Getting something "really" silver

a few days ago, I coloured my gumpaste  grey and then dry brushed the sterling super pearl dust on top..that worked better for me than using silver dust mixed with alcohol. It's still subtle but turned out nicer than when I applied the wet silver luster dust on.....I would love to hear though what others have tried...

You can buy a spray in a bottle. Both PME and Wilton make a silver that works pretty well. Just be prepared for little specks of silver to be all over everything afterwards! You can do a couple of coats fro really metallic silver.

http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?sku=710-5521

Rainbow Dust makes a silver paint that goes on with a paint brush
 

For a real silver finish, nothing beats real silver leaf (edible and 99% pure).

There are several wedding cakes I've done with this finish, and also in gold, and I have not found anything else gets quite the same result!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evoir 

For a real silver finish, nothing beats real silver leaf (edible and 99% pure).

 

There are several wedding cakes I've done with this finish, and also in gold, and I have not found anything else gets quite the same result!

Yep!

I love the silver leaf effect,  but it's a nightmare to apply, and can easily look messy......do you have any tips on how to apply it?

Throw my name on the pile - I need some tips on working with it too.  

I brush the surface with a watered down corn syrup/water mixture and make sure there is a very thin and even coat. Let it dry a bit but still tacky. I make sure there is no air blowing around the room, and I carefully lay on the sheet and smooth it down with a gloved hand. Fill in where it needs it, and that's about it. 

I agree with AZCouture....I also use one of those very fine "fan' brushes to smooth it down. Its worth noting you can overlap it with no bulges as its so thin.

I also recommend working with silver before trying gold, as gold is more than twice the price!

thank you for the instruction, AZCouture

thank you, evoir, overlapping is my friend!!

prolly use it this year for family wedding

Smooth is down with a glove......... I've found this always lifts it back off? What type (fabric) of glove do you use?

Even though the I think the air is still, i'll find the 'leaf' moves somewhat, how do you fill in gaps etc? When I've tried to do it other bits get moved!

If you've ever considered doing a video tutorial I think people would pay to watch it!
 

If it's not secured well already, yeah it will move on you. It's really a "gotta do it once and you'll get it" kind of thing. It's really a feel as you go kinda thing. You can see that it's adhered well so you can smooth a little harder. Or you can see that it's floating a little bit and if you touch it, yeah it's going bye bye. If there's a video tute out there on gilding in general, like is done on wood or plaster, you can pick up tips that way. It's pretty much the same thing. I want one of those brushes though, and will probably work with one of those next time.