Hi all,

I saw a post that had a link to a video on how to mix luster/pearl dust. Now, I can't find it. If anyone has it, could you please post the link again. Thanks in advance.

I'd be interested in seeing that video too.

Yeah..me too!!

Me three, I would love to see that video!

Hi, took me a few minutes, but finally found the link:

http://kitchengifts.com/lustredust.html

The video here was pretty helpful to me. Janice

Thanks veejaytx!!!

I just watched the video. Neat! Any reason why they won't ship to CA?

i haven't watched the video yet, but my guess is not shipping to CA has to do with silver/gold dust. is illegal to sell metal dusts in CA.

I have just finished watching the video, they were using a lot more luster dust than you need. To me it was wasting it to dip your brush in the Vodka, I put the smallest amount on an Artists Palette & add the vodka with an eye dropper. You can also use Luster dust dry. This place is very expensive, there are others much cheaper. If anyone needs names, let me know.

[quote="superstar"]I have just finished watching the video, they were using a lot more luster dust than you need. To me it was wasting it to dip your brush in the Vodka, "

That's what I thought too. It looked like all of the fine luster dust just getting washed off in the vodka w/o being able to really use it anymore. Hmm.

exactly. i used silver highlighter (silver lusterdust? same thing?) for the first time yesterday. i just put a little of the powder in a small glass dish an dopped some vodka on it. however, i found the vodka mix didn't stick well to my chocolate (from a mold) so i switched from vodka to lemon extract and it worked like a charm! i had tried it with vodka before on buttercream and almost ruined my cake... lemon extract for me from now on!

I just saw the video too! Well...I already knew how to use the dust and the alcohol. To keep from wasting the dust/ alcohol what I use is a pair of tweezers (to lift out the amount of powder) and a eyedropper for the alcohol. That way no dust is wasted in the alcohol and no alcohol is wasted because it has dust in it.


After playing with dust and just about every alcohol possible (lemon extract, vodka (3 brands), Brandy Gin, Vanilla extract, Everclear, and possibly some others) and testing it on a tester cookies, fondant, and chocolates, Everclear came out on top. So if you want to use the dust to adhere to just about anything edible, use everclear if you can get it. (airbrush on directly for buttercream). Some of the other methods worked but not on everything. (Like regular vodka doesnt work with chocolates for some reason, but raspberry smirnoff does? Tasty tho. )

This is just my experience from experimentation.


(Oh and for anything nonedible, use pearl-ex.)

ok, but what if you are doing a kids cake???? does all the alcohol evaporate? safe for kids?

Thanks for sharing the link. Much appreciated

I was worried about this too! Even taste tested little strips of fondant before using it. Nothing. There was no taste. Even directly after painting it (ok well maybe a little hint, then too that was right after. Not really letting it dry), but by the time someone gets to eat it, it will definitely be gone. And thats using everclear! The most powerful stuff out there! So you dont have anything to worry about.

If you really worried (I was paraniod) /and a little daring, do taste test strips of fondant first.


Note: On the other hand if you want to be able to taste something, mix the alcohol in when your making the MMF.

wasn't so much worried about the taste as i was kids getting alcohol

I will have to buy some everclear and try this.

I have a couple of questions.

Is it best to use luster dust "dry" on MMF beads or "wet"? I tried it for the first time the other day on some beads I made but they don't look as shinny as I thought they would be. Should I shake them up with a little wet luster dust now?

Also, where can you purchase "everclear"? I have never heard of it before.

If you use something alcohol based for your techniques, all the alcohol will evaporate so no worry about kids eating it.

Parable,
Everclear is a clear alcohol. My instructor in Pensacola, told us that you can't buy it in Florida. She used lemon extract in it's place.

Everclear can be purchased in a liquor store.

Tiggy2,

If it is sold in liquor stores, is it used for something other than cake decorating?

Can you use luster dust mixed with lemon extract on Buttercream, or do it have to be just on RI?

Everclear is used to drink. Sound gross to me as I have never been one to drink. with the alcohol content so high; it should eveporate very quickly.

I called my local liquor store and they said its the 'Grain Alcohol' (190 proof) of choice for spiking watermelons.....However, in Florida you have to settle for 153 proof.

Did anyone have an anwer to my other question about whether it would work to wet the MMF beads with a little vodka to bring out the shine? Maybe shake it up a little? lol

everclear/grain alcohol: i remember going to a party back in high school (showing my true colors here) where the cowboys had made "rocket fuel" to drink. it was fruit punch, sliced fruit and everclear... one glass and it sent you to the moon! LOL. one guy thought he'd be cool and try to do a shot of everclear and puked right in the kitchen sink. it's almost pure alcohol. never touched it since then. However, the smirnoff vodka i bought to use doesn't work at all so i may have to get some everclear... BUT NO ROCKET FUEL! lol

I use "clear vanilla extract" works the same way as the vodka, everclear or lemon extract and I always have plenty of it on hand, unlike the others.

When you go to purchase this this stuff and you look like your 12, people find it very hard to believe your buying it to use in a cake. Most people can not understand how you can use it in a cake if its not for consumption. Most do not believe that alchohol can evaporate. It's just like magic to them. LOL

I wish I could set up a little lustre dust demonsration in the liquor store so that people could understand. Showing them a pic of a finnished cake is just not enough.