Does anyone have a fairly easy idea how to do this? I have a cake to make that someone has requested it look like one of my fondant covered cakes with a marble effect of purple and white. I have done a search and either I am using the wrong search words, or there isn't anything where I can find it. (probably the first choice of the two.) Anyway, I need this cake for Sat. any help would be truly appreciated. Thanks.

Maybe you can try it with rolled buttercream..

I would be tempted to split your icing into 2 batches...colour each one with the colours you want and then gently fold the colours togethers...when you pick up a dollop of icing with your spatula to put on the cake, it should contain both colours...don't mix too much because the mixing will occur once you are spreading/smoothing...
I did one of my very first cakes in this manner...I wanted to make varying blue colours and it worked out pretty well....

Someone may come up with a much better idea but this definitely works...

HTH
Jane

When you mix in your purple color into the white, do not knead all the way, Maybe this will give you the look you want. Good Luck, Anne

Thanks!! You all are the best!!!!

I knew that I could count on someone to help me.

I have never tried the rolled buttercream. I have heard of people doing it, just haven't figured out the steps and the recipe yet. (any hints)

I thought of not mixing the purple in all the way, but what if I mess up in the mixing?

I think I like the two batches of icing then scoop with the spatula some of each. I have 3 extra cakes I can try all three ideas on, to see which works best.

Thanks everyone!!! I'll post pics once I get them done.
Thanks again

Just google marbled effect using buttercream icing and you'll come up with lots of ideas.

https://www.google.com/search?q=marble+effect+using+buttercream+icing&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS761US761&oq=marble+effect+using+buttercream+icing&aqs=chrome..69i57.6967j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#kpvalbx=0

I don't know if you could get the same kind of marbled effect in buttercream as you do in fondant unless it is with the rolled buttercream.  Using blobs of different colors icing is one of my favorite techniques, but it give more of a water color effect, which may be very satisfactory to your customer.  Personally, I like it more than marbled fondant.

Ok, here's what I figured out works for me: make a about 3 or 4 tones of the color you want. Lay down a base layer of the lightest color, then take your angled spreader and lightly smear dollops of the other colors. I found much better success puting dark over light than light over dark. Hope this helps.

Cute domino cake - like how you spelled JOE with the "bones".

Thank you!!  The dominos are choc and was the favorite game of the recipient and was from New York. which is why there is a chocolate Empire State building and Statue of Liberty.