Workshop
~ Tutorial: Handmade Sugar Pearl Necklace ~
~ Please read my Terms & Conditions ~
www.sugarandspicecakes.co.nz
Page 1 of 12
Workshop
~ Tutorial: Handmade Sugar Pearl Necklace ~
Terms & Conditions
This tutorial has been designed &
created by Mel Hurst of Sugar and
Spice Cakes.co.nz
The use of any part of this tutorial
(photos, design, etc) to recreate your
own tutorial is not authorized.
Tutorial intently designed for personal
and small business use. No Mass
Production or Personal/Business Classes
may be taught from the use of this
tutorial without written permission and
agreed upon terms once accepted.
All templates, designs & recipes (if any)
used in this Tutorial have been created
and drawn up by Mel Hurst.
NO PART of this tutorial (once downloaded) may be used on any websites, blogs,
Facebook pages, or any other social media outlet. Sharing to inform others that this
tutorial is available for purchase IS ACCEPTABLE.
There may be lots of other ways to make this cupcake topper – this is My Way! Enjoy
this Tutorial.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me on
[email protected]
www.sugarandspicecakes.co.nz
Page 2 of 12
Workshop
~ About Mel SugarMama ~
Hiya, I’m Mel Hurst, aka SugarMama. I call beautiful New Zealand home. I am also a proud mum to
my son Aaryan Luke – 6 years old & my baby girl Maayan Zen – 2 years old. I have been happily married to
my best friend and soul mate – Avi, for the last 20 years. We are originally from India, though I am AngloIndian (my grandparents were British); we moved to New Zealand in 2000. I have been a flight Attendant
for most of my employed years and just closed that chapter in 2012 after my daughter was born. I am also
the CEO of my Company Mel’s Gourmet Foods – we manufacture gourmet Indian Curry Sauces for delis
and supermarkets in New Zealand & overseas. www.mels.co.nz
Art, Craft, Cakes & Sugarcraft has always been my passion and yes, if you come to my home, all the
paintings are done by me! I did a basic course in cake decorating 15 years ago, but moving to a new country
and trying to start life from scratch was a challenge, and hobbies were put aside momentarily! I enjoyed
making cakes for my kids but in 2012, I got really sick after my daughter’s birth and hit a real low with my
health. I felt like I had lost my ‘mojo’ for creativity. The turning point was when I was asked to do a 3 tier
wedding cake for a friend. I surprised myself and ignited the spark of creativity again. I played around and
made a website and called it ‘Sugar & Spice Cakes! The rest is history!
Today I run my spice brand Mel’s and Sugar and Spice Cakes from a HACCP approved kitchen in
Auckland and work with an awesome and talented team of friends.
www.sugarandspicecakes.co.nz
www.sugarandspicecakes.co.nz
Page 3 of 12
Workshop
~ Tutorial: Sugar Pearl Necklace ~
Make these gorgeous pearls, and use them on wedding cakes, cupcakes and cake toppers. Thread
them into a necklace to make your Sugarcraft creations and cakes look stunning and professional.
www.sugarandspicecakes.co.nz
Page 4 of 12
Workshop
~ Tutorial: Sugar Pearl Necklace ~
Tools & Materials Required ~
Ivory Fondant
Blade or Exacto knife
Kremelta or any Shortening
Invisible Thread (Fine Plastic Thread)
Fine Needle
Antique Silk Fine Shimmer Lustre Dust
Small container or bowl
Handmade Sugar Pearls ~
First wash your hands!
Take the Shortening and Fondant. You
can use White or Ivory fondant for any
colour pearls you want to make as long
as you have the correct shimmer dust.
Handmade Sugar Pearls ~
Rub a little Shortening on your hands.
Use any kind of shortening. This is to
grease your hands slightly.
www.sugarandspicecakes.co.nz
Page 5 of 12
Workshop
~ Tutorial: Sugar Pearl Necklace ~
Handmade Sugar Pearls ~
Roll out a small ball of fondant.
Handmade Sugar Pearls ~
Roll out into a long log.
Depending on how big you want your
pearls to be. The thickness of the log
will be the size of the pearl. I have
rolled out the log to 1cm (10mm) thick.
Handmade Sugar Pearls ~
Now you need a sharp cutting tool – a
simple knife will do.
www.sugarandspicecakes.co.nz
Page 6 of 12
Workshop
~ Tutorial: Sugar Pearl Necklace ~
Handmade Sugar Pearls ~
Cut equally along the length of the log.
If your log is 1cm thick, then make cuts
1cm apart.
Similarly if your log is 1.5cm thick,
then make cuts 1.5cm apart.
Handmade Sugar Pearls ~
Attaching the Top to the Sole ~
Now you need your Lustre Dust.
Spread some edible glue on the sides of
the sole.
For the best and natural, antique pearl
effect – I used CK Lustre Dust (Antique
Silk)
Handmade Sugar Pearls ~
Empty a little dust into the bowl. This
dust is very fine and a little goes a long
way – so just empty a little!
www.sugarandspicecakes.co.nz
Page 7 of 12
Workshop
~ Tutorial: Sugar Pearl Necklace ~
Handmade Sugar Pearls ~
Rub a little Shortening on your hands.
Handmade Sugar Pearls ~
Rub a little Shortening on your hands –
this is so that the Lustre dust sticks to
the fondant pearl. Roll out the cut bits of
fondant into firm, smooth balls.
Make sure there is a very thin coating of
Shortening on the ball – this will make
the Lustre dust stick.
Handmade Sugar Pearls ~
Drop the ball into the bowl with the
Lustre dust.
Swirl it around to coat the ball by gently
shaking the bowl back and forth - do not
touch the ball.
www.sugarandspicecakes.co.nz
Page 8 of 12
Workshop
~ Tutorial: Sugar Pearl Necklace ~
Handmade Sugar Pearls ~
Just remember that if you are making a
lot of pearls or a necklace, you will need
a larger container to place the pearls in
once they are coated.
Handmade Sugar Pearls ~
Allow to dry and harden for a few hours
– even overnight.
Handmade Sugar Pearls ~
Once your pearls have had a chance to
dry and harden, gently and carefully
thread them onto the Invisible thread
with a fine needle.
Make sure that the Invisible thread is
long enough for your necklace.
www.sugarandspicecakes.co.nz
Page 9 of 12
Workshop
~ Tutorial: Sugar Pearl Necklace ~
Handmade Sugar Pearls ~
Carefully thread each pearl on. Do not
press the pearls while threading. You
will find your hands getting all pearly
with the pearl dust.
NOTE: Make sure you leave a length of
Invisible string at the end before the
pearls so that you can tie the ends
together later.
Handmade Sugar Pearls ~
Thread on all the pearls.
Handmade Sugar Pearls ~
You can also keep your pearls in a
container for future use – to add to your
cakes and cupcakes.
NOTE: If you want a pearl necklace,
you must thread the pearls on a string
no later than 1 day, otherwise they will
be too hard to thread and will break or
crack.
www.sugarandspicecakes.co.nz
Page 10 of 12
Workshop
~ Tutorial: Sugar Pearl Necklace ~
Your pretty Pearl necklace is complete! Place it on your cake for a professional look! Enjoy!
Visit our website www.sugarandspicecakes.co.nz and join us on Facebook
www.facebook.com/sugarandspicecelebrationcakes to be in to WIN FREE stuff, be the first to
know about our Competitions.
PS: Next page – How to make Edible Glue for your Cake projects ~
www.sugarandspicecakes.co.nz
Page 11 of 12
Workshop
~ How to make Edible Glue ~
This Glue is easy to make and dries quite hard. It may take a few hours to dry completely.
How to make Edible Glue ~
Take a small piece of white fondant in a
small Microwavable dish.
Mash or flatten the fondant a bit.
How to make Edible Glue ~
Add a couple of teaspoons of water.
How to make Edible Glue ~
Microwave the fondant and water on
high for 40 seconds.
It may start to bubble.
How to make Edible Glue ~
Remove from the microwave and mix
well.
Your edible glue is now ready to use!
You may cover and keep your glue in
the fridge for a few days. If it gets too
dry, add a teaspoon of water and
microwave again for 30-40 seconds.
www.sugarandspicecakes.co.nz
Page 12 of 12