I've had lots of PMs recently asking how I get the colours on my cakes and it seems like I might do something that not many people do. To get the colour on most of my cakes (notably the Golden Pinnacle, Cinderella Cushions and any that look sparkly/bright) I mix lustre dust with gel colour (the UK equivalent is paste colour.) I mix about half lustre dust with half gel colour and a drop of vodka until it's a consistency to paint with and you can make all sorts of colours - for example green paste mixed with gold lustre dust makes a gorgeous sparkly olive green.

I thought I'd post as peope who have PMd me about this say they've not heard of this being done before. I came across it by accident and thought I'd share in case anyone else finds it pleasing

Thanks Emma, that is helpful.

Thanks Emma-your colors are beautiful and vivid!

What an awesome tip! Thank-you, your cakes are fabulous!

Thanks Emma. Your cakes are lovely!

How would you achieve metallic gold? Would you use yellow to mix with the Luster Dust? How about silver?

Thank you Emma for the tip!! I'll have to try that sometime soon!

Thanks for the tip! I've painted with lustre dust and I've painted with the gel colors, but hadn't thought of mixing the two together!

I think the only way to get a true gold is to use gold lustre dust - my personal favourite is EdAble Art's golden ginger - it's gorgeous, the only gold colour I really rate and it's on nearly all my cakes! I mix it with rejuvenating spirit as it doesn't mix with vodka.

When you paint like this does yours remain sticky or tacky? I tried last night just for fun and it's still tacky.

Mine dries completely - I think there is a difference between colourings in the UK and US. Mine are in a paste form a little like room temp butter in consistency - I think the US stuff is different so maybe that's the problem?

Thanks for the tip!

Thanks for the tip I will be sure to try. If anyone has used this with US gel colour I would love to hear about it.

Thanks so much for the info, I just looked at your cakes...you do have some very beautiful color creations...and they are fabulous!!! You are very talented!

Emmascakes, I love your work! Thanks for all the color tips!

Ohhh. I can't wait to try this out!

You have really got some beautiful cakes, thanks for the tips on creating those beautiful colors.

Thanks Emma for sharing, your colors are fabulous.

Thanks Emma I cant wait to try this, your cakes are fabulous!! Thank you for sharing

Your cakes reallly are beautiful but I am wondering what is rejuvenating spirit. Thanks

Rejuvenating spirit is basically 95% isopropyl alchohol - MUCH stronger than vodka, evaporates very quickly. Vodka won't mix with metallic gold colour very well (in some cases not at all) You can buy it as brush cleaner for cleaning off confectioner's glaze (make sure it's food grade)