stupid question,but how the heck do you paint with luster dust?I tryed to this week and it dotally messed up my cake,I followed the steps on the back of the pkg. and it came out clumpy 
then I had to doctor up the cake.do you only use it on fondant or can it be also done on buttercream? please throw me some advice,thanks guys 
Using dusts for painting is best on harder surfaces like fondant or gumpaste. It also works well with an airbrush on most any surface.
It is more difficult to paint on buttercream soft surfaces.
Water, as you learned, does not really dissolve the dust. Vodka, gin, Evercleer, or clear vanilla (alcohol based) work better to make paint.
I have mixed it with pure lemon extract without a problem. I started with a very small amount of luster dust in a small bowl, added the lemon extract a little at a time mixing with my brush until it was the consistency of thin paint. This worked fine for me. I have only painted on fondant and don't know about buttercream, but I would imagine if it were crusted enough and smoothed (maybe faux fondant method) then you could use it with a very careful and gentle hand. That's just a guess though.
I haven't used the luster dusts very much, but have had good results when I did.
I used the pearl luster dust with lemon extract on crusted buttercream on the shower cake that's in my photos (hearts and swirls painted on with a thin paintbrush), but have never tried to cover a large area evenly this way on buttercream.
I've also used the silver luster dust to make grey cookies look like silver, but just dry brushed it on after the icing (Antonia74's recipe) was dry, and that turned out well also. I don't have a picture of that posted yet, but hope to get it posted soon.
hth!
Laura.
I've heard that people use everclear vodka (the alcohol evaporates)
Just curious... Are you supposed to let the fondant dry / harden and then brush it on or do it while it is still soft?
TIA!!!
I would like to know also 
Just curious... Are you supposed to let the fondant dry / harden and then brush it on or do it while it is still soft?
TIA!!!
I would like to know also
I've done it both ways depending on when I had time to do it and both work for me.
Do you color the fondant and then paint over it????
Or can you thin out color with alcohol and paint, then cover with dust?
What will give you a richer color?
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