How Far Does Luster Dust Go?
Decorating By patticakesnc Updated 27 Oct 2006 , 9:31am by playingwithsugar
I have a few luster dust questions.
One when painting with it how far does it go? I know they are very little bottles and I can't help to wonder once you mix it how much painting can you do?
I am going to be doing my daughters sweet 16 cake and I have never painted with it before so I really don't know what to expect.
Also is there any stores that sell it or do you have to go to the online stores?
If you ordered online who did you order from and how long did it take to get it? I have waited so long and her birthday is next weekend so I want to be sure I can get it in time.
Please help.......
I haven't used the luster dust yet; however, I did purchase some yesterday at our local Michael's store. I would assume that Michael's, AC Moore, Joann Fabrics, etc. might have it in your area too. As small as they are I would think that the dust should go a long way. Hope this helps
Whether dry or painting, a little bit really does go a long way. When I mix it with alcohol, I use my paint brush to scoop out a little bit and put it in a little bowl and mix it in there with the alcohol. I use a medicine dropper to add the amount of alcohol I want. If you add too much alcohol, instead of adding/wasting more dust, just paint a couple (or more of coats) to get what you want. That is why I use the medicine dropper--can just add a bit of alcohol a little at a time. But if you don't add enough, the mixture can be too thick and hard to paint with.
If you have cake supply stores in your area, you can check with them. I don't, so I do all my ordering online. I have gotten dusts from:
Country Kitchen
Beryl's
The Baker's Kitchen
Cakes By Sam
This is one place I have not ordered from, but will in the future:
Payless Cake Decor
I haven't used the luster dust yet; however, I did purchase some yesterday at our local Michael's store.
Did you buy the Wilton Shimmer dust? That is not the same as luster dust and Michael's does not carry luster dust (at least not the one I work at or any in my area).
yellowdog: did you get true luster dust at Michael's? My Michael's doesn't carry it, so I am jealous if yours does! The Wilton sparkle dust at my Michael's doesn't work with alcohol or extracts the way luster dust does. It is just for sprinkling on top of a decorated cake/cookies.
i get luster dust at a local cake decorating shop.....you're not gettin it in a craft store.....it's not made by wilton. I mix it with clear vanilla usually....or alcohol if I need more (vanilla vodka is good) also.....if I have some left over that's mixed with the alcohol.......I just let the alcohol evaporate back out (usually dry within 30 min. or so) and thendump the powder back in the container so as not to waste any! It does go far.......but it's also easy to use a whole container on a cake! lol probably doesn't make any sense.......a little goes a long way but it's easy once you start using it to want to use it ALL the time....it just makes everything sparkle. someone on here ordered from Payless cake Decor and that's about the cheapest you're gonna find it.......you have to get two containers of the same color....but two containers cost the same as ONE normally costs at my cake decor. store!
I just ordered 34 jars last week, which came out to
$1.99/ 2 ounce jar (normal size), from Payless.
as far as i know, Michaels
do not carry them.. They have the Wilton's shimmer and that's not the
same thing. How big of an area are you gonna paint ?
One jar can go a long way. I don't normally mix a paint.
I try to moisten the area w/ either Vodka OR Almond xtract, then I brush
the dry dust over that area, but only when it is about to be dry totally.
I find this more economic. I know not everyone do this, but I prefer doing it this way, and I think it comes out more shiny, because you kind of
buff while brushing the dry dust. 
Wilton Shimmer dust is nothing more than ground up cake sparkles. It will melt when liquid is added.
How long luster dust lasts depends upon how you are using it. If you are using it as a topical decoration, ala dry brushing, it should go pretty far. However, if you are mixing it with extract or alcohol, and painting with it, you might get half a two-tier cake out of it, if you just mix the alcohol into the pot.
I prefer to use luster dust the way I use gold dust, dampen the brush, wipe off the excess, then dip into the dust. It goes farther that way, and the leftover dust will not harden on you.
Theresa
Gosh, I'm so glad you guys told me that shimmer dust and luster dust are not the same thing. I didn't even read the pkg. I was in a buying frenzy (local store was having an inventory sale). I learn so much from you guys! thanks soooooo much for the info.
Someone in the threads just bought a bunch of jars from Payless. Here's the link:
http://www.paylesscakedecor.com/lusterdust1.htm
Theresa
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