Hi all!

I have to make a cake for my niece's bridal shower and I was planning on using an impression mat with white fondant.  Her wedding color is navy blue and I wanted to paint the impressions in the fondant navy blue.  I understand the recommended method is to mix gel color with vodka.  Do I need to worry about the color possibly bleeding into the white fondant?  And if I experiment ahead of time and achieve the color I want, can I save the solution?  Do I need to refrigerate it?

Thank you all for your advice!

Instead of gel color and vodka, try powdered navy blue and vodka.  Powdered colors would dry quickly, to the touch, reducing the possibility of smudges.  Gel colors have something in them that makes them dry a lot slower (maybe glycerin??)  Just a guess.  And yes, with either, you would be able to cover the leftover color with Saran and use it at another time for another cake.  Just wondering, since you're using an impression mat for an all over design, will you be impressing before or after you cover the cake with the impressed fondant.  If you impress first then cover, the impressions might stretch out of shape in the process or disappear while pressing the fondant to the cake.  If after,.......... you will be able to attach the impressions mat to the side of the cake with large headed pins and press the design in -  then paint on the navy blue while the mat is still in place.  That way the mat will act as a splash guard - catching any extra paint. (color).