Now we move on to the exciting part - colouring! Roses, like most flowers, come in a myriad of colours. For this demonstration, we'll focus on a bright pink rose, specifically the American Beauty variety. When dusting roses, two types of brushes are typically used: a round brush for the centre of the rose, and a flat brush for the outer edges.

Start by loading some American Beauty colour onto a paper towel using a round brush. The technique used here is called 'pouncing', which is similar to the technique used with stencils. Pounce the brush into the middle of the rose to create the 'eye' of the rose. This gives the rose a darker centre, as light doesn't filter through the middle of a rose when it's viewed from the outside.

Next, take a flat brush and brush from the outside to the inside of the rose, adding a darker pink to the edges of the petals. This should be done on all visible petals. Remember, you can always add more colour, but you can't take it away. If you're unsure about the intensity of the colour, test it out on a small piece of extra paste. If the colour is too strong, add cornstarch or cornflour to lighten it.

For the calyx and stem of the rose, use a light apple green and prairie green colour. Brush the green colour in between the petals, just on the exposed part. If you have thorns on your roses, add a bit of apple green on the ovary and down onto the thorns. For an accent, add a bit of pink colour onto the tip of the thorn.

Once you've finished colouring, the rose should be steamed. This can be done using a clothes steamer, a teakettle, or a pan of water. Hold the flower about six inches away from the steam and rotate it for a few seconds. This gives the rose a natural lustre and gets rid of any dry, chalky look.

For a red rose, use ruby red for the centre and aubergine for a pop of colour. For a yellow rose, use a mix of lemon yellow and orange. Once the colouring is done, the roses can be arranged in a variety of ways. Whether it's a classic arrangement of long-stemmed red roses with baby's breath and fern, a simple arrangement of roses and rose leaves, or small yellow roses with fern, the possibilities are endless.

Remember, the art of crafting sugar roses is all about creativity and personal expression. Enjoy the process and have fun experimenting with different colours and arrangements.