CC Friends - I have gotten a request for a Sweet 16 cake where the client would like a pearlized pink fondant covered cake. I know to use the luster dust, but here is my question. . . being that the entire cake will be pearlized is there anything other that vodka that I can use to mix the luster dust? If it was just a section here and there, I wouldn't mind, but the whole cake. .. I don't want a whole bunch of tipsy teenagers Also, if I wanted to airbrush it, how would I do that, would I mix the luster dust with the liquid and put it in the airbrush bottle?

I use Edible Lustre Spray, Pearl. PME Arts and Crafts sells it. I also can get it at my local cake supply store. It works fabulous on both fondant/gp and BC. (they have several differant colors also. Pearl will be best for the effect you are looking for.

HTH,
Carrie

In my experience when you cover a cake with pearl it works better by spraying it. I always end up with streaks when I paint. I use the spray cans from pme for small things and my air brush for larger projects.

I do use spray now, but before I had spray on hand. I used a large fluffy new make up brush and brushed the luster dust on the entire cake after I covered it with fondant. Then I finished decorating it.

hope this is a help

They sell pearl airbrush color. Amerimist from Americolor has one and Luck's has one as well as another. I agree with the hand-painting, I think you'll see streaks. If you have an airbrush accessible, you should use that! It'll be so quick. If not, then use a pearl spray already in the can. They taste bad though because of the alcohols and propellants they put in there!! The alcohol evaporates, so even if you had to hand-paint, I promise there wouldn't be any tipsy teens! LOL! Good luck!

I'd use the big fluffy makeup brush technique and dry brush with super pearl if you don't have an airbrush or any of the edible lustre spray.

You could then give a very light steam to the entire cake after drybrushing to give a shimmer look.

When is fondant and lustre I use the brush. But what I find out is that not all pearl dust have a good
quality to leave an even shine. So thats what you have to make sure when you use the Pearl
Dust dry, use a good quality one.
Edna

I use Amerimist Pearl Sheen and apply it with an airbrush in several very light coats. The pearl comes ready to use from Americolor and is very reliable. I buy it online from tcpglobal . com - they carry all of the Amerimist colors and are decently priced.

My blue snowflake cake started out as smurf blue fondant which I then airbrushed.

One note on powders, You got to be careful using them on airbrush. If the airbrush is not clean well it can
clog it and damage it. When I use an airbrush for pearlizing I use the pearl sheen from americolor too.
Edna

Is the quality of the pearl what is going to make a difference. Super Pearl Dust has a lot of shine and it paints well dry. Here is a few examples of Dry dusting.

On the photo below the bow and the skirt is dry dusted
Edna

On the TT all the details where dry dusted.

One thing you have to watch out is that if the quality of the pearl you are using is not good, it will be better to airbrush.

Edna

This is an example of airbrushing..It works great too! This is a buttercream cake. You can use americolor luster spray if you are scared of clogging your airbsrush with the powder. If you dont have an airbrush, they sell cans of Pearl dust in a spray form
Edna

Yes, the pearl luster dust I use would DEFINITELY not get that effect! If you would PM the brand you use, that would be GREAT! BTW, tonedna, you are a cake genius! I LOVE and admire you work SO much. You are so kind to help others with thei craft!

Thanks Tara..I found out that not all pearls dust work well dry. I was lucky to have a good brand from when I started and
then not long ago I tried a few from other companies that didnt work as well. I will PM you
Edna

Here is the link. I bought mine in ICES but global has it. I love it!
http://www.globalsugarart.com/product.php?id=21688&name=Lace%20#1%20Mold%20by%20RVO

Thanks for the complements!

Edna

Anytime Julie!
Edna

All your works are lovely, Edna. Really impressive!!!!

I tried an aerosol can of pearl spray and it seemed to coat ALOT heavier than just using an airbrush....so just beware of the aerosols, if you want just a light coating I'd go with airbrush or dry brush where its easier to control how much you are putting on there.

Thanks to everyone for all the great help. I am a little confused, I just want to make sure. . . Edna - are you saying that there is a high quality type of luster dust that can be brushed dry on to the cake that will give it that pearlized look? and if so, what brand is it? Also, the Amerimist - is that a powder that you mix with liquid and use it with your airbrushe machine or is that straight from a can? I am sorry for being thick headed - I just want to get this right.

I'm glad that you asked this question!
I'm planning on using an airbrush for the 1st time to "pearlize" an entire cake. I'm going to practice some before I apply it to the real cake.
I've got the KopyKake airmaster airbrush. I actually called KopyKake and asked which dust or liquid would be better to use. He said that mixing the dust with alcohol would work better & have a lower chance of clogging. I purchased some crystal colors bright silver & everclear.
I also have AmeriColor pearl sheen (which he said would clog):
http://www.globalsugarart.com/product.php?id=21658&name=Air%20Brush%20Color%20Pearl%20Sheen%204.5%20oz%20by%20%20Americolor

I would think that the dust mixed with alcohol would have a higher clogging tendency?
Expert Edna, do you have experience with using the crystal colors with alcohol or the above Americolor liquid with an airbrush? Which is better to use?
If you mix the powder & alcohol, what's the ratio before putting it in the airbrush?
Thanks!

I only use alcohol to dilute my dusts. And yes for some reasons no matter if you use the the dust or the airbrush pearl preb-bought colors, sometimes it tends to clog the airbrush. The dust have a higher possibility to clog the airbrush specially if it's left too thick. But I have used some brands of airbrush pearl dust that are so thick that wont spray well.
I go by feel, and how it sprays.. But maybe someone else has a more
specific way to do it
Edna

I just tried the Americolor liquid pearl sheen without any problems. I then tried the crystal color (powder) mixed with Everclear & almost immediately it got clogged. Maybe I didn't make it thin enough? I like the look of the crystal color better, but don't want to deal with it clogging since I'm doing the whole cake.
I wonder if you could make the liquid pearl sheen a little thinner with Everclear and just spray a second coat?

Hello, Edna, my heroine. I also have a question about the dusts. I have a request to do a gift box cake with the colors being silver and purple... deep rich purple (ribbons and bows). But she wants shine. The recipient is all about the bling.

The silver will be no problem, but I am not confident about the purple. The luster dust that I bought looked like it would be a dark enough shade, but the end result was more lavender than a rich purple. I went back to GSA site and I see there are some other sparkle dusts, etc, and even though on the site they look like they would be a dark, rich color, I am afraid I will end up disappointed. Do you have any suggestions how to add shimmer/shine without making the color lighter?

BTW, I recently made a cake that called for my tappits lettering and again, thanks to you, everyone was impressed!!! Thank you again!!!

Sandy

Yes you can thin it with everclear.
Edna [/quote]

Thanks, I'll try that
I compared the consistency of the liquid pearl with the powder & everclear, and the powder mixture was thinner. Maybe it was the liquid pearl sheen that got the build up started.