
In this lesson Valentina finishes off the body by dusting some black stockings which looks very realistic using the technique demonstrated. She then adds the figurine to the cake and is ready to finish it all off by adding her hair.