Cake Decorating

Need help attaching heavy flowers

I am trying to attach heavy lily of the valley gumpaste flowers to the side of a cake and failing miserably. I think what is making them so heavy is the wire and that they have about 4-6 flowers on each bunch.

I tried using royal icing and it does not seem to be holding it very well. The design I am making will not allow me to put any of the flower into cake so I need to figure out a way to attach to the sides.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Jennifer, https://www.facebook.com/PrimaCakesandCookies

17 Replies

I have tried attaching heavy fondant ribbons with melted chocolate and it worked for me. I’ve seen some use the freeze spray to make melted chocolate dry faster. Hope this suggestion helps :)

Janice thanks for the awesome idea but unfortunately after a test the chocolate won’t work because if anything oozes out I won’t be able to paint it to match the painted floral wire. I guess I should have mentioned before the wire is painted with airbrush color.

I know I am being picky but this is for a competition so I have to be meticulous and anything I use to secure the flowers needs to blend in

Jennifer, https://www.facebook.com/PrimaCakesandCookies

Jennifer… Regular straws, or larger bubble straws if the wire is thick. Place the wire into the straw, squeeze some RI into the bottom of the straw so the wire will stay put, and not make contact with the cake. Once RI is dry, pipe some RI under the flower bunch at the top of the straw, maybe some RI behind some of the flowers as well. Push straw with wires and flowers into the cake at a angle. So it goes in, down & deep..if that makes sense. You may need to hold for a minute, or prop with some foam underneath till RI dries rock hard.
Hope this helps.

Creativity is God's gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift back to God. Clarky's Cakes 😎

June thanks for the ideas but unfortunately I am not trying to stick the flowers into the cake I am trying to attaché them to the outside. I actually want to see the floral wire.

Jennifer, https://www.facebook.com/PrimaCakesandCookies

I recently did a wedding cake with heavy roses as they each had over 30 petals. I used posy picks all the way down the cake, then piped in some royal icing, then placed in the roses that had a central wire. Wires cannot be places directly into a cake, as I’m sure you know, so that is why I use posy picks. They are very cheap to buy and come in all sizes

You must never limit your challenges, instead you must challenge your limits

Oh, I see Jennifer. Cali’s advice seems to fit your needs.

Creativity is God's gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift back to God. Clarky's Cakes 😎

June straws work too… I’ve used that method on lighter flowers. :) some people wrap the wiring in cling film, but I’m not to sure about health and safely on that method… As an ex Facilities Manger I get a bit obsessed,,, may be too much hahaha xxx

You must never limit your challenges, instead you must challenge your limits

I learned from an ole school Brit decorator….NEVER put wires in the cake….or plastic wrap either. Plastic wrap could be cut into the cake. She said straws were the safest as everything was contained….nothing touches the cake. I’ve also used, for individual large flowers, the little tubes you get at the florists….they work great….

Creativity is God's gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift back to God. Clarky's Cakes 😎

Hey that’s a great idea too June :) … Thanks… Will check out me local florist for some :)

You must never limit your challenges, instead you must challenge your limits

Cali, the florist I deal with just gives them to me. I also save any I’ve received…clean in the dishwasher so I know there bacteria free… I put fresh Gerbera daisies on my daughters wedding cake, and I used these little tubes. Being Mom of the bride, had to set up cake fairly early. So a little water in the tubes kept the flowers fresh….

Creativity is God's gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift back to God. Clarky's Cakes 😎