• I started off by setting out my pans. I had a large silicone pan which I used for the larger bottom section of my cake stand; a smaller tin which could open to release the base, which I lined with grease proof paper; and I had small rounded silicone cases which I was to use for the legs of my stand.
• I then went on to heat my sugar and water. I made a mistake the first time around as I added too much water. I then had to restart it as the sugar wouldn't set with that quantity of water.
• I then made the correct measurements of water and sugar which ratios should be 2 parts sugar 1 part water. I kept stirring it at first so the sugar would dissolve into the water. I then left it to simmer and waited until it was a yellowy brown color before removing it from the hob. At the start of heating I would have it on a low/medium heat as I was scared for the sugar burning, however because I was doing it in a large bulk, towards the end I would up the heat to medium/high and kept an eye on it.
• I then poured the mixture into the large pan and had to make another batch ready for the second pan.
• I did the same technique again to melt the sugar. This method used a lot of sugar and water, I probably used around two large bags of sugar during this experimentation.
• I then had to think how to create the center column to hold the tiers of the stand. I was working on a low budget so I couldn't afford to spend any more on molds or equipment to make my own molds so I made a tester mold out of a cup which I cut to make it rounded and duck tape to secure it. When I poured sugar into it though, where there was small gaps in-between the plastic, the sugar would seep through and melt through the tape.
• I then tried this test again with a better version of this test making sure the plastic was as tightly pushed together as possible, however there was still the tiniest gaps which the mixture melted through. Another mistake I made in this was that I was so anxious to make this and get this going after so long doing this that I took the sugar off the heat too quickly, which meant it wouldn't set or harden properly.
• This process ended up taking a few days for me to get all the pieces done properly. I then used the same molds I used for the legs to make the column for the center. I made them and then used melted sugar to glue them to each other making a stack of them. I then used the melted sugar to attach all the pieces, which worked well in some ways since it was strong and edible and the same mixture used through out; however some issues with it is that it can actually slightly melt through some pieces, dis-shaping them slightly if too much of the sugar is added, also if it cools too quickly from touching the cold sugar, it can dry fairly tacky and need cleaning up after.
• As you can see when it is done it does hold well and it is very strong.
• In future I could experiment making more edible stands using different materials, I've thought about making hard biscuit stand or isomalt stands or even rocky road stands.

    

making a modelling chocolate figure

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I started off by using a polystyrene ball and I used a sharp tool to keep the head steady in the stand. I covered the ball in white modelling chocolate and pinched the edges and smoothed it over to appear circular.

• Afterwards I used my fingers and thumbs to indent where the eyes will be. I used some extra chocolate and made an over-sized nose to add character. I used a pointed tool to firstly cut the nostrils out and then I used a rounded tool to shape them.

 

• I then used dark modelling chocolate which I used for making the mustache eyebrows and pupils of the eyes. I used a sharp tool to score into the eyebrows and mustache to give them some details.
• For the eyes I used some more white chocolate and rolled two equal circles out. I used edible glue (a mixture of TYLO and water) to attach the eyes and used my rounded tool to flatten them into place. I then used the same techniques for the pupils.
• I then used some thin strands of white chocolate to make the eyelids which I blended more at the top to just add some definition.

 
 
 

• I then made some ears using white modelling chocolate and a rounded tool to shape them. Again I enlarged them, like the nose, to add more character.
• I then used dark chocolate to make some hair. I added a little flick into his hair to show some movement with in it or some shape.

 

• I removed the head and left it to one side to set.

 

• I then started the legs by using two cake pop sticks to hold the legs up. I rolled out white chocolate into a baggy jeans shape. I placed the sticks into the legs at this stage once they were shaped so I could add details once they were attached. I added a pocket and used a tool to make some creases to add some detail.

 

• I then used edible colors to paint the trousers to appear like jeans. To do this I mixed blue and black to create a dark blue. I added some water in parts so the color distribution was slightly irregular. I also used my fingers to dab some of the color off. This was to create a jeans effect.

 

• I then used dark chocolate to make a T-shirt shape. I used another cake pop stick which I attached into the legs through the T-shirt and left sticking outwards. I used white chocolate to make a neck and attached it along with the head so that I could blend the still soft modelling chocolate into the head to make sure they're attached properly.
• I used my rounded tool to make fairly deep holes into the sleeves so I could later attach the arms. I also rolled out a little bit of dark chocolate the make a lining for the neck of the top.

 
 

• Finally I made some white chocolate arms. I used a sharp tool to indent fingers and to cut the thumbs. I used my edible glue to attach the arms into the sleeves and also a little bit onto the hand touching the stomach to hold the weight. I did this again to add some character or movement rather than being a stood still figure. Once it had set more I made some little shoes which I attached underneath the jeans.

These are some of the links I used as research.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoQ66ef-GN0
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3Zmwu-Emrc

The second link I was heavily influenced by. When I watched it I followed several steps to learn how to do the face of my man. As I went along I adapted some of the steps to match the character I wanted for my man. For example I made mine younger and to show that I didn't add wrinkles and I added hair. I also made my man skinnier in the face by not adding chins and making the features quite large on the face. I also made the nose a slightly different size and shape along with the mustache and then I added ears and a body.