As the leaves turn and autumn approaches, bringing the colours of the season into your home can be both fun and fulfilling. This 2 part tutorial will guide you through making realistic horse chestnuts and dried poppy seed heads, perfect for an autumnal display.

Creating the Horse Chestnut in shell

Start by taking a 20 gauge half-length wire, green or white, and form a 13mm (1/2 inch) open hook on one end. Use a cookie scribe, cocktail stick, or toothpick to make a hole through a 25mm (1 inch) styrene ball. Thread the wire through the hole in the ball and press the hook to embed it at the top. Secure the hook with piping gel or glue, ensuring it’s firmly attached within the ball.

Roll out half of the chestnut-coloured paste to a 50mm (2 inch) width. Place the ball in the centre on foam, apply egg white, FlexiGlue, or PVA glue, and mould the paste around the ball to form a dumpling shape. Trim the excess and smooth out any imperfections.

Take a no.13 ball of cream (for sugar, add a little more white as needed to make a no.13 size) and no.13 ball of green paste then flatten (similar to making a two-tone calyx). Rub the top of the cream paste with vegetable fat / shortening (air drying clay will laminate itself) and roll out to 100mm (4 inch). Brush the bottom third of the ball with glue. Lay on a soft foam green side down and work paste around, trying to get as few creases as possible, trim off excess paste and smooth using a Flexi Scraper. Place on a cosmetic sponge with a hole in the middle and thread the wire through the hole .Using the Flexi Scraper, cut an ‘X’ shape coming down two-thirds of the ball then using the needle end of the Companion Tool score to make a clean cut. Note: Don’t use a sharp knife as this will damage the surface of the conker.

For a realistic touch, cut the green paste with scissors to create spikes, mimicking a real horse chestnut's shell texture. Dust Moss Green and a little Pale Chocolate at the base. Dust full strength Chocolate over the spikes, steam, then glaze the conker with full strength confectioner’s glaze (for air drying clay use gloss craft glaze or clear nail polish).

Creating the out of shell Horse Chestnut

Start with a 20 gauge half-length wire. Use pliers to bend a 20mm (3/4 inch) end of the wire into an ‘e’ shape. Take the remaining chestnut paste, roll it into a small oval ball. Apply a generous amount of piping gel (or PVA glue for air drying clay) over the hook and down the wire. Thread the wire through the top of the shaped paste and pull it to embed deeply into the paste. Attach a no.6 small ball of cream, thinned into a natural shape, at the top to complete the conker’s look. Place it upside down on a convoluted foam former to set.

Add two extra 20 gauge wires for stability and wrap with light green floral tape, then texture the tape for a natural look. Dust with Ruby highlight and apply Brown and Cappuccino dust mixed with a little alcohol over the cream parts. Edge these areas with Chocolate dust for depth. Steam the entire assembly (for air drying clay, use unscented hairspray) and apply a glaze over the conker while leaving the cream area unglazed to maintain a natural matte texture.

Crafting the Poppy Seed Head

Wrap a 20 gauge white wire with half-width white floral tape to form a sturdy base. Gently brush the seed head cavity of the Flower Pro Poppy Mould with vegetable fat or shortening. Press a no.11 small ball of cream paste into the mould. If using air drying clay, apply PVA glue or piping gel on the floral tape before inserting it into the paste to ensure it adheres well. For the second half of the seed head, immediately press and join while both halves are still malleable. This helps in achieving a seamless bond. Make fine holes using the needle end of the Companion Tool for added texture and realism. Allow the assembly to dry thoroughly.

Dust with shades of Cappuccino and Pale Chocolate, focusing on highlighting ribs and other details for a natural look. A splatter of Chocolate dust mixed with alcohol adds an authentic touch to the seed head. Finish by steaming the entire assembly to set the colours and add a slight sheen mimicking real seed pods in nature.

This step-by-step guide ensures that each element of your autumn display captures the essence of the season with intricate details and lifelike appearances. Whether part of a larger floral arrangement or as standalone pieces, these creations will bring a touch of autumn’s charm into any space.

This video tutorial was originally filmed for the Flower Pro Members Club. Please be aware this club has since closed. This video has been re-posted here for educational purposes.