How to make a turtle cake topper
Many have asked how I made the small turtle cupcake toppers. So I made this tutorial on how to make one. The turtle is very simple to make and you can scale the size for it like you want. Note that if you are making a larger one I would let the feet dry for 1-2 days so they wont colapse under the shell.
This is what I use:
Modelling paste in the colors you like
Tylo glue
Brush
Black paste food color or a tiny amount of black modelling paste.
Cocktail stick
Small knife
Plastic bag to keep your modelling paste from drying
Step 1:
Start by rolling the modelling paste into a sausage. Cut 4 pieces in the same size (feets) and make the head out of the rest.
Note: it is possible that you need to adjust the amount of paste for the feets and the head.
Step 2:
Take the 4 pieces and roll them into a ball and shape them like a teardrop.
Step 3:
Glue all four feets together with Tylo glue.
Step 4:
Take some modelling paste to make the shell and start by rolling it into a ball.
Step 5:
Shape it so it looks like the “hat” of a toadstole.
Step 6:
Make it slightly hollow like on the photo, brush with glue and place it over the feets
Step 7:
Use the handle of the brush and make a indentation where the head will be glued on.
Step 8:
Take the piece of modlling paste and make the head. Again start with a ball, mold it into a tear drop and shape the head.
Step 9:
Glue the head on. I used my corn starch duster to support the head while the glue dried (this is only needed if you make a large turtle). Make the eyes with some black food coloring paste and a cocktail stick or you can make the eyes out of black modelling paste.
Step 10:
Roll out small balls of modelling paste and flatten them and then glue them on the shell. Now you have a cute large or small turtle to adorn your cake or cupcakes.
Happy Caking
Louise
1. Ruth
July 18th, 2008 9:08 am
Thank you so much! I’ve been looking at those for some time now wanting to attempt them but not sure where to start. You are very generous sharing this tutorial with us!
2. Nicole
July 18th, 2008 3:02 pm
Oh my gosh fantastic I’m so glad you did a tut on them they are so adorable, I’ll definitely be adding it to the site!
3. Miranda
July 18th, 2008 3:15 pm
This may be a stupid question but is Modeling Paste the same as fondant??
4. Veronica
July 18th, 2008 3:17 pm
Awww he is too cute!
5. Beverly
July 18th, 2008 3:52 pm
Hi Louise,
Thank you so much for posting this tutorial. I can’t wait to make one. Is modeling paste and gum paste the same thing?
Thanks.
Bev
6. leana
July 18th, 2008 3:56 pm
Thank you, too cute
7. Hillary
July 18th, 2008 4:03 pm
You make it look so easy! Thanks for the tutorial.
8. Patty
July 18th, 2008 4:10 pm
nice job, thanks !
9. Tracy
July 18th, 2008 5:17 pm
I have to echo everyone’s thanks! Such a clear tutorial.
10. My Sweet & Saucy
July 18th, 2008 6:03 pm
How adorable! You always do such nice tutorials!
11. Fabbys
July 18th, 2008 6:11 pm
Beautiful!!!
12. Charity
July 18th, 2008 6:14 pm
Thanks so much for the tutorial… I’ve just started working with gumpaste and am learning how to do everything myself. I think it’s better to experiment on my own. This info was so helpful and all your ideas are amazing… thanks so much.
Charity
13. zareena
July 18th, 2008 6:53 pm
Hi Louise, thanks a lot for such a fun and easy tutorial. You make it look so easy and I’m sure it is. I’ll try it out soon and let you know the result. Once again thanks for your generosity.
14. Sharene
July 19th, 2008 12:15 am
I love it and the tutorials are so easy to follow. Thank you very much
15. marielba
July 19th, 2008 2:10 am
Hi Louise, you got a geat idea, as usual it looks amazing,
greetings from Venezuela
16. Adetutu
July 19th, 2008 3:03 am
thanks for this mail on how to model. I will appreciate more of this .modelling is something I still do not really understand.
thanks for all your good works.you are appreciated.
17. Lisa Martins
July 19th, 2008 3:44 am
Hi Louise
As per usual, your work just blows me away! Absolutely beautiful!!!
Question…With the modelling paste, that’s not fondant is it? Do you make your own or buy it pre-done?
Cheers, keep up the great work and hope to hear back from you.
Lisa
18. snookydoodle
July 19th, 2008 1:37 pm
Wow thanks for the tutorial. I ll try it today. Your site is really helpful and interesting
19. Landa
July 19th, 2008 2:58 pm
Oh thank you for this. It is so adorable.
20. Cherie
July 19th, 2008 2:59 pm
How adorable! Thanks for sharing.
