I really want to make a cheetah/leopard print tier for my daughter's 5th birthday cake. I've seen some awesome pics in the gallery, pm'd the decorators...and nothing! Nobody ever writes me back, lol. I don't want it to be the traditional colors, it's probably going to be pink or purple. I just want to know the technique for doing it. Brush size, consistency of thinned gel colors, etc. (I've never painted on a cake before ).

And while I have your attention, if anyone has tips on how to cut giraffe spots out of fondant...I'm listening...

will you be painting it on buttercream or fondant?

I just did one, but in traditional browns/black, I haven't posted it yet. Anyway, it was pretty easy and a very cool effect. I just took a smallish paintbrush (the size is going to depend on what size you want the spots) and gel food coloring mixed with a tiny amt of vodka, then did the initial spots in the main color. Then I let that dry (by the time you finish one side the other is usually dry). Then you go back with the second color (I used black) and do the accent outline. I varied the sizes of my spots, at the front of the cake I did bigger then gradually went down smaller in size and farther apart then went back up to the large size - it looked great! Will post mine soon.

HTH

When I made my 3D Giraffe. I simply pulled a small pinch of fondant and pressed them out with my fingers and placed them on the cake. I made sure they were a little different and fit around each other for a fairly decent look. You are welcome to look in my photos to understand what I'm trying to explain.

A friend of mine, pinkbox, made the same cake, but she rolled out fondant and used a circle cutter and also used the circle cutter to cut indention's on both sides of the circles for her spots.

Good luck.

I am going to be painting it on fondant.

Toptier, thank you for the painting advice

gritswife, that giraffe is adorable!! The spots look awesome.

I think I feel a bit better now.