Workshops & DemosOval Gift Box Project

Gary Chapman Cakes

OVAL GIFT BOX PROJECT

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An oval gift box covered in white sugarpaste and featuring a pleated board, sponged paint effects, silver ribbon bands, elaborate silver bow with a jewelled centre, fabric roses (simple rolled roses, pleated roses & cabachon rose) and fabric leaves and buds

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• The board is covered in white sugarpaste with the central portion removed. • The outside edge is ‘pleated’ using the end of a paintbrush. • The oval cake is covered in sugarpaste and allowed to dry. • The sides are then ‘sponge’ painted in silver (silver lustre and clear alcohol)

using a sponge in diagonal lines and then over painted with pink accents.• Once dry the cake is affixed to the board.

First stages : the board and painting the sides

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• The lid is created out of an oval piece of sugarpaste and placed on top of the cake.

• The top edge is indented with the end of a paintbrush.• Four small rolled roses and four tubes are made out of light grey paste and

applied on the top indented edge.• The jewelled centre is made out of a small dome of paste, dried and then

painted with mother of pearl lustre powder.• Tiny rolled roses are applied around the outside edge.• The ribbon and the bow are made out of light grey paste and dusted with

silver lustre powder.• The ribbon, bow and jewelled centre are attached to the cake.

The lid and the bow

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• A neat multi-layered silver bow in light grey paste is attached to the back.• All the flowers (cabachon rose, rolled roses and pleated roses), leaves and

buds are made with flowerpaste, dusted accordingly and arranged on top.

The floral top and the back bow

The back of the cake showing multi-layered bows

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Overview• The aim is to create an entire cake.• A cake or covered dummy is required and a board.• It is best to use flowerpaste to make the fabric effects and

flowers although some mixes of flowerpaste and sugarpaste can work.

Requirements• Small paintbrush for glue • Small paintbrush for painting (and to use the end to pleat the

board)• Sugar glue (melted sugarpaste) in container (I use the very

small glass jam jars)• Clear alcohol for painting• Small sponge for painting (no more than 1”)• White flora in container (I use the very small glass jam jars)• Dusting powder in bags (I tend to use icing sugar in linen)• Rolling board• Rolling pin (medium)• Small rolling pin• Smoothers• Set of circular cutters – small to large• Set of oval cutters • Painting dish • 200g flower paste• 800g Sugarpaste (to cover the cake, board and for the lid)• Knife or cutting tool (PME)• Paste colours (black, blue, pink, green)• Lustre dusting powders (silver, white satin, pink, mother of

pearl)• Formers or foam shape or circles of kitchen towel / paper• Kitchen towel / paper or tissue• Box for completed project• 8” oval cake dummy • 10” oval board• Some small plastic bags (just incase)• Small scissors• Quilting tool (PME)• Nimble fingers

Any questions beforehand email gazchappers@btinternet.com

Course Requirements

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Gary Chapman has influenced many cake decorators and is a true cake designer with his own very distinct style. Gary was the originator of the modern technique of fabric effects and gave demonstrations and classes all over the UK and the USA to share his skills. He has also published books and magazines and is a contributor to Cake Craft & Decoration Magazine. Gary Chapman first developed an interest in sugarcraft in the early 1990s when he worked for Merehurst, who at the time had built up a worldwide reputation as the leading publisher of cake decorating books. Invigorated by this exciting edible art medium he invented the new technique of fabric effects in sugar, published his own book and gave demonstrations and classes all over the UK and the USA. Later he launched and was Editor of the first ever mass-market cake decorating magazine. He also produced Iced and Easy, a beginners cake book for WH Smith and provided display pieces for exhibitions of edible art called ‘A Taste of Art’. He also became one of the top 10 wedding cake makers in London. More recently, he left London for a quieter life in the Cotswolds but continues to teach and experiment.

Gary Chapman Cakes on FacebookGary Chapman cakes

Gary ChapmanJazz Age Club

Gary Chapman

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Some other display cakes