Figure Modelling – Fondant Clown Topper Tutorial

Posted on 25th March 2016

Fondant Clown Tutorial - Rosie Cake-Diva Figure modelling Cake Toppers

If you are new to modelling have a quick read of my Top-Ten Tips

The most important tip is that consistency is very important, simply because it makes your job SO much easier.

Modeling Paste

In general if your brand of fondant/sugarpaste is good for covering cakes, then it’s probably too soft for modelling figures.

I like to add a little Tylo Powder to make it stronger. I don’t like giving exact quantities because every brand of fondant is different and your climate will also affect the consistency, but I tend to just sprinkle a little Tylo Powder onto my work surface and knead it into my fondant until it feels a little more elastic.

I also like to model with a modelling chocolate/fondant mix. If you have subscribed to my Craftsy Figure-Toppers Class you’ll know all about the options available to you, but essentially a 1 part modelling chocolate to 4 parts fondant works nicely for me.

Please don’t worry if you think this clown looks too complicated. The instructions really do take you through each step so it is a good figure to start with. Just give yourself some time as drying your figure before you carry on to the next stage can make a very big difference. Remember…you are working with sugar. It’s a preservative – and your figure will harden and keep very well. So make it way in advance and keep it in a non-airtight container until you need it.

You will need:

Coloured Sugarpaste with Tylo Powder or your preferred Modelling Paste

Ball tool

Pointed Tool (or cocktail stick)

Circle Cutter (about 4cm diameter)

A supporting dowel

Florist’s Wire

Spaghetti (optional)

A ball (I made one out of Rice Krispie Treat and fondant) or anything else for the clown to sit on.

So limber up…AND LET’S DO IT!

Boots

*Tip – Why not make your boots and socks a day ahead? They will become firmer so that when you add the trousers they won’t be easily squashed.

: To make the boots, take 16g red fondant, split it into two equal parts and roll into balls

: Roll each ball into a sausage shape

: Using two fingers, roll each sausage to create an indentation

: Use a ball tool to create a leg hole

: Use the ball tool to manipulate a ‘tongue’ shape against your finger

: Use a scalpel to create boot-lace marks

Socks

*Tip – Make your own sugar-glue by adding water to Tylo-Powder. Just use 1/4 tsp in an egg cup. Cover it with water and in a little while it will turn into a gel.

: To make the socks take 4g of white fondant, split into two and roll into sausages. Use a little water or sugar glue to secure inside the leg holes

: You can use a piece of spaghetti to help the socks stay upright

If you want to make a standing clown, this is where you would use dowels instead of spaghetti. You can learn more about standing figures in my Craftsy Class

Trousers/Pants

: For the trousers, roll 100g yellow fondant into a fat sausage shape. (Ensure you keep enough 1. yellow aside to make the braces later.)

: Use a knife to cut a line down one third of the sausage

: Use your fingers to round off the edges to create the trouser leg shapes

: Use a ball tool to make the two leg holes

Body

*Tip – For this figure I needed to prepare something for him to sit on. I used a Rice Krispie Treat (RKT) ball covered in fondant but you could use a cupcake or anything else that takes your fancy. It’s your figure…do whatever takes your fancy. xx

: Use your fingers to create a large dent in the other side for the body

: Smooth the edges as you go

: Tease the sides out until the waist band is large enough to accommodate the shirt

: Paint some sugar glue into the leg holes and position them over the socks. At this point you will need to introduce the supporting ball for him to sit on

: Use the ball tool to create the relevant folds and creases in the trousers

: Use a wooden dowel or skewer through the centre of the body to fix his ‘bottom’ to the supporting ball

*Tip – Make sure that if you use a dowel it is SCRUPULOUSLY clean. I usually wipe them with vodka before inserting.

Body

: For the shirt take 85g of white fondant

: Gently roll an indent so that the top third is wider than the bottom

: Begin to form the sleeve shapes

: Use the ball tool to create an indent on each sleeve

: Moisten the bottom of the shirt with water or sugar glue and then feed it down the supporting dowel, then secure the waistband around the shirt

: Feed some flower wire (about 15.5cm long) through the sleeves. (You can use another dowel, but flower wire gives you more freedom to position the arms.)

Arms

: Take 4g flesh coloured fondant, roll into a sausage and cut in two to make the arms

: Use a little water or sugar glue in each arm hole

: Feed the arms down the flower wire

: Position them as you want them

Fancy Bits ;

*Tip – To make ruffles you can also use a frill tool or a cocktail stick. Flower Paste (Gum Paste) is always a nicer material to work with when creating ruffles.

: Use two yellow strips to make the braces

: For the neck ruffle, roll out some purple sugar paste and cut out 2 circles (about 4 cm diameter)

: Use a pointed tool (or a cocktail stick) to create ruffles around the edges by rocking it back and forth

: 1. Feed them over the dowel and stick to the shoulders. At this point cut the dowel to make sure you have just enough dowel to support the head

Face

: For the head, Roll 18g flesh coloured fondant

: Use your finger to create a dent just above the centre point

: Use a ball tool to indent two eye sockets

: Roll a small amount of white fondant and press into each eye socket

*Tip – If you struggle to keep the back of the head from flattening, try cupping in your hand or you can find out how to make your own head-cradle in my Craftsy Class

Face Features

: Indent a space for the mouth with the ball tool

: Roll a small amount of white fondant for the mouth

: Smooth it into the mouth

: Add a small ball of eye colour and a tiny white ball or two for highlights

: Two small sausages of flesh colour for the eyelids

: Just place over the top of the eyes

Face Details

*Tip – If you suffer from a shaky hand you might prefer to add the black details using flower paste (gum paste). Roll very very thin and use a scalpel to trip off a pointed end and stick to the face using sugar glue.

: Use a little black food colouring to paint the eye make up

: And the eyebrows ….and the mouth

: Rosy cheeks and lips….in fact….you can use your imagination. All clown faces are different.

: A red nose to finish it off. Position the head on the dowel with a little sugar glue

Hands

: For the gloves take 2g white fondant and split into two. Roll into a long egg shape and cut out a triangle to form the thumb

: Use your fingers to round the edges

: Cut a line down the middle of the finger section

: Then split each section again

: Use your fingers to smooth the edges

: With the ball tool make an indent for the wrists

: Use a little sugar glue to fix the gloves on each wrist

: Add a juggling ball (or a club….or a whatever you fancy

: Use a piping nozzle to cut out the spots and attach them with a little water or sugar glue. Don’t forget the buttons for the braces

: You can use an extruder to make the hair….or just roll out fondant if you haven’t got an extruder

: A cone shaped hat with coloured pompoms finishes him off. You might need to use a little dowel (or pice of spaghetti) to make sure that it is secure