Island monkeys

I made this island of monkeys yesterday and this time I remembered to take photos so I'm able to share some instructions today. :-)

1) Knead some blue gel colour into white fondant but do not mix the colour thoroughly so you'll get a marbled effect to look like sea waves. Use a fondant roller cutter to cut out a flat disc about 5" in diameter. You can use a circle cardboard template or just use a large bowl as a guide.

 2) Take one LCM breakfast bar (the Australian equivalent to Rice Krispies Treat).

 3) Shape the LCM into an irregular shape and cover with green fondant.

 4) Roll out some more green fondant and cut a random shape.

 5) Stick the random piece on the first 5" disc using water or sugar flower glue.

 6) Attach the LCM shape like this.

 7) Shape LCM into tree trunks and attach a piece of thin spaghetti to the bottom of the trunks.

 8) Cover the trunks with brown fondant and attach to the island like this.

 9) Add some leaves on the trunks.

 10) Add monkeys (I'll make a monkey tutorial in future, I promise!), or any other creatures - puppies, teddies, sunbathers, crocodiles, birds.... etc. I'm thinking a bunch of people marooned on a deserted island would be fun!

 11) Add details - more leaves on the trees and bananas.

 12) To make coconuts, roll balls of brown fondant and using a ball tool make an indent, then stick some white fondant in the indent and shape the insides with the ball tool.

 13) Finishing touches...

 14) Now all that remains is to bake the cake, ice it with buttercream and place this on top of the cake right before serving (surrounded by birthday candles of course - trick candles will add to the fun...hahahaha).

Birthday monkeys

Sugarpaste monkeys (and coconut trees and coconuts) with curly letters spelling out the words, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY." These can be used as cupcake toppers or to decorate a birthday cake. 

Here're some close-ups. I haven't drawn a face on the monkeys coz I can't decide if they look better with or without a face... hmmmm...... I do love the coconuts... they're so cute. 

Monkeying around!

I got inspired by ThinkGeek's "Monkey Business" range (check them out here: http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/cubegoodies/a1a2/?srp=1) and made some sugarpaste monkeys this weekend. I also remembered to take photos this time so I'm able to share these step-by-step instructions on how to make a monkey face.... literally!

First, shape some dark brown sugarpaste into a ball and make a flat heart out of flesh coloured sugarpaste - you can use a small cookie cutter or just shape it. I find it quicker to just shape it.

Stick the heart on the brown ball using a bit of edible glue.

Make a small sausage out of flesh coloured sugarpaste - here's the size of the sausage in comparison to the face...

Using a shaping knife like this one, but if you don't have a shaping knife, any knife will do. Make a slit lengthwise but DON'T cut all the way through. It's like how you'd slit a hot dog bun, I suppose.

Stick the slit "hot dog bun" piece on the face with edible glue like this.... voila! You now have a monkey's mouth!

Using a ball tool like in this pic, make 2 indentions for the eyes.

Stick the eyes, again using edible glue. I use black nonpareils but you can just shape some tiny balls out of black sugarpaste or even the same dark brown sugarpaste used for the head (saves buying more sugarpaste). Make a tiny teardrop out of flesh coloured paste for the nose.

Position the nose like this...

Poke 2 holes for the nostrils. You can use a skewer instead of a shaping tool like what I have here.

Make 2 small balls out of flesh paste and attach to the sides for the ears. Use your skewer to make indentations to shape the earlobes.

Make 2 very tiny sausages out of flesh paste for the eyebrows.

Finished monkey face!