Making A Model Monkey

All sizes referenced in this tutorial are from this modelling size guide

What you'll need:

• Brown Sugarpaste
• Pink Sugarpaste
• Modelling Size Guide
• Small Brush
• Veining Tool
• Craft Knife
• Ball Tool
• Bulbulous Cone Tool

For the Monkey's body you will need a ball of brown sugarpaste (size 15) on the size guide and a smaller ball of pink sugarpaste (size 12) for the tummy. Form both into teardrop shapes, push your thumb into the body to make a dent big enough to take the tummy. Now with a moist brush dampen the dent and place the pink teardrop inside, both teardrop points should be going in the same direction. Press the tummy into the body maintaining the teardrop shape, you should finish with one large two toned body approximately 2"/5cm high as shown in the image below.

For the legs and arms you need two balls of brown sugarpaste (size 12), these are rolled into a sausage shape about 5"/12.5cm long. The legs are then curled around the body and fixed with water. Then flatten them at the front and mark toes on with a veining tool. The arms should wrap around the top of the body but do not secure them in place just yet, cut fingers into the flattened ends with a craft knife.

The tail is made from a ball of brown sugarpaste (size 9) and roll it into a sausage shape about 5"/12.5cm long, then secure into place under and at the back of the legs. Curl it forward and cut a fringe at the end. The head is made from a ball of brown sugarpaste (size 11) and the face a ball in pink (size 7). These are both shaped like a pear and the face is stuck onto the head in much the same way as the body was achieved.

Next we need to make two ears from two balls of brown sugarpaste (size 6), stick these into place and shape with a ball tool. The nose is another ball of brown sugarpaste ball (size 4), place this in the centre of the face and make two nostrils with a bulbulous cone tool. The mouth is another but smaller ball of brown sugarpaste (size 3), stick this into place under the nose and make a single larger impression to create an opened mouth with the bulbulous cone. Mark on a tummy button with the same tool.

Attach the head to the top of the body, wrap and stick the arms around the base of the head to hold it in place. The eyes are placed in two sockets made using the bulbulous cone tool and are 2 small balls of white sugarpaste followed by two smaller balls of black for the pupils. Always put the black pupils off centre, it gives your creation more character and stops it from staring at you!

Tips & Ideas:

• Change the colour pink to light brown for a less feminine monkey.
• When modelling always start with a smooth round ball, free of cracks and marks.
• Try using chocolate sugarpaste instead of brown sugarpaste for a tastier monkey.