Shimmer Dust (Wilton) How To Use???
Decorating By stlalohagal Updated 8 Nov 2006 , 12:46pm by missyek
I tried water... it clumped... I tried rum (it was the only liquor besides whiskey and tequila I had) but again it clumped but not so bad I was able to paint it on and it spread out. I tried dipping my brush in the rum then in the dry shimmer dust (SD) and then painting. I then tried mixing the SD with the rum. Same results. Also when done my color flow pieces appear rough and bumpy rather than smooth. HELP!! What am I doing wrong? How do you use this stuff? I love all the pretty accents I see on some of the cakes up here but how do you do it.... step by step please as I'm brand new to it. Thanks!!
- Paula
Unfortunately you cannot mix shimmer dust with any liquid--it does exactly what happened to you. Pretty much the only way to use it is: for BC iced cakes--sprinkle it on; for fondant cakes, paint a bit of water where you want the shimmer dust to be and sprinkle it on. Sorry, that is it. Shimmer dust is not like luster dust at all.
Where is the best place to get/find the luster dust? Thanks!
If you have local cake supply stores, that may be a good place to start (not Michael's Ac Moore, Hobby Lobby or JoAnn's). If you can't find anything local, there are a ton of places online to order. Here are a few:
Country Kitchen
Beryl's
Cakes By Sam
Payless Cake Decor
Thanks for the posts for where to buy. I did a search and one site even had a tutorial clip. I can't wait to try this stuff but that brings me to my next question... Obviously I can't buy all the colors... what are the best colors to start? I figure a pearl and probably a gold, old or super? What about champagne? Any others?
Thanks...
- Paula
I started witht he super pearl, super gold and Nu-silver. Then I branched out to more girly colors since I used them more with girly cakes, so lots of pinks and purples. Then I got some blues and greens, then reds and other odd ball colors. I sitll don't have everything, but I have enough, but I guess I have too much because I have just outgrown the container I put them all in (yeah, I just ordered some more... 
). Have fun with them!! 
Thanks Missy
I appreciate all your input. Who did you just order through? I found Country Kitchen in the list you gave to be the best pricing but the one had a great site as they offered the little tutorial video online but they were $6.95 per but came with two mixing bowls. I also haven't had a chance to do much other web searching and our local area only has two stores but I won't be able to call them till tomorrow. I usually don't get to get on the PC till I get the kids in bed. There's four of them and one of me! 
They range from 1yr to 6years. So after they're in bed I get to fill my addiction for this site and work on my cakes.
- Paula
Kudos to you! Hubby wanted 4, then we had our daughter and she did him in, so we are pretty sure we are done with 3 (ages 3 through 
.
I actually just got some from The Baker's Kitchen. I was ordering some Satin Ice fondant and decided to get some while I was at it. I really heard that the payless cake decor was good because you get 2 jars of the same color for the price of one. The only thing with them is that they only take pay-pal. I usually just get some from whatever place I am ordering from at the time (unless they are way too expensive). Look at shipping costs at each site too--some are really outrageous, so just keep a look out. Good luck with everything! It is fun!
Missy,
WOW!!! I got some of this stuff today from a local bakery supply. I'll be back frequently I can tell. She'll order any color you want if she doesn't have it but she charges $4 for the little 2 grm jar. Anyhow it's local and I got to try it tonight on some fondand acorns I made to go with my Course II basket. I'm doing a fall theme rather than the white with spring flowers. I also tried it on some chocolate leaves and learned also that you can't paint on your general food colors without the vodka... good lesson. Then I pulled out the super gold!!! I got so excited I just couldn't believe it. It's a lot different that that shimmer dust stuff. My leaves were sort of sorry looking as I'd never made them before either. My edges were overflowed and just a mess but I've got that on another thread to post to... However when I started to add the luster dust,.. Wow!!. I used my Juniper Green food paste color to color the leaves and added then my Poppy Petal dust (she was out of copper) and I then finished them off with the gold. Wow Wow Wow... where's more, I want to paint more! Not to shabby for a first try for the leaves and for the painting I thought. I'm hoping to add a couple of these with my fondant acorns that also turned out lovely. I've attached a pic below to share. Thank you Missy for all your help and input. Now I just have to go work on those leaves!
- Paula
(Sorry it's sort of run together I just couldn't wait to post you!)
PERFECT!! I'm so glad you were able to find someplace local!! I have to say, you brought a big smile to my face while I read your post. It so nice to see someone get so excited over something new and cool--that is why I love to teach cake decorating--just to see that. Isn't the luster dust amazing? And your leaves and acorns look great!! Have fun with it, cause now you have another addiction--luster dusts!!
Can you use luster dust on crusted buttercream?
Debbie
Missy,
Just thought I'd post that I finished my Wilton Course II Basket Cake and used the luster dust on the roses, my color flow bird and you already saw the acorns with my photo post in this thread. They turned out really nice. Just click on my Photos...
Thanks for all your help. I'm hoping to use those Chocolate leaves on a cake for our Pastor's birthday later this week.
Thanks again!!
- Paula
PS - I also used it on my OOps Halloween Topsy Turvy cake. I pearl dusted my Ghost and silver dusted the tomb stone and the bat, then added a little to my BC spider and web.
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