Hi!!! 
Well Im working on a purse cake.. I want it to either have the LV look or the DB look.. Still debating..Although, DB is alot less complicated.. Just a bunch of initials all over it.. As for the LV purse.. Lots of detail..
But my question is, if I want to "paint" on my buttercream.. How would I do that? Can I use those food writers? The ones with a thin brush like on the ends?? Or do I dip my small paint brush in some gels and paint like that?? HELP!! 
TIA
Those food writers are terrible.
I have painted on Italian Meringue, but not a confectioners sugar based icing. The icing would need to be set for sure, nice and cold.
Dilute the gel paste with vodka or something that will evaporate quickly.
I painted on BC with luster dust mixed with vodka. You have to be SOOOOOOOOO careful!! You have to use a VERY soft brush and just the lightest of touches. If you push too hard or use a stiff brush you will dent, crack, or move icing. 
*ERGH*!! (See the square quilted cake in my photos with the gold diamonds on it for my sample of 'painted' BC) Just be very careful and it works. But definitely let the icing crust WELL and use a soft touch and soft brush!
You can also use your gel colors thinned down with a clear extract or alcohol. And yes, a soft bristle brush. In my photos is a cappuccino cup cake that I painted with thinned down gel colors. I always just use my normal crusting BC and it does not need to be cold. With this particular cake, I did want the brush strokes to show, but if you don't, get a good quality brush.
ISn't there some edible sparkle spray that you can buy so if you have a BC cake that want to give a shimmer too, you can just spray the decorated cake?
Thank you sooooooooooooooo much.... 
glad to hear I can use clear extract.. Hubby drank all the vodka and orange juice. . OK WISH ME LUCK. 
. IM GONNA JUMP IN THERE AND TRY THIS!!!
ISn't there some edible sparkle spray that you can buy so if you have a BC cake that want to give a shimmer too, you can just spray the decorated cake?
Airbrush - luster dust & vodka mixed.
Ok FINISHED CAKE.. But I did not, could not paint on buttercream.. Oh well.. I piped it in icing instead.. Thank you so much for all your help!!
So if you dilute with extract or vodka doesn't it leave a taste on your icing ?
Nope, it evaporates and you don't even know it was there. You don't get drunk either... 
but maybe that's a con, not a pro!! 
Edited to add... I can't say about the extract, I would think that might leave a taste! I always just use booze because it doesn't. Which is funny because I don't really drink except on incredibly rare occasions.
You did a great job on your purse. I have painted on buttercream with wilton paste colours.. I didn't dilute them for the look I was going for and it turned out pretty good..
Liz
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