In short: Wafer paper sails are made from edible wafer sheets: soak the sheet briefly in cold water and shape it immediately — the material is fragile and you have to work fast. Dry the shaped piece on a silicone mat.
Before you start
Wafer paper is very fragile, so it has to be softened in cold water before shaping. Work quickly and carefully: form the decoration the moment the sheet comes out of the water.
Use a silicone mat as your working surface. Colour the water with food colouring in advance rather than trying to paint the wet sheet. Gloves are recommended — damp wafer paper picks up fingerprints instantly.
Shaping the sails
A silicone mat and ordinary clothes pegs are enough to build a shape. Drape the softened sheet over folds in the mat, pinch the pleats with pegs and leave it until it sets. The paper keeps whatever curve it dried in.
Vary the height and the angle of the pleats: sails of identical shape read as manufactured, while slightly different ones look deliberate.
Colouring and finishing
Once dry, the sail can be brushed with lustre dust or painted with gel colouring let down with alcohol. Water-based colour applied after drying will soften the paper again.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I soak wafer paper
A few seconds in cold water. Any longer and the sheet tears in your hands.
What can I colour wafer paper with
Lustre dust or gel colouring let down with alcohol, applied after the piece has dried.
How long does the decoration last
Several days on a dry cake. On moist frosting the sails soften and droop within hours.