Let's Get Started:

• The first step is to form the outer rock shell of the geode. Mix some super black gel food coloring into the white gum paste - but don't knead it in quite all the way. This way there were variations and different grey tones in the gum paste.
• Make a little nest out of the cling wrap. Press a portion of the gum paste into a rough circle, and press the center of the circle into the center of the cling wrap nest.

• Next, it's time to add the crystals growing in the center of the geode. Use either clear piping gel or Everclear as the glue.
• Everclear dries very quickly, but it activates the sugar in both the sugar crystals and the gum paste, and when it dries - it will glue it all together.

• Let the geodes with clear crystals dry completely before painting the crystals - this way you don't knock the crystals off the sides as you're adding color.

• The color is painted on by making a watercolor type of paint with more Everclear alcohol and food coloring. The Everclear evaporates quickly, leaving behind beautiful, translucent, colored sugar crystals.

• Finally ice the cupcakes with frosting - then add some brown sugar for dirt and crown the whole thing with one of the edible geode cupcake toppers.