Searching For Gelatin Art Supplies

By Paulette Mason


The use of gelatin has come a long way since it was used to create desserts in molds in the 1920s. Chefs and artists have experimented with it over the years, using it in all kinds of unusual ways. One of the most popular applications today is for use in 3D specialty cake decorating. This has made it very popular and gelatin art supplies are available from many stores, including those found online. The fact that these supplies are widely accessible, means that more individuals have the opportunity of trying their hand at this art form.

Who knew that a colorless protein made by boiling the skin and bones of animals would offer such interesting possibilities? When it is immersed in a liquid, it absorbs the moisture and swells, causing it to gel. This quality made it perfect for use in food and it was soon being used in both sweet and savory foodstuffs from aspic to mousses. The confectionery industry also began to utilize it extensively in products such as nougat, Turkish delight and jelly beans.

Today one of its most popular uses is in specialty cake decoration. All the tools needed for this can be purchased online and even beginners can use these effectively. There are kits available from online stores for beginners containing all the items needed to begin creating blossoms, butterflies, fairy wings and more. A veining sheet, a texture sheet, brushes, a mold, wire, scissors and an instruction booklet are some of the items available in a kit for beginners.

The use of plastic, re-usable sheets called veining sheets has made creating cake decorations relatively simple, even for someone without much experience. These sheets contain all kinds of line drawings of images from leaves and blossoms to dragonflies and fairy wings. Texture sheets can be used to make ribbons and bows.

The method used to make decorations with these sheets is not difficult. The product is simply placed in water and heated so it dissolves properly. Color can then be added to the mixture. Once it is dissolved completely, it is brushed onto the images on the sheet and left to set. After it has set properly, it is peeled off and the images are then cut to shape.

When working with such a product, understanding its qualities is important. It has to be mixed with a liquid in order to hydrate it and it needs to be thoroughly mixed to be most effective. It quickly turns into a solid if unused but fortunately, it can be heated up again in order to make it into a liquid once again.

If the mixture is not used straight away, it sets into a solid but it can be heated up again to turn it back into a liquid. The time it takes to set depends upon several different factors. The temperature of the surrounding air is one of these. The longer the time given for setting, the more solid it becomes.

Veining and texture sheets can be bought individually or in packs and other tools such as brushes, wire and spring scissors are also sold. On some of the sites one can view instructional videos on how to use these products. Even beginners can master the basics successfully and are soon creating decorations they never imagined they could produce.




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