My niece wants a #16 cake, tye died. She doesn't want any fondant, nor do I have an airbrush to do it. Any suggestions?? Thanks in advance....you guys ROCK!!

I did one for a friend and used the Wilton sprays on buttercream. I don't have a picture of it on CC, but it turned out pretty well. I just used the blue, pink and yellow.

http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=659223&sid=f9d03f03a1804e375dcd2591880e186a

Here's a tutorial on a camo buttercream cake. Maybe you could make it with this method but tye die colors. I think it might work well.

CutsieCupcake did an AWESOME one with all buttercream.

I just went and looked at the CutsieCupcake tye dye cake, and that's actually how I would have suggested doing it. It looks like she piped different colors around, and then drug a toothpick through to combine them. I saw someone do this with modeling chocolate. They placed all the chocolate on in circles and shapes with varying colors. Then they used a hairdryer to melt specific areas just enough to drag a toothpick to blend various colors together. It worked like a charm!

I would modify the camo technique. Pipe swirls, bulls-eyes, or other designs, and use a small, pointed, off-set spatula to swirl and meld the colors. Then smooth. I use SMBC, so I would chill and use a hot spat to smooth, but if you use crusting BC, just use the method use for camo tutorial.

And don't forget to google tie dye pics so you have a good idea of typical tie dye designs.

SeriousCakes has a cute tie-dye byttercream tutorial on utube. Check it out.

I think this one's pretty cool:
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2056219

I think it would be a good idea to tie dye the batter as well as the icing. That way when you all cut tit will be fun inside and out...the camo buttercream tutorial I think will help a lot as well

Here's what I found in buttercream that I really liked Maybe you'll get some ideals from these.

These are not my pics just pics I found when I looked it up on Google.

inside tie dye:
http://media.cakecentral.com/gallery/736626/normal_1266808778.JPG

Outside Tie dye:
http://media.cakecentral.com/gallery/734217/normal_1270936140.JPG

this one is the peace sign tie dye:
http://www.mattanddoms.com/images/photos/theme_cakes/peace-sign-tie-dye_l.jpg

HTH

Thank you everyone for all of your help. I think I'm going to try the piping buttercream and then dragging a toothpick, or some other tool, through it.

platinumlady - GREAT idea about the batter.....I think she would love that!

Thanks again everyone!!

You could also pipe swirls with a star tip. This is the one my niece picked out for her birthday
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1880365

here's mine, http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2070354

not quite the direction you want but maybe it would help.

here's mine:
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1944534

swirl on the different buttercream colors and blend with a brush

I really like the way this cake turned out (by cc member cakesbyjen)
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1372607

I wanted to thank everyone for their suggestions. I ended up doing what stormrider mentioned and using a paintbrush, blended the edges. I then rolled it with a foam roller to smooth. Like platinum lady suggested, I also made the batter tye died, which the birthday girl loved!

http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2080896

That turned out great! Easily one of my very favorite tie-dye cakes!

You did a wonderful job!