I always mix my luster and pearl dust with alcohol, but after reading that so many of you use steam I decided to give it a try. I made two fondant shoes, and finish each
with a different method.
Well, I find that by applying the dry powder first you need more of it to cover the piece. After both were dry, I see no difference between one and the other in terms of shine. I also feel is easier to just open the bottle of alcohol than to boil water for stemming. Maybe I did something wrong, but they shine just the same. I like the alcohol method better.
I don't use steaming so much for shine, but as a way of setting the petal dust so it doesn't flake off on the cake icing. It does add some shine but it dulls after is has dried for awhile. Luster dust thinned with alcohol adds more of a pearlized or luminescence to the gumpaste flowers or plaques. Even when I paint with pearl luster dust I still steam the flower to set the dust.
How much alcohol vs. luster/pearl dust do you use when you mix them? I am making a wedding cake that I am going to be using luster dust on and didn't know the ratio for mixing them together.
Thanks!
~Chelle
Also what kind of alcohol do you use? Are you able to taste it at all? I am so looking forward to trying the Luster and the Pearl but I haven't yet because I'm just trying to figure everything out first...
I think most people use vodka, but I don't know if it matters what you use. I don't think you can taste it, but I've never used it.
~Chelle
Everclear is good to use because it dries very fast. You want to use something with an high alcohol content, like Everclear, Gin or Vodka. Some people also use lemon extract.
The ratio is going to depend on what you are doing with it. The thinner it is the lighter the color will be the thicker the darker.
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