FREE Peek into how I make my Signature Standup Ruffles

Finally, I can share with everyone how I make my signature Standup Ruffles as seen in my Modern Tropical Ruffles Cake below.  Since this tutorial was originally made for publication in Cake Decoration & Sugarcraft Magazine, I had to wait until the issue, came off sale.  I share key steps of the technique further in this post but having taken pics of all the steps for that tutorial, I had all the makings for creating my own paid tutorial in pdf version so have made it available in my SHOP.

So if you could not get your hands on the magazine, you can now purchase your own copy of how to make this cake HERE.  I’m starting it off at an introductory price of just under $10 USD (depending on exchange rate as I can only price it in Canadian dollars in my SHOP).

BUT……..

I did promise in my previous post to share some key steps for my Signature Standup Ruffles, (which are great for making structured diagonal ruffles and many other directions, shapes, patterns and colour sequences), so here I go!

Oh…but another BUT first…….

**Keep in mind, I am generously sharing a technique that I came up with after experimenting with different ideas and theories on how I could make these ruffles in fondant/gumpaste so I ask you to please, out of professional courtesy, not share this technique in any way, whether in live classes or publications or in tutorials of any form (video, pdf file, pictorial, print, album on Facebook etc.), without my written consent.  If you must share, please share from this post or my Facebook page and give credit where credit is due!  Thanks so much!**

Now, back to the good stuff…

I first thought of doing these after seeing some beautiful buttercream piped versions done by Shannon Bond of Shannon Bond Cake Design.  But I suck at piping – I neither have the muscle strength in my arms to pipe a full tier, nor the steadiness needed.  So I set about looking for a fondant/gumpaste version.

I did a lot of research and never could find the tight, clean and structured look I was going for in the standard fondant or gumpaste ruffles because all of them lay flat against the surface of the cake and only the ruffled portion would dance a bit above it due to the frilling.  So I thought, ruffles would be so much more versatile if I could make them stand up.  Making them stand up would allow them to be manipulated more easily and used in different patterns, directions, colour sequences…

BUT…what would make ruffles stand up?  All ruffles I’d seen were thin and flat.  If I saw a ruffle effect that had pattern and structure, it was when people twirled strips of flat fondant that they folded lengthwise in half, like the technique used most often by Tortik Annuchka who’s work I discovered on Instagram.  But I know, having tried it, that this technique doesn’t give clean straight lines around a curved surface like those on cake.  So, it’s great for straight up and down vertical lines and bunched patterns, but was not as effective for straight diagonal lines.

Then I thought, what if I could make the bottom of a ruffle flat, so it could stand, and keep the top thin and frilly?  And the idea was born…

So here are pics of a few critical steps in the process of making my Signature Standup Ruffles along with a high level description…for more info or detailed instructions on how to create these, unfortunately you will need to purchase my tutorial.  But these steps below should be straight-forward enough for the seasoned cake decorator to figure out and use…and I hope they inspire others to use them in creative and new ways.

Sneak Peek into making my Signature Standup Ruffles:

(Note: these are my own techniques developed independently with my own ideas and shared for personal use ONLY.  They are not to be used for monetary gain or to develop products, books, DVDs, downloads or lessons for sale or to be taught in classes or tutorials, whether hands-on, on-line, in video format or in print without express written consent.)

 

I roll out my paste using dowels as spacers, to get a thick, even strip

 

I then thin out the top end of the strip to create a frilled or ruffled effect

 

Next, I trim just under the ruffling where the paste is still thick

(Note: these are my own techniques developed independently with my own ideas and shared for personal use ONLY.  They are not to be used for monetary gain or to develop products, books, DVDs, downloads or lessons for sale or to be taught in classes or tutorials, whether hands-on, on-line, in video format or in print without express written consent.)

 

And here are just some of the other ways I’ve used them so far.  One design is for a collaboration that has not yet been revealed so I can only share a sneak peek of it…

       

I hope you’ve found this post engaging and informative.  I’d love to see what you create using this ruffle idea.  Feel free to post pics of your creation on my Facebook page.

Remember, if you’d like to purchase the full tutorial with 44 pages jam-packed with detailed instructions, tips and techniques, and 64 high resolution pics and steps, teaching a variety of not seen before techniques, you can go to my shop on my Facebook page or click HERE.

Here is just a peek of what’s covered inside!

OH and it happens to be on for half price as an introductory offer so you can get it for just under $10 USD for a limited time!  The price will go back up to $20 USD one week after my Facebook page hits 125K followers…which can be anytime.

Have fun and Happy Caking Y’ALL! =D