Royal Icing Ginkgo Leaf

Even thought it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas (everywhere you go), there are still a few trees bearing stunning fall-colored leaves. The other day I saw one and was inspired to do a Google image search of "fan shaped yellow leaves." I'd gotten about 2.5 words typed by the time it prompted me with "gingko tree"! In retrospect, I think I probably knew that. Anyway, to pipe ginkgo leaves (which start green and turn yellow), you'll need stiff consistency royal icing, leaf tip #104, oval tip #55, a flower nail, a Styrofoam block to rest the nail in, a glue stick, and parchment paper squares. Start by sticking a parchment square to the flower nail with a dab from the glue stick. 

 Hold the tip against the surface with the narrow end facing outward. Squeeze while moving your hand in a fanlike motion, keeping the wide end in more or less the same spot. Wave the narrow end up and down while you pipe to create the texture. Stop pressure and pull the tip away.

 Repeat for the second half of the leaf, which should touch the first one at the base.

 Switch to the #55 oval tip to pipe the stem. It would look better narrower, but would be more likely to break.