There may seem like a lot of complicated steps, but I may have over-explained it. I apologize also for the quality of the photos, but I am certain you will understand!
How to Make a Gum Paste Checkerboard/Chess Board:
You will need:
gum paste (around 10-16oz)
brown colour (dry or gel)
one paint brush
one exacto knife
painters/masking tape
shortening
lemon extract or alcohol for painting
rolling pin
1. Four days ahead: I planned on a 10"X10" cake. Therefore the board will be 10"X10" also. Dye enough gumpaste beige (or whatever the lighter colour of your board is), and roll out 10"X10", with a thickness of 1/8". Use at least 16 oz. Let dry for a couple of days, turn it over, and let dry one more day. Shortening is a wonderful product. Just rub some onto the surface you are placing your board onto, and it should come off easily, when dry.
2. One day ahead: Find some 1" masking or painter's tape. Make sure you cannot see through it. Painter's tape is great because it peels off very easily. There are 16 squares on the checkerboard, so each will measure 1"X1", with margins of 1" all around the outside. I do not like to mark with pencil on edible materials, so I use the tape to measure. Starting at one side of the board, run a 10" strip along one side, to represent the margin. Measure 1" over, and place the next 10" strip down, and continue with three others. You should have five strips going each way.
3. Here is the hard part: taking an exacto knife, cut out the unwanted parts of the tape; the squares that are supposed to be the darker colour. Some of them are already done for you automatically. They will be in a diagonal pattern when you are done. You will also have to take off the two strips of tape covering the margins so they will be darker also.
Note: you may find the tape comes up at the corners, so quickly press it down with your fingers. Keep your cuts straight, take your time and change the blade of your knife if needed. Don't fret if you cut into the board a little. The difference in the two colours will cover that.
4. Usually at this point I would get out my airbrush, but since the tape came up at the corners, the air pressure would lift them up further, preventing clean lines. So I took some chocolate brown petal dust (gel colour works, but takes a lot longer to dry) mixed with vodka. With my favourite medium sized paint brush, I quickly coloured the board, working square by square. As I worked across the board, I lifted the remaining tape squares off.
Since the board I am making was to look a bit wooden, the strokes from the paint brush were actually a better solution than airbrushing. Paint the margins all in one direction, and let dry overnight.
5. Finally roll out any remaining beige gum paste, 1/16" thick, and cut 8"X1/16" strips. All you need is four. Carefully wet them and place them, damp side down as a border around the 16 squares.
6. Spread royal icing on the top of the cake in order to secure the board down. Make sure your cake is good and level!!
7. Place your checker or chess pieces on with some royal icing, and voila! These pieces were based on a metallic chess set owned by the birthday boy.
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