21. Lisa
July 19th, 2008 6:08 pm
I can’t believe my luck! I was just about to start making them today (but was very worried about where to start) and fortuitously you have posted this tutorial. Thank you for sharing. I hope mine turn out half as pretty as yours
22. Louise
July 19th, 2008 8:50 pm
WOW…. looks like many like the little chap
so cool. Just to clear things:
Modelling paste is the same as Gum paste the name various from place to place dont know why really….. ?
Also when I need modelling paste I simply mix in some TYlo powder (CMC) or Gum Tracanth to my sugar paste/rolled fondant. I dont make it ahead because I then find that it often get to hard and difficult to work with. So I just mix the paste along when I need it.
For those of you who want to make your own modelling/gum paste here is a link: http://www.nicholaslodge.com/gumpaste.htm
Beverly: Yes its the same.
Miranda & Lisa Martins: No modelling paste have the ability to dry up hard where fondant mostly will collapse if you are making figures with it.
To the rest of you HUGE thanks I am really happy!!
23. Maria
July 20th, 2008 2:31 am
Hi Louise,
Thank you for always sharing your talent with us.
I have always admired your work!
Maria
24. mary
July 20th, 2008 2:41 am
thank you soooooo much for sharing with us!!!!! I’ts so pretty
25. MSG142
July 21st, 2008 7:56 pm
Thanks a bunch for this tutorial. I have a baby shower that I’m hosting and will try to make these adorable little turtles. How much Tylo Powder to Sugar Paste (Fondant) should I use?
26. Louise
July 21st, 2008 8:22 pm
Maria & Mary: Thank you both. So glad you like it.
27. nizaineese
July 24th, 2008 9:28 am
Thank you for all your tips. I really enjoy looking at all your posts….
28. Ivy
July 24th, 2008 7:40 pm
This turtle is adorable and now I can make it myself. Thanks!
29. Natalie
July 24th, 2008 11:55 pm
Woa Im definately gonna have to try these out, they are so cute!
Love them, thanks a lot.
30. Louise
July 25th, 2008 8:23 am
MSG142: 225 gr (8 oz) rolled fondant and 1 tsp of tylo powder or you can mix half gumpaste and half rolled fondant.
I hope all will have fun making the turtle cake topper
31. katy
July 26th, 2008 3:30 am
i love your blog!! your tutorials are awesome — they’re inspiring me to try some of these techniques!
32. morgana
July 29th, 2008 11:21 am
What a cute thing…
33. petrabennes
July 29th, 2008 9:23 pm
That is so cute!
I would LOVE to see more of those easy to follow tutorials about making animal toppers.
Thanks for sharing this.
34. Louise
July 31st, 2008 8:37 pm
katy, morgana & petrabennes: I am glad that you all liked it. Thanks!
35. juanita
August 1st, 2008 8:13 pm
Thank you so much for the tutorial! I tried your idea a few months ago – I was a little off – but it was still a hit. Now, I know for the next time I make them. Your blog is wonderful! Love it!
36. Louise
August 5th, 2008 9:35 pm
juanita: Thank you!
37. Confessions of a Foodie
August 6th, 2008 5:56 am
Love all the pics in your tutorial, makes it easy enough for a child to understand… Great blog, love the detailed pictures covering all the steps. Well done…..turtle…turtle (Masters of Disguise reference)
38. Louise
August 6th, 2008 10:09 pm
Thank you for the comment COAF!!
39. Emma
August 29th, 2008 11:06 am
Fantastic, i’ve just found this site and have learn’t so much already Thanks you x
40. Louise
August 30th, 2008 11:40 pm
Emma: Its always nice to hear that:-)
41. trishia
September 1st, 2008 4:41 am
this is going to sound so stupid… but I have to decorate cupcakes for my friends bridal shower with little flowers and would like to use this stuff. but is it edible? or do people take it off before eating the cupcake?
silly, I know, but I thought for sure it wasn’t edible, but then that page you linked to for recipes said “edible” glue… so now I am confused!
thanks!
42. Kathy
September 10th, 2008 12:11 am
Thanks for sharing. You are so talented! I love your website.
43. Louise
September 14th, 2008 8:12 pm
trishia: Most decorations to be put on cakes and cupcakes are edible. I would not eat large decorations myself but simply take it off. What is meant wiht edible glue is just that you can make a strong glue that can be eaten. Decorations made with Tylopowder will harden more so though it can be eaten it may not be so nice to bite into.
44. Grace
October 28th, 2008 4:53 pm
Hi,
The very good thing about your tutorials are the way you put them. So simple and straight.
You are also very generous with yo ur suggestions.
However I have a question, I have read your tutorial on making Royal Icing, can you please make some on using them for decoration on cakes? I find using the icing set a bite difficult.
Thanks Grace
45. Louise
November 11th, 2008 9:47 am
Grace: I am glad that you like my tutorials. I try my best to keep them simple for everyone to understand.
I will see what I can make with a tutorial on hoe to use RI on cakes.
46. Linda
November 15th, 2008 11:29 pm
Hi Louise,
This tutorial has been very helpful to me. I used this turtle topper on cupcakes for my son’s school bake sale. It was an instant hit and the kids loved it. Great job….thanks a lot.
i wanted to send you a photo of my version but i don’t know how.
Thanks again,
Linda
47. Louise
November 24th, 2008 12:41 am
Linda: I am so happy to hear that the turtle topper was a hit
It is always nice to hear that my tutorial have helped other cake friends.
48. MILA
January 18th, 2009 8:23 pm
hi!!! Louise i just wanted to know if TYLO powder and Gum tex are the same
and if i add the same amount to my fondant…. does it make any difference if its ready to use fondant or mm fondant … thanx
49. MILA
January 20th, 2009 4:46 am
Louise…. me again!!!!….. someone told me i can substittud TYLO powder for Tartar powder…. it´s true????
50. Louise
January 20th, 2009 11:17 am
MILA: I would say that Tylo and Gum tex are pretty much the same. They work the same when added to the fondant making it more stable, thick and dries faster.
I think that the result will be the same if you add it to fondant and MMF.
For your other question… Whenever I see recipes with tartar is because the tartar gives more volume like to royal icing. So I would not use tylo the same way like tartar. Tylo thicken the paste over time not sure I would like that in my cakes, royal icing.
51. elisa
February 14th, 2009 1:32 am
hey louise, these are soooo cute! i found the cake toppers that lindy smith makes for wedding cakes on her website and was curious as to how she made those. this seems similar enough. this might as well sound stupid but does the topper need to be thrown away eventually if made with a paste that has eggs or crisco on it? it’s too cute to not keep it forever!
52. Louise
February 14th, 2009 10:37 pm
elisa: thank you. I have some very old cake toppers saved and some of them are 4 years old. So there should not be problems as long as they are not going to be eaten
53. Iroma
April 6th, 2009 9:26 am
Louise, this little guy is wonderful! I have just got my hands on some tylo powder and was wondering if I should just go ahead and mix the powder with the rolled fondant? Should I knead it? Can you tell me how its done…I’m very new at cake decorating. Thanks!
54. Iroma
April 7th, 2009 9:32 pm
One more thing! How long will one of these little ones last if I make them out of fondant and mix in some tylo?…Months? Years? Thanks!
55. Louise
April 12th, 2009 8:23 pm
Iroma: When you add tylo to fondant it will over the hours “thicken” and harden untill it is rock solid. Also it is best to color the fondant first and then add the tylo. Take a couple of oz. of fondant and sprinkle your work board with tylo around 1/4 of a tsp and knead the tylo into the fondant. After a few minutes you can feel that it is less soft and hold its shape.
The will last for years!!!! I still have the turtle from this tutorial
It looks perfect.
56. michelle
April 29th, 2009 10:17 pm
oh these are so cute i want to rush out now and make them thanks a million for the brilliant cake tips am also new to cake decorating and up to now have mainly being doing very basic stuff now i want to try the more difficult stuff too!
57. Caroline
June 22nd, 2009 9:35 am
Hi Louise, thanks for posting the tutorial it was very easy to follow. I absolutely love the turtle, it’s so cute!
I was wondering if there are any copyright issues if I was to make these cake toppers to sell? Thanks.
58. Louise
June 22nd, 2009 10:13 am
Caroline: Well if you could include that the design is by CakeJournal I would be happy and you are welcome to sell them
59. Caroline
June 22nd, 2009 11:40 am
Thanks Louise, I appreciate that. Will definately state that the design is by CakeJournal if I make them to sell
60. me.
July 18th, 2009 9:29 am
i like thme.
61. cat
August 17th, 2009 10:22 pm
I love tortoises, I have one as a pet. So naturally I found this adorable. I am just learning how to decorate now and this is the first thing I decided to model.
I made him from mmf. This was also my first time working with mmf, so I was happy with how it turned out. 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sakkakth/3829129926/
Thanks for an excellent tutorial!
62. Louise
August 19th, 2009 12:05 pm
cat: Your turtle turned out very cute.
63. Morgan
November 19th, 2009 4:37 am
HI I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD GLUE ALL THE STUFF TOGETHER WITHOUT TYLO GLUE BUT WITH SOMETHING ELSE, I CANT FIND THE STUFF ANYWHERE AND I HAVE TO MAKE THE CAKE PRETTY SOON
64. Morgan
November 19th, 2009 4:38 am
BY THE WAY I LOVE THE TUT AND I CANT WAIT TO USE IT FOR MY SONS FIRST BIRTHDAY CAKE!!
65. Louise
November 20th, 2009 12:23 am
Morgan: You can soften a little bit of fondant with a few drops of warm water to make a sticky glue. Works just as good.