Cake Decorating Community - Cakes We Bake

Hello to all you expert flower makers out there. Have any of you got any tips about how to cover a flower wire in florist tape? I really struggle with this and as a result, hate doing it. In particular, I have trouble starting the taping off - I can never get it right up to the flower and it keeps slipping round and dropping down the wire. So I'm ending u

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Thanks G

I struggle with this also. Great to have a tutorial.....  :o)

Thanks Goreti!  So I'm getting from this that he's taping his wire before he threads it through the flower.  That sounds like a really good plan to me!  Don't know if it would work every time as I think the wire might be a bit thick, but certainly worth a try.

btw - did half of my post cut off, or is my computer playing silly wotsits this morning?

Actually Katy, this is how I do it:  I do cut the tape in half which is a pain in the you know what with a scissors.  I then start a little below the base of the flower or petal and after I get it going I push it up towards the base.  Like in this video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UehkCl1RGC8

Hi Katy  dont know what sort of tape your using but sometimes the paper type tapes can be a little bit more tricky but make sure you stretch it well first as this releases the gum on the tape start a fraction below the flower and wind it a couple of times then gently but firmly push it up to the flower head before winding down the stem, thats how I do mine. hope that helps

Thank you, thank you, thank you!  Yes, that works.  Simple when you think about it really.  I've just done a dozen violet leaves in less time than it took me to do less than half the amount of flowers.  Phew - what a relief.

Oh and how much easier is it with half width tape too - well worth the effort of cutting it.

I did not read all of the posts here so I might be repeating someone.  Do you have a tape cutter?  I purchased one a couple years ago and it is so much easier with the tape cut in smaller strips.  And you have to streatch the tape to release the sticky on it.  Hold it tight while you turn the wire.  Once it starts keep it tight while you turn the wire.... hope this makes sense!  The easier way is to purchase the already covered wires.  I do that if I have a lot of flowers to make.  Saves time.  They are more expensive that way but I see my time is important too so I buy them a lot of times already wrapped.

thanks Jeri!  I didn't know you could buy already covered wires - that's very tempting.....

I have discovered that it is much much easier to cover them with the thinner tape too, thanks.  Doesn't get anything like as bulky, so that's what I'll do in future.  I don't have a tape cutter, but it doesn't take a sec just to slice them down with a small pair of scissors

Thanks again for helping xx

I bought my tape cutter when I did a huge cake with tons of flowers and it cut my time down so much.  The cutter was not very expensive and has paid for itself in time! This is the one I have  http://www.globalsugarart.com/jem-floral-tape-cutter-shredder-p-182...

The pre covered wires are soooo much easier. http://www.globalsugarart.com/search.php?q=pre+covered+florist+wires&=

 

It is much more expensive to purchase the covered wire but when you are doing a ton of flowers it is worth it.

I sometimes sit and wrap wires while I am watching TV just to have extras all done ahead. 

lol jeri - thanks so much.  Yep, watching TV is when I do my flower taping - helps relieve the boredom a bit.

Even if you use paper covered wires, you still need to tape them for your stems, leaves, flowers, etc.

 

I think you've got great advice above, but you won't get out of the taping, unfortunately.

haha - thanks Tori!  I'll keep taping then!

Tori Cordova said:

Even if you use paper covered wires, you still need to tape them for your stems, leaves, flowers, etc.

 

I think you've got great advice above, but you won't get out of the taping, unfortunately.

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