Many have asked how I made the small turtle cupcake toppers.
So I made this tutorial on how to make one.
It 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, 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
July 18th, 2008 at 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!
July 18th, 2008 at 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!
July 18th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
This may be a stupid question but is Modeling Paste the same as fondant??
July 18th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Awww he is too cute!
July 18th, 2008 at 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
July 18th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Thank you, too cute
July 18th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
You make it look so easy! Thanks for the tutorial.
July 18th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
nice job, thanks !
July 18th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
I have to echo everyone’s thanks! Such a clear tutorial.
July 18th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
How adorable! You always do such nice tutorials!
July 18th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Beautiful!!!
July 18th, 2008 at 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
July 18th, 2008 at 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.
July 19th, 2008 at 12:15 am
I love it and the tutorials are so easy to follow. Thank you very much
July 19th, 2008 at 2:10 am
Hi Louise, you got a geat idea, as usual it looks amazing,
greetings from Venezuela
July 19th, 2008 at 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.
July 19th, 2008 at 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
July 19th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Wow thanks for the tutorial. I ll try it today. Your site is really helpful and interesting
July 19th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Oh thank you for this. It is so adorable.
July 19th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
How adorable! Thanks for sharing.
July 19th, 2008 at 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
July 19th, 2008 at 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!!
July 20th, 2008 at 2:31 am
Hi Louise,
Thank you for always sharing your talent with us.
I have always admired your work!
Maria
July 20th, 2008 at 2:41 am
thank you soooooo much for sharing with us!!!!! I’ts so pretty
July 21st, 2008 at 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?
July 21st, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Maria & Mary: Thank you both. So glad you like it.
July 24th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Thank you for all your tips. I really enjoy looking at all your posts….
July 24th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
This turtle is adorable and now I can make it myself. Thanks!
July 24th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Woa Im definately gonna have to try these out, they are so cute!
Love them, thanks a lot.
July 25th, 2008 at 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
July 26th, 2008 at 3:30 am
i love your blog!! your tutorials are awesome — they’re inspiring me to try some of these techniques!
July 29th, 2008 at 11:21 am
What a cute thing…
July 29th, 2008 at 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.
July 31st, 2008 at 8:37 pm
katy, morgana & petrabennes: I am glad that you all liked it. Thanks!
August 1st, 2008 at 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!
August 5th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
juanita: Thank you!
August 6th, 2008 at 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)
August 6th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Thank you for the comment COAF!!
August 29th, 2008 at 11:06 am
Fantastic, i’ve just found this site and have learn’t so much already Thanks you x
August 30th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Emma: Its always nice to hear that:-)
September 1st, 2008 at 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!
September 10th, 2008 at 12:11 am
Thanks for sharing. You are so talented! I love your website.
September 14th, 2008 at 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.
October 28th, 2008 at 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
November 11th, 2008 at 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.
November 15th, 2008 at 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