Friday, September 8, 2017

Silicone Putty Mold Making - Mermaid's Tail Cupcakes

Mermaid's Tail cupcake toppers


What little girl wouldn't be thrilled to have mermaid cupcakes for her birthday party? Or for that matter, what big girl wouldn't want mermaid cupcakes? After all, inside every big girl is a little girl at heart! So I'm decorating a batch of these for my Mum's upcoming birthday celebration. But to start, we need to make a mould and I found the perfect item to make one from whilst I was wandering through the toy aisle recently. So, let's get started.

Here's what you'll need to make your own:

Make the Mermaid's Tail Mould

Measure out equal parts of Parts A and B of the Silicone Putty. To work out how much you need, I take one part and flatten it out into an oval shape about 6mm (1/4") thick. It should be at least half the length of the mermaid's tail. Roll that into a ball and then take the same amount of the other part.
EasyMold Silicone Putty is ideal for food moulds because it's food grade and FDA compliant.

Now you have to work quickly as the silicone putty sets quite quickly. Blend the two parts together until there are no streaks and the silicone is a uniform colour.
Blend the two parts of the silicone putty together until there is no marbling and the colour is uniform.

Shape the mixed putty into an a rough oval shape, wider at one end than at the other. Press the mermaid's tail into silicone and pull the walls up and over a bit to cup the tail slightly. Make sure the mould is at least 6mm (1/4") thick.
Mermaid's tail being pressed into the silicone putty to create a mould.

After about 25 minutes, the silicone should be set. To test it, press your nail into the the silicone. If it doesn't leave an indentation, then it's ready. If it makes an impression, leave it a little longer.
Checking to see if the mould is ready by pressing into the silicone with your fingernail.

To demould, just peel the silicone away on all sides.
Removing the mermaid doll from the silicone mould

Cast the Mermaid's Tails

Take a piece of gum paste and flatten it. Press this into the fluke area and then work it down from the tail area towards the body. Keep working it along the tail, smoothing it out as you go. You don't need to fill the whole tail but it needs to be long enough to push some of it into the frosting to help it stand up.
Step-by-step process of pressing the gumpaste into the silicone mermaid's tail mould.

I made mine about half the length of the tail.
Mermaid's tail mould partially filled with gumpaste

Remove the tail gently from the mould.
Carefully removing the moulded gumpaste from the mermaid's tail mould.

Set the tails aside to dry for several hours. If the weather is cold or humid, you may need to leave them overnight.
Gumpaste mermaid's tail set aside to dry.

Paint the tail with pastel pink edible paint.
Painting the mermaid's tail with edible pink paint.

Then dust a little gold lustre dust to highlight the tail and scales.
Adding edible gold dust highlights to the tips of the mermaid's tail.

Add some pink lustre dust to give the tail a pearly look.
Dusting the ribs and scales of the mermaid's tail with darker, edible pink dust.

Brush on some blue edible glitter on the tail whilst the paint is still wet.
Adding blue sugar crystals to the scales of the mermaid's tail.

And finally, sprinkle the gold disco dust across the fluke. Once the paint is dry, you can assemble the cupcakes.
Edible gold glitter being sprinkled on the fluke of the mermaid's tail.

Decorate the cupcakes with a few sprinkles or edible glitter and push the tail into the top of the frosting. Because we're using gum paste rather than modelling fondant, you might need to leave them for a couple of days to firm up before placing them in the frosting.

These are perfect for so many different party themes: By the Sea, Little Mermaid, Hawaiian, Tropical, Summer, to name a few.
Platter of vanilla cupcakes iced with blue buttercream icing, sprinkled with pastel coloured rice pearls and topped with a mermaid's tail.

Not got little girls in your household? No worries. Paint them black and white and turn them into whale's tails or paint them silver and turn them into fish instead and satisfy the fishermen in your life!

Just one last thing before I go.... always keep your food moulds for food only. I seal mine in a ziplock bag marked "food stuffs" so that I don't get them mixed up with the moulds I use for resin.

Pin this project!
How to make a mermaid's tail cupcake topper pin.


Edible mermaid's tail cupcakes pin

Happy Resining!

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