Autumn's harvest brings not only rich colours but also the inspiration to create unique decorative elements like Bulrush, Honesty, Quaking Grass, and Wild Oats. Here’s how to bring these Autumn treasures to life, perfect for any fall cake decorating display or crafting project.

Bulrush

Preparation

Start by submerging the pointed end of a 30cm bamboo skewer into hot boiling water about 6cm deep for at least 30 minutes. This will make it easier to bend your skewer into shape. After soaking, mark 40mm and 75mm from the tip.

Forming the Bulrush

Gently bend the tip to create a slight curve and allow it to dry. Take approximately 15g of chocolate brown sugar paste or air drying clay and roll it into a 50mm sausage. Coat the marked area with glue and slide the paste sausage into position stretched to the measured length on the skewer. 

Adding Texture and Colour

Shape the ends so they are rounded and then rollover the Spadix Texture Mat from the Flower Pro CallaLily / Tulip Leaf Set. Suspend over a bowl to dry. Paint the tip with brown gel colour and dust with brown semolina for texture, finishing with a glaze for shine.

Honesty

Wire Frame

Take five half-length 28 gauge wires, twist around a circle about 30mm in diameter, twist the end to form a hoop and secure with white tape.

Shaping

Roll the paste into 50mm sausages and cut into 10mm sections. Roll each piece thinly by hand and coat the wire hoop with glue. Place hoop at base of paste and fold paste back over the hoop leaving about 5mm at top. Press gently with a cosmetic sponge. Remove any air bubbles with a fine needle. Clean around the edge of the wire using the needle end of the Companion Tool leaving a strip the same thickness as the shaft of the Companion Tool at the top. Carefully peel off the work board, trim the end with fine scissors to make a little spur curled slightly then leave to dry.

Finishing Touches

Tape the base of each Honesty with quarter width brown tape, brush over with Pearl food paint and leave to dry. Add fine lines with a chocolate and black dust mix for a realistic look. 

Quaking Grass

Preparation

Cover each of two full-length 30 gauge white wires with floral tape and cut into six sections. Create a small hook on each.

Forming the Grass

Roll a no.9 small ball of cream or pale green paste into a sausage and cut into 12 pieces. Shape each around the wire hook into a cone and press into the smallest leaf on the Flower Pro Blossoms Mould to create a pillow shape. Using the needle end of the Companion Tool, score a line from the wire to the tip and thin lines from the central line out. Remove from the mould and snip lines using fine scissors then leave to dry.

Detailing and Assembly

Dust with Cappuccino, a little Prairie Green and Pale Chocolate colours. Assemble the grass onto a wire in groups, dusting the final assembly to achieve the desired look.

Wild Oats

Creating Oats

Take 24 small round or seed head white stamens, cut off one end of each reserving for other projects. Take two no.6 size balls of paste and roll each into a sausage. Using the Flexi Scraper, cut each into quarters and each quarter into three, so each no.6 ball will give 12 pieces. Dip the round end of the stamen into glue and insert into a ball and shape to secure. Roll into a carrot shape approx. 15mm (5/8 inch) long, cut down the pointed end about half the length of the carrot and open up, then dry on foam.

Grouping and Colouring

Tape in groups of three, to make eight groups of three. Dust a Cappuccino colour all over the paste section and halfway down the wires

Assembly

Arrange like a small tree with the individual oats branching out, ensuring they hang beautifully to mimic natural wild oats.

Each of these elements brings a touch of nature’s Autumnal beauty to your crafts, be it for home décor or personal projects. The textures and colours of these crafts will enhance any fall-themed arrangement, adding depth and a natural aesthetic to your creations.

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